Diner restaurants in USA
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Angeli on Decatur
Great philosophers have long debated one of the most pressing of human questions: what makes a late-night place great? We humbly submit: the food tastes as good sober as when you’re trashed at 3am. Enter Angeli: decked out with hipster art and patrons, the food here is wonderful no matter your state of mind/inebriation/whatever. It serves burger, pasta and pizza fare, but it’s top-of-the-line stuff, especially if you need to layer your tummy after a long night out. Early music sets by solid live acts are a good way to launch your evening, but bring cash – credit cards are not accepted. Good range of vegetarian dishes.
reviewed
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B
Bryant-Lake Bowl
A workingman's bowling alley meets epicurean food at the BLB. Artisanal cheese plates, mock duck rolls, cornmeal-crusted walleye strips and organic oatmeal melt in the mouth. A lovely list of local suds washes it all down. The on-site theater always has something intriguing and odd going on too.
reviewed
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C
Slim Goodie’s Diner
This hip retro diner, all overlaid with some punk-rock sensibility, was among the first restaurants to reopen after Hurricane Katrina, so it deserves a hell of a lot of credit just for that substantial accomplishment. Burgers, shakes, all-American breakfasts and other short-order standards round out the menu; it’s good, if not exactly awe-inspiring stuff. Vegetarians are well treated here, thanks to the presence of items such as latkes and black-bean nachos on the menu.
reviewed
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D
Camellia Grill
The other great thing about this spot, besides its excellent diner burger-chili-Reuben fare, is it’s the sort of place where the black staff look like 50 Cent, the white staff look like the Ramones and they all call each other – and you – ‘baby.’ All the time. Plus, they dress in tux shirts and black bow ties, as if this place couldn’t be any wonderfully weirder.
reviewed
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Arthur’s Paradise Diner
The epitome of ‘old school, ’ this place is open only for breakfast and lunch and specializes in something called the Boot Mill sandwich (egg, bacon, cheese and home fries on a grilled roll). Expect long waits, testy service and an atmosphere as authentic as it comes. In other words, paradise.
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E
Swingers
Americana with a dollop of Hollywood is the ammo of this genuine retro diner where booths are red and servers wear fishnet stockings. Join the kool kids combating hunger pangs or hangovers with juicy burgers, awesome fries and other all-American faves while Little Richard heats up the juke box.
reviewed
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F
Lester’s Diner
Hailed endearingly as a greasy spoon, campy Lester’s Diner has been keeping folks happy since the late 1960s. Everyone makes their way here at some point, from business types on cell phones to clubbers to blue-haired ladies with third husbands.
reviewed
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G
Al's Breakfast
It's the ultimate hole-in-the-wall: 14 stools at a tiny counter. Whenever a customer comes in, everyone picks up their plates and scoots down to make room for the newcomer. Fruit-full pancakes are the big crowd-pleaser.
reviewed
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H
Vortex Bar & Grill
Walk through the gaping jaws of a giant skull and enter the Vortex, a scrappy joint with a snarky menu boasting '140 styles of gourmet burgers, ' an ideal meal before hitting the L5P bar scene. Ages 18 and up only.
reviewed
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Eddie's Fireplace Inn
Both King Ko Inn and Quinnat Landing Hotel have full-service restaurants. Or you might try Eddie's Fireplace Inn, an atmospheric bar across the street from King Ko with a kitchen open all day.
reviewed
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Ann's Chicken Fry House
Part real diner, part tourist attraction, Ann's is a Route 66 veteran known for its - you guessed it - chicken fried steak. Okra and cream gravy also star.
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Duncan House Diner
- Homer, USA
- Restaurants › Diner
This busy downtown place fries up Homer's best bacon-and-eggs, which it serves until 14:00.
reviewed
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K
Continental
A stylized old-fashioned diner, the specialties here are hip crowds, eclectic tapas and specialty martinis - as indicated by the huge speared martini olives that hang from the ceiling.
reviewed
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Steelhead Diner
‘Highbrow diner’ sounds like an oxymoron, but the Steelhead does it right – hearty, homey favorites like fish and chips, buffalomeatloaf or pork rib chops become fine cuisine because they’re made with the best of what Pike Place Market has to offer and paired with cleverly chosen sides. ‘Sequimbled Eggs’ (named after Sequim Bay, known for its crab and oysters) come poached over Dungeness crab on toast; a fried-chicken sandwich is fall-apart moist and lemony; and the crab cakes make local foodies swoon. The place is all windows, which is great considering it’s perched right over the market and Elliott Bay, and decorations include tied flies in glass. Reservations are recom…
reviewed
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Westside Cafe
- Vail, USA
- Restaurants › Diner
Set in a West Vail minimall right off the freeway, this is the most popular breakfast spot in the area among locals, and for good reason. It does terrific breakfast skillets, like the 'My Big Fat Greek Skillet' with scrambled eggs, gyro, red onion, tomato and feta served with warm pita. The 'Southwestern' comes with scrambled eggs, black beans, peppers, onions and tomatoes.
Staff will pour you freshly squeezed orange juice or a steaming large mug of coffee. The Bloody Marys get good word of mouth, and the always satisfying 'Local Special' never fails to bring a smile to the face of weary menu readers (and writers) everywhere.
reviewed
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Alibi
Alibi is more bar than restaurant, but we’re including it here because it’s one of the better 24-hour joints in the Quarter (popular wisdom holds that local strippers head here after their shifts). The grub (definitely ‘grub’) is decidedly greasy, unhealthy and perfect after a long night of doing whatever it was you were doing on Bourbon St a few minutes ago – yes you, bleary eyes. Alibi does burgers and po’boys and fried stuff, largely, although salads are on the menu and, rumor has it, occasionally emerge from the kitchen.
reviewed
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O
Hitching Post
‘This is East Coast jazz, ’ says the owner behind the counter. ‘No one listens to this anymore.’ Another song comes up; The Drifters. Really? The Drifters and jazz in a diner so neighborly it should put on a cardigan and loafers when it comes inside? Let’s try the fried chicken…which, ohmygod, is seriously like a whole, freaking fried chicken. Served with two sides. And another man comes in and the owner calls him by name and the customer asks, ‘This the Chi-lites?’ and we know we’re in love.
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Schiro’s Café/Little Julie’s India Kitchen
Yes, you read it right: diner and Indian. One menu at Schiro’s is typical New Orleanian greasy spoon, offering po’boys, blackened catfish, hushpuppies and gumbo; the other serves saag paneer (spinach curry with un-aged cheese), tikka masala and vindaloo. Oh, and the other part of the business? A launderette. Schizophrenic Schiro’s is set in a lovely grand dame of a Marigny mansion, perfect for a cheap meal and repose under the eaves. This is a good choice for vegetarians.
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Tom’s Restaurant
Three blocks from the Brooklyn Museum, this happy greasy spoon woos locals with all-day breakfasts and egg creams. Open since 1936, much of the decor has been picked up along the way. It’s good and cheap: two eggs, toast, coffee, home fries or grits (go for grits) costs $4. Handmade signs along the walls advertise a dozen-plus varieties of pancake. Don’t fret Saturday morning lines – staff bring by coffee, orange slices and cookies while you wait.
reviewed
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R
Yankee Doodle Sandwich & Coffee Shop
The family-run Doodle is a classic ’50s hole-in-the-wall American lunch counter – Formica countertop, chrome and plastic stools, real fountain soda – with prices to match. Despite the name, burgers and breakfast are the draws here. The defunct cigarette machine in the corner is kept around for purely nostalgic reasons – it was installed on the day JFK was shot. When Yale’s not in session, Doodle’s hours are sharply curtailed.
reviewed
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Boulevard Diner
Reason enough to live in Worcester, this old dining car looks much like it did in 1936. Experience red Formica tables, dark wooden booths, old iceboxes and a big painting of a yellow-jacketed dude who has long stared from the doorway. Food-wise, enjoy eggs, plus a menu of Italian specialties including meatballs, veal and eggplant parmesan. Wistful memories of fabulous grapenut custards haunt college students’ dreams decades after leaving Worcester.
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Bohemian Pizza & Ditto’s Bar
Litchfield lets its hair down at Boho’s, where for dinner you can try the crisscross pizza – portobello mushrooms, andouille sausage, grilled chicken and caramelized onions – and chill in one of the faux-cowskin booths. As the sun sets, the pizza joint and the adjacent dive bar (open late) dissolve into one loud, friendly mess. Shoot some free pool while being serenaded by the locals who play (almost) nightly.
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El Cristo
- Miami, USA
- Restaurants › Diner
A popular locals’ hangout, the down-to-earth El Cristo has options from all over the Spanish-speaking world. Lots of locals say it’s as good as Calle Ocho gets. The menu has daily specials, but the standout is fish: try it fried for a local version of fish ’n’ chips, or take away some excellent fish empanadas and croquetas (deep-fried in breadcrumbs). The outdoor area is an excellent perch for enjoying 8th St eye candy.
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Tastee Diner
Maryland's favorite greasy spoon, this is the place to get eggs at 00:00 after a night of drinking. It's an old-school diner )open since 1935) in a ramshackle tin and brick building, complete with long bar and Formica tables touting personal jukeboxes. Local high-school kids pack in on weekend nights for coffee and plates of grilled cheese with fries. See if you can guess which waitress has served here for over two decades.
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South Street Diner
A divey diner that does what a diner is supposed to do – that is, serve bacon and eggs and burgers and fries, at any time of the day or night. So plunk yourself into a vinyl-upholstered booth and let the sass‑talking waitstaff satisfy your midnight munchies. Considering the location, this place is bound to attract some sketchy characters. But again, that’s what a diner is supposed to do.
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