#PeachysPicks Peachy Picks #OrionDiner Since 2012 by #AstrinosVoumvourakis #395SecondAvenue at #23rdStreet Open 24 Hours
Is Peachy's mouth that big? Maybe her X mouth. Befriend the majestic Ranch Burger!
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we know Astrinos, Founder and Owner of Orion Diner, the newest Peachy's Pick! We have simple taste: we like the best and it should speak volumes to you that although this is a casual diner, the cuisine is 95% homemade from scratch and it's evidenced in each and every item we have eaten. So far. Next on our list is the Eggplant Parm because if the owner is eating it for his birthday, it's got to be excellent:
We've been three times this year and counting to Orion Diner and the third time has been a charm. Orion Diner was first featured in February 2025 and earned an encore feature in April 2025. You know that Peachy is normally not a fan of pancakes but she loved them here, but she is a HUGE fan of eggs and both egg dishes were total winners.
Orion has achieved Peachy's Picks status because of the high percentage of made from scratch items that hit the nail on the head, the complete and total care and dedication by Astrinos (he is kind of like Madonna, Adele or Cher and doesn't even need a last name!) and of everything we recommend, you can quite literally get whatever you want here whenever you want it 24 hours a day, seven days a week and that is really rising to the occasion for someone as demanding as Ms. Pretty Uberpicky in residence at Whom You Know.
Not many places can do something as sophisticated as Eggs Benedict and of the ones that do, few give you options other than Canadian Bacon. We love Canadian Bacon, however, what we love more is choices and making ordering decisions for whatever we are eating and at Orion Diner you also have the option of Nova Lox, which is what we show here. The Salmon really elevates it and if you are Peachy's age and super interested in extra protein, this winner has that covered! Every bite was pure deliciousness: two poached eggs on English Muffins (WE LOVE ENGLISH MUFFINS and they are highly underrepresented on all Manhattan menus) topped with decadent Hollandaise Sauce served with home fries totally hits the spot.
Peachy has a close relationship with BEC as do many enthused in Manhattan.
BEC is obviously BACON, EGG and CHEESE.
Our very first Bacon Egg and Cheese identifies on the menu at Orion as Fried Egg with Cheese and Meat and we picked Cheddar and Bacon. Other cheese options are available and ham or sausage could alternatively come to the party here. The roll is fresh and fluffy like it should be and the inaugural Bacon Egg and Cheese in our Orion life was a galaxy of flavor. Certainly this won't be the last BEC here either. Of course Peachy has a lifelong fascination with the Egg McMuffin which at Boston College was even better because it was Eggs McBC. Guess who spent a lot of time at the dining hall?
All great diners must have a spectacular Tuna Melt and Orion does.
On Peachy's favorite bread, Rye, the sensational yellowfin tuna heats up your flavor taste buds with oozy, wondrous Swiss cheese. Astrinos tells us he personally oversees the taste levels associated with each and every menu item and after doing this for sixteen years, we can truly tell his efforts have paid off. Not only are there 103 inside seats but also starting next week, there will be 15 outdoor seats at seven tables serving the same menu outside. So not only can you have whatever you want whenever you want, you can also have it inside or outside.
For everyone familiar with Peachy's towering height in person, you know why she feels close to shrimp. There are lots of diners that can do lots of basic items but not many do baked stuffed shrimp which is getting rarer and rarer to find anywhere (if you do it well in Florida we want to hear from you because we can't find it done well there at all) and the shrimp itself is baked to perfection and the exquisitely flavored stuffing embellished with crabmeat is just what you have been missing in your dining life!
Baked Stuffed Shrimp glamour shots
Every venue, not just diner, in Manhattan has got to have winning burgers and Orion has proven that they do for certain. Orion Burgers are all U.S.D.A. Prime Angus Beef and we ordered the Ranch Burger this time, medium rare. It triumphed with creamy, tangy Pepper Jack, our beloved Bacon (sorry Miss Piggy), mushrooms and BBQ sauce to make this a quintessential American celebration. The french fries are so excellent we warn you they could become habit-forming.
For the healthier side, opt for the Homemade Salmon Burger. Yes, it is made fresh from real salmon. If you choose to forgo the coveted fries for a salad, that is the way to go for your waistline in this high holy time of nearly bathing suit season! It is also delicious and hearty for a meal that wins all-around.
We are gigantic advocates of salads and the Second Avenue Super Salad might be Peachy's favorite salad here! The ingredients were outstandingly fresh and the grilled chicken was just done so well to the right amount of soft crisp. Balsamic vinegar arrived on the side as we asked. The Herbal Grilled Chicken holds court with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, shredded carrots, and roasted peppers over mesclun greens. Also, every item is cut well: not too big and not too small: just right for Goldilocks Peachy.
It is not easy to find outstanding pie of any kind in Manhattan; Peachy used to go to Georgetown for it until Pie Sisters closed. At Orion Diner, there is a BAKERY ON PREMISES THAT MAKES FRESH DESSERTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. The Lemon Meringue Pie is the most delicious, heavenly version we have ever had in our entire life and the mountains of meringue are bound to make your day, even you, Clint Eastwood! (We have featured everything he has done since 2010 because of the excellence of Warner Brothers.)
The Lemon Meringue Pie had a very short life indeed in close proximity to Peachy Deegan.
Actions speak louder than words, readers.
