No trip to New York City is complete without the singing, dancing, and razzle-dazzle that is Broadway. But a trip to the theater simply isn’t enough! To get the most out of your Broadway experience, you’ll want to have an immersive dining experience at either Ellen’s Stardust Diner or Gayle’s Broadway Rose. Just imagine your waiter bringing you your food while serving up the delicious vocal stylings of classic and modern showtunes. But in a city bursting with talent and two iconic singing restaurants, which do you choose? Keep reading to learn more about the best singing restaurants in NYC, and which one you should visit on your next trip to The Big Apple.
What is Ellen’s Stardust Diner?
First up is the diner you’ve probably already heard of and seen the most clips of on social media. Ellen’s Stardust is by far the most famous of the singing restaurants in NYC. Ellen’s has been entertaining diners since 1987. Ellen Hart Sturm founded the restaurant to create a unique dining experience that would pay homage to both the arts and the old-fashioned diners in New York City, with its 50s theme. The singing waiters are known as the “Stardusters.”
What is Gayle’s Broadway Rose?
Gayle’s Broadway Rose is a family-founded establishment run by husband-and-wife team Gayle and Jeff Wittels, parents to theater enthusiasts. Newer to the scene, Gayle’s was created in 2019 to be an immersive dining experience and to help aspiring Broadway stars gain work, practice, and exposure.
Ellen’s vs. Gayle’s: The Showdown
Whether you’d prefer to dine at Ellen’s Stardust Diner or Gayle’s Broadway Rose is entirely up to you and your preferences around the atmosphere, music selections, caliber of talent, and the element of spontaneity versus making a reservation. We break down all of those elements below so you can make the most informed decision for your trip to NYC.
Location
Both restaurants are conveniently located in the heart of Broadway’s Theater District. Ellen’s is a bit easier to spot with its neon sign and long queue outside. It’s located at 1650 Broadway – close to Times Square. Gayle’s is a bit more tucked away, located at 228 W 47th Street, inside the Edison Hotel. You can already gauge from the fact that Gayle’s is located in a hotel that the ambience will be a bit more elevated.
Ambience
This category is going to be a major deciding factor in where you choose to dine, and there’s no wrong answer. It’s entirely up to your personal preference. If you’re looking for a livelier atmosphere, check out Ellen’s Stardust. It has more of a retro vibe, and with the multi-level layout, there’s always a ton of people and energy in the restaurant. For a more intimate, less crowded, and more comfortable dining experience, Gayle’s is the place to be. For the energetic atmosphere and sing-along culture, we declare Ellen’s Stardust Diner the victor in this category.
Food
The Ellen’s Stardust Diner menu serves up classic American fare. We love that they also have a classic breakfast menu if you plan to visit ahead of a matinee. Their lunch and dinner menu is also extensive, offering up everything from burgers to salmon to bolognese. Their shakes are positively delicious, but if you’re visiting with a group, “The Kitchen Sink” is a must. It’s a dessert that serves six and includes seven flavors of ice cream, 3 sauces, and tons of toppings. The Gayle’s Broadway Rose menu is pretty similar, also specializing in American classics. While Gayle’s food is slightly tastier than Ellen’s, we think this is a category where Gayle’s should pull ahead a bit further than it does. (Though we absolutely loved the blue cheese aioli with the sweet potato fries at Gayle’s!)
Music
If you’re looking for music that spans the decades and isn’t just limited to Broadway classics, then you’ll probably prefer Ellen’s selection of music. Don’t worry, they still play the Broadway hits too, but they intermix them with other iconic songs. When we’re gearing up for a Broadway show, we prefer to be fully immersed in only show tunes, making Gayle’s our preferred choice. Gayle’s plays songs from Wicked, Hamilton, Little Shop of Horrors, Six, Les Miserables, Frozen, and more.
Talent
Ellen’s Stardust is more of a home for Broadway hopefuls to hone their skills, whereas Gayle’s is home to a consistently high caliber of performers. At Ellen’s, you might be blown away by the talent every fifth song or so. But at Gayle’s, nearly every performance is a slam-dunk!
Service
One thing we absolutely loved about Gayle’s was that Gayle and her husband/business partner, Jeff, were on-site during our meal. They chatted with us at our table and made sure that we were well taken care of. You could feel their love of the restaurant and of the talented performers/servers they employ. Ellen’s Stardust Diner feels more like a corporation/well-run machine. While both restaurants aim to get you in and out quickly in time to make it to your show, Gayle’s feels more like a true dining experience, rather than a revolving door.
Convenience
This is arguably the most important factor when deciding between these two singing restaurants in NYC. Here you’ll want to take into account if you’d prefer a reservation or a bit more spontaneity. It’s also helpful to keep in mind the restaurants’ opening hours. Ellen’s is open daily and makes for a great lunch pre-matinee. Keep in mind that queues are often long at this time given that many people have the same idea. Gayle’s has more limited hours, only open from 5-8 pm each day.
If having a reservation is important to you and you have limited time in New York, you should absolutely book in advance at Gayle’s Broadway Rose. You can make a reservation here. We recommend booking in advance since it is quite a popular restaurant, and slots fill up fast. We also recommend dining around 6pm, right before the evening Broadway shows.
If you can’t get a reservation at Gayle’s or you’d prefer the ambiance of Ellen’s, be prepared to wait outside in line. While the line does move quickly and the staff works hard to get people in and out, the wait can often be about an hour long during peak times. Pro Tip: Head to Ellen’s after your Broadway show, closer to closing time, for a quicker wait. We’ve been seated immediately when visiting later in the evening. Even though Ellen’s doesn’t allow reservations, large parties and group events can be booked through their website.
The Winner
The true winner depends on what you’re looking to get out of the experience. Looking for a high-energy, old-fashioned diner? That’s Ellen’s. Want the consistency of incredible talent song after song? That’s Gayle’s.
But if we have to choose, our pick between the best singing restaurants in NYC is Gayle’s Broadway Rose. New York is a hectic city, and there’s a level of calm and class to Gayle’s that provides you with a more luxurious yet still fun dining experience. It’s the perfect meal to get you excited about the caliber of talent that awaits you in your upcoming Broadway show. Or you can skip the show since you’re getting one for free with your meal!
You can’t go wrong with any restaurants with singing waiters in NYC. The talent at both Ellen’s Stardust Diner and Gayle’s Broadway Rose is incredible, and will truly enhance your trip to New York City.
More Unique Restaurants in NYC
- Shirokuro – Dine in a 2-dimensional black-and-white restaurant that feels like you’re eating inside of a drawing.
- Trinity Place = If eating in a converted bank vault is on your bucket list (we would like to see this unusual bucket list of yours, if so!), then you’re in luck! This former bank vault from the 1900s was transformed in the early 2000s to become a sophisticated eatery still preserving the original vault doors.
- Meow Parlour – This adorable spot is NYC’s first cat cafe. This is a must-visit spot for any cat lovers who just want to visit with some furry felines or are interested in adopting.
- Beetle House – Every day is Halloween inside this Tim Burton movie-inspired restaurant. Experience the iconic characters of Tim Burton’s imagination as they put on live entertainment for you during your meal.
Have you dined at these restaurants? What are your thoughts on the Gayle’s Broadway Rose vs. Ellen’s Stardust Diner debate? Let us know your favorite in the comments!
For even more unique finds check out our Explore & Book page.
