Why is Dizzy's always packed? (9th street and 8th avenue)
Subject: Why is Dizzy's always packed? (9th street and 8th avenue)
Went for brunch, long wait for seats, food pretty bad, cash only....why does this place always seem to attract so many people? Does it only have the appearance of being packed due to its size?Never had a good experience there so I'm curious what everyone else thinks. I'm willing to admit I could be wrong about this place as I've been there only three times, but it kind of sucks, no?
Comments
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I've always wondered the same thing, as my experiences there have been similar to yours. With 7th and 5th Avenues offering other options, one would think that people would go elsewhere. My only theory is laziness and unwillingness to walk a few extra blocks for better food and service.
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They do get people who are local to the place. I have friends who have a "breakfast club" there once a week. I have gone with a few times and the company is good enough to warrant better food, IMO.
About 10 years ago they catered a party for us and the food was ok. And since it was just ok I did some research and since then any major I Don't Want To Cook party.. we get the food from Rocco's. That food and the entire experience is so much more than ok.
I won't knock any local place that has sustained it this long. They have their customer base is all I can say. -
I get off the F Train right there several times a week and am always tempted to stop in for dinner since its right there and looks like it should be decent, but everytime I've been there - once every year or two for the last 7-8 years - its always been disappointing.
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Man, I will never unlock this mystery. Crappy, overpriced food, surly waitstaff, no atmosphere. It IS an oasis in a weird little pocket of no other commerce (within just a couple of blocks, at least), but still. Haven't been for a couple of years. Such a disappointment, I agree.
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It is a good place to sit down and read the paper. I sometimes go there to "rest" after a shop at the coop or some other Park Slope adventure...on my way home to ProHo. The coffee is yuk and I can't eat the food there but...it is there and I feel comfortable. This is the 7th Avenue shop.
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I think it's the large menu and fact that the coffee is....potable. Those factors plus the absence of anything really exciting in the immediate vicinity make it seem like it has potential, if I could just figure out what to order.
In other words, if insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results each time, I go to Dizzy's because I'm crazy. (And I'm crazy about once per year.)
The 7th Ave Donut Shop is about as good, with a similar-sized menu but much more affordable, AND it has atmosphere. -
Subject: Re: Why is Dizzy's always packed? (9th street and 8th avenue
bradedward wrote: it kind of sucks, no?
No. -
Subject: in defense of Dizzy's
I wind up at Dizzy's maybe 3 times a year.
Back when I volunteered with BFT while juggling school and a real job, I went more frequently. In the middle of the afternoon they aren't crowded, the waitstaff always smile, and I could have coffee and eggs and toast all by myself and not feel weird for having breakfast alone at 4pm. (and maybe even doodle a little on the butcher paper with the crayons - it's a nice little stress reliever.)
Is their food stellar? No. But the chocolate-stuffed french toast is tasty.
Do they pack out disproportionately? Yes. Especially at regular mealtimes.
Are the staff super-friendly? Nope. But they've never been rude any time I visited, either solo or with a group.
They're just a kitchy little local diner for pete's sake. They pack out with loyal fans and people who assume any place with a line must be GREAT. If you've never been, the best way to get a good experience is to go a little later or a little earlier - avoid the regular mealtime rush hours, and you'll have a better time. -
they give you free muffins at breakfast
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^^Whoopty doo!
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lnelson wrote: I think it's the large menu and fact that the coffee is....potable. Those factors plus the absence of anything really exciting in the immediate vicinity make it seem like it has potential, if I could just figure out what to order.
Dizzys is far from exciting, it's slightly fancier'ed up diner food. not very different from Purity IMo which is very nearby
In other words, if insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results each time, I go to Dizzy's because I'm crazy. (And I'm crazy about once per year.)
The 7th Ave Donut Shop is about as good, with a similar-sized menu but much more affordable, AND it has atmosphere. -
It's a Diner/Coffee Shop. What do you expect? Haven't been in awhile but I like their China Girl salad.
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eggcream wrote: It's a Diner/Coffee Shop. What do you expect? Haven't been in awhile but I like their China Girl salad.
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Their corned beef hash is pretty good if you're in the mood for a gutbomb....
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I don't love the place, but it beats the hell out of Raintree's (formerly the only restaurant on that block).
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for all the complaining about shops closing; you'd think folks wouldn't be so hard ass about this place. the food is good to better than avg. the wait staff habla ingles and is quick on the refills. i can sit alone unmolested and read the paper. it's been on the corner for years, and it should be. hmm..maybe one of you should call 311! or the nypd! or write an offical complaint cuz it ain't perfect!
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LongTimeSloper wrote: [quote=lnelson]
Dizzys is far from exciting, it's slightly fancier'ed up diner food. not very different from Purity IMo which is very nearby
The 7th Ave Donut Shop is about as good, with a similar-sized menu but much more affordable, AND it has atmosphere.
Let me add my voice to those who like Dizzy's. I can only speak about Breakfast - and for that, it is - to me - head and shoulders above e.g. Purity.
Purity is nice bland diner food - not bad, but about as exciting (and seasoned) as cardboard. I prefer Donuts, which though it isn't as solid, at least has some greasy goodness going. Purity is OK, but for breakfast I feel I can do almost as well with two eggs and some pancake batter at home.
Dizzy's is jazzier in every way - atmosphere (bustling), seasoning (seasoned!), choices (limited but unusual). It's also open earlier than most Brunch places (as is Purity), and has outdoor seating in summer.
Places like 12th Street Grill and Stone Park are even better IMHO, and Applewood yet another few notches above that level.
Hope that stokes the fires :twisted: -
It's bad. Period. The food sucks. The coffee is even worse. Service abysmal. Walk a couple of blocks to find something decent. The herd mentality that packs this s**thole only perpetrates overpriced, bad food and service. The only reason I can see that people would want to go there is that there's plenty of room to jam the sidewalk with your damn strollers and places to park your mutt.
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I think it's passable. Little Purity is flat-out disgusting. I don't understand the crowds in front of Dizzy's on the weekends though (unless the outdoor seating and watching people going to and from the park is what you're after). I think 12th Street makes a pretty good brunch.....minus the dog and stroller element (which is a plus in my book)
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rosweed wrote: It's bad. Period. The food sucks. The coffee is even worse. Service abysmal. Walk a couple of blocks to find something decent. The herd mentality that packs this s**thole only perpetrates overpriced, bad food and service. The only reason I can see that people would want to go there is that there's plenty of room to jam the sidewalk with your damn strollers and places to park your mutt.
Haha. okay you win. Great response.
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We live a few steps from it so we occasionally wind up there (maybe once a month at most)...i don't think it's great but i certainly don't think it's abysmal by any stretch. I mainly have breakfast there or the occasional turkey burger or china girl salad. that's about it and for that, it's fine. I don't think you can even compare it to places like Purity. They have their place but that's essentially a greasy spoon
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I think Dizzy's gets the business because it's half-way decent and it's got a location without much competition. There's no doubt that 12th Street is better food but it's in a different class and it doesn't have the kids menu thing going for it or the loose and easy vibe. If there was more competition within a block or two with the same basic formula, you'd see those lines dwindle a bit or sure because the food certainly isn't equal to the lines.
But abysmal? That's a bit harsh, in my opinion. But I'm only one man!!
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Stoney.. IMO.. What you said is a perfect evaluation of a neighborhood place.
Lucky location in a neighborhood and even if food is mediocre the place can sustain business.
Nothing wrong with that! -
I've enjoyed every meal I've eaten at Dizzy's. Their artichoke dip is delicious!
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Dizzy's is not my favorite, but agree with others that they have a good locations and decent fair.
What confuses me is why people are willing to wait 30+ minutes for a too small table during brunch hours on weekends when there are tons of other places to go? When we went to try it out during the weekend brunch rush and were told 45 mintues, we just went to one of the many other tasty places with no wait and where we weren't sitting in the laps of those next to us. -
Location, location, location.
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Duffy'sSis wrote: Location, location, location.
I am sure many people have said that but I remember Bernard Meltzer who was a radio broadcaster saying those words 40 years ago. He also kept saying that the "next" generation would be paying a million dollars for a house. Yeah he under estimated that price! -
Flexichick wrote: I think it's passable. Little Purity...
What's with naming a food establishment "Little Purity"? It's like opening a doctors' practiced called "Slight Health." I get that it's an offshoot of an original "Purity," but the double entendre has always bothered me! -
I never would have dated a woman named, "Purity", but "Little Purity" would have sounded quite promising! "Negligible Purity" would have been better yet, of course...
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booklaw wrote: I never would have dated a woman named, "Purity", but "Little Purity" would have sounded quite promising! "Negligible Purity" would have been better yet, of course...
I call this place "Impurity" in my mind all the time. I'm dirty like that -
Bring back Benny's!!!
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