Delaney’s Diner | Facebook | T: @delaneysdiner | IG: @delaneysdiner
5916 Westerville Rd. (map it!)
Westerville, OH 43081
(614) 776-5788
Open Mon-Fri, 6:30a-2:30p; Sat & Sun, 7a-3p
The space at 5916 Westerville Road has a lot of strong memories for us. It used to be the home of The Best Breakfast & Sandwiches. If we were regulars anywhere, it was The Best. We knew all the servers, we knew the kitchen staff, we knew Tom and Jan, the owners – and they knew us and the boys. It was a really special time for us and for the development of the blog. After they sold the place, the new owner didn’t really run it the same, and it closed shortly thereafter.
So it was exciting to see the space re-born as Delaney’s Diner, and we welcomed the chance to re-visit it on assignment for the Columbus Dispatch. Check out my review from December here!
The Delaney’s owners have made some major upgrades to the space, including new decor and flooring, shifting the host’s stand, and a big line of red booths…
…and, most notably, building out into the adjacent storefront. They’ve essentially doubled the size of the restaurant.
When you walk in the front door you get a peek into the busy kitchen, and can see breakfast dishes rolling out.
Their breakfast menu, too, echos The Best’s greatest hits, while providing some new additions.
One of my favorite dishes from The Best was their country fried steak. I’m very picky about this dish, partly because it’s a huge wallop of calories, and if I’m going to eat it, it’s gotta be good. Delaney’s version – the Big Daddy’s Breakfast – lived up to the memories.
The steak was tender and nicely breaded, the gravy a little chunky and well-seasoned, the eggs done properly to order, and the hash browns were crispy.
Hash browns, people! Always choose them over home fries.
Side note: I’ve had some folks tell me their Indy 500, a breaded and fried pork tenderloin, is also great. That’s my order next time I’m in.
Delaney’s also features the fun Breakfast Conewich, essentially a breakfast sandwich in a breaded cone. It’s fun and well executed. The cone tasted like a Pillsbury’s crescent dough.
Solid work on the challah French toast. Soft and custardy, little mug of syrup, lovely side of bacon.
The Roy Lee’s breakfast casserole isn’t a huge portion, but it’s priced a little cheaper. It’s a simple bake of eggs, cheese, sausage, mushrooms, and croutons, plus a side of those crispy browns.
There’s a lot more to discover on future visits: omelets, corned beef hash (another classic at The Best, so we’ll see how Delaney’s compares), biscuits and gravy, pancakes. The pricing is pretty spot-on for a diner, and they even have a $3.99 early bird special before 7:30 a.m. each day.
While I still mourn The Best and the great company there, I’m happy to see that Delaney’s seems to be doing well, and that that area of Westerville has a cozy diner to call home again.
Disclaimer: this meal was paid for as part of a Columbus Dispatch review. Photos and opinions here are my own.
