European Tries an American Diner for the First Time - European Reacts
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
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My name is André, and as a European (Portuguese), I always strive to bring a unique perspective to the topics I tackle. All my reaction videos are crafted with a playful and entertaining twist!At least I try... 🌍
✔️ European Tries an American Diner for the First Time - European Reacts - Reaction For the First Time
EVERY American state/city has MANY classic American diners.
Yet each state has a different cuisine of course.
Not at all true!
There aren’t all that many truly authentic diners still around, and they are not at all evenly distributed across the states. You may have better luck finding a diner-style restaurant that is trying to invoke the nostalgic feel of actual diners, and some of them will do a reasonable job of reproducing diner food (but often at significantly higher prices), but some of these “diners” are just corporate, chain restaurants not much different from a Denny’s.
@markhamstra1083 It's true.You must live in a boring city
@@markhamstra1083 Perhaps in your experience... yet I find diners in most small towns, from Florence, Oregon to Petoskey, Michigan. . Not classic Diner Car architecture -you wouldn't get such in small less affluent towns. But people use the buildings available and they are non-corporate diners. Maybe not a jukebox that works at each table. But they are diners. Often very good and, oh, often/usually says Diner or Cafe in its business sign.
@@CHARLAAYYY It’s not at all true, but many people have come to accept a widely expanded definition of what a diner is. I live in anything but a boring area, and I can easily find an online article entitled “Top 10 Diners in [my area]”, but not one of them is actually a diner, and only one of them comes somewhat close, even though it is more of a combination of a classic ice cream shop and lunch counter.
Wherever you go, ask locals to recommend places to eat. 😋 They know the best places because they live there.
That's so true! And most places are extremely friendly and love to talk food and give a recommendation. I would say all places, but I actually don't have any experience in large cities like New York. I have heard people aren't as friendly, except maybe if you're tipping in a restaurant or something. Most places, just ask someone. I could be wrong though- I think even in New York City, we all love talking about food😂.
I wouldn't consider Black Bear an actual Diner, it's more of a chain restaurant like IHOP or Denny's.
You can find "American Diners" in most of the US. Most American Diners are a "Mom & Pop" Diners located on the outskirts of big cities or in small rural towns. You can judge if the Diner's food is a culinary feast of flop by the number of truckers,18-wheeled trucks, are parked outside. Your food reactions are authentic and from the heart.
Myself, and my coworkers always had a different criteria. If there was more grey, white or blue hair than we had, we KNEW we were in the right place
I think you’re both right! Here in Tennessee, I can safely say that truckers and little blue-haired ladies know what’s good!! Follow their lead, and you won’t be steered wrong. 💁🏻♀️
Many of them have gone modern with upscale this and kale that.
Easy way to get that classic diner feel is to find a Waffle House. Eggs, pancakes, burgers, stuff with bacon on it, and some crazy hash browns. Good and cheap.
No Wurlitzer juke box, but it's your traditional "greasy spoon" diner with the food you're looking for. I normally get an omelette with hash browns. Comes with toast for about $8.
Huddle House is probably about the same.
@@protorhinocerator142 Can’t eat at Awful House. Food is good, but no Dr Pepper
Um, diners don't have the parking for that.
New Jersey is classic for diners. Many are owned by Greeks but you can find all sorts of things specialized. Some are better for breakfast, some lunch, and some dinner. Diners are great for breakfast 😊
I agree 100%
Black Bear is a chain restaurant. It is always best if you can find a local place that is busy with the locals eating there as regulars
Also black bear does good burgers
Black Bear was originally a mom-and-pop operation in Mt. Shasta City, it was so popular that it was franchised out. I always stopped at the Black Bear mother ship on my way to Oregon. They spread along I-5 (where he was driving), now they are along 80 too, and even in town.
Black Bear took over our local mom and pop diner, it is very popular with tourists, I did not like it at first but now the locals swear by it.
I've never been a big fan of Black Bear.
I went to a black bear diner and I wasn't impressed either.
I'm an American and I still love finding a cute , quaint diner when road-tripping.
You might want to check out Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
Great suggestion. It's a series done by Guy Fieri.
Absolutely! Great suggestion. Maybe he could do some reaction videos for us all to watch in the process too.
@@cindyknudson2715 You just don't want to eat at any of Guy's restaurants where you bigtime overpay for food that's really not any better than you get from any standard restaurant chain for half the price.
Black Bear Diner is a chain. Stick with the mom & pop diners in the out of the way places. Ask a local! :) Thanks for the reaction.
Cracker Barrel, Dennies, Black Bear they are all diner chains, but local diners are phenominal!
Totally agree - you have to find a local place for a true diner experience!
Classic diners were prefabricated and resembled rail cars. Those are concentrated more in the East. But diner style restaurants are everywhere. They usually have very large menus. But the best hamburgers are found in bars.
New Jersey is known for its diners. They're everywhere.
I agree 100%
Stay away from New Jersey its legal to marry your sister there.
@@Yakomoe your a jackass
@@Yakomoe Nope. NJ is progressive and a great place to live. Best schools in the country. Look it up.
Yes, New Jersey was thinking that too!
Diners were originally decommissioned railroad restaurant cars. They were literally hauled into place, had the rail wheels and undercarriage removed, and were pretty much ready to go after being hooked up to local utilities. That's why for a long time, diners across the US often felt very similar if not identical. After passenger railroad use declined with the advent of the US highway system and all the diner cars were sold off, newer diners were purpose-built restaurant buildings. While they originally had a layout similar to the original railroad diner car style, modern diners don't allow themselves to be so limited in layout and orientation.
Black Bear Diner is indeed a chain. It started in Northern California near the Oregon border, but now has many locations up and down the west coast, and has spread through the southwestern US. True to its name, it has a very cabin-in-the-woods style, with of course a lot of bear imagery. I've eaten at several locations, and they definitely do a good job with breakfasts and hamburgers.
I’ve been to a few of the rail car diners
Chicken fried steak is a pounded and tenderized beef round steak. It's called chicken fried because that's the method of cooking. They bread and fry the steak like they would fried chicken. Hence, chicken fried steak. And yeah! I'm from Vancouver, WA and have been to the Stardust diner many times. It's great and that's my "go-to" meal when I go there.
Grits is a type of ground , large-kerneled white corn called hominy. Hominy is traditionally used by Indigenous populations in Central America and parts of South and North America. It is served in savory as well as sweet dishes. It is often eaten as a porridge with milk, butter, and sugar or as a side dish with eggs, bacon, sausage, or other meats and seafood. Think of it as a white polenta.
Hominy grits use nixtamalized corn, but there is also a long, parallel, somewhat regional history of using non-nixtamalized corn to make grits. The non-nixtamalized version is even closer to polenta, with the basic ingredient differing only in the varieties of corn used and the coarseness of the grind. And then there are differences in the traditional preparations, involving different thickness/consistency and additions to or toppings of the cooked corn….
When I was a child my oldest sister moved to a midwest state and I saw grits for the first time. As a kid I didn't want anything to do with grits, because it looked gross, but as an adult I respect it a s wholesome and filling "comfort food." I have tried polenta now too. Now that I'm older and deliberately eat less carbohydrates, those things are more appealing.
Cheese grits. The only way I eat it.
Maybe this will help:
Ground corn is cornmeal.
Ground cornmeal is polenta.
Ground polenta is grits.
You serve it boiled with butter and, possibly, cheese.👩🏾🍳🇺🇦
And anything else that gives it some taste, 😂.
I love a diner. Any state USA. There are regional dishes but most carry the standard American dishes and sandwiches and often 24-hour breakfast - my favorite. Come visit!
Yea. Sometimes I've gotten a bowl of chili with cornbread at a diner.... or if they also have greek food, some souvlaki.
But 9 times out of 10, I never get past the breakfast menu. Something about eggs, bacon, cheese, potatoes, and maybe corned beef hash. It's the best.
24 hour breakfast is one of the appeals of diner foods.
@@matthewteague623 I wonder if breakfast for dinner is an American thing. I love it. I do the pancake side because you need a little something sweet.
Oh wow, when I saw Stardust Diner I thought "I didn't know it was a chain" because I live near one and I've been there a lot. But it's MINE he's going to, here in Vancouver. So it's not a chain and Shaun went to MY diner. How neat. There are Black Bear Diners everywhere, they are as chain, and I've been once, which tells you what I thought of it. I was with someone who wanted coffee and they were "out." I was like there's a grocery store right next to you, buy some. "oh we're not allowed."
Come to New Jersey for a good diner, we have over 500 in the state ... and yes, we each have a favorite diner for each plate we will drive many miles to go to
new jersey is the best place for diners, we have the most and theyre like a way of life here. most states have them but new jersey is the gold standard for them.
You should be able to find a diner in any state. Some will be easier to find one than others. Also, if you want a truly authentic one that has been around for a long time, it'll be harder to find. There are a lot that are more modern in creation, but emulate the old diners.
Edit: Nothing wrong with the newer ones btw. Same food and environment as the older ones.
Always ask if they have a DAILY SPECIAL. These can save you money or get you more food for your $$$
Or just help the restaurant get rid of something they have too much of that is in danger of going bad.
“Specials” can be used for various purposes at different restaurants. You want the ones that are the chef actually being invested in making something that is more interesting to him or her than the 10,000th plate off the standard menu; but there’s a big difference between a “special” that is based on something like a seasonal ingredient that is only available for a short time and “specials” that are not especially good. Unfortunately, just what kind of “special” you are ordering can be effectively masked by a creative menu writer.
seniore specials too!
Traditional diners are disproportionately likely to be single locations and usually only serve the basics, like hambugers, hotdogs, and fries, alongside breakfast items like bacon, sausage, and eggs and ice cream items like sundaes and milkshakes, but Black Bear Diner is a chain restaurant. We have one near my house in Missouri. I still haven't gotten around to trying their food.
Chicken fried steak, eggs and hashbrowns is the BEST diner meal ever!
Gravy is not called gravy sauce in the US.
you can find classic American diners scattered throughout every city and most small towns in the US usually have at least one. Diners predate fast food and as such are literally everywhere just typically not nation wide chains.
Don't be shy when you need a good sit-in dinner. When you get to a small town ask someone if this is their hometown, if they say yes, ask them what's the best diner in town. If you ask a person who is a boomer, or a Gen X, you'll likely get the best answer. We always do this when we travel state to state. Sure you could Google restaurants and look at star reviews, but local word of mouth is usually the best advice.
To be fair, Black Bear is a chain restaurant, you'd have to expect compromises.
If you pull into a restaurant and the parking lot is empty, leave or use their wifi to find another place, Black bear is a chain restaurant, not a diner. On salads though, you can get salads with anything on them to make it a full meal with protein.
Black Bear is a more recent chain restaurant. Stardust is also, but an old school brand from the 50’s. If you travel around the country, you’ll find real, family owned joints in small towns that actually have home cooked, grandma’s recipes type classic cuisine.
I'm old enough to remember diners and restaurants back in the day, like 60s and 70s. there was a small jukebox on every table so you could listen to rock and roll right at your table. the technology was definitely different, but it was still good music.
“Just like the movies”. 😃That’s so cute!
When choosing a diner you want a mom and pop place. Not a chain restaurant.
The machine you were asking about is a jukebox. Put a coin in and pick a song. A throwback to the 1960's and early 70's.
Chicken fried steak is a cut of meat beaten flat for tenderness, battered and deep fried. I personally love chicken fried chicken. Chicken breast pounded flat and fried.
As far as grits... it's hominy corn ground into small bits, boiled, seasoned with salt, pepper and butter. For good grits you must go south. I'm in Texas and we aren't south enough. Georgia grits are the best!
I see he is at a, “Black Bear” diner. That is fine, but it is a regional chain. I live in Reno, Nevada and there are several here in town. But we have some better local ones here, most are open 24/7 because Reno never closes. If you want a hangover cure, go to a diner order biscuits and gravy with a side of hash browns (potatoes), eggs and your choice of meat.
Diners come in all shapes & sizes. A full parking lot is a good clue. Avoid chain restaurants if you want authentic. Grandma & gradndpa cooking in the back is always good, no matter the type of food being served. Amish stores are great to go into. Same with Quaker stores. Support the locals.
Grits is a coarsely ground hominy meal (type of corn) boiled simnered into a savory mash with salt and butter. Additionally you can add cheddar, shrimp, or a bit of bacon grease for flavor.
Some of the diners on Route 66 have been around for many years.
If you want a true American diner, Mom and Pop restaurants are your best bet (locally owned restaurants) Ask the locals to recommend a place and they will probably send you to the best place in town. May not look like the way you expect it to but it will most likely be a diner. Chicken fired steak is a beef cutlet dredged in the same breading as fried chicken, fired and served with white gravy. Classic American and delicious IMO- you will find them in the West,Wyoming Montanta Idaho, etc, but know where else. Grits are traditionally in the South and are ground corn of some kind (hominy??) and cooked like oatmeal
@carolynbrubaker1619 Are u saying chicken fried steak is only in the west? That's not true. It's a southern staple and can be found all over the south and all parts of the US.
My home state NJ is best known for diners. They are all over NJ and metropolitan area.
Diners are available in many cities and states. I love diner breakfast. A good diner breakfast will fill you up for most of the day.
Diners aren't just still around, they're common. They're everywhere. You wouldn't want to compare them to Fast Food places, which vastly outnumber Diners (at least in total) but in the populated parts of the Country I'm sure there's a Diner of some sort every few miles. And in the underpopulated parts of the Country, a Diner will sometimes be the only Restaurant in a Town.
Diners don't always look like the ones in movies. More often ones in movies are made to look 1950s vintage, with steel sided outsides, neon lighting, jukeboxes, and counters and booths for seating. Some actual Diners do look that way. Some because they were built in the 1950s and still look that way. Others built more recently to look old fashioned and vintage. Yet other Diners have some of those things (booths and counters are most common) but not all of them. And another group may have none of those things, and just look like a normal restaurant but CALL themselves diners (actually a common configuration is still having a Counter, but normal tables and chairs instead of booths, or only booths in an area up front but regular tables in the rest of the place).
Generally what makes it a Diner (besides them deciding to call it one) is a very wide menu, with a huge variety of foods, almost always featuring breakfast foods prominently (often served all day), lunch second most featured, with Dinner sometimes seeming like a bit of an afterthought (although it depends on the Diner). In big cities Diners are often open 24 hours (although that largely went away and never came back since the COVID pandemic).
Local "Greasy Spoons" are everywhere and often feature what is normal like burgers but also what is normal for their local. Texas will be more BBQ, Tex-Mex, and such. Elsewhere like Louisiana will have more Creole and such.
We have a few diners here in Southern NH that are all absolutely fabulous! There are many more dotted throughout the state so you can find them but not in every city/town. The staff always seems to be fabulous no matter what diner you hit. There was a local news channel in Boston that did a weekly "Diners'" discovery throughout MA and NH and was such a popular 10 minute review of a local diner (Local between states is common and what's a 1 hour ride - not much for great food).
There’s American diners in every state. I’m from Cali and we definitely have them. Thank you for being so kind to us in your reviews. I think I can speak for my fellow Americans, we really appreciate it!
Mom and Pop family diners are usually better than franchise chains, every time.
In South Caroline ( and some other States) A diner is also called a 'Meat and 3'. Usually these are more like a homemade food dinner, not a franchise diner. You get Meat and 3 side dishes.
The point is that diners ARE CHEAP. But it’s substantial enough to be filling and said to be rib sticking. So you feel full for a while.
Many retro/nostalgia restaurants and pseudo-diners are anything but cheap. You can end up paying a significant premium to experience their reproduction of the diner experience.
@@markhamstra1083 ok. But the truly established idea of a diner isn’t retro or nostalgic. Is it? Thanks for being argumentative, bless your heart.
@@lisal6121 Yeah, I’ll agree with you that an actual diner is not expensive, and that a lot of these nostalgia-peddling restaurants are not really diners; but a lot of people think they are.
@@markhamstra1083 excellent. Thanks.
Andre, do y'all not have Eggs Benedict there? That is my absolute FAVORITE brunch item. I've even tried making them at home (I tend to mess up the poached eggs or the hollandaise sauce, which also has eggs), but have succeeded a couple of times. From plate up: half an English muffin, Canadian ham, poached egg, hollandaise sauce. Maybe a sprinkle of paprika on top. However, as you see from the menu at 5:24, you can switch the English muffin for a biscuit, the ham for country fried steak, keeping the egg and sauce. Anything "Benedict" with diners needs to be considered for immediate consumption.
NJ is the Diner Capital of the US
Any state has an American Diner, New Jersey has the best selection of diners. There are diners that are strictly American, Greek, or Italian. Yes, some are better than others.
You can find a diner in every state. You want a mom&pop place, small-ish, breakfast is always available.
Diners are not hard to find. But the easiest place to find them is in small farm towns, mainly in the agricultural states. A diner is often the only cafe in town. In my 80 years I have lived in 15 states and have traveled 48 of them. As you drive the highways you will come across small towns of 2000 or less that are a few miles off the highway. These are usually the most traditional because these rural towns are deliberately "stuck", by choice, in the past.
They usually aren't actually diners, just family owned restaurants.
@@cp368productions2 True. but I have been in some that look like a 1950s movie and the food is good.
I live in a suburb, and have 2 diners in walking distance. Around here (Detroit area), they are mostly called "Family Restaurant", or "Coney Island" ( a specific type of diner specializing in "Coney Dogs" , hot dogs with Chili sauce , usually with mustard and onions, but also serving all the diner favorites). There are 4 more within 2 miles.
Best American Diners are in little towns off the interstate. Plenty of them across Texas, when you visit.
If you want a classic American diner, go to New Jersey.
Chicken fried steak is a cheap cut of beef steak breaded and fried like you would cook chicken. There are two kinds of diner, and you may not know until you get inside. There are newer ones that have some kind of theme, like both of these, and there are older, more run-down ones that have not been updated and don't seem to have a theme. But the food should be great no matter which one you find.
"Choice of bacon, ham or sausage" is a typical american breakfast, you get to pick what meat you want with your plate.
There are diners all over the U.S. Some are fantastic and others aren't. One note: You don't go to a diner for health food! If he hasn't been eating healthy, that's his fault, lol. You can certainly get healthy food in the U.S., but not if you're concentrating on diners and fast food. To Americans, a diner is an occasional treat. It's appealing because diners usually have huge menus, and they serve the breakfast food all day. So there''s something for everyone.
Most every place that I've been has a diner. Sometimes called a coffee shop. Diners are my favorite!
Coffee shops, cafes, truck stops, breakfast spots, bistros, bar & grills, family restaurants, retro/nostalgia restaurants or chains, and actual, authentic diners are not all the same thing. While you can find something diner-adjacent fairly easily, actual diners are not all that common in much of the U.S.
Andre, you can think of grits a little bit like polenta its like corn polenta isI think the best way to describe grits to people in other countries usually know what polenta is.
NJ resident here. I love the diners in my state. Sadly, since Covid, most of them are not open 24hrs anymore. I really miss that.
I love NJ diners. They aren’t 24/7 in n j anymore? That’s depressing
Don't forget in the US, you don't have to eat 100% if you aren't that hungry. Just eat half of your giant chicken salad, ask for a to go box and eat the rest for dinner. Problem solved.🤠🤘
I've watched a number of your videos and I'm always struck by the sheer wonderment that you exude for the United States. It is most refreshing to hear such wonderfully positive things from a citizen of another country about my country. I've worked and visited and lived in about 12 other countries and aside from Iraq during wartime, I've enjoyed my time most everywhere I've gone. But so often when others have found out that I was American, they'd tell me about how many problems we have and how we're all fat and lazy. While I admit we do have our problems, we are also wonderful in so many ways. I guess I'm just saying thank you for your attitude and love of my country. If you ever get to Florida, please feel free to look me up, I'd be happy to show you a few things.
Grits a "relative" of polenta. Classically, the type of corn is different, and it is ground more coarsely. At it's most basic versions are depending on you to put the amount of salt, pepper, butter or other flavorings to suit your taste. Diners that serve a wide variety of people tend to serve the basic kind. It can also be made more elaborately.
Grits: porridge made from corn instead of oats, essentially.
There is a difference between a diner, a coffee shop, and a family restaurant. There aren't all that many authentic diners left. Adding, Black Bear, now in many states, may call themselves a diner, but they're really more of a restaurant.
In Indiana, you will find a mom and pop diner in every small town. One of my past-times is cruising around looking for diners. I have lived in Indiana for 7 years and have barely scratched the surface. Muncie, Indiana has one of the best diners I have ever eaten at. It's called the "Sunshine Cafe".
I loved seeing your reaction to the video! I grew up going to traditional diners on a very regular basis.
I was kind of surprised to hear that he didn’t eat a single vegetable. Haha. I’m not judging, but they are most certainly available at diners! Many American diners also have soup and salad bars. The salad bars are self-serve whole counters with different varieties of lettuce, raw vegetables, shredded cheese, croutons, and more. And they normally have at least 5 or 6 different types of salad dressing. The “soup bars” typically have 2 or 3 different types of soup and they may have dinner rolls, saltine crackers, or corn bread to go with it. You can choose to take unlimited trips to the soup and/or salad bar for a single price (in my area around $10) or you can pay for a single trip.
Some of the most popular dishes are cheeseburgers and fries (yes, even with bacon😂), tuna melts, and liver and onions, just to name a few!
I smiled just as much as you during the video. 😃 And just one final piece of advice, Waffle House does NOT count as a real diner. Haha The best ones are family owned. But there are some franchise chains.
Grits is finely ground corn that's boiled to sofen it with butter added.
To be fair, diners are not synonymous with "healthy".
You go to the front desk of your hotel and ask them to recommend a good diner. :)
Black Bear is a chain, and I really like them. If you find a small chain called City Diner, they have that '50's Route 66 feel. There are also lots of independent diners.
Black Bear is seriously overpriced. A real diner is not a chain.
If you come to San Francisco there’s a small classic diner chain called Mel’s. The food is reliably good. Plus every city & town has a few diners, look online and try to avoid chains( like Black Bear or Denny’s). Never order seafood or steak at a diner-they’re best at burgers, grilled sandwiches, breakfast foods, fries, onion rings and milkshakes. Good stuff.
Mel’s is an historical drive-in chain, not diners. They are similar, but not exactly the same.
New Jersey is the diner capital of the United States. We have the most diners, the best diners , and the best foods, and that's a fact.
Black Bear diner is not a traditional diner, but they still have pretty good food, albeit, a little more expensive than a typical diner.
You find them all over. They usually have typical American breakfast food. They also have a lot of sandwiches, sides, salads , etc. And sometimes they have a few different items depending on what state. For example, you might find things like Tex Mex along with normal fare at a Texas diner....... Grits are like porridge I guess; ground dry hominy. Hominy is a type of corn. It's boiled then flavored with butter or have them put cheese. Some people like it sweet like oatmeal.
Grits are sorta like polenta, but usually wetter.
If you come to Arkansas there are many different "mom and pop" family-run diners each with their own warmth and style. No matter where you go, small town to big city, you can always find something amazing. There's also an Arkansas based restaurant with about 5 locations I believe, called The Purple Cow. Seriously, it's called The Purple Cow. 🤣 It's your typical old school style diner and the food is incredible. They even have a purple milkshake (it's just vanilla but it's cool.)
American diners are nationwide, but each will have it's regional flavor. You'll also find more regional specific diners, and most will be a mix of the 2. In Texas, California, and Florida; you can expect vastly different cuisine, although all are far from the historic US, as only FL was of the original colonies.
Florida was not an original colony. It was claimed by Spain and came into the US later.
My husband and I have a Black Bear Diner right down the road from us. Really good.
Honestly? It's harder to find a city that doesn't have at least one good diner. Even if they're modernized, still good food.
Holy cats! That Stardust diner is one of my favorite places in Vancouver! Good food, wonderful service, lovely experience every time we visit! (This is the first time somewhere local has shown up on a video) lol
Grits come from corn kernels, turned until kernels fall out of the corn cob, dried and sold in boxes, bags,cotton Guinea sacks(not the animal)simple to make but you must follow directions on grits packages and you can customize them to your wildest food dreams❤ Mostly Southerners(from Virginia down entire coast East and West, Texas, Louisiana and even Florida)enjoy grits but if you try to get grits North of the Dixon line you’ll find yourself hungry and severely ridiculed😢
Black Bear Diner & Mel's Diner are both good Chain Diner/Restaurants in California. Mel's is a little more expensive but worth it for their desserts! But, asking a local person for the best Mom & Pop Diner can get you a more authentic experience.
You can usually find different kinds of regular diners or you can get barbecue or you can get fast food. Mom and pop shops. Most every town has something that's good
The local sort of diner in Marble Falls, Texas is the Bluebonnet Cafe. It is a bit more into pies than most diners.
Oh no! pies?!? Man's inhumanity to man! Now pardon me while I look up the address....
YES to Bluebonnet Cafe!
We go there for special occasions even though it's almost 2 hours away.
They've been in business for 95 years! Their pie lady has been there for 35? Years!
You'll find plenty of diners in texas. But a word of advice, do not go to chain restaurant diners. Pick a Mom and Pop diner. They are the absolute best. If you ever have plans of coming to Fort Worth texas, let me know and I will show you around.
Diner food does vary depending on region of country. Diner food is the food you might get at your Grandma's house. Because immigrants settled in different parts of the country, at times there might be a specific influence in that area.
The best food is at 'mom & pop' restaurants, then dinners, and least good tasting is fast food places..... Always ask a local where the best place to eat and they'll point you to the best local place...
Grits are a corse ground corn, cooked similarly to polenta. They’re usually served Standalone, or with cheese. Many people like to add salt and pepper, and some people like to add sugar to the standalone version.
Grits is essentially Polenta made from Hominy instead of directly grinding the corn. Hominy is made by nixtamalization, a process of soaking dried corn in Lye. Once the Hominy is dried it is ground for grits or flour (Masa). So grits are oddly related to both Polenta and Tortilla.
Diners have a core cuisine that most diners have, but where they go beyond that core can be highly regional, but is not required.
My family does the Blackbear from time to time. We even, once and a while, have a chicken fried steak. But since the pandemic we've been eating at home a lot more.
Diners tend to offer a very cost effective breakfast making them VERY attractive on the weekend. Unless it's chicken fried steak then it's not very cheap.
The Silver Skillet on 14th Street in Midtown Atlanta has been in business since 1956. It has been in several movies and tv series filmed locally by one of the many studios in the Atlanta area.
I'm so looking forward to watching whatever videos you do when you visit America. 😀 It's so fun seeing my country through your eyes.
As an american, my family loves black bear diner, it's a large chain and the portions are INSANE even for us. Just FYI. And I always recommend foreigners to try and come through Tucson Arizona, outside of town is the TTT Truck stop and they have the BEST biscuits and gravy ❤
Very cool to see the booth juke boxes still in the Stardust. Our diner finally removed them😢. The full size one in the back is still the but it's not so fancy, lol.
In the south we also have the "meat and 3" restaurants. All home cooking. Each day has its own menu. The options are usual several different main course beats to choose from and then 3 vegetables. So Monday you might have the choice between meatloaf, baked chicken, or fried fish. Tuesday might be meat loaf, fried pork chop or salmon patties. You gotta go to one.
As someone born and raised in NY, I am biased in favor of NY, NJ, and PA diners.
Go for the chalkboard specials. You get an overwhelming amount of food: soup, salad, maybe a relish tray (carrots, celery, and maybe spring onions), entree, mashed potatoes or French fries, one or two vegetables, and pudding, ice cream, or jello for dessert.
Wisconsin and Minnesota both have an abundance of classic American dinners; as much or more so (per square mile) than most other states. Yes they are still alive and doing as great job as they always have! If you do our research you can even find a few "Railcar Dinners" here and there. They used to be very common, their menus however are not as extensive as the "family dinners"...in general. Enjoy!
Diners are heavy in calories because they were made for the convenience of working people.
The two you went to are primarily for tourists and road trippers.
Black Bear is a West Coast Diner Chain but man are they good ..