Diner Culture

FROM: Robert
DATE: Wednesday May 31, 2000 -- 11:23:11AM

Ryan, long ago you inspired me to check out diners and other small-time, locally-owned eateries. Down with the chains!

I also want to highlight a place like Carl's Ice Cream in Fredericksburg, VA and the Harmony Cafe in Georgetown.

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Wednesday May 31, 2000 -- 12:56:06AM

Glad I could be such an inspiration, Robert! :)

I will second Carl's as a great family-owned location that's a must-visit in F'burg. I have a PBS special on tape that features Ice Cream hotspots around the country -- Carl's is included as is the Creamery at Penn State and a great place in Philly.

FROM: Tony
DATE: Wednesday May 31, 2000 -- 1:34:17PM

In Florida you see a whole lot more locally owned places...especically in Englewood .... Theres th is nice place on the beach, ironically called "Beaches" , and seafood tends to be prevelant, though.... places like "The Flying Bridge" and my favorite (although pretty pricey) called "Palm Island" .... aslo a bit of irony there , its on an Island named "Palm Island" . Or maybe if anyone knows of the singer "Jimmy Buffet" he composed "Cheesburger In Paradise" in a little diner on Cabbage Key. Where the eating area is a huge screened-in patio , and people sign dollar bills. Then which are posted on the walls. So by now dollar bills cover the entire inside of the patio. With some of these diners though...most you need a boat to get to , and people rent boats just to eat at these resturants.
I agree though...hometown diners have a lot more to offer then chains, an bigger places....down with chains!

FROM: Matt
DATE: Wednesday May 31, 2000 -- 6:12:56PM

2400 Diner id definately a classy joint as is Tastee 29 diner. As for Carls, some consider it the best ice cream place in the U.S. I may have to agree for the simple fact that if their parts on the machines broke they would not be able to replace them since they haven't made them in years. Also Klines ice cream in Harrisonburg is probably second on my alltime icecream list. Check it out if you are ever at JMU.
Now onto other small establishments: Florida as Tony said is the best for them. When I was there last week my friend James and I ate at a place I can't even remember the name. It's in the Bradenton/Sarrasotta area. The place is a resturant in a rv camper park and is right on the water where gators and wild pigs are. The owner is a taxidermist who has tons of preserved animals inside the eating place. The food was fantastic. Before we ate we played Bad Dudes in the laundrymat that was for patrons of teh park.

FROM: Robert
DATE: Wednesday May 31, 2000 -- 11:26:47PM

I went to a classic ice cream place in Chicago where the specialty is these slices of ice cream stacked on a cone. It was awesome but the line was around the back of the place. This was on a Wednesday!

FROM: Paul
DATE: Thursday June 1, 2000 -- 12:36:36AM

Robert, which place was this? I'm starting to scope out ice cream shoppes (yes, with the "pes") in the city now that I've seen a bit of what the suburbs have to offer.

FROM: Tony
DATE: Thursday June 1, 2000 -- 9:05:41AM

Does anyone know any good ice cream places in the south side of Chicago, preferably in the Beverly/Morgan Park area?

FROM: Robert
DATE: Thursday June 1, 2000 -- 12:40:44AM

Paul--I'm sorry but I don't remember what the place is called nor where it is. From my vague recollections, it seems like it was in a more suburban area. My dad might remember what it's called.

FROM: Paul
DATE: Thursday June 1, 2000 -- 4:51:40PM

No prob, Robert. The only ice cream place I know of in my area (near west suburban) that is classic, is Petersen's, in Oak Park. Interestingly, they bought out the remaining Cock Robins in Chicago - there are at least 3 of 'em - and they too serve Petersen's.

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Saturday June 3, 2000 -- 3:59:34AM

Went to another outstanding diner tonight -- the Bridge Diner in Havre de Grace, Maryland (the last exit -- number 89 -- on 95 north before you hit the toll booth going into Deleware). Outstanding. I'll post a picture early next week.

FROM: Robert
DATE: Saturday June 3, 2000 -- 6:36:22PM

Delawhere?

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Monday June 5, 2000 -- 12:54:52AM

Here's a shot of the Bridge Diner, mentioned above.

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Monday August 14, 2000 -- 5:56:53PM

I made another stop at the Frost Diner on the way back from Fredericksburg yesterday... interesting overheard conversation: a woman talking about how she went out with a guy and spent $300 on drinks in an attempt to get silly drunk, tipping the waitress $5 for each drink she brought. The man she was talking too decided to one-up her and talk about how when he used to have mad cashflow (my words, not his), that whoever his waitress was for the evening "was set" because he'd leave her $100 tips.

While I don't doubt that this particular woman frequently got sloshed, I really don't think that she ever dated a man who would shell out $300 during a date. And I also doubt that this particular man ever made enough to tip a waitress $10, let alone $100. :)

Plus, a down-on-his-luck-possibly-drunk guy sat next to me at the counter as I ate my grease-on-a-plate special.

God, I love diners.

FROM: Robert
DATE: Monday August 14, 2000 -- 9:38:22PM

Ryan--Last semester at the Waffle House on 17 (where it intersects with 95) Matt and I overheard some redneck conversation about getting thrown out of some of the local bars. One woman thought it appropriate to ridicule a stranger for going to Aliby's (a trashy bar) after getting booted from the Shark Club (the new Fredericksburg hipster spot).

By the way, I finally made it to the 29 Tastee a few weeks ago. I drank 3 cups of coffee (mmmm, Maxwell House) and stayed up until 230am. My dining companions each got milkshakes, which were served in the metal cups as God intended.
And one other thing...that young waitress working there deserves a chauvanistic howl. Hot stuff!!!

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Tuesday August 15, 2000 -- 9:37:36AM

I passed that Waffle House on Sunday, Robert. :) I've eaten at the one by Aunt Sarah's, but not that one. Good story, though.

Glad you got to experience the wonder that is the Tastee Diner. The latest I've been there has been about midnight... even though I live a distance away, I'd love to make a 3am run on some Saturday night. And amen on the milkshakes in metal cups -- my dad automatically grades a restuarant down if they don't give you the metal cup.

FROM: pistol jack
DATE: Tuesday August 15, 2000 -- 3:27:58PM

i don't know if any of you in the NY area have heard of a town called Roscoe (no... not P. Coltrane), but there is a diner there, the Roscoe Diner, which is pretty well known.
Jeff

FROM: Robert
DATE: Monday September 4, 2000 -- 10:57:34PM

I was at the Tastee Diner last night. It was a strawberry milkshake kinda night.

FROM: dylan
DATE: Wednesday July 3, 2002 -- 5:43:33 pm

I am trying to find diner goods/props for a trade show in the Toronto, Canada area. To rent or purchase. Does anyone have a any ideas?? Please e-mail me back.

FROM: trey
DATE: Thursday May 8, 2003 -- 12:10:00 pm

dont know what the hell u guys r on about but piccolos in brighton east sussex england is pretty cool

FROM:
DATE: Saturday January 1, 2005 -- 2:26:35 pm

FROM: grace kelly
DATE: Tuesday February 8, 2005 -- 9:20:18 pm

how cool, you talking about frost diner. Yes it is one of a kind and there are all kinds of characters that stop in there. Funny my 17 yr old daughter goes there to hang out sometimes & have crappy coffee. you pegged the place and there are some great stories to be heard there, as well as many other places in Warrenton, VA Your ping was a while ago but the diner is still the same today in 2005. Life is great here in warrenton, come visit us again.

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday February 9, 2005 -- 9:28:53 am

Pinger Alex and his wife just moved out there, not far from the Frost Diner. If I were them, I might be at the Frost Diner more often than home. :)

FROM: Dave Walls [E-Mail]
DATE: Sunday April 3, 2005 -- 6:37:48 pm

For those ever near the Philadelphia area, try Charlie's Hamburger's Stand off route 420 (exit 9 of I-95, about a mile south of the airport).

Fantastic Hamburgers for about $1.50/ea, plus the best "black-and-white" milkshakes around.

FROM: Jose Hernandez
DATE: Sunday September 25, 2005 -- 12:32:49 am

I can not believe I found an article about Frost Diner. I'm 21 and my friends and I love the frost diner because it's original. My mother went there when she was young, and we are still regulars usually going once a week. I bragg about it all the time, and even own a Frost Diner T-shirt so I can represent my favorite place while at college. If anyone is ever in the area, you must have a cheesburger, and have some of the chocolate pie, or a shake. It's amazing!