By Rohan:

Let’s face it, no matter how much you love its neon signs and Broadway plays, Times Square will always be the epitome of tourism. It’s hard to get around without bumping into a family taking a picture on the famous steps or a kid skipping happily with a Toys R’ Us bag. If you want to join some New Yorkers for classic American fare and some good tunes, you have to hit up Ellen’s Stardust Diner.

The diner is a bit off the beaten path but is still a stone’s throw away from Times Square. It sports a classic silver diner appearance with records, old photographs, and electric guitars plastered all over the walls.

So what’s different about Ellen’s that makes it stand out from the run-of-the-mill silver diners you can find practically everywhere? Four words: dinner and a show. Ellen’s puts a whole new spin on entertaining its patrons by allowing its waiters to burst into song at random points during your meal. Sometimes their skits are planned, other times, it’s pure improv. Either way, it’s a great way to enjoy a great Sandwich or dig into an enormous ice cream sundae.

Overall, Ellen’s Stardust Diner excels in ambiance, making you feel as if you’ve been warped back to the 1950’s. The food is standard American cuisine with nothing too special to make it stand out. The star of the show here is well… the show itself. All the waiters are aspiring Broadway actors and have plenty of singing experience to make you screaming for an encore.

To check out the diner, visit

http://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/