DESCRIPTION: Best breakfast ever. The place is a little cramped, but it adds to its character.
DATE: 2001-11-06
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Irish Embassy, French toast specials

A Must Stop
DESCRIPTION: We don't live anywhere near O'Rourkes. In fact we live in NC and ME but when on our way up or down, we try to plan our trip to make it to O'Rourke's. The breads, their signature steamed cheesburgers, their homemade soups and anything else on the menu are simply outstanding. A treasure indeed.
DATE: 2002-06-19
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 10

Best Weekend Breakfast Anywhere
DESCRIPTION: O'Rourke's Diner has an excellent breakfast menu, though only on the weekends. During the week it is standard fare, which is still good. On weekends, however, they have a five page menu and additional daily specials. The French toast and pancakes specials are always unbelievably good. Be prepared to wait for a table if you go after 9 AM, and the wait is outside, so watch the weather.
DATE: 2002-06-29
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : specials, most omelets

Worth the Trip
DESCRIPTION: Every time we visit family in CT (we're from MI), it must include at least one stop (usually more) to O'Rourke's. We have a hard time deciding: breakfast or lunch? And once that decision has been made, an even more difficult one awaits: what to choose? Eggs Brian, steamed spinach over a slice of ham on black bread topped with eggs and mornay...or wonderful buckwheat pancakes with cranberries and pecans? What about a steamed cheeseburger, sweet potato fries, outstanding coleslaw and an egg cream? Or a tantalizing soup? Did I mention the juke box with which each booth is equipped? Where else can you listen to everything from Billy Idol to the Dixie Chicks to the Mah-Nah Mah-Mah song from Sesame Steet? Well, now perhaps you can see why we have to make more than one trip each time we visit.
DATE: 2003-05-27
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8

A Classic Northeast Diner: the Real Deal
DESCRIPTION: I go to O'Rourke's as a treat. Soak in the local flavor. Order a classic meal (eggs and toast or burger) or pour over the multi-page exotic omelet menu. I have waited in the rain (with my young kids) to get in. The cook challenged me to an omelet duel, he made an omelet on a pizza tray with everything in it, it was bigger than my head. If I could eat the monster omelet our whole party would eat free, if I could not eat it I had to do dishes. That is the Northeast Diner experience in a nutshell. That is O'Rourke's. (O'Rourke's generates a great deal of dishes.)
DATE: 2004-11-25
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : omelets

A Must Stop for the Ultimate Breakfast Experience
DESCRIPTION: Don't let the line outside the diner deter you from waiting to get in. The line says it all. The omelets are the most interesting that you'll find anywhere. Innovative and delicious. My favorite? Santa Fe. An omelet filled with black beans, cheddar cheese, and guacamole topped with chili, montery cheese, guacamole, enchilada sauce, sour cream and refried beans with homefries on the side. This is accompanied by the most wonderful homemade savory and sweet breads, freshly baked every morning. That's just one example. The extensive menu goes from simple to sublime; pretty much whatever you ever dreamed of eating in a restaurant. If you're ever near Middletown, Connecticut, off Route 9, stop and experience it.
DATE: 2004-11-28
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Santa Fe omelet

Cold Soup
DESCRIPTION: Now that Brian has warned me that with Labor Day my favorite cold soups will be disappearing I have to rave about them. Every few days Brian comes up with a new fruity combination. The last one I had was baked apple. Creamy apple soup, loaded with cinnamon flavor and, yes, it did taste amazingly like a baked apple. Some of my favorites this summer have been the plum (which in addition to the plums had whole blackberries), the peach, the strawberry, the mixed fruit, blackberry - every one a winner. Brian, have mercy, I don't know if I can wait til next summer. Throw one out there every so often just to tempt me during the cold months.
DATE: 2005-09-01
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : cold soups

Out of Business
DESCRIPTION: The Goldroc II is now closed
DATE: 2006-03-28
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8

Lobster is King
DESCRIPTION: I know you wouldn't automaticlaly think of a diner as a great place to have lobster but the Cypress has the best lobster roll anywhere. These are CT lobster rolls , no mayo just stright up with butter on the side, yum. On the weekends you can also have prime rib which really brings out the crowds. Come early on a Saturday if you want to get a seat or be prepared to wait.
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Lobster roll