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Best Diner In Each State? (1 Viewer)

I grew up in New Jersey, the diner capital of the world.  Lots of diners.  I've been to the Tops Diner in that article.  Pretty ok. 

 
Nothing is more Green Mountain State than that my favorite Vermont diner is in Massachusetts. The Miss Newport Diner which excited me to go to so much on childhood visits to Gramma&Grampas - even tho gramma made the best pancakes (esp johnnycakes) and biscuits in the world - because it was in a train car, was yanked out of the ground about twenty years ago and replanted in Mendon MA. Any place where a kid could proudly wear a hat with earflaps is OK by me

 
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Really, Bob's Big Boy for California.  Come on.  There has to be something better than that chain.  

 
Felt a little lazy to go BBQ/Mexican in San Antonio for the Texas entry. When I picture "diner" cuisine, I'm not picturing brisket tacos.

 
Been to Al's in Minnesota as listed and it was good. 

Haven't been to any of the others. 

 
El Floppo said:
Lol at "best" diner.
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El Floppo said:
If Veselka (up the street from me) in NY is being called a diner, anything is a diner. 
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Bogart said:
Felt a little lazy to go BBQ/Mexican in San Antonio for the Texas entry. When I picture "diner" cuisine, I'm not picturing brisket tacos.
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yeah... to me a diner is a very specific type of restaurant- traditional 24 hour type of place with a big menu, counter, booths, but usually the same food no matter where you go. As such- one diner is basically any other diner... kinda the point of them I think. IMO, it's not what the article describes... those are diners along with restaurants of all kinds.

Diners go by many names, depending on where you're from—cafés, coffee shops, family restaurants, Waffle Houses, etc. They do, however, all have one thing in common: they are the living embodiment of the democratic ideal, with their wide open doors and sit-where-you-like ethic. They are there to meet you where you're at, whether you want a cup of coffee and a piece of toast, or a prime rib dinner. Get out there and celebrate the best of the best.

 
Joe Bryant said:
If you know me, you know I love diners. I'm a little leery as any diner famous enough to make a list like this is suspect. 

But I will say they nailed Fullers in Portland. One of my favorite spots on the world. 

Have you been to any of these?  Other thoughts on best diners?

https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/best-diners-every-state
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Yes, I have been to Dulys Place in Detroit.  Detroit is known for "Coney Island" type of diners and this is one of them.  It is good but there are better,  not the best of areas so it does not get a bunch of outsiders. 

I would venture to say 70% of the people who live Metro-Detroit have never heard of it.

 
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Da Guru said:
Dulys Place in Detroit....  I would venture to say 70% of the people who live Metro-Detroit have never heard of it.
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Being down there in the heart of Mexican Village area...I have never stopped there myself and would include myself in the 70%. I was always in that area for other places to eat...i.e. Mexican food!

 
MrJimiT said:
Being down there in the heart of Mexican Village area...I have never stopped there myself and would include myself in the 70%. I was always in that area for other places to eat...i.e. Mexican food!
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Yes, if you are in that area Mexican is the go to. I hit the Honey Bee market at least once a month if I am near downtown.

 
El Floppo said:
yeah... to me a diner is a very specific type of restaurant- traditional 24 hour type of place with a big menu, counter, booths, but usually the same food no matter where you go. As such- one diner is basically any other diner... kinda the point of them I think. IMO, it's not what the article describes... those are diners along with restaurants of all kinds.

Diners go by many names, depending on where you're from—cafés, coffee shops, family restaurants, Waffle Houses, etc. They do, however, all have one thing in common: they are the living embodiment of the democratic ideal, with their wide open doors and sit-where-you-like ethic. They are there to meet you where you're at, whether you want a cup of coffee and a piece of toast, or a prime rib dinner. Get out there and celebrate the best of the best.
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I generally agree, but I would caveat that I do think same food is limited to just region, rather than no matter where you go, and they should lean into regional cuisines where appropriate.  E.g., a New Mexico diner better be serving up some green chile cheeseburgers, huevos rancheros, etc. to along with the usual pancakes, waffles, and eggs fare.

 
El Floppo said:
Lol at "best" diner.
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We had lunch at La Bonbonniere Sunday. Not best in anyone's book, but it has been around since the 20s and they have waitresses who have been there 50 years. Cheap is it's best feature.

Was surprised Velselka was the other choice. Don't really think diner first as it's better known for being Ukrainian, right?

I've been to 13 out of 15 on this list - Brooklyn only but they're all great.

Westway (Hell's Kitchen) and The Greek Kitchen (10th/60th) are my favorites in Manhattan.

 
Da Guru said:
MrJimiT said:
Being down there in the heart of Mexican Village area...I have never stopped there myself and would include myself in the 70%. I was always in that area for other places to eat...i.e. Mexican food!
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Yes, if you are in that area Mexican is the go to. I hit the Honey Bee market at least once a month if I am near downtown.
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I don't know Dulys but Corktown (was called Mexicantown in the 90s) always had great hole in the wall places. Same general area,  right?

Went to a lot of Coney Island diners but most often it was after 2am with a group. Don't think I ever sought one out when I was sober.

 
BobbyLayne said:
I don't know Dulys but Corktown (was called Mexicantown in the 90s) always had great hole in the wall places. Same general area,  right?

Went to a lot of Coney Island diners but most often it was after 2am with a group. Don't think I ever sought one out when I was sober.
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Pretty sure Corktown has been Corktown since the 1800s.  Mexicantown is just south a few minutes away.  So yes same general area.

 
Joe Bryant said:
Thanks. Which diners in NJ would you recommend?
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That is a super tough question.  At its peak there were almost 6000 diners in NJ now I think there are only 600?

I have like 19 diners in a 10mile radius

I can only speak to the ones I've been too but there are so many that vary from $$$ to quality... that being said going into pretty much any diner you know what you are expecting.

 
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BobbyLayne said:
We had lunch at La Bonbonniere Sunday. Not best in anyone's book, but it has been around since the 20s and they have waitresses who have been there 50 years. Cheap is it's best feature.

Was surprised Velselka was the other choice. Don't really think diner first as it's better known for being Ukrainian, right?

I've been to 13 out of 15 on this list - Brooklyn only but they're all great.

Westway (Hell's Kitchen) and The Greek Kitchen (10th/60th) are my favorites in Manhattan.
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Yeah, I was surprised with the Velseka choice as well.  It's a decent spot if you want pirogies or other Eastern European fare but with so many choices in NYC, I was thinking one of the famous west side or BK diners would get the nod.  

 
Hash House a Go Go gets most the love for Vegas/Nevada here, but this article nailed it with The Peppermill. My brother who spent his career in the restaurant business is addicted to the place. Hard to get him out of the house and away from his video games in his old age, but if I suggest the Peppermill he always goes. It's not just the food, which is great by diner standards, it's the old Vegas ambience, the staff, the kitchen, everything he loves about a well run joint and he's run several. Do give it a try next time your in Vegas. You won't regret it.

 
Chaos Commish said:
Hash House a Go Go gets most the love for Vegas/Nevada here, but this article nailed it with The Peppermill. My brother who spent his career in the restaurant business is addicted to the place. Hard to get him out of the house and away from his video games in his old age, but if I suggest the Peppermill he always goes. It's not just the food, which is great by diner standards, it's the old Vegas ambience, the staff, the kitchen, everything he loves about a well run joint and he's run several. Do give it a try next time your in Vegas. You won't regret it.
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Good place, but I wouldn't call it a diner. 

 
Da Guru said:
Pretty sure Corktown has been Corktown since the 1800s.  Mexicantown is just south a few minutes away.  So yes same general area.
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Yeah Corktown is the Old Tiger Stadium neighborhood. Mexicantown is closer to the bridge- basically part of what we'd call Southwest Detroit. 

 
My choice for Michigan would be Ann Arbor's Fleetwood Diner. Serving breakfast  24 hours since 1949. Just a classic menu of staples like breakfast hash and omelets served in a tiny dining car covered in stickers and photos. 

 
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Da Guru said:
Yes, I have been to Dulys Place in Detroit.  Detroit is known for "Coney Island" type of diners and this is one of them.  It is good but there are better,  not the best of areas so it does not get a bunch of outsiders. 

I would venture to say 70% of the people who live Metro-Detroit have never heard of it.
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Have never been but it pops up on a lot of Detroit lists

 
Chaos Commish said:
Hash House a Go Go gets most the love for Vegas/Nevada here, but this article nailed it with The Peppermill. My brother who spent his career in the restaurant business is addicted to the place. Hard to get him out of the house and away from his video games in his old age, but if I suggest the Peppermill he always goes. It's not just the food, which is great by diner standards, it's the old Vegas ambience, the staff, the kitchen, everything he loves about a well run joint and he's run several. Do give it a try next time your in Vegas. You won't regret it.
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I'm a fan of the Peppermill for sure. It's the things I love about Las Vegas. Which you don't see that much of now. 

 
For my fellow southeast Michiganers I have a coney and diner.  The coney is the Super Chief on Telegraph road in Waterford/Pontiac. 

The diner is Pops on M-59 just west of Telegraph. Most of the food is homemade and they have awesome homemade pies. 

 
Gally said:
Really, Bob's Big Boy for California.  Come on.  There has to be something better than that chain.  
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I've been to that one.   It's not exactly the same as the rest of the chain.  It's more of a one-off by the airport.   It's not really anything special, but I guess you can see some porn stars in there.

 
Zow said:
Been to Al's in Minnesota as listed and it was good. 
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Ditto.  Have also been to Town Topic in KC and Lou Mitchell’s in Chicago.   Oh and Solly’s in Wisconsin.   Not sure that I would call that a diner either.  All are good.  Huge fan of diners in general.

 
I’ve been to the Anchor Grill in Covington, KY. (Really you can walk to downtown Cincinnati from there). It definitely qualifies as a diner/dive.

Worth it just for the 50’s animatronic, borderline non-PC jukebox thingy. There’s plenty of other places in the area to get goetta, but it’s worth a visit for sure.

 
-fish- said:
I've been to that one.   It's not exactly the same as the rest of the chain.  It's more of a one-off by the airport.   It's not really anything special, but I guess you can see some porn stars in there.
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To be clear, he means the Burbank airport not LAX. It's the original Bob's where the double burger was "invented". It's their flagship store and held to very high standards compared to the rest. My sis lives in walking distance and uses it occasionally. She thinks it's the best fried chicken in LA. It's not, but it is much better than other Bob's, afaik, and when on a budget in the area feeling like diner fare, well, wth. Not a bad choice. Plenty of nostalgia, old LA vibe, and sure if it matters, studio peeps use it late night.

 
-fish- said:
I've been to that one.   It's not exactly the same as the rest of the chain.  It's more of a one-off by the airport.   It's not really anything special, but I guess you can see some porn stars in there.
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Interesting that you say that. Years ago I saw a scene in one of those films that took place pool side at what looked to be an expensive house. On the patio rested one of those Big Boy statues. Looked real, as if someone had stolen it from an actual restaurant. 

 
El Floppo said:
If Veselka (up the street from me) in NY is being called a diner, anything is a diner. 
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Very true.  Growing up in NY I've been going to diners all my life.  I love diners.  I like Veselka, but it's definitely not a diner.

 
Wow La Teresita is my favorite restaurant on earth. If you look through any Tampa threads you’ll see me mention it. Glad to see it get some love here. 
 

Also, Yoder’s is great. Guess I’m doing Florida right. 

 
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Leroy Hoard said:
Interesting that you say that. Years ago I saw a scene in one of those films that took place pool side at what looked to be an expensive house. On the patio rested one of those Big Boy statues. Looked real, as if someone had stolen it from an actual restaurant. 
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Stealing Big Boy statues is a socal tradition.   We stole one and put it on the roof of our high school as a senior prank.

 
-fish- said:
Stealing Big Boy statues is a socal tradition.   We stole one and put it on the roof of our high school as a senior prank.
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My crowd set its sites a little lower. Stole a temporary stop sign stuck in a cement pot.  Probably still in this one guy's basement.

BTW, how heavy are those Big Boy statues?

 
I've been to three on the list.  Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, The Peppermill in Las Vegas and Solly's in Milwaukee.  They were OK I guess but nothing that would make me go rushing back.

 
Nick Vermeil said:
Love Goldy's but I feel like a diner should have parking and a patty melt or a Rueben.  I was always partial to The Trolley for a proper diner, but I can admit Goldy's food is better.    
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yeah, I wouldn't consider Goldy's a diner. Moon's would be more like a diner to me.

 
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