Olympic Diner
Kingston, New York
Just off the thruway at exit 19, you see a sign that says “DINER, 24 HOURS, BUSES AND TRUCKS WELCOME.” You pull in, hungry, but not expecting much besides the standard diner fare. Inside, the red pleather booths, faux hanging vines and neon lights live up to your expectations.
However, “this is not a regular diner,” the owner Louie reminds you as he places three plates in front of you. They hold impeccably presented dishes that are far from your typical burger and fries: creamy fettuccine alfredo with crispy fried chicken cutlets, garlicky shrimp scampi on rice, and sweet, exotic “chicken Hawaii.”
Louie reopened the diner ten years ago, intending to prove that not all diners are alike. He has succeeded—for any hungry traveler, the Olympic is a very pleasant surprise.
