Pearl Diner

"This diner has famously avoided urban renewal and now stands dwarfed by skyscrapers in its Wall Street neighborhood. The welcome Greek pneumatos of the place results in dishes like shrimp Aegean, souvlaki platters, and pork gyro pitas, but all the standards are ably represented, with a sideline in stuffed baked potatoes." - Melissa McCart, Robert Sietsema

"Pearl has stood out since the 1960s in the high-rise-ridden Financial District, serving up big breakfast plates in a tiny, quintessential diner space. During the week it opens at 8 a.m., and nearby office workers start filing in soon after for a morning meal. The menu offers more than 40 burgers, but stick to a classic cheeseburger or bacon burger, with fries. Don’t expect frills." - Eater Staff

"If you want to start the day someplace very low-key, get breakfast at Pearl Diner. Between the swivel stools, booths with rips covered in duct tape, and regulars screaming across the room about their coffee and tuna fish sandwiches to go, it feels like things haven’t changed much since this old-school diner opened more than 50 years ago. The huge menu ranges from omelets and pancakes to triple-decker sandwiches and shrimp marinara. If you come in the morning, try the big, fluffy belgian waffles with eggs and bacon. For lunch, get one of the more than 40 types of burgers." - kenny yang, neha talreja, hannah albertine

"Pearl Diner's big neon sign stands out in the sea of skyscrapers in FiDi, with the word “Diner” lighting up the street at night. It closed for a bit after Superstorm Sandy, briefly worrying fans of the spot, but ultimately returning to its glory. The standalone restaurant opened in the '60s and still maintains the look of it inside." - Eater Staff

"In the middle of FiDi, this stand-alone diner opened in the 1960s and is one of the last of its kind. If you’re looking for a quintessential New York experience with classic diner food, this is it. They didn’t allow pictures inside so you’ll have to stop in, have a patty melt, and see for yourself!" - Paperless Post