Starliner Diner (Facebook / T: @starlinerdiner / IG: @starliner_diner)
4121 Main St. (map it!)
Hilliard, OH 43026
(614) 529-1198
Open Mon-Thurs, 9a-3p & 5-9p; Fri & Sat, 9a-3p; 5-9:30p; Sun, 9a-3p
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y
Visited: Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.
In many ways, this is an easy post to write. Starliner Diner is consistently one of our favorite breakfast spots in Columbus, and it receives its due from most Best Of lists in local publications. If we lived in the neighborhood, Starliner would be our regular hangout.
But a revisit to Starliner was in order because a.) uhhhh, their chilaquiles, and b.) the diner recently completed a move a half mile west to Main Street in Hilliard. Their old location, that rustic, concrete block strip mall next to the train tracks on Cemetery Road, has been bulldozed to make way for a re-routed street.
There really wasn’t any doubt that Starliner would weather the change, but it’s still very pleasing to report that not only has the restaurant survived the move, but they’ve actually been able to grow and flourish.
They’ve managed to keep the feeling of the old space, complete with the giant space-themed mural, the crazy wall of clocks, and the same booths, chairs, and tables.
The space still features a giant main dining room, decorated in all the familiar colors.
Plus a secondary room with a full bar. Located at the front of the space, the bar is big and bright.
When you’re waiting for a table near the hostess stand (and you can still expect a wait on weekends), you can see in the kitchen and watch all those plates of burritos and omelets and French toast coming out.
The food hasn’t changed, either. There’s still the handwritten menu of daily specials, plus all the classics you’ve come to know and love.
We dug into our old favorites, like a full order of the crispy and sweet Cuban French toast to split as a table.
Also an order of their fried plantains with the oniony yogurt dipping sauce.
The favorite huevos rancheros with salsa, black beans, and potatoes.
Annnnnnd my favorite breakfast dish in Columbus: the chilaquiles with chorizo. It’s a perfect mix of black beans, veggies, chorizo, cheese, eggs, and chips. I would eat a bottomless bowl of these until I passed out.
We also dug into a special breakfast enchilada, although we swapped out the pork for chorizo (because why not?).
Even the kiddos dug in. Owen loved on their scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, and toast.
If you haven’t been to Starliner in a while, now’s your time to go to check out the new digs. Everything you know and love about it is still there, with the added bonus of a.) a patio!, and b.) they’re now open Mondays.
