PAAuthor's Reviews

Entertaining, and the food's OK too

Ellen's Stardust Diner serves what most diners serve: soups, sandwiches, salads, an occasional full dinner or two. But its location, near the heart of New York City's Theater District, is distinctly undiner-like. So is its entertainment. The Stardust is the home of Broadway's singing waiters. They'll take an order, deliver lunch or dinner to your table, recommend a dessert, and between it all hoist a microphone and belt out a song karaoke-style for assembled patrons. About 20 singers, mostly young men and women looking for their break into theater or supplementing the stage income they already earn, are on duty in the Stardust during operating hours. Most are vocally talented, although some more so than others. The restaurant, at the corner of West 51st Street and Broadway, just a half-block from The Gershwin Theater and several others, has a capacity of about 250 people on two floors. Lunch at the Stardust, consisting of sandwich plated with fries and a pickle, beverage and dessert, costs about $20 per person. The food is acceptable, even good, but certainly not gourmet. Service on a late Saturday afternoon in July 2008 was very fast ... a commendable attribute in the city. But at The Stardust you're really paying for atmosphere and entertainment. The waiters sing at your table, at tables nearby, from an elevated runway between banks of tables in the center of the dining room, even seated atop the bar at the front of the room. A few tables also can be found on the sidewalk outside; most diners want to be in. Photographs are allowed, even encouraged. If lacking a camera, the staff will sell you one for $9.

Reviewed on: August 10, 2008