Diners

I live in New York City, where diners are extremely common. In fact it would be pretty odd to drive a half-mile and not find a diner!

But I've noticed that there aren't really diners elsewhere in the country. At least not like in NY. I was in Pittsburgh last summer, and there was really only one place (Pamela's) that slightly resembled a diner -- but it still wasn't quite the same.

BTW-- Pittsburgh ALSO puts riccotta cheese on it's Italian parmesian dishes. Everyone knows it should be mozzarella!

What do you non-nyc'ers think of the diner thing?

On Fri, 16 May 1997, Jonathan wrote:

I'm not exactly sure what qualifies as a diner:

Is it the decor or the food? Is it the design of what houses the diner? WHat are NYC diners like that makes them special?

Erik "Diner" Saran

I'm 15 and live in a suburb of Boston, and I've only been to one diner in my life...Johnny's Luncheonette. Fantastic place, but it's the only one I've ever seen.

Michael Alexander

What is IMHO?

IMHO is In My Humble Opinion.

It's "in my humble opinion".

Steve Writes:

Jonathan,

I guess you haven't heard, New Jersey is the acknowledged Diner Capital of the United States. We have more diners per capita than any other state. (hint: NYC is very populous and you have to include the rest of the state to get a per capita state count of diners). The 'airstream' diner was very prevalent in NJ and there are still more examples of that diner in NJ than anywhere else in the US.

Although, the diners in NYC have a certain svenjolly affect on me...

Thanks, Steve "Reeeowww" Tyler

joro writes:

<<I live in New York City, where diners are extremely common. In fact it would be pretty odd to drive a half-mile and not find a diner!

But I've noticed that there aren't really diners elsewhere in the country. At least not like in NY. I was in Pittsburgh last summer, and there was really only one place (Pamela's) that slightly resembled a diner -- but it still wasn't quite the same.

BTW-- Pittsburgh ALSO puts riccotta cheese on it's Italian parmesian dishes. Everyone knows it should be mozzarella!

What do you non-nyc'ers think of the diner thing?>>

I've lived in Atlanta the last 15 years and the absence of diners is a sad thing indeed. The closest thing is the Majestic diner, a distinctly nonmobile place that's been around forever...surly service, good Edward Hopper atmosphere, very rare for this burg...I won't dwell on the Buckhead Diner, a new, upscale Place To Be Seen.

My favorite memories of towns have been in diners. There's the place in Wilkes-Barre, PA where the waitress was giving a regular some marital advice, then there was the tiny place in Angola, Indiana where over a BLT & coffee, I overheard conversation on how homeboy VP candidate Quayle was such an idiot.

VMacek