Beacon diner's not a long, narrow, counter-service-only place. It has a counter, but it has long outgrown it into a comfortable little restaurant, serving both breakfast and lunch.

Breakfast at Beacon diner's not just thrown together. The food is not only tasty, but also well presented. My vegetable and cheese omelet came nestled between toast wedges and cuddling up against home-fried potatoes. Inside, onions, mushrooms, and broccoli were perfectly cooked.

Their strawberry pancakes looked like a fancy restaurant's dessert, with three big pancakes curled up, heaping with strawberries inside and out.

Even the oatmeal had the little extra -- "Would you like brown sugar with that?" our waitress asked.

Service was speedy, but not rushed. Both friendly and attentive. And with the diner's non-smoking policy, breakfast was actually enjoyable.

Decor is roughly 50's-60's diner-style, but not the gaudy retro, but real without a bit of neon in sight, from when the classic diner grew up. Vinyl-coated booths. Sturdy dishes. Table-side jukebox controls.

We showed up during breakfast time, but the specials on the board looked wonderful. We decided that this is one diner we'd have to come back to, if only to make sure that lunch was as wonderful as breakfast.

Beacon Diner is located on Route 2 south of the intersection with Frenchtown Road and almost to the Route 4 on-ramp. They have no web page.

The entire restaurant is non-smoking. The diner is not handicapped accessible for wheelchairs, though people with moderate disabilities may be able to navigate the side entrance with only a small step up.

For breakfast eaters, this restaurant deserves a look. [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]