Silver Diner, 12251 Fair Lakes Parkway, Fairfax, Va.
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday; 6:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday.
Menu: https://www.silverdiner.com/menu/
Suitable for: Diner fans! Plus, vegetarians, vegans and omnivores.
Like a beacon in the night, the chrome plating of the Silver Diner beckons weary travelers, no matter the time of day (within reason). From breakfast to lunch to dinner service, Silver Diner stands at the ready to welcome locals and visitors alike at any of its locations.
Now, historically, diners haven’t been 100% great for plant-based patrons. The bacon and sausage are generally plentiful, the meatless dishes lacking, and – in the case of vegans – the dairy- and egg-free entrees are virtually nonexistent. But Silver Diner takes another tack. Sure, it has a passel of non-veg options, but – BUT! – it has a slew of new plant-based choices as well. Just Egg benedicts with tempeh bacon, anybody? Or maybe a tofu banh mi for lunch or dinner?
That’s what I’m talking about.
My friend Denise and I swung by the Silver Diner in Fairfax a few weeks ago after a morning triathlon, all dressed and showered and starving. What seemed like a crazy-long line zipped by in a flash – truly, within 15 minutes or less – and before long we were seated at a table for two, sipping coffee and surveying the options.
Now, Denise is an omnivore, but on this day she found great affection for a dish of avocado toast with all the fixins. I didn’t take a picture because, well, we were drinking coffee and blabbing, but she assures me it was a delightful dish indeed.
Meanwhile, I ordered the aforementioned Just Egg benedict. It’s no secret on these pages how much I love Just Egg, but honestly I haven’t had the pleasure of trying it at restaurants much since its debut! So I was incredibly excited to see how Silver Diner handled the proceedings. I didn’t doubt them, and rightly so; their preparation was amazing. The Just Egg was perfectly cooked, and what brought it completely over the top was the vegan hollandaise sauce that graced the top of the egg-and-muffin dish. Sprinkled atop THAT was the aforementioned tempeh bacon crumbles, and fruit was served alongside. Honestly, it was all I could do not to lick the empty plate when I was finished, but I was 1) with a friend, and 2) in public. So I refrained, though I did look longingly at the leftover molecules of deliciousness.
Also, pro tip: You can substitute Just Egg for regular eggs on any menu item. Sure, it has a bit of an upcharge, but the plethora of options the swap opens up for vegans makes it a no-brainer!
For a brunch lover such as myself, having so many veg-forward options on Silver Diner’s menu makes it an easy choice for weekend breakfast! We’ll certainly be looking up other Silver Diners in our region – and across the land! You should, too.
:)