The last time I went to Kellogg’s was probably 2019. The mozzarella sticks were soggy, and whatever else I ordered I’ve now blocked out of my memory.
Diner food has a ceiling. Even great diners can have food that kind of sucks, but it’s about the experience. The best ones have a warmth that gives the cracked paint and unseasoned fries a certain charm. But the old Kellogg’s felt cold and listless, surviving in its final years off of prime location and a Girls cameo.
Revamped last year under new ownership with a Tex-Mex spin, Kellogg’s follows Three Decker, another historic diner less than one mile north, which was revamped in the year prior under new ownership with a Tex-Mex spin. Yassified with Southern charm. But where Three Decker felt like a needed refresh with better coffee, Kellogg’s feels like a different place altogether.
The new Kellogg’s doesn’t feel like a diner. The music is too loud. The lighting is too soft. There’s Guinness on draft. You can book on Resy. The pink and beige and polished chrome feel a bit sterile.
Then again, it’s open 24 hours. And despite the makeover, the standards were still diner-level—the girl next to me at the bar was on her laptop, and the guy a few seats down had his dog on his lap (one of the small white ones with the red crusty eyes).
I was powerless to resist the Guinness. I got braised short ribs, served with collard greens and mashed potatoes and a chipotle cranberry red wine jus. It was juicy and tender and perfectly good. I couldn’t help but wonder whether I’d made a mistake by not getting the turkey club. How could I possibly judge a diner by its braised short rib and Guinness? Am I the problem?
I needed to get dessert. Specifically, the strawberry pretzel salad I’d seen 100 photos of. It felt right. Creamy, crunchy, salty, sweet but not too sweet. Tastes as good as it looks. My grandma used to make a jello salad that she called Red Shit. I’m feeling a Jell-O resurgence.
I’ll be back at Kellogg’s. There’s other dishes I want to try, which I’ve never said about a diner before. I’m not sure it scratches the diner itch. But the prices aren’t bad and it’s open 24 hours and in 2025 sometimes that’s all you need.
What’s going on?
I will never order a Texas Strip. The owner of The War Room restaurant in Albany is planning on filing a $1M lawsuit against the state of Texas after Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced plans to change the name of the New York Strip steak.
King Charles’ first Apple Music show picks: Bob Marley, Kylie Minogue, RAYE, Davido, Michael Bublé, Beyoncé & JAY-Z. The funny part here is I can honestly imagine someone playing King Charles a Beyoncé song, but there is absolutely no way that King Charles is listening to Davido.
Lisa Vanderpump is opening her first hotel. The Vanderpump Hotel opens in Vegas in 2026.
Two food media titans linked up. MD Foodie Boyz did a pizza review with Dave Portnoy.
Can’t get into Carbone? Read the book. I better not see this on a single coffee table.
Harpers Bazaar Japan profiled Kathleen Sorbara of vintage shop Sorbara’s at home. Having just moved I’ve become obsessed with looking at interiors. I need an Architectural Digest’s Open Door series but only for tasteful apartments.
I need Timothée Chalamet to show up to the Sean Evans lookalike contest.
FKA twigs talked to Playboi Carti for the new issue of i-D. twigs was on the cover of i-D in 2012 before ever releasing a song.
Steak n’ Shake is back. A lot of people are wondering why RFK Jr. is standing like this. It’s obvious they’ve never stepped foot into one of America’s premier fast food establishments. This is the stance you make when you’re hit with the scent of a Frisco Melt and blessed with the sight of a retro, classic American diner vibe.
Naturally, after seeing this I ended up on the Steak n’ Shake Wikipedia page, where I found this out:
It’s time to bring this back.