A Tale of Two Diners

Palace Diner in Poughkeepsie. Credit: Photo by Sam Murphy '24

Two diners, both alike in dignity, in the fair Hudson Valley, where we lay our scene.

The Eveready Diner located in Hyde Park and the Palace Diner located in Poughkeepsie contend for Marist student’s go-to spot for comfort food, leaving students with a horrible dilemma: where to spoil ourselves with the perfect diner meal?

Palace Diner is conveniently closer to campus, the proximity alone making it a tempting place to indulge in diner treats. However, don't discount Eveready solely because of distance. After a rigorous investigation of both diners' menus, the Eveready Diner emerged as the true champion.

The battle began at the cornerstone of any diner’s menu: breakfast. The delicate, golden delight of fluffy diner pancakes were put to the test. Both diners served up stacks of three beautiful pancakes with warm syrup and whipped butter. While the Palace Diner had incredibly light and fluffy pancakes they couldn’t compete with the perfection achieved by Eveready.

At Eveready Diner, Nadia Schoenauer ‘26 said “Genuinely delicious pancakes really hit the spot.” It wasn’t merely just the taste of the pancakes that persuaded us to declare Eveready the superior pancake provider, it was their attention to detail. When asked why Eveready was the clear winner, Nadia explained, “The main highlight, for me, was the syrup dispenser, it was very clean and poured perfectly.” In a world where sticky syrup dispensers are an all-to-common diner nuisance, Eveready stands as a safe haven for syrup enthusiasts, like Nadia, who are tired of the sticky-hand epidemic.

Eveready Diner in Hyde Park. Credit: Sam Murphy ‘24

Next up on the menu: the classic burger. Palace Diner presented a burger that was truly a work of art, a perfectly cooked, juicy patty resting on a delightfully toasted bun. While the burger itself was incredible, it was only served with coleslaw and a pickle. Eveready, however, presented not only an immaculate burger, but a feast. The star of the show, the burger, was very comparable to the one presented at Palace diner but, it was accompanied by effortlessly golden brown french fries, onion rings, coleslaw and a crisp pickle. The entourage of the sides elevated the burger experience to a whole new level.

In the diner world, nostalgia weaves a tapestry that transcends the dining experience. Both Eveready and Palace Diner take us on a journey back in time. The decor at both locations transports customers to the past with the retro signage and the classic diner counters. Yet, Palace diner has a charming addition of individual jukeboxes at certain booths that brings an uniquely nostalgic ambiance to the dining experience. However, upon entering Eveready you are met with the signage of an endorsement from the mayor of Flavortown himself, Guy Fieri, whose visit to the diner is commemorated with a plaque on the wall.

While the Palace Diner put up a good fight, it was no match for Eveready. Eveready’s perfect pancakes, delectable burger spectacle and emulate traditional diner atmosphere helped it emerge as the ultimate champion. So, if you ever find yourself torn between Eveready Diner and the Palace Diner, allow your taste buds to deliver you to the clear winner.