Big Daddy’s Diner: Grease on Steroids Falls Short
April 3, 2008
Nothing like a nice pile of grease for breakfast. That’s what Big Daddy’s Diner presented one morning in the form of their “What About Bob” breakfast sandwich. This self proclaimed “best breakfast sandwich on the planet” falls a little short of that if you’re looking to start your day off right. This would be a great hangover cure if the restaurant wasn’t so cheesey and bright. And speaking of cheese, they make one of the cheesiest grilled cheeses I’ve ever encountered. One of their locations is also 24 hours on weekends. Curious yet?
Will NYC Food Guy return? Read on to find out…
The “What About Bob”-ness of this sandwich refers to the crazy nature of this concoction. In the end, it’s really not that wild. It doesn’t even include tots, they cost a $1 extra, bumping the overall price up to $9.92 for the plate above. Here’s what you’re looking at:
- Eggs scrambled with red pepper and ordinary home fries
- Covered in a healthy offering of slightly spicy Monterey Jack
- Topped with crispy bacon cooked to order
- Housed in a fluffy, slightly tough buttered roll that could have made the sandwich, but instead really did nothing to enhance it.
I’m a sucker for anything this greasy and disgusting but this fell short of my expectations.
- The home fries were predictably undercooked, maybe a big crispy hashbrown held to the eggs with cheese, would be better.
- The red pepper seemed out of place, adding nothing.
- The bread is having an identity crisis. The outer crust was vaguely ciabatta but the meat of it was Kaiser. An upgrade is absolutely necessary.
Onto the “Coffee Shop Grilled Cheese”, $7.96 plus $2 for tots, which is ridiculous to me. Here’s what you’re working with.
- Vermont Cheddar
- American Cheese
- A surprisingly spicy Jalapeno Jack
I love melted cheese, who doesn’t? The marble rye is a solid choice, but it’s just not hearty enough to handle the heft of three kinds of melted, gooey cheese. The cheese poured out all over. I need some thicker bread for a sandwich of this caliber and some bacon wouldn’t hurt either.
If you checked out Big Daddy’s website, it’s a sensory overload. The restaurant is the same. If you’re not ready to be bombarded with color and kitsch and a menu that’s truly diner on steroids then this is not the place for you.
Attention Drinkers: The Gramercy location of Big Daddy’s is open 24 hours on Friday & Saturday. The UES location closes at 12AM on weekends, proving why the UES is no fun.
So will NYC Food Guy return?
Yes and no. Yes I can see myself coming here weekends after a night on the town. Though it’s hard not going to Ziggiz. But no, I will never return here while sober again. It’s just too much to handle for a normal breakfast and for dinner it’s just a glorified Friday’s. There are too many good restaurants out there to waste a real meal on Big Daddy’s Diner.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:25 am
your gluttonous reputation precedes you compadre. do u not fear the afterlife?
April 4th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Killa-
Ha, you only live once. No use dying rich.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
food guy –
please reconsider. there are many reasons to continue ur life here on earth?
April 5th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Killa-
You know, you may be right. There’s a lot of good reasons to be on this earth. Like eating more cheeseburgers ha. Seriously though, I’m just eating the bad stuff while I still can. What are some of your favorite foods? What are some recommendations for good food that’s not bad for me? After all, I don’t want your name to come true…
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
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October 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Used to eat here quite often when hammered.. those tots are pretty good when you’re liquored up at 5am.. not sure i would venture out here while sober though…
i think this is the same management co. that owns duke’s?
October 24th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Phil,
Not sure if its the same company that owns Duke’s. I’ve heard good things about Duke’s haven’t been yet. Also haven’t been taking full advantage of Big Daddy’s 24-hour weekend status. What did you used to get?
October 24th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
FG – I’m typically a breakfast guy when it’s late at night and i’m hammered so I would usually go for some sort of eggs or pancakes (with tater tots regardless of what i’m eating, of course). I have branched out and gotten 2 of the sandwiches, 1 of which was awesome, the other not so much. The “chicken lickin sandy” is grilled chicken with bacon, lettuce tomato jalpeno mayo, onions, and avocado… sounds amazing but from what I remember wasn’t so good. The “mr. french dip” on the other hand was great. This sandwich is roast beef with au jus sauce, pretty standard but i remember it being good.
please take into consideration the fact that i have only eaten this place when i’m 15 drinks in the hole.
-Phil
October 24th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Also, it is the same company that owns duke’s… i just called to confirm. And their menu is basically the same (minus the breakfast). Places also have the same cheesy decors.