MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) — At Scott’s Diner on East Childs Avenue near Highway 99 in Merced, owner Scott Martin has created what he calls an everyday place to eat, where he knows customers by name.
For customers such as Cheryl Copus, that familiarity is part of the appeal.
“It makes you feel like family,” Copus said. “The food’s great, you get full, price is great, atmosphere is good, the help is great.”
Martin opened Scott’s Diner in 2021 after spending more than 25 years working in the restaurant business. He describes the restaurant as a place customers can visit any time of day.
“I call it an everyday eats place. Everyday eats place. You can come here for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Martin said.
The menu includes beef stroganoff made with top sirloin and fettuccine noodles.
“Right over here we’ve got our beef stroganoff. We make it out of top sirloin. It’s very tender. It comes with fettuccine noodles,” Martin said. “Brown mushroom gravy with sour cream on top.”
The diner also has ties to Martin’s family and military history. Among its decorations is a helmet that belonged to his grandfather.
“The helmet is from my grandfather. His twin brother fell in the battle of Tarawa in World War II,” Martin said.
Customer Scott Copus said the restaurant’s atmosphere is part of what keeps him coming back.
“The atmosphere, the help, everything is just great. The food’s great, ample amount of food,” he said.
Other offerings include the pepper ribeye melt, which Martin said comes with ribeye, jalapeños, and bell peppers.
“Right here we’ve got the pepper ribeye melt. This one comes with certified-tender ribeye. We’ve got jalapeños and bell peppers in there,” Martin said.
Copus said some of his other favorites include breakfast and dinner options.
“I like the fish tacos, pot roast, eggs Benedict,” he said.
Among the breakfast dishes are eggs Benedict and green huevos rancheros.
“It’s a great Hollandaise sauce, country potatoes with bell peppers and onions,” Martin said of the eggs Benedict. “And you have to get the egg just right.”
Of the huevos rancheros, Martin said, “Right here we have the green huevos rancheros.”
“Chorizo, refried beans, green salsa,” he added.
The restaurant’s decorations range from artwork to John Wayne tributes. One piece was constructed from a camera.
“This is one camera disassembled and put back together,” Martin said.
As for the John Wayne memorabilia, Martin said, “Yeah, John Wayne, love him.”
The diner’s hamburgers are another customer favorite.
“Hamburgers are great,” Cheryl Copus said.
During October, customers can also order the “Monster Burger,” a three-patty special.
“It’s three patties,” Martin said. “It’s got four bacon strips, two cheeses: cheddar and Jack cheese. It comes with a candied jalapeño jam with jalapeños.”
Customers who finish the Monster Burger and all of the fries during the Halloween season win a Scotts Diner hat.
On weekends, customers also sometimes get an unexpected free treat.
“When the place is jumpin’, no one expects a jalapeño to come to the table,” Martin said.
For Martin, opening Scotts Diner was a chance to put decades of restaurant experience into a place of his own.
“I figured let’s do it now because I don’t want no regrets and I don’t want to feel like I left something on the table. So I’m going to leave it all on the table so everyone else can eat and enjoy. It’s all on the table here.”
Visit the Dine and Dish interactive map to find this location and all previously featured restaurants!
For news updates, follow Dale Yurong on Facebook and X.
Copyright © 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Dining and Cooking