One of the best diners in US is in an Upstate NY train car, ranking finds

Spencertown, N.Y. — A refurbished train car off a quiet country road in Upstate New York offers more than a hot, delicious breakfast.

Hungry customers who stop by the family-owned eatery in a vintage roadside dining car saved from the scrapyard in Connecticut can boast about eating at one of the best-rated diners in America.

Dan’s Diner in Specertown, a pastoral hamlet in the northern Hudson Valley, has been named one of New York’s best diners by Love Food, a digital magazine that dishes on great restaurants, foolproof recipes and more. The other New York diner that landed on the list was Ellen’s Stardust Diner, an iconic New York City restaurant on Broadway.

The ranking by Love Food features the best diner in every state. New York, California, Florida and Texas — big states and big foodie destinations — each had two diners featured on the list, which was compiled from user reviews, awards and Love Food writers’ eating experiences.

Dan's Diner, Spencertown, New York — Dan's Diner, at 1005 RT-203 in Chatham, has been named the best diner in Upstate New York in a ranking by Love Food. The restored 1925 roadside diner is filled with vintage decor and is housed next to a red barn and windmill. Photo: Michael Wexler | @wexstasy on InstagramPhoto: Michael Wexler | @wexstasy on Instagram

The eatery that is now Dan’s Diner is a revamped 1925 Jerry O’Mahoney roadside dining car, according to the diner. It was originally called the Durham Diner and once fed residents in Durham, Connecticut.

The Durham Diner was set to be scrapped when Dan Rundell rescued it and brought it 100 miles north to its new home in Upstate New York.

After 12 years of restoration work, Dan’s Diner opened in 1993 on State Route 203 next to a neat red barn and a windmill. The beloved eatery is now managed by Rundell’s son.

“This treasured dining cart is a real piece of Americana,” Love Food wrote in its ranking. “These days, the cozy spot is loved for its gorgeous vintage interior decorated with quirky memorabilia, and locals praise the warm and homey feel, generous portions and unmatched service.”

Instagram is filled with photos from locals and travelers who stop at Dan’s Diner while passing through Columbia County — delighting about everything from the diner’s stuffed french toast and fresh-squeezed lemonade to its frosted windows and vintage decor.

“From the perfectly crisp bacon to the fluffy French toast, the all-day breakfast plates are a triumph here,” Love Food wrote. “The croissant breakfast sandwiches and chili dogs also get rave reviews.”

Dan’s Diner is housed at 1005 State Route 203 in Spencertown. The diner is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday.