Does anyone watch this show on the food network? It's become my favorite show.

For those not familiar, it's a show where the host, Guy Fieri, visits various classic "greasy spoon" spots, be they diners or drive-ins, in different parts of the country.

He's done shows on diners and drive-ins that may be well known for their burgers, breakfasts, seafood, chilli, steak sandwiches, sandwiches in general, pancakes, BBQ sandwiches, Ribs, chicken, etc.

I've never seen the show, but I enjoy the "folksy" feel of a diner. We have 2 minutes from my house that my daughter used to work at. It's the kind with the little jukebox on the table, and the desserts are just as popular as the main dishes. Of course, being in Baltimore seafood is the specialty. I love to go to a place and pay $10-$15.00 for a great home cooked meal.

Then you'll love this show. Check it out on TV when you get a chance.


DINERS DRIVE-INS and DIVES

I swear, I don't know how diners do it. We have a diner near us that has a Monday lobster special. You get a basket of bread, rolls and crackers, plus a tray of carrot sticks, olives and celery, as soon as you sit down. Then the dinner consists of soup, salad, a 1 1/4 lb. lobster, with potato and vegetables, coffee and either jello or pudding for dessert. And it's $13!!!

It does amaze me that diners can give you a great meal and you don't have to take out a second mortgage to do it. It's like going to the mom and pop shops. Why give you money to the big chains. I'd rather give it to a family run place that takes pride and love in their work.

I miss those kinds of diners. They use to have one by me called Johnny B. Goode's. The waitresses wore rollerskates, they had the juke boxes at each table along with the old fashioned soda bar with the grey countertops and red barstools. It was so much fun to go to, until it closed down of course.


I think NY has many more diners than out here though. I was at one but can't think of the name. I want to say Ruby's? I don't remember but it was nice.

TIS

You've all seen SC and I talk about Spumoni Gardens in Bklyn on these boards. Well there's a place a couple of blocks away, on Stillwell Avenue, called John's Deli. But it is not a jewish deli. It's really a hero shop.

In the summer there are lines out the door. They make everything from your average Ham and Cheese hero to Eggplant parm platters to your Italian Sausage and Peppers hero.

But the best hero that they make, probably the one that sells the most, is their home made Roast Beef with fresh Mozzarella. It's simply delicious.

You are making me hungry. And I might have a relaps and have some Spaghettio's.

TIS, they recently did an episode and one of the places that he went to was called THE FROSTED MUG DINER in Chicago.

It's the last Drive In Diner in Chicago with the Rollerskating waitresses.

They host a lot of Antique Car shows and are known for their Roast Beef, BBQ Beef and Italian Beef sandwiches.

How neat!! And wow!!!! Look at those cars.



TIS

He also did an episode where he went to RETRO Diners and one of them was a place called THE SOUTH SIDE SODA SHOP in Indiana.



How cool is that!?!?

Looks like they have a real soda fountain! I wonder if they make egg creams?

They have Green River at the South Side Diner! Looks like it's time for a road trip to Goshen, Indiana! Neither of the two large grocery chains in Chicago (Jewel or Dominick's) has Green River, though I remember seeing it at Dominick's in the last few years.

I've been to the Frosted Mug for their car cruise night. I had the beef...dry with sweet and hot. The night I was there, I watched a waitress, uncomfortable on roller skates, struggle the entire night to keep her balance. She never went down, but every time she hit the lot, you'd hear everyone say, "Here she comes!" Just waiting for her to take a tumble...

I think they also did a piece on the drive-in hot dog place near Milwaukee and Devon -- Superdawg -- when they did a hot dog themed show. I still prefer Gene & Jude's in River Grove for hot dogs. Walk in with a $5 dollar bill. Leave with a full tummy and change.

But the best place of all in the Chicago area was Skip's Drive-In on North Avenue in Melrose Park over by dere... Skip's is gone but it was the quintessential drive-in from the 1960's with the little intercom and carhops to bring your food. I believe at that time the property in that area was "unincoporated" -- it hadn't been annexed by any of the neighboring suburbs so it fell upon the township to provde essential services and the county for law enforcement...which was slow to respond. Someone had painted a starting line and a finish line, a quarter-mile apart, on North Avenue for street racing. And you could light it up pretty good since that stretch of road was bordered by forest preserves for almost a half mile on the westbound side of the street. Skip's was down the block from three other classic institutions, Kiddieland Amusement Park, Maywood Park race track (harness racing), and Polk Bros. Skip's closed in the late-'70's or early-'80's. Polk Bros. burned to the ground in 1986 earning the nickname "Smoke Bros." And Kiddieland, despite its popularity and success, may very well close in another year or two since the property owners have "other plans" for the real estate.

tony b.

tony b.

The Summit Diner in my former hometown, Summit, NJ, is one of the most photographed diners in America--an original O'Mahoney from 1938. You can see it here:

http://search.cityguide.aol.com/northjersey/restaurants/summit-diner/v-110470922

I think that's so awesome. I love that retro look.

And this part of the write up makes the place sound even that much better :

"Summit Diner is famed for its breakfasts -- heaping towers of pancakes served with sausage and eggs. On Saturday mornings you'll have to wait outside for your turn at one of the eight booths or a seat at the counter"

Here is another Classic Diner. They recently relocated it from it's original spot.

A little bit of movie trivia here. Who here knows what movie this diner was used in?

Hint - Joe Pesci was one of the actors in the movie.

Diner??

Nope.


Hint - Joe Pesci was one of the actors in the movie.

"Easy money".

Speaking of Pesci, did you know he's engaged to Angie Everhart. WTF????????

Good eye Beth!

MIGGY,

You familiar with this Diner?

It was called the Lucky Diner in the film.

That's right TB!

It's the Diner that they try to get into because they have the munchies after smoking a joint.

Here in Baltimore that would be Little Tavern.

What movie is this one from?

Nope can't say that I am. Goombah might be though. I don't live in Cleveland.

Looks like the "Goodfellas" diner.

Give the man a

I was thinking Goodfella's but wasn't sure.

I don't need a cigar anyway.

Speaking of family run mom and pop places, when I was growing up we had neighborhood places called 'Luncheonettes' where you could go for a $1.99 full breakfast, lunch and dinner. They were store front 'mini' diners which were mostly known for their breakfast specials and fountain service.



I know that they were very common in the boroughs of New York City and wonder if other places outside of New York had these kinds of luncheonettes.