Welcome to Orion Diner & Grill
At Orion Diner & Grill, the spirit of classic New York dining comes alive at 395 2nd Ave. This charming diner embraces nostalgia, offering an inviting space where the community gathers at any hour—open 24/7. Here, fresh ingredients star in beloved dishes, from perfectly scrambled eggs to a charbroiled burger that celebrates simplicity and flavor. Diners rave about the attentive service, exemplified by the energetic Mike Voumvoyrakis, who ensures that every guest feels at home. With a menu rich in hearty classics and comfort food, Orion Diner & Grill is a timeless refuge for anyone craving the essence of a true diner experience.
- 395 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10010 Hotline: (212) 510-8733
Welcome to Orion Diner & Grill, a nostalgic gem nestled at 395 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10010. This iconic diner, open 24 hours, is more than just a place to refuel; it’s a slice of the traditional New York dining experience, seamlessly blending comfort and convenience into its everyday operations.
As you step inside, you are greeted by a warm ambiance that reflects a bygone era of diners, where community and comfort reign supreme. The decor is charming, featuring leather booths and exposed brick walls that offer a cozy yet energetic vibe—a perfect backdrop for diverse city life. Many patrons come to enjoy the rich tapestry of voices and the delightful clinking of plates, making it a quintessential spot for food lovers and people-watchers alike.
Highlights of the Menu
Orion Diner & Grill is revered for its diverse and mouthwatering menu. Here are some standout offerings:
- Matzo Ball Soup - $8.25: A hearty, warming classic that stands out on chilly New York days.
- French Onion Soup - $8.00: This flavorful soup with a gooey cheese topping is a true fan favorite.
- Bacon and Cheese Omelette - A must-try breakfast staple, prepared perfectly to start your day.
- Swiss Char-Broiled Burger - Known for its textbook char and classic toppings, it’s a crowd-pleaser among burger aficionados.
- New York-style Cheesecake - A celebratory finish, its creamy, dense filling strikes a beautiful balance between sweet and tangy.
Each dish serves as a reminder that sometimes, simplicity reigns supreme. Diners can indulge in hearty classics—from Super Nachos to Chicken Fingers—that encompass a taste of home. As customer Amanda M. joyfully remarked, the speed of service at Orion is remarkable without compromising quality, ensuring that every meal is both efficient and satisfying.
Service with Heart
At the heart of Orion Diner & Grill lies its dedicated staff, including the charismatic Mike Voumvoyrakis, who infuses warmth and energy into each visit. With a personable touch, he exemplifies the essence of hospitality that makes diners like Orion feel more like a homecoming than a simple meal out.
In a time when dining experiences often crave novelty or exclusivity, Orion Diner & Grill proudly remains rooted in tradition. It’s a sanctuary for both locals and visitors in search of authentic New York comfort food in a welcoming setting.
So, whether you're grabbing a late-night bite, a leisurely breakfast, or anything in between, Orion Diner & Grill invites you to come in, sit back, and savor the simplicity of good food made with love. This is where every meal tells a story, and every corner radiates nostalgia.

The food was amazing and everything came out so fast! The service was amazing, all staff were friendly and time efficient. I love that Orion Diner & Grill is open 24 hours as well! One of the best chocolate milkshakes I have ever had!! With a wide variety of things on the menu, I absolutely recommend this restaurant!!

Iconic diner. Always consistent and fast, and the staff always takes great care of us. Can't miss with any of the breakfast items, but I often get the spartan wrap with French onion soup. Open 24/7 if you need a late night spot or don't want to pay for an overpriced bagel.

Old school diners deserve some love. They are vanishing or being reimagined as something more upscale. They've been supplanted by fast casual restaurants. Orion is a throwback. This is a classic diner. The hostess was lovely. My waiter was attentive, generously refilling my coffee cup whenever he passed by. There was an air of calm in this diner. The people watching was great. There were people like me who were grabbing something to eat for lunch. There was also a large cadre of regulars, many of them older bachelors who didn't feel like cooking or maybe weren't good cooks. It seemed as if some of these people were there for the social interaction,, which you can't get at a fast casual restaurant. The coffee was solid and my bacon and cheese omelette was on point. I had a pleasant time warpy trip back to an earlier epoch of Manhattan.

Tucked away during peak lunch hour, Orion Diner feels like a time capsule of New York dining culture--a space where nostalgia and utility collide. The painted sky ceiling stretches above exposed brick walls, creating an ambitious yet oddly comforting attempt at atmospheric dining. Leather booths, worn to a comfortable sheen, cradle a cross-section of city life bundled in winter wear, their animated conversations blending into a soundtrack of clinking plates and hurried footsteps. The decor leans delightfully into its theme: a pastoral mural anchors one wall, while blue-tinted pendant lights cast a cool glow over formica tables. A Christmas tree stands in one corner, whimsically adorned with a rebellious red ribbon, while Santa ornaments line a display shelf like silent sentries, each tagged with handwritten notes--a charming analog system in a digital age. The crowd is quintessential New York. A man in a red jacket leafs through what might be the day's paper, others scroll on their phones, heads tucked under puffy coats and beanies. Servers weave through the chaos with practiced ease, navigating the narrow aisles as though choreographed. It's the kind of place where the ceiling reaches for the cosmos, but the vibe stays firmly, reassuringly grounded. The stone-faced walls hint at someone keeping tabs on modern design trends, but the overall feeling is borough-born comfort--a throwback to when diners were community anchors, not Instagram fodder. Orion's charm lies in its simplicity, and nowhere is this better displayed than in its food. While the plant-based bacon isn't house-made (and we'll leave that discussion for another day), the scrambled eggs are a masterclass in short-order cooking. They arrive as a butter-yellow cloud, their texture hitting that sweet spot between gossamer and substantial. Each bite dissolves with an almost custardy lightness while retaining just enough structure to catch the cascade of hot sauce and fresh-cracked pepper. In a city where $28 "farm-to-table" egg dishes have become commonplace, these eggs prove that technique, not price point, is what matters. Then there's the Swiss char-broiled burger--a study in diner fundamentals done right. The patty emerges with a textbook char, draped in cheese that melts with textural precision. It's served with the classic trinity: shredded lettuce that still carries its crunch, a pickle spear that snaps rather than surrenders, and coleslaw that knows its supporting role. The sesame-flecked bun, toasted just enough to develop character without losing its soul, completes what might be one of Manhattan's more honest burgers. In an era where restaurants compete with increasingly baroque creations, Orion reminds us that sometimes the most satisfying meals are the ones that resist reinvention, focusing instead on getting the classics exactly right. With its butter-yellow scrambled eggs and charbroiled burger as anchors, Orion Diner delivers the kind of meal that feels less like dining out and more like coming home. Then comes the cheesecake. Orion Diner's take on New York-style cheesecake is a lesson in restraint and execution. Its creamy, dense filling strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tangy--a flavor that lingers without overwhelming. The crust, sturdy but not heavy, crumbles delicately under the fork, offering a satisfying textural contrast. Topped with a bright strawberry glaze that teeters between fresh compote and syrupy nostalgia, the dessert evokes a simpler time when cheesecake wasn't a luxury but a staple of any respectable diner. Each bite melts slowly, a final, indulgent punctuation to a meal steeped in comfort and tradition. Server Mike Voumvoyrakis, the heart and soul of Orion Diner, infuses the space with his boundless enthusiasm and charm. With a Greek accent as thick as his personality, he navigates the diner like a maestro, ensuring every customer feels cared for. When a table is vacated, Mike is there in an instant, meticulously cleaning it before welcoming the next guests with a warm smile and a touch of humor. His presence is magnetic as he checks on customers with genuine interest, his thick accent adding a delightful authenticity to his conversations. Mike Voumvoyrakis embodies the spirit of Orion Diner, making every visit feel like a return to a familiar and welcoming place.

The entire experience was exactly what we were looking for. Awesome diner vibes, food was great, servers were friendly. When we walked in we had a large booth we knew it was gonna be a good meal.

I live close by to Orion. When they replaced Cosmos Diner I had the burger, which was weak. But I have to say that Orion redeemed themselves. Their Hot Open Turkey Sandwich--a diner staple--is very good. They always seem to be busy. Orion's staff is superb and attentive. Special thanks to Jose...a true pro. They even let customers linger and relax, giving Orion a real neighborhood feel. They also deliver quickly.

A real diner!!! There aren't many left these days! I just wanted a chicken salad sandwich and that's what I got. The French fries and coleslaw were phenomenal. My waiters were both professional and service was seamless. I got a brand new muffin for dessert, but I could only eat half. It's huge. The perfect New York experience. Highly recommend