Dines Family Restaurant in Oshawa
400 King St W, Oshawa, ON L1J 2J9, Canada
About
Long-running spot known for its all-day breakfasts & steak on a kaiser, serving diner & deli food.
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It's a small diner with an old feel. The food was ok. We went for breakfast and the portion sizes were large. I ordered blueberry pancakes with my meal and they were kind of wet in the center. My husband's plain pancakes were cooked just fine. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. I would return but definitely wouldn't get the blueberry pancakes again.
This is our go-to place for great food. The egg and peameal bacon breakfast is outstanding. This chef knows how to make the peameal delicious by not overcooking it. They brew their decaf coffee and homefries are great! This is such a positive, friendly, clean place to eat. You should try it!!
food is delicious, staff is friendly and it got out very fast !! :)) recommend
Love this restaurant in all its aspects. I enjoy arriving just after they've opened early in the morning and starting my day with a hearty breakfast and the newspaper. It's addictive in a way. I enjoy lunches too, and my photo shows one of my favourites. Thanks to staff for all that you do....
I grew up going to this place and am an avid defender of it despite everyone I know saying it’s awful. I never have Dines solely because I cannot convince anyone else to go there. Ordered in for just me today and it was awful and I feel silly for defending it all this time. Potatoes were HARD, undercooked Bacon was HARD, overcooked Eggs were over done to the point where 45% of the egg white was incinerated into plastic consistency. There were also egg shells in there still, yummy crunchy surprise. “Toast” was soft literally just bread with butter. Sausages were seared on the outside but barely cooked. The ham and beans were the only edible parts which non surprisingly are the only portions where COOKING isn’t compulsory. Don’t order from here unless your compost bin is super hungry that day. Brutal laziness.
More and more restaurants like Dines, which serves great food, with attentive service at a reasonable prices, are becoming a rarity. Do yourself a favor and drop in and experience for yourself a well run restaurant.
All good with our meals that we gotten from Dines today. First time here. I had looked around to find a good "home made burger" diner and I've found it. Ordered by phone but can be ordered by popular food apps too. We go the "Hockey Stick" fory grand daughter which is chicken fingers and fries. We also ordered a Ruben (smoked meat) sandwich and Canadian Burger (comes with cheddar cheese and pemeal bacon, fries and coleslaw. Onion rings on the side. Everything tasted delicious. Burger was juicy and with pemeal bacon it was so good. Smoked meat sandwich was soft and had sauerkraut and mustard. My grand daughter love the chicken fingers, normally does like any type of sauce on her food but today, she try the plum sauce and smiled (good sign she liked it). Lots of seating inside the restaurant and staff are friendly. I hope to come back again soon, so much more to try on the menu!
The coffee was alright, the toast was alright. Service wasn't bad and food came out quickly. Unfortunately the food was really greasy and stale. The home fries were soaked in oil and had a weird, hard consistency (as if they were microwaved, don't know if they were or weren't but they weren't good either way). The eggs tasted like veggie oil. The ham was really gross, like fried, oil soaked bologna. The salt shaker was sticky, as was the sugar and menu. Just wasn't worth the money. Skip.
Kid-friendliness: Yes Food
Fantastic food and service.
Been around for years, still good.
Friendly helpful staff. Fastest order and food to table in town! Amazingly fast! Has become a regular stop for a great sit down meal. Unfortunately their new 7am-3pm hours means I rarely manage to visit anymore.
Good food, well served.
Excellent food and staff, not a fancy place but fantastic regardless.
Great old school diner
The food was really tasty, and the server was quick and friendly. The place itself is really loud and not very attractive. I would go back, but probably for takeout only.
Very good food
I had eggs and sausage with home fries, the food I would have given 5 stars but my home fries were a bit undercooked. But you cant go wrong with the service. The ladies are amazing
Great food for value! Friday live lunch Jam sessions are great!
Great breakfast wraps served with home fries. A generous portion of a delicious burger fries and gravy. A famous Oshawa landmark restaurant. Food : 5/5
Nice spot. Good service Good selection Food
Best all day breakfast in Oshawa.
Have been going here since I was a kid. Sad to see the short hours, but staffing is difficult everywhere.
Went there for supper and had one of there burgers. Was very filling and tastes great!
Best Souvlaki on Bun, with fried onion and tzaziki Ive ever had
Had a great lunch with family last Friday. Two of us had breakfast, which was delicious and very filling. The third person had the cheeseburger and said it was amazing. We went out to catch up but also enjoyed the live entertainment provided. Always a good time at Dines!
Definitely will go back.
Super friendly staff, efficient service, breakfast was nice , chickpea soup is not for me. Pleasant experience , would def return!
Not my perforable taste for their types of food. I like it elsewhere. Atmosphere is daul gloomy not bright and comfortable.
Best burgers around, fries are great. Staff is friendly. Very clean.
Great place for a meal, services is really good.
This is the second time I have brought a large group (close to 50) for breakfast. The service was great and the speed of service was very impressive for such a large group. I am suprised how quick they got everyones order out. Very impressed overall - a big thank you to the owner and staff, we appreciate your efforts.
Simple fashioned family restaurant Reasonable prices Food
Fast and Friendly Service Great Food Food
Very nice family restaurant. Gr8 portions, hot meal, excellent service. Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Easy access Food : 5/5 |
Good food and service
Great breakfast.
Really lovely place, we came here first on our anniversary and have come back for every special occassion since. When we go it is usually pretty laid back (no loud music, fairly quiet, comfortable seating, and soft lighting) which I appreciate considering how loud most restaurants are. We have gotten the same waitress every time and she is always easy to get along with and good humoured. The bathrooms and tables are well maintained. The food itself it also fantastic, excellent hashbrowns, eggs, etc. Any modifications we wanted were accomedated without any hassle and we didnt have to wait long to eat. The milkshakes are also tasty. The only drawback is that the water and ice tea taste a bit off but I assume thats just the outcome of whatever the city uses for their water treament services. All in all, we will be coming back here!
Great friendly service. Great food food. And just over all best diner Ive been to in years. I highly recommend dines special breakfast.
Great food
Food was delicious as always . Service was great. Coffee was good but a little weak for me.
Was terrible! I asked for rye bread got white! Asked for sunnyside up and got overly fried rubber eggs! Not impressed at all! Hollandaise sauce was chuncky!
Always friendly servers and not long wait. Parking: Lots of parking spots Food : 4/5 |
Friendly service and the food has always been delicious.
Hamburgers are very good. Nice family restaurant.
Always friendly service and the food never disappoints!!!!
Very disappointing Waitress was lovely food was greasy with funny oil taste even on French toast We didnt finish and wont be back Also bathrooms and floors extremely dirty Waste of money! Skip the breakfast
Relaxed atmosphere, comforting food and a great place to catch up with friends. A staple for my friends.
Dines is a real old fashioned diner! Great and friendly staff: Christine and Heather are both amazing. Quick and friendly service :) Homemade hamburgers are delicious and big enough for anyones appetite! Breakfasts are classic diner fair and great atmosphere.
Wonderful staff and good food!
The food here is absolutely delicious. I ve tried their breakfast, as well as several other lunch and dinner menu items and everything has been amazing! The atmosphere is great, and the staff is always really nice. Additionally, their prices are extremely reasonable! Edited to add: I did take off a star, as the prices have recently gone up more than 15%. I understand inflation is a thing that is affecting everyone; but even the breakfast special is $14 before tax now, when halibut house has a $5 breakfast and is across the street. I m pretty disappointed in the prices skyrocketed, as we won t be able to frequent dines nearly as often.
Food is good, staff are very nice. Prices are reasonable. Very friendly place, never feel rushed.
Awesome
Good
Went here with my mother in law and some friends. Service was really good and our waitress was nice. Unfortunately, me and my partner didnt really enjoy our food. Our garlic bread was burnt and the chicken in my chicken ceaser salad wrap was burnt. Fries were ok. Might not be the best place for lunch.
After climbing the stairs of the CN Tower in 21 minutes and 30 seconds, I stopped here on the way home for some French toast and bacon. It was the perfect food for a long morning!
Rare to find a true home cooked meal. I love this place. Usually order through Uber but the food is always fresh and hot. Reminds me of how my mom used to do it.
I love this place. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The food OMG the food was so good I had breakfast there. I had bacon eggs and I believe with home fries with some toast and coffee. Now the coffee was fresh and it was good. It wasn t too hot ot too cold and the free refills are a blessing
We visited this restaurant for Mothers Day breakfast, it was my first time here. Nice place, great service. However, the food was just ok. Portions were good but lacking flavor, there were 2 hairs in one plate and my husbands fish and chips was a frozen fish pattie. Not what we were expecting, I guess. I would probably go to Dines again, just to see if it was a bad day for food or their normal. Like I said, service and the environment were great! Maybe I am just a foodie with very high standards!
Still a mainstay in Shwa Valley
Great food! Kid-friendliness: Very kid friendly! Pancakes with sprinkles Food : 5/5 |
Service is always,good as the food
Great staff. Fast service. Good menu choices. Parking: Many spaces on level entrance. No steps. Food : 5/5 |
Great food fair prices. Been going there for years
Good food
Food wasnt the best and booths were small.
Amazing food & service !
Service was friendly, offered great suggestions. HUGE portions for the price. My wife and I love it
First off, Table was sticky and grimey. Bacon was overcooked and home fries were sagy potatoes that felt like fried potatoes after they were mashed first. Asked for over easy and received over medium. Disappointed as I wanted to slush my toast in my egg yoke but if that were the only issue, I would have been fine. My companion happened look in the direction of the cook and watched him stuffing his face while preparing orders... SMH! Best part of dines was the waitress. Checked up on the table in good intervals . Polite and friendly. I consider myself a breakfast connoisseur and I dont know how this place was recommended to me by a few people. Food wasnt great, price was on the high side for breakfast but like I said, waitress did a great job considering what she had to work with. one more thing, the coffee did taste pretty good as well. As we are on a quest to open a breakfast spot, we did learn what not to do at Dines.
Thanks all sandwich is good smoked meat standby is clubhouse and fries thanks all
Food was ok only in emergancy id eat
Wow great food and staff
Servers are super nice ladies, good management, and great food.
Very good service and the food amazing
Excellent
So this place is your old school type of diner, think the 1980s if you are old enough to remember that. Booth seating some table and chairs, but mostly breakfast booths. The service is quick, seat your self. You walk in and drinks are there in about a minute and you better be ready to eat because your food is coming at you fast. This places all day breakfast is the best. Its real bacon none of that thin junk stuff. Real eggs not this carton of pre whipped eggs. You get the idea. Price wise, its probably 30 bucks for two people on the dines special. Its never been packed with no seating. Parking: Plenty of parking all free. Kid-friendliness: Kids menu, plus coloring place mats. Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair and handicap parking available.
Great place! Food is really good, lots of variety, friendly staff, atmosphere is comfortable with that old diner feel. I will definitely be back.
The best pemeal bacon sandwich Ive ever had!
Authentic diner feel with friendly service, good portions, and reasonable prices. Parking: Adjoining lot with at grade access to the entrance.
The steak on the Kaiser was wonderful, and reminded me of the way my grandmother used to make them.
Food was quick staff was great .. mom and pops feel to it can t go wrong
Overall it was good, I had the poutine and burger, which was excellent
Great place, Awesome Food
Fresh food, reasonable prices and friendly staff. Update Nov 2023. The server today must have had a bad day because I feel it was taken out on me. She asked how I liked my eggs. I said fried. She asked me how again. I tried telling her, but then said she didnt need instructions. I dont know how many ways an egg can be fried. I just know I like a fried egg. Im not going through a good time right now with my wifes health. A fried egg please. They fried it, thats all I cared about there.
The food was great first off! Great job to the cooks!! Bacon was cooked perfectly!! Atmosphere was old and out of shape it needs some love!! The service on the other hand was below average! When I walked in there was no one to greet but when I found the server they then greeted me and were extremely friendly at the time! When my company arrived she came to take our order, they order their food and said they would like to change the fries to a poutine, the server then uncomfortably paused and took a moment to say umm well that s going to cost you more just so you know with a rude tone then smiles after?!?! I go to order my food, now I order the jumbo dog with and I quote from the menu with all the above and fries for 3.99 she said ok and took the menus, when we get our food my company s food is right but I m missing all the above (cheese and bacon) so I bring it up to the server and she gets very defensive and sharply says it s 3.99 extra just for fries and it cost a extra $2 for cheese and bacon . This was how it was written, under there burgers on the last page of the menu! Jumbo dog 8.99 With cheese or bacon 9.99 With all the above and fries for +3.99 So she charged me 8.99+3.99+2(bacon & cheese) The point is I don t expect to be treated like that and charged extra for it, when she could have been polite and earned a greater tip the the extra $2 she charged me!
Was looking for a place with a traditional clubhouse and this did not disappoint! Friendly staff and true diner style food. We enjoyed our lunch. Thank You!
Really like this restaurant, used to go years ago as a kid and its still good food to this day! My burger and fries were delicious
Good place to dine and pick up...breakfast and dinner.
I used to come here frequently on weekends. Food quality was decent, big portions, and fast service. During the week food quality is terrible. Sausage was not cooked. Still pink and raw made me lose appetite. Toast was burnt. Bacon was cold and fatty. Most likely will not come back due to todays experience
Always fast and friendly service and a good breakfast to boot!
Great service, food was very good. Staff super friendly.
Stopped in while in the area randomly. Had my food in about 30 seconds, eggs were perfect. Recommend, faster than any drive thru for sure and way better food!
Good food great service.
I absolutely recommend this diner if you are hungry and want good food. My son and I went to this restaurant for the first time.The clubhouse with real turkey was amazing as was the fries and coleslaw. My son opted for a burger and he gave it 4 out of 5 stars simply because he would have preferred pickles to relish. The only negative thing I would say is the bathI absolutely recommend this diner if you are hungry and want good food. My son and I went to this restaurant for the first time.The clubhouse with real turkey was amazing as was the fries and coleslaw. My son opted for a burger and he gave it 4 out of 5 stars simply because he would have preferred pickles to relish. The only negative thing I would say is the bathrooms really need to be updated. Otherwise I strongly recommend you go to this restaurant and enjoy the.great food. Bravo!!!rooms really need to be updated. Otherwise I strongly recommend you go to this restaurant and enjoy the.great food. Bravo!!!
Friendly service and good breakfast for lunch
Excellent service, good and prices.
Lovely staff and great food. Went on a Friday morning and it wasnt too busy so we could have a nice breakfast catching up. Will go back again for sure.
I, had a steak on a Kaiser. It was the worst thing I, ever ate almost $ 14.00
Its been in oshawa forever! Love this place, great food
Good food . Amazing employees. I just wish it wasnt so expensive
Very friendly and appropriately priced. One of my fav local spots
Excellent food, price, and service
Great food, great service. The staff are top notch. Have been going there for years.
Excellent service and food cant go wrong here
Good service
They offer a fresh fruit bowl at a great price
Christina was so friendly and attentive! The food was outstanding!
Great food with quick service.
Pretty good! Nice little greasy spoon. Not too expensive, and my friend and I enjoyed our time. Will be back.
DINES is my go to for real food quality and quantity Since I was kid, I always craved Dines Same location, still awesome food Remember when Dines was a Streetcar in that same parking lot
I love coming to dines. Mike the owner is a champ. Treats everyone like family.
Food and service are great !!!
wife loves the steak on a bun..
Actually...my hamburger was way overcooked and tasted terrible.
Awesome breakfast. Great service.
Great food decent price for the amount you get fast and friendly service we will definitely be back my kids already know what they want the next time we go thats worth 5 stars all on its own.
Love all the workers there great place great prices
Excellent breakfast with good service Vegetarian options: They had a few Vegetarian options. Delicious Parking: Lots of parking in a good sized lot on the property Kid-friendliness: They have options for the little ones. Wheelchair accessibility: My mother in law is physically challenged and had no problems getting in or out and the staff is very accommodating.
Always good food
A definite staple for food and service.
Food and service were excellent- will definitely be going back. Highly recommend. Parking: Lots of parking.
Great choice of menu with a reasonable price and feels great being there.
Always consistent for breakfast, great service and attentive with the coffee!
Awesome all day breakfast, great service, great prices.
The food was delicious and well definitely be going back.
My kid was raving for pouting so obviously I introduced my 4 year old to some serious poutine
Great atmosphere, friendly waitresses and good food.
Wheelchair accessibility: You got to try this place wow the food is great and so is the services
Very friendly and great service. The food was delicious. Will be going there more frequently. Parking: Was lots of parking went at 7am when they open.
Quick service, standard diner menu. Friday lunchtime visit, open mic in progress.
Fries with gravy and a coffee...$12.50 plus tip $15
When you arrive they tell you can sit anywhere you like. This restaurant usually has customers every time you arrive. The service is fairly good. Atmosphere not the greatest though. The food always good. Parking: Parking availability is really good Wheelchair accessibility: Plenty of room between the tables to maneuver
First time there..Excellent breakfast, service and price.
Love this place. Mike treats everyone like family!
Great place to be and enjoy a great meal
Homely feel with good breakfast. Loved it
Great place for food. Have only had lunch or dinner here. Have always had a great experience here. Very good food portions for the price. Havent left hungry or dissatisfied. Keep up the good work. Food
Ive been around my fair share of breakfast places. I am very proud to say Ive found a new breakfast home. Food prices are awesome. The tables are clean. The staff is friendly and quick as hell. Until something else major happens Ill be here for my breakfast at least once or twice a week.
Everything a traditional diner should be.
The service was very good and the food was very good ill go back Parking: Lots of parking. Food is really good and well priced.ill be going back Food : 4/5 |
Dines has always been a fantastic family restaurant.. Instead of a photo of a dish just served, which tells one nothing about the actual quality.. Here, an empty plate of fries and gravy....very delicious...examples that the dish was very good.. Real, sliced potato and a real, very good gravy with a full flavour and seasonings.. I especially enjoy Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes, but, today just fries and gravy...and if I leave a plate bare, then, that evidences how much I enjoyed it... So, I submit my photo of a dish much enjoyed!! Ill see you again, soon, Dines!! Nya:wenh-Thank you
Absolutely Amazing Family restaurant, been going here for 14 years and counting. Kid-friendliness: This place is so Family oriented and when your there they treat you like Family.
Its the quickest place to severe me my food im mind blown
1st time! Server was great. Food was delicious. Live music lovely.