There’s a visual rule I follow when assessing any diner or other unfussy, casual restaurant: laptops bad, hard hats good. Any place reliably frequent by construction crews, cops and other blue collar professionals tends to deliver on its promise.
The rare example of a revamped diner (with an Instagram account, nonetheless!) is the Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine. Sure, it’s possible to order a craft beer (with breakfast) but it’s remained simple and true enough to build a following with tattooed tourists and local blue-hairs.
In a similar vein, AJ Liebling wrote that you could tell if a restaurant was good if churchmen were eating there in pairs, or women (though I think he was referring to prostitutes). Both categories, he believed, knew good food and, crucially, good value, when they saw it. Those were the days!
I dream of a good diner often. Nothing like finding one on a road trip. The diner names are long forgotten but not the memory of a good meal. A few recs for you David if you ever find yourself in…
Truly one of my great pleasures is sitting down in a old vinyl booth at a roadside diner in a desolate small town to order a plate of fried eggs, hash browns, and toast, while a waitress who calls you “hun” pours you coffee that came from one of those ancient Bunn industrial coffee makers.
Great piece. I miss Minneapolis diners like the Modern, the Convention Grill (though it may be reopening), and long departed Black's in the old warehouse district. I remember going to Viand when we used to stay on the Upper East Side on visits to NYC. And Moody's in Maine when we visited you in college.
Thanks Dad! It's funny, Moody's is even more popular now. They sell T-shirts outside and it's always full. I sent our English friends from Drake's there and they loved it!
If anyone is ever in Palm Desert, CA…Keedy’s is a must for exactly this…you will be greeted with “sit anywhere”…Bring a paper and relax :) who knew the power of such a small phrase
David - it sounds like what you really want is a local Waffle House. 24/7, jukebox, good food and no chance a carhartted creative will be remote working in a booth.
Ha! My Waffle House debut was with Michael Williams the same night after we went to the Masters for the first time--it was a very good day! I love Michael's rule: At the Waffle House tip 100%.
David this made me so happy. Growing up in New Jersey where diners reign supreme - and now a New Yorker - I have always been on the lookout for the right diner. This post reminded me to return to my favorites. Thank you!
Loved this. We're fortunate to have some genuine old school diners in Philly, and we're so close to NJ, there's no shortage. Had to laugh at looking at a menu as my go to is chicken croquettes. I don't think they exist anywhere outside of the diner universe and I like that.
A fellow Philadelphian! Because I’m a transplant I’m not sure about claiming that title but in my forays between New York and here I think I’ve decided Philly is many decades behind New York in driving out old American institutions like the diner. It’s like a strange, less hyped version of a trendy New York neighborhood. I’ve found it to be a much more comforting place to live but within striking distance of hustle and bustle.
David- Can I humbly request that during the next podcast you and Michael discuss the new Mercedes-Benz commercial featuring Matthew Macfayden aka Tom Wambsgans??? He’s speaking with his British accent and I am completely disoriented. Should it have been done while in Succession character? Would Tom drive a Mercedes? Can Tom even drive? We need to know your collective thoughts on this important matter. Thank you.
But haven't you seen him as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice? That's the way most of us met him. He was famously an English literary heartthrob, which made his Wambsgans-ination all the more hysterical.
When I was a student at the UofM in the late 80’s, the Key’s on Raymond was my go to breakfast diner. A Farmer’s omelette would keep me full all day. Unfortunately, it has morphed into all the things you mention a diner should not be, merch, etc… Many fond memories of that place. Great piece, David!
There’s a visual rule I follow when assessing any diner or other unfussy, casual restaurant: laptops bad, hard hats good. Any place reliably frequent by construction crews, cops and other blue collar professionals tends to deliver on its promise.
The rare example of a revamped diner (with an Instagram account, nonetheless!) is the Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine. Sure, it’s possible to order a craft beer (with breakfast) but it’s remained simple and true enough to build a following with tattooed tourists and local blue-hairs.
In a similar vein, AJ Liebling wrote that you could tell if a restaurant was good if churchmen were eating there in pairs, or women (though I think he was referring to prostitutes). Both categories, he believed, knew good food and, crucially, good value, when they saw it. Those were the days!
I dream of a good diner often. Nothing like finding one on a road trip. The diner names are long forgotten but not the memory of a good meal. A few recs for you David if you ever find yourself in…
Charlottesville - the Korner Restaurant or Villa
Atlanta - Silver Skillet or The White House
Nantucket - Downy Flake
Chapel Hill - Suttons
Truly one of my great pleasures is sitting down in a old vinyl booth at a roadside diner in a desolate small town to order a plate of fried eggs, hash browns, and toast, while a waitress who calls you “hun” pours you coffee that came from one of those ancient Bunn industrial coffee makers.
Great piece. I miss Minneapolis diners like the Modern, the Convention Grill (though it may be reopening), and long departed Black's in the old warehouse district. I remember going to Viand when we used to stay on the Upper East Side on visits to NYC. And Moody's in Maine when we visited you in college.
Thanks Dad! It's funny, Moody's is even more popular now. They sell T-shirts outside and it's always full. I sent our English friends from Drake's there and they loved it!
Wonderful article!
If anyone is ever in Palm Desert, CA…Keedy’s is a must for exactly this…you will be greeted with “sit anywhere”…Bring a paper and relax :) who knew the power of such a small phrase
David - it sounds like what you really want is a local Waffle House. 24/7, jukebox, good food and no chance a carhartted creative will be remote working in a booth.
Ha! My Waffle House debut was with Michael Williams the same night after we went to the Masters for the first time--it was a very good day! I love Michael's rule: At the Waffle House tip 100%.
David this made me so happy. Growing up in New Jersey where diners reign supreme - and now a New Yorker - I have always been on the lookout for the right diner. This post reminded me to return to my favorites. Thank you!
Loved this. We're fortunate to have some genuine old school diners in Philly, and we're so close to NJ, there's no shortage. Had to laugh at looking at a menu as my go to is chicken croquettes. I don't think they exist anywhere outside of the diner universe and I like that.
A fellow Philadelphian! Because I’m a transplant I’m not sure about claiming that title but in my forays between New York and here I think I’ve decided Philly is many decades behind New York in driving out old American institutions like the diner. It’s like a strange, less hyped version of a trendy New York neighborhood. I’ve found it to be a much more comforting place to live but within striking distance of hustle and bustle.
I agree about not looking at the menu. I’m a corn beef hash guy. Fried crispy. If this isn’t “on the menu” I’m out.
Worth a visit when in San Diego...
https://www.instagram.com/beginnersdiner/
I’m still not over the renovation they did at the old Hermitage Cafe in Nashville. And it’s been closed for years.
Diner merch exception: the same heavyweight mug they use inside.
Yes that’s a good call—I used to have a Viand mug.
David- Can I humbly request that during the next podcast you and Michael discuss the new Mercedes-Benz commercial featuring Matthew Macfayden aka Tom Wambsgans??? He’s speaking with his British accent and I am completely disoriented. Should it have been done while in Succession character? Would Tom drive a Mercedes? Can Tom even drive? We need to know your collective thoughts on this important matter. Thank you.
But haven't you seen him as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice? That's the way most of us met him. He was famously an English literary heartthrob, which made his Wambsgans-ination all the more hysterical.
If ever in Oakland,CA give the Rockridge Diner or Mama’s Royal Cafe a try.
Looking forward to the upcoming Where be the Roadhouse en route to some angling
Love the idea of tipping 50% at a diner (or, per the comments, 100% at a Waffle House). Can’t wait to do this.
When I was a student at the UofM in the late 80’s, the Key’s on Raymond was my go to breakfast diner. A Farmer’s omelette would keep me full all day. Unfortunately, it has morphed into all the things you mention a diner should not be, merch, etc… Many fond memories of that place. Great piece, David!