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My fav sushi place took over a 50s style burger joint. Checkerboard flooring, diamond plate metal wainscoting, curved bar w barstools--the whole 50s burger experience. They didn't change any of it lol. Sadly they're carry out only since covid.

I once owned and operated a diner. We did renovate it, and it did make it better. It was a fabulous diner. (BTW, this was back in the mid-80s)

Bless you.

The “does everyone think I just farted or do they know it was the booth…let me try to make that same noise again” dance is irreplaceable.

Pea soup on Thursdays.

Don't forget the black and white tile flooring😂

And, of course, Tasty Sandwiches.

Did you see the SNL skit about someone ordering the lobster at a diner? Hilarious www.instagram.com/reel/DB1_o7J...

My favorite hole-in-the-wall places always looked a little dated. The owners were more concerned with the quality of their food than their *aesthetic*.

It really is this simple!

This. I don’t pay for ambiance. I just want good, solid, food. A sassy wait staff is a bonus.

As a retired chef I am with you! It is so expensive to eat out, mediocre service and sub par food for the price.

We still have a couple. I don’t do chains but I do love a good old fashioned diner

Amen. She set the server standard.

There’s one near me I’ve yet to try. It looks unchanged for decades. You’ve inspired me to give them a shot!

Love diners. Everyone can find something they love.

And it’s cool if some of the older waitresses want to smoke while they work. I personally find it charming.

Liver & onions. Cherry pie. Milkshakes, with the silver metal canister.

Greasy diners need to look like greasy diners.

I still have my parents formica kitchen table and chairs. It's yellow and the top of the line and in perfect condition except the chairs need recovering. I Love it. And love those old diners just the way they are.

Hahaaa, the Diner could say that to you, too Dear Diner diner: Just be a Diner diner. Don' try to look fancy or sexy or cool...

We have a local diner that’s 1950s themed. Excellent place

✔

If I'm going to a diner, I'm going to a diner. I'm not interested in walking into some wackadoo theme restaurant. Black Bear is the furthest diner theming should go. It's also delicious.

And a great breakfast.

And a blue plate special, preferably a tuna melt.

I’m happy with large fluffy pancakes, a perfect over medium, fresh coffee, and flat crispy bacon. It’s a simple thing that requires attention and care. Yet, so hard to find.

Do you recall what the diner was called?

#bringbacknaugahyde

A proper club sandwich. Food served hot. Impeccable service. Bonus for a kitchen you can see into from the counter. All you need.

Good fries too

Tuna melt is mine.

YES!

Yeah the diner is where you go AFTER the bar. Need some carbs to soak up all the booze and coffee to get you home

The thing I miss most after leaving Jersey

Waffle house my beloved.

Totally agree. A local deli, which under old management made some really awesome basic good sandwiches wrapped in butcher paper was bought out and now they have all these sandwiches with multiple sauces and "creative" condiments packed in styrofoam containers. I miss the old guys.

NJ is the diner capital of the world... at least that's what I learned at Terminal A this week.

Left New Jersey in my mid-40’s. Trips back always include a diner.

Amen

😆 Oh, this made me laugh! Such is the difference between the 201 and the 609!

By “fries and gravy” do you mean disco fries? Bc they’re phenomenal and hard to find away from diner-land (aka NJ)

Ok here in Middlesex County I nominate the Edison Diner on Rt 1. IYKYK

We have great diners here in Jersey. We rate them by their coffee, tuna salad and if they have Taylor's Pork Roll.

Denver omelet, hashbrowns scattered and smothered, buttered toast with jelly, and that endless cup of coffee 😋

Moved from Jersey to N.C. and although the food has been excellent, I miss an old school diner. Waffle House doesn't even come close..but amusing. I'd kill for some chicken croquettes in mystery gravy right about now

I totally approve this message. This is a huge YES!

And a waitress or waiter instead of a server. If I want to know your name I’ll read the name tag. And yes, more coffee.

I would love to hear you narrate this oh my God

Yes yes yes.

And a gumball machine that nice old ladies leave quarters in to surprise the kiddies…🥰

Diners need a resurgence.

Ours was across the street from a small airport. People who owned their own planes went there and liked the food and the ambience. The new owners didn’t realize that plane owner/operators don’t dress up. And they got rid of lotto! That was a huge revenue stream.

Also don’t Stack my dinner. I don’t need my fish sitting atop my mashed potatoes.

For those in the Washington, DC area, I humbly submit Metro 29 Diner in Arlington, VA, as precisely the sort of place described here. www.metro29diner.com

Turkey club is my benchmark. Laminated menus a must

Or the patty melt on rye

Going to one for Thanksgiving.

Amen

This is probably my favorite post of the year. Good grief I am glad someone said it. Thanks George.

Amen.

It must have a piece of iceberg lettuce with a pitless black olive on a toothpick stuck in it

and every item is good

100% but everyone has that guy in their group. Mine was named Justin.

And sandwiches. I can’t believe I’d forgot the sandwiches.

Ah I love those kind of diners.

Oh, I SO agree!! Damn it, I don’t want to have to study for my Dinner out with friends.

Just avoid the side of fruit salad. The canned grapes will kill ya

👍🏽Love me a good diner

You forgot to add the mini jukebox at each booth!

Let me read War and Peace in braille under the table.

Yes! Just, yes! I have come her for wisdom and community. In this post, I find both.

Omelets too

Dijon available would be the limit.

Truth just the plain truth !!!!!

Vintage diners and movie theatres are so much more fun.

I’m not into “it” establishments. Give me a cozy diner who serves solid food and great bakery where you can roll out of bed and show up and no one cares. Keep life simple.

Extra points for clean restrooms & that little bowl of after dinner mints 🍬

Agreed. Seems like you can’t even just go to iHop anymore

100% agree , just want my diners to have great service and great diner food. I don’t want escargot and dim lighting at my diner.

And all-day breakfast!!

If you can see through the plastic water glasses the place is too fancy

100% Sugar!

And you must keep open-faced turkey and open-faced roast beef sandwiches. In the summer, my husband and I take our motorcycles three hours away from home just for a good old timey diner.

I miss NJ diners. Hot open face turkey sandwiches w/ potatoes and gravy. Being from NJ, it’s in my blood.

And made from a retired train car!

Blue plate specials need to make a comeback

Just read a new Pizza Hut opened in southern Indiana which is a first of it's kind design, I guess fancy. It's freaking Pizza Hut. Calm down and just be a pizza place. Damn.

Yes, no dish-rag coffee!

I didn’t understand this, until I realised you’re American so a diner isn’t so much the person sitting down to eat, but the place they eat in.

Bravo! Stay true to what’s made you amazing all these years.

If you want just a diner, you either need to pay $11 for pancakes or spend less than 25 minutes in there.

George Frans in Toronto is just that! Open 24 hours a day, It is iconic. After the bars close, people flock to Fran’s for a late night snack. www.fransrestaurant.com

100% Yes.. I Love My Diners... Best Food Ever comes from the Mom, and Pops..❤❤❤

Bring back HoJos

Any diner that doesn't have french toast and home fries on their breakfast menu is not one I would patron.

I dunno bc there’s a diner in Las Vegas that looks kinda like a strip club and I feel like that was a beautiful direction

Hard to find the good old style diners anymore.

Good coffee.

True

This needs to be a thing in Europe. I remember watching Anthony Bourdain eating in a Waffle House and I need to experience that. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEpX...

I ate at a tucked away breakfast diner in Portland today for the first time today. It was so great. They had a counter and celebrated napkin art on the walls and the food was really good.

The day we got married, we ended the day in a favorite diner on Route 1 in New Jersey.

and serve Coke on tap, not Pepsi (sorry Pepsi please don't hate me)

Like this one, nice family friendly environment amd tasty food. Dyersville Family Restaurant in Dyersville, Iowa.

I miss diners. They’re everywhere in NY area. But nowhere in Bay Area/Central Coast. I mean, we’ve got our massive-menu-we’ll-make-most-anything restaurants. But they’re not diners.