My Dog Duke’s Diner
“The perfect combination of classic diner eats and modern flair - brunch at Duke’s Diner is the best in Lynchburg.”
Prior to visiting My Dog Duke’s Diner, I admit that I had very little experience with the classic Sunday brunch scene. As a breakfast non-enthusiast, my only vice of meal commonly served before noon is perhaps Eggs Benedict for its savory hollandaise sauce. Duke’s Diner, however, opened my eyes to the pleasures of sipping spiked mimosas and eating chicken and waffles at 10am on a weekend.
Downtown Lynchburg’s food scene is best described as “new and upcoming.” With several nouveau American taphouses, gourmet burger joints, and woodfire pizzas, the cobblestoned downtown streets of this Virginia city has grown to accommodate its rapidly expanding young age demographic. Despite these new eateries, there remains small mom-and-pop shops with delicious means to compete with larger establishments. With an interior featuring white hexagonal tiles, a rustic yet warm decor, and a helpful and welcoming staff, My Dog Duke’s Diner is a prime example of simple elegance meshed seamlessly with this very homely neighborhood comfort.
Duke’s Diner (as it is fondly referred to by its regulars), is a chic breakfast/brunch spot open from 7am-2:30pm with a high quality menu to suit anyone’s palate. I’m proud to say that Duke’s has been a huge part of my culinary experience during my two years in Lynchburg. It was a mainstay of post-exam celebrations and “golden weekends” for me and my med school friends; we would often go, decompress with milkshakes and fruity mimosas, and grab a hearty bite of comfort food. While you certainly can’t go wrong with almost anything on their menu, I’ll give you my favorites from my many visits to the diner. A perfect post-exam brunch for me might include a tangy Sunset Mimosa paired with any one of the following entrees: Smoked Salmon Benedict, Chicken & Waffle, or the Freebird.
While a bit pricier than I would like, you can never go wrong with ordering Duke’s Smoked Salmon Benedict, a pimped out version of the classic Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, ham, and hollandaise sauce over English muffins. The cold smoked salmon gives a refreshing touch to an otherwise warm and rich take on eggs. The Chicken & Waffle is also an immaculate choice and for a much better value, in my opinion. The crispy fried chicken breast over a golden malted waffle with crumbled bacon, syrup, and powdered sugar is a masterclass in how to marry sweet and savory flavor profiles. The waffles are fluffy and pillowy, rather than hard and tacky; the chicken is juicy and its breading is dry without excess oil. The same can be said for the Duke’s Freebird, a fried chicken sandwich with handcut in-house fries, served with bacon, pimento cheese, and dill pickles on a brioche bun.
If you’re looking for a nice, yet casual, brunch spot to take the family after church, catch up with friends, or even invite a business partner during lunch, look no further than My Dog Duke’s Diner. The perfect combination of classic diner eats and modern flair makes brunch at Duke’s Diner the best in Lynchburg.
Fun fact: The concept of “brunch” can be traced back to the late 1800s. Its origins can be traced back to as early as 1885, when a man named Guy Beringer coined the term and combined breakfast and lunch into one meal that basically meant he could sleep a few extra hours during the weekend. Back then, it was common for people to reserve their social activities for Saturday evenings. And by social activities, we mean getting passed-out drunk. This posed a problem for many people—Beringer, in particular—because it meant that they’d have to drag themselves out of bed early the next morning for Sunday service.
Food Quality: 7.5/10
Meal Value: 8.5/10
Dining Experience: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.17/10
