Al’s Family Diner

Al’s Family Diner is breakfast perfection in a town full of poor fast food chain breakfast sandwiches. I am so glad I discovered Al’s. My lovely significant other lives in town and we had to drive to Salem NH to find a decent breakfast before discovering Al’s. I had the fried bologna special. I know that not everyone favorite breakfast — unless you where raised poor and white like me and have a fondness for this ethnic dish. I will say the fried bologna was perfect, but also the over easy eggs where perfect. It came with a side of yummy homemade home fried potatoes. I also tried a side of there New England style baked beans and they were good. My girlfriend had me order her a stack of pancakes and bacon to bring home to her. The order was huge — HUGE — with bacon cook right She found it delicious. I found the service quick and friendly. I noticed other diners had a huge breakfast sub looking sandwich on Italian bread that was layered with breakfast fare. I need to try this next time And, they have a big selection of speciality omelets needing trying. My food arrived HOT and they timed the pancakes to take home for her perfectly for when I finished. (I let her sleep in on a Saturday– because if you love someone you let them sleep) Al’s has been there for 22 years according to the sign on the wall. The place is a little dated but furnished with sturdy oak tables and a huge oak bar that make a perfect breakfast table. It is kind of hidden in a sports/​golf center. You will find the door on the left side if the sports center. But don’t let the little entrance fool you. It is not a typical hole in the wall joint. it is fairly roomy inside. I will recommend upgrading the toast that comes with most meals to their super-​sized english muffin. It is big and came grilled to buttery perfection. It was the best part of a near perfect breakfast. Well worth the extra fifty-​cents. And be aware they are cash only, but with the reasonable prices this wasn’t a big issue.

Al’s food is very tasty and the service is even better, there’s a waitress by the name of darla who is so awesome and very much on the ball in those early hours. So good job in hiring the best al

Being on the road for a month with work I wanted to get away from hotel food. I found Al’s on Unilocal.It sounded good. I walked in and saw CASH ONLY signs and I walked out.

I’m so glad others have commented on the perfect sub breakfast sandwich.
I always sit at the bar — Kelly and the rest of the girls are attentive and always make sure my coffee mug is topped off.
All-​around excellent place, A must visit on the weekends at home.

It was ok… Service was incredibly slow for breakfast when the diner was not busy at all. My orange juice was served to me in a bottle… not fresh squeezed or at least in a glass like most other diners.
Food was fine, but it’s hard to screw up breakfast.
Worst thing was they only take cash, no cards at all! Very strange experience.

Al’s is great, I’ve been coming here since 2004. Service is great, food is excellent. You can sit at the counter, or grab a table; great family atmosphere. I usually go with my son on Saturdays and he LOVES it ! Pancakes are big, and best breakfast sandwiches around; you can get them on nice Italian loaf, delicious !!

This place is ok but there are many better place for Breakfast around the Merrimack Valley

I have come here several times for brunch and sampled almost every kind of meat (love the bacon and the corn beef hash) and biscuits with gravy. The biscuits were not my favorite and the pancakes have been a bit doughy both times we ordered them. I loved the Italian toast too, perfectly crusty, toasted and buttered!

Gem of the Merrimack Valley! I love my Monday morning breakfast tradition. This place is super busy on the weekends, so if you want a great breakfast then, you may need to wait a minute. But it’s worth any wait time. Mondays are my favorite day, but I’ll come any day of the week. Al cooks fresh delicious food and the wait staff takes good care of you. My coffee is always hot! Yum yum!

Quick & delicious breakfast… the line moves quickly… don’t be scared

Been here 2 more times since my last review. Now I believe the HYPE!
Fantastic pancakes and home fries. Sausage link or patties, ham and bacon were also fantastic.
You got to get the italian toast. I believe it is a Piro’s Bakery sub roll. Get the breakfast sandwich and is basically a sub with the breakfast items in it.
CASH ONLY!

Never disappointed when going to Al’s. Best Breakfast in the area.

Perfect breakfast place! I go there every chance I get! REAL homemade breakfast with out having to clean up. Clean, friendly and delicious. There can be a wait but the line moves quickly and is so worth it! There wouldn’t be a line if it wasn’t sooo good. (cash only)

Al’s Family Diner is hands down the best breakfast place in the Merrimack Valley area. This is supported by the awards for the «Best Breakfast Place in the Lawrence/​Methuen for at least 12 years running (not sure if it is longer than this, I think they ran out of spots to hang the award plaques)
The current location @ Whirlaway Golf Center, where they’ve been for the last 3 – 4 years, is much bigger than the original establishment on Conduit Street Methuen.
The specials are awesome, they’ve always got something like a Italian Sausage, Kielbasa, or Linguica and egg special. You can get a real steak for steak an eggs. Steak and Cheese omelettes are great. Then there are special omelettes too like Taco Supreme, Cheeseburger, etc.
Egg sandwiches on Italian Toast are a serious sandwich, and more like a sub.
Pancakes are awesome, plain, blueberry, butterscotch (an idea he got from me after I brought in butterscotch muffins for Al to grill for me and his wife Kelly) or with strawberries on top.
They use a premium coffee, for both hot and iced you can’t go wrong either way.
This place is always packed, and if you plan on going on the weekends you need to get there before 9:00 if you plan on getting a table without a wait. There is usually a spot at the bar for one or two.
Try the grilled blueberry cornbread, it’s AWESOME!
Oh yeah, THEY DO NOT TAKE CARDS, SO BRING CASH !!!

Open for breakfast only, and closes at noon, Al’s Family Diner is a busy place on a Sunday morning.
The menu is small and limited, yet standard American breakfast fare.
I had a very good BLT on toasted Italian bread.
Dennis had a omelette. Good coffee here.
AL’s is a real community place, all locals, many all know each other and were socializing.
I am not sure if I would go back. It was good, but I don’t like to stand in line for 20 minutes on a cold Sunday morning.

Let me put up front that a diner experience for me doesn’t have to include a particular type of architecture (or lack thereof), but instead simply needs to be independently owned, serve good coffee, and do it in a relatively quick fashion. Seat-​yourself is always a plus, and when the lines sprawl out the door, I see that as a good omen.
Al’s is all of the above, though I don’t really know why «family» is included in the name since most of the folks that usually habit the diner are local characters, usually men and a dash of ladyfolk thrown in for interest.
The menu is simple and standard — the flourishes are few, but all of the items are just what you want them to be. Don’t expect gorgonzola, jalapeño jack, walnuts, apples, or guacamole to appear on any of the omelet choices, but do expect to enjoy your egg scramble or pancakes. Simple food, simply prepared, no pretentions. And yes, Al really is in the kitchen.