Jack's Famous Diner
755 Us Highway 23 N, Delaware, OH
Diner Project Score: 8

This diner found me while I was driving to Michigan and I stopped on the way back. Their grilled cheese had both Cheddar and Provolone and the fries were tasty. They also have a jukebox (even if it has cds). Worth the stop if you're nearby!

Northside Grill
1015 Broadway St, Ann Arbor, MI
Diner Project Score: 7

I've been to Northside Grill before but it was before The Diner Project was formalized. It was just recently mentioned on the Splendid Table for its potato pancakes.

If you have to wait for a table they have coffee outside.

A few of the many intangible factors: art on the wall, old jazz, coffee outside, there's a sandwich on the menu where the proceeds go to NPR.

Bomber Restaurant
306 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI
http://www.bomberrestaurant.net/
Diner Project Score 5 (with the new intangible factor category)

I have been wanting to go to the Bomber Restaurant for a long time. Joel and Amanda and I ventured here one morning. It was even better than I thought. All sorts of great paraphernalia on the walls. The intangible factor here being all of the bomber paraphernalia.

Tasty eggs and biscuit.

Joel suggested we add "the intangible factor" to the scoring system- something that sets a place apart, makes it unique, makes it memorable. I'll post an updated card and list sometime here.

The plaque (pictured here) outside is a nice touch.

Eat Here Now
839 Lexington Ave, New York
Diner Project Score: 7

It was raining so I didn't snap a photo.
Tasty grilled cheese and zucchini sticks. Geoff had a burger that was good as I recall.

Fleetwood Diner

300 S Ashley StAnn Arbor, MI 48104

http://jim.rees.org/fleet/

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=136320028

Diner Project Score: 7 (to be verified)

Signature Dish: Hippie Hash

In March the Fleetwood Diner turned 59 years old! I started the Diner Project after I no longer lived in Michigan so there are lots of great Michigan diners that await scoring. Supposedly there is even a Fleetwood branch in Lansing now.

Bruce sent this photo of the Fleetwood Diner.

If memory serves me right, the Fleetwood would receive a Diner Project score of: 7

(this score awaits verification)
A visit in November awarded the Fleetwood Diner a score of 8 since we added a new category of the intangible factor (see above). The intangible factor is that people will wait, and even eat!, outside when it's freezing cold.

The website states the following: "The Fleetwood was manufactured by the Dagwood Diner Company of Toledo, Ohio in 1948. Unlike most classic diners, it was shipped as a kit, not as a complete ready-to-cook unit. There is another Dagwood diner located in Erie, Michigan, but has been remodeled beyond recognition. The original Dagwood near the corner of Monroe and Secor in Toledo closed in 1963. There may have been as many as a half dozen Dagwoods. There is more about Dagwood at the Lake Erie Region Dining Car Companies page."

At the Ackland Museum of Art today I learned that Robert Indiana's mother operated the diner on Route 66 with the infamous EAT sign on it.
http://www.rogallery.com/indiana_robert/indiana-biography.htm

Waffle House Museum opens near Hotlanta!

Jen sent this piece of diner-y news.

The museum is located on "the site of the original Waffle House which opened on East College Avenue in Avondale Estates."

Details and a slideshow are online. In the pictures it seems there's not a lot of difference between an actual Waffle House and the museum, but then again I've only been to Waffle House once.
http://wsbradio.com/news/090308wafflehouse1.html

Story in The Atlanta-Journal Constitution

This seems to be the official website.

However if you want to visit the first story says, "The museum will only be open on special occasions and for corporate events. "

So what if it is open? You can look forward to this: "there was no hoopla when the first Waffle House opened in 1955. That made planning the exhibits a challenge.
“They didn’t save much of anything,” said Waffle House communications director Pat Warner."

Diners of the Northeast

by Donald Kaplan and Alan Bellink

copyright 1980 (which equals sweet photos)

This just goes to show the treasures one finds when you're looking for something else. This book would have been perfect to have when I lived in Massachusetts but perhaps it will result in further future exploration.

In perusing this the best part is the counter talk listed on the last page.

A few samples:

-Adam and Even on a raft- poached eggs on toast

-draw one- one coffee

-dress 'em up- an order to go

-eighty-seven- good-looking girl in booth (noted as probably regional to Maine)

-eighty-six- cancel order or throw customer out

-fish eyes in glue- tapioca

-juke box- microwave oven (noted as probably regional to New Jersey)

-two to trot- two coffees to go

-WPA customer- stands for water, piss and air, or a patron who spends no money (noted as probably regional to New York)

Diner Owner Serves Up Stability With Soul Food
NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93927132
Izola's
522 E. 79th St.
Chicago, IL 60619
773-846-1484
Someone needs to score this using the diner project scale.
Just another instance that shows how important diners are to our communities and lives.

Just one more reason why The Onion is fabulous (and also Jen since she this to me).
Phantom Diner Appears Only To Those In Their Drunkest Hour
It's hard to tell its Diner Project Score, but it gets at least a 1 because it serves breakfast anytime.

Ben's Chili Bowl

1213 U St NW, Washington DC

http://www.benschilibowl.com/

Diner Project Score- 8

Ben's Chili Bowl has turkey dogs. While most might feel this inauthentic, as someone who does not eat mammals, I appreciate this option even though I had a chocolate shake and the cheese fries were tasty too. Chili dogs were enjoyed by others. You order your food, pay for it and then if you sit at a table somehow they find you. There's an amazing choice of slices of colorful cakes to choose from and four flavors of slushes. Totally fabulous in so many ways.

I love diners that share their history with you. Usually this is on the menu. In the case of Ben's Chili Bowl there are sheets out on the table. Here are some highlights from it: Ben's Chili Bowl opened in 1958 and it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year on August 22, 2008 (I think this is why the sheets exist). The building used to be the Minnehaha silent movie house. This area at the time was known as "Black Broadway". Today its a short walk from the 9:30 Club. Ben's Chili Bowl survived the riots in the 60s and drug trade in the area in the 70s. Bill Cosby courted his wife there. The Metro's Green Line almost destroyed Ben's but luckily regulars kept it alive. (Photo here is from the reverse of the sheet.) Visited with Ben and his friends.

Waffle House

Somewhere in Delaware

Diner Project Score- 7

This was the first Waffle House I've ever been to. I now know what lies behind the yellow exterior and on the tables below the white spherical lights- mutiple options for hash browns. Visited with Joel and Amanda.

Pete's Famous Pizza and Restaurant

116 N 21st St, Philadelphia

Diner Project Score- 5

Tasty pizza and salads. They have something called the Gizmo, which when we asked what it was, it was described as a poor man's pizza. I think it came without cheese or tomato sauce (I forget now). Pastries on the counter.

The Broad Street Diner in Philadelphia is not open. I think signs in the window indicated it might be for sale.

The Morning Glory is also a breakfast/lunch diner, not a dinner

option.

A. P. J. Texas Weiners Restaurant

47 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia

Diner Project Score- 9

We ate breakfast so no weiners were consumed. Info on the Weiners can be found here. You can even get breakfast to go if you desire. We opted for the counter but sometimes its good to have options. In Pennsylvania Scrapple seems to replace grits and other such sides. Scrapple here was listed as a breakfast meat choice.

There seems to be another Texas Weiners diner in Philadelphia at 1426 Snyder Ave, but that's not the one we visited. http://www.texaswieners.com/ Perhaps this is similar to the Philadelphia Cheese Steak feuding? In case you were wondering what a Texas Weiner is and its history here's an essay about the Texas Weiner .

While dining here Joel suggested adding the category of pastries/desserts on the counter. I add to this that they can also be in a case behind the counter. While I love a dessert display case this is too broad since dessert cases can be found in family restaurants. On or behind the counter seems more diner since you have to have a counter, one of the other options for points.

So if you have a card add pastries/desserts on or behind the counter to you list for points.

I am going to start a list of songs about Diners.
Feel free to post any you know.

Here's a great way to start:
"dinner in the diner, nothing could be finer, than to have your ham and eggs in Carolina...", Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Glen Miller

Chicago's fabulous Diner Grill (which scores an 8 on the Diner Project Scale) also seems to go by the name Dinner Grill.

This was one of the best diner experiences I've had in some time. When Dave and I visited in April we went at regular dinner time. The diner conversation about a El accident was inspired by the tv. Somehow the talk led to the new tv converter boxes (time will tell is one replaces the tape, wires and bunny ears at the Diner Grill). There seemed to be a consensus at the diner to wait to buy boxes (government coupons deemed overrated) until they're cheap and on the street. (They're probably right- I got the coupon and I still had to pay $20). The best part of this visit was the man who came in after work, sat down, no words exchanged. He received his chili and a specific number of crackers within minutes. Yummy Grilled Cheese (of course).

Golden Apple
2971 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago
http://goldenapplediner.com/

Diner Project Score- 8

Mark always tries to get out of going to the Golden Apple. He thinks I just want to go because it was on This American Life (which is partly true). While I have been convinced to go to the Golden Angel (totally different but fabulous in its own ways) and Diner Grill (a favorite) instead, we made it to the Golden Apple in April. They have both the Golden Apple Special and a Hobo Skillet! Tasty dinery coffee.

NC Diners

I still need to take photos of these.

Elmo's Diner
776 Ninth Street, Durham, NC
http://www.elmosdiner.com/
Diner Project Score- 5
I enjoy eating at Elmo's every time I've been. The last time was with Joel and Amanda. I was running late. They ordered for me and my sandwich was ready before I got there so the fine waitstaff brought me a new one when I arrived! Yummy grilled cheese indeed. Free crayons too.

501 Diner
1500 N Fordham Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC
Diner Project Score- 4
It's best to sit in the middle part of this diner since the other additions are less dinery. Joel said they have AMAZING bacon and my friend Megan loves the Corn Flake French Toast.