This place has become my go to diner. The staff are always friendly and helpful. The menu is varied and they will cook to order. The smoker (out front) draws you in with that wonderful smell and ribs that come out are amazing. Give them a try!
Suffice it to say, the diner food is amazing! Exactly what I need every few months. The corned beef hash, eggs over easy and a side of 1 giant pancake and endless cup of coffee. I wanted the sausage and gravy but I had no room left in my tummy. Im a Navy veteran and Michelle made me feel like a VIP (in a very respectful way). This diner is ALL about gathering with friends regardless of you politics and good food! They give back to their community and to Service members. Missing home? ... come here! #payitforward #goodfoodgoodfellowship#29DinerStopSuicide#diner#TipGenerously
Great family-fare BBQ, served by a classy family plus one really lovely waitress (see pic) who is too shy (angelic?) to give her name. Try the brisket (my daughters choice) with a delish milkshake on the side. The pulled pork is utterly to die for! Breakfast choices (served all day?) are always freshly prepared and will revive your wearied soul. Owner John Wood takes pride in being a community-supporter, and his personable charitable character is apparent all throughout the diner. Sit outside under heaven on earth, just be wary of the smokers (meat smokers, lol!) and the occasional noisy traffic. Inside is another world itself, like a museum. Once you try this Fairfax institution, you will come again and again. Bring the family! 🙏✝️⚜️💛😀
Holy moly, that was one of the best meals I have had in ages!!! The hospitality is warm, thoughtful, and the inviting. We are adding 29 Diner to our regular restaurant rotation. Loved absolutely everything about our experience and am so happy seeing small business owners make such tangible contributions in our community!! Im totally here for it!
A great business! The owners of this business give back to the community and Vets in a fantastic way while providing great food for a fair value to the patrons. This is an extraordinary place!
Enjoyable people that go out of their way to make you feel welcome. The food is better than good and generous portions.
Super yummy as always! The ribs are just how I like them, well trimmed with very little fat, fall off the bone tender. The server was wonderful! Funny, helpful, answered all my off the wall questions (including every ingredient in the meatloaf). Plus this place does good stuff in the community. Definitely recommend
Great service, great food, great prices, great cause! Dont just go to eat, go to give a little extra back to those who fought for our right to have it. Also, get the pieces. They make them fresh.
First off, the waitress is just an amazing person. If I could adopt her, I would. She made us feel at home and I smiled from the moment she said hello.Secondly, the food is insanely amazing. Everything made from scratch. I asked about the green beans and when I asked if it was a #5 can(5lb can), the look I got was hilarious, followed by we get them fresh, grill them, and they still have a little crunch. The home fries were actually hand cut potatoes and not frozen hash browns like some places. The potato salad was kosher. The honey mustard was handmade, you can taste it. My husband and I got bbq plates and neither of us could finish them bc it was so much food and so good.Thirdly, they are doing amazing things. They raise money and donate for amazing causes. When I asked if they took regular donations, not just money, she said absolutely and when I asked what they would take, she said whatever we donated. I asked if she had any ideas of what would be needed, she just said to text the owner(whos number is on the signs inside-pic included) and he would have any and all information about it.All in all, I think my husband and I found our new favorite place.
A pillar of the Fairfax community! I cant believe I grew up here and this was my first time visiting. Incredible atmosphere; you really feel like youre somewhere special, and youre treated special by everyone working. Michelle was incredible and made a great off-menu recommendation as a substitute for something that was sold out. The kitchen staff were great and SO fast. Portion sizes are generous, fresh, and hot! We will definitely be back to try out so much more of the menu. I cant get over how nice everyone was, and I love all their philanthropic endeavors: feeding the community, supporting the local homeless and domestic violence shelters, and mental health awareness for veterans. Please support this place!
Havent been here since 1993. I have no doubt the coffee is still the best around! Pancakes the size of manhole cover….... Just a nice slice of Fairfax!
The 29 Diner is the size of a school bus with a kitchen added on the back plus a large smoker behind that. We stopped on a whim for take out which seemed to be the main type of orders although there are a few tables to sit and eat inside and some picnic tables outside. I must admit, the portions of pulled chicken were huge! As was the serving of onion rings! The barbeque was tasty. The best part was the waitress, Michelle (I think thats her name), she was amazing! A constant dance in motion of taking orders, answering the phone, running back to the kitchen to drop off or pick up orders, charging your credit card, and serving the customers. She was kind and sociable, seemingly unhurried in the face of an overwhelming amount of work. We noticed that this place supported a Boy Scott Eagle Project. This place is definitely worth stopping for take out, and, if you dont mind the cramped space inside, a place to sit and eat but Id recommend the picnic tables outside if the weather is good.
Owner, employees, and local swag on the walls make the restaurant feel like a family run business. Food served fast. Portions are good. Thanks!
I had the barbeque with eggs from breakfast menu. It was delicious. Great place for all day breakfast. We will be back because my grown kids sleep in late and love breakfast so this will be a great place for them.
Amazing, amazing, amazing. Steak and eggs were scrumptious and the biscuits and sausage gravy were delicious. All the meat is smoked to perfection. Service was impeccable. Michelle was perfect and wonderful. Lastly, if you skip out on dessert you are making a monumental, life altering, mistake. Peanut butter and vanilla. I needed a nap after this meal. Worth every penny. On top of all of that, they love veterans and genuinely care about our wellbeing. Will be back again.
They dont heat or nuke food here, they actually cook. Good place with great food. Love the outdoor seating.
Small cozy little diner. Despite growing up in Fairfax I just visited here for the first time!Came with my dad and Im glad we did. The service was incredibly good. We never found ourselves lacking coffee or water and I saw waiters chatting with regulars and non-regulars alike with great interest.The food was pretty good, standard diner fare. Nothing that really blew me away but, it was good nonetheless. Pretty significant portions so expect to leave full.Definitely one of the better places for breakfast food in Fairfax and it certainly doesnt hurt that they support a veterans program to prevent suicide.
An Icon. Great food!
29 Diner is my favorite restaurant, not only for the food (which is excellent, try the barbecue and the burgers), but also for the staff and the owners. 29 is operated by some of the genuinely nicest, most considerate people it has ever been my pleasure to know. I have been coming here for years and wholeheartedly recommend it to absolutely anyone and everyone.My only criticism is that they stopped doing the country-fried steak burger, but the fried egg and bacon burger is a more than adequate substitute.
Great food! Ive not been disappointed with anything made here.
Food is great people very nice
Love this place. Their bbq bowls are really good. The setting is authentic and the service is great. Every time I visit here I leave satisfied.
Good bbq that had good amount of sauce. the meat had great smoked flavor and was good on its own or with sauce. would come again!
What a local treasure! Great service and classic food for a great price. It is very fun to eat here and they do all sorts of local service and mission in the community.
This place is AMAZING! It doesnt look like much from the outside. But when you get inside everyone is very friendly, service is great and the food is fantastic! The owner (I think?) is very hands on and makes sure everything and everyone is taken care kf and helps his staff. I have been here 2 mornings in a row now and I will definitely come back again.
The food here is good. Home cooking done with love. If you want some great, local diner food, this is the place to go in Fairfax. The service is very friendly as well so please tip well. They work really hard to provide a great experience with good food. The only reason they get 4 stars is because the ribs were kinda small but the flavor was great. I recommend their pulled pork and any of their sandwiches.
Great food but the host & table busser got strong armed into waiting outside tables as the waitress inside just stood behind the counter not looking very busy. I should have tipped him cash under the table but I didnt have cash.
My husband and I first time visiting. The food was good. The only complaint I have is they need to fix the air conditioning.
The food was really good and there was no wait time but they seem understaffed. Me and my girlfriend felt we were kind of forgotten about.
Rustic, small town, classic and timeless ambiance with no nonsense hearty breakfast served up with 50s music. Cant overlook the patriotism that is represented all around. 🇺🇸
Took a walk down memory lane. Many memories. Great food. Fantastic environment.
Food was great, but what makes this place a 5/5 is the service. Incredibly welcoming place!
One of the best places. When I am in town I love meeting up with a family member for lunch. The outside seating area gives us time to sit and talk while eating. The waitress is so awesome every time. The food is always perfect.
Awesome Experience! The atmosphere and the food was top notch. We drove 3 hours and werent disappointed. Michelle was such a breath of fresh air. Professional and efficient. Ribs, pulled pork, sausage gravy w/buscuits and milkshakes...Loved it all!
Good old-fashioned comfort food and great service for our party of three Sunday breakfast. The only complaint two of us had was that there was too much food in the combo platters!
Great american food, excellent and friendly service
Always a great dining experience. Great menu. Fast friendly service. Ambiance and authentic decor.
Great place. Good food. Very friendly staff.
We had a private party at 29 Diner and they were amazing! Great food, excellent service, and they are passionate about the amazing work that they are doing to support Veterans in the area. I went to 29 Diner years ago and it was a greasy spoon kind of place back in the day. It is now renewed, revamped, super clean with lots of healthier options!
On the phone I was told 12 minutes but when I got there it was ready and waiting in less time. Mushroom Swiss burger my sister said was great, and my wife and I had French toast that was very good.
We love it here! We have been going every Friday and it is amazing. Their BBQ is mind blowing.
After I reviewed my photos from 2018, I came upon photos I took from this Diner that I have forgotten to do a review for them. This Diner made us feel at home the last time, so we decided to return here again mid December 2018. And to begin, this diner never fail to appointment us with the services and the food. Everything was on point, even with fresh brewed cups of coffee to start. We ordered two medium rare steaks and one bbq chicken. Wish the steaks could have been more rare. But you’ve got to try the homemade sides Mac&cheese and potatoes salad, and even the freshly made veggies were tastefully amazing. By far this is one of the best diner in town. Would highly recommend this Diner and our server Kayla was very tentative and made us feel like we’re at home.
What a great place to eat! We stopped today, didnt check reviews, it just looked appealing.Vickie met us at the door and provided a warm, personal touch for our dining experience.Food is great! Prices are more than reasonable. Portion sizes are more than enough - and almost everything is made onsite!All of that and this team has a real heart for their community, and our veterans. Please stop here for a meal soon!
Quick breakfast, I like going there to support them as they support the military
Always a pleasure going there to see my best buddy John. Keep up the good work and the food is excellent
Great food great service. Wife had the barbeque I had sausage gravy n biscuits kids had pancake breakfast and burger. Everyone was happy and full. Fun environment with the Cornhole but the cicadas were getting a few people. Still totally worth it
Always a great time at 29. This is by far my favorite diner in all of the Fairfax County area. John (the owner) is always such a pleasure to see whenever Im there. The wait staff is amazing. And the food is fantastic
I loved the hospitality, the food is great. Milkshakes are thick and great. If only I tried the pulled pork on my omellett....
Amazing local diner at a prime location (Chain Bridge Rd - VA 123 and US Routes 29/50...hence 29 Diner). No surprise its been around since 1947. Great food, especially the milkshakes and the barbecue that is made on the spot. The diner aims to support and give back to the Fairfax community, and thats uncommon to see these days. Friendly staff and very engaged management.
Great service. Thank you Michele. It was seven of us. We had gotten there late at night after a long day but enjoyable day at the park. We were all hangry (angryly hungry). We ordered a good variety of foods. From breakfast eggs and bacon to pulled pork, pulled chicken and baked beans. The bacon cheese burger was stacked high. Oh, and the pancake was 14 round. They serve a lot of food, so come hungry. Everything was delicious. They even brewed fresh coffee for us. Cozie little place. Definitely a place to recommend and to do a repeat.
We had a great breakfast! Excellent food! And then we donated for the veterans cause.
We ate at 29 Diner for the first time, and loved it! The staff is very friendly, and we really liked that the diner supports the local community. Its a great option for breakfast, brunch or a meal. They have 2 smokers outside the diner that are running 24 hours; be sure to try the BBQ. We plan to go back soon...
Still remember it fondly for breakfast even though now thousands of miles away. Grits!!
The food wasnt bad, though it wasnt anything special. The waitresses are nice and friendly which is always a good point. The food was decent, I ordered a waffle, two eggs, and two sausage links. I asked for the eggs over easy and only one was even moderately runny. The sausage was flavorful and the waffle was okay, I would just prefer to go somewhere else if Im going to spend $11+ on a single breakfast plate. Granted if I wouldve ordered pie the place may have redeemed itself but the chair at the counter was off balance and there were people waiting for seats so I didnt feel the need to prolong the visit any longer.My dining partner liked the sausage biscuits and gravy though admittedly there was room for improvement in the gravys texture as it wasnt much of a gravy.The place does is charming however and I would recommend trying it at least once to form your own opinion, I did over hear a waitress saying they were two staff members short so maybe I just came on the wrong day. May try again if Im ever in Fairfax past 12am to give it another shot.Its also a Virginia Historic Landmark if anyone is interested in that.
Best BBQ ever. Highly recommend for everyone
Just came back from having lunch here. The food is excellent, as soon as you order the food gets cooked and comes out 5 minutes later, really fast service. Everyone is very friendly. One thing that I would recommend is changing the seats at the counter they are hard and hurt. Overall its a great place to stop by and grab a quick bite to eat or to sit down with friends and have a nice meal.
Amazing restaurant. ribs were delicious and great service
Stepping through time to those great, old mid-century diners. The pork barbecue was off the hook! The server was awesome, too.
I have been in many Diners, by far this is the best dinner I ever been...😋 Aroma and food are satisfied... Service is good nothing to complain, the waitress is very nice to me. Displays make me feel comfortable and the coffee is fresh... I got sausage, sunny side up eggs and a pancake on the side... Everything Cooked nice and perfect. Very fast doesnt have to wait too long... in my opinion, its just like a dinner in movies. Loves the environment and their classic music.😄 their dessert menu is very interesting. I cant say anything yet I havent tried any on the dessert. Anyway, this is my first time here(4 pm) all I can say isIm satisfy I will definitely come back again. Definitely recommended. *thank you, Michele, for the best service and friendly experience*
I stopped going here over 2 yrs ago after a food issue. But I missed it. This is the second time Ive been back recently. Got breakfast, scrapple, sausage gravy And biscuits...perfect
An outstanding little place. Excellent service from a great, friendly waitress and had a lovely chat with the owner afterwards - good guy. I noticed they treated every customer like visiting royalty. Food was delicious and filling. Beautiful Christmas music playing. A great find.
Great diner food. Great staff and reasonable prices.
I love this place. Great food the way my mom would have cooked it. Great quality and great prices.
Good food! And the owner is a good guy. Does a lot for the community
Their portions always amaze, and the staff is always friendly and attentive.
Nice local restaurant, friendly wait staff and delicious food. Love the classic Diner look, plus they support our military. Will definitely go back for more.
I very like owner name John and his waitress Sarah and they’re were very very friendly. I like them so much and they are the best I can always come back anytime
Amazing local spot with a great atmosphere, great service, and even better food.
We love eating here! We moved from Fairfax to Gainesville and still make the drive to the diner because nothing else compares. Our friends and family from all around the state always request 29 Diner when visiting. The atmosphere and food are incredible and the owner is the kindest person in Fairfax County. If you are thinking of trying this place, I highly recommend it!
Great food and service everyone was very friendly
Great old greasy spoon style diner with a smoker and bbq out front. Very friendly staff. Owner John stops by each customer to thank them for stopping by between trips to the smooker
This place is awesome! Food is always good, the staff are excellent and SO friendly....&even better they do great for local community, highly recommend!
If you love a good diner, youre gonna love this place.
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