Do you ever make it to Central Florida? There is a little town on 415 called Osteen. Their diner is "Osteen Diner". That place has it all! Hubs and I love the biscuits and gravy and the chicken and waffles!
Thanks for the trip to Lou’s, Jolene—delicious food descriptions both written and visual, but your musing on the long history of rumps which those original stools have known gave me a little mental explosion of diner stools *I* have known. Oh the TIME TRAVEL!
I can't get through a week without referencing it. La-dee-DAH!
I grew up in New Jersey, land of diners, but I also love the Midwest style diners or coffee shops. I will definitely try Lou's next time I am in Chicago. Last year, I went to Sunrise Cafe on W.Chicago Ave near Ukrainian Village and loved it. Got to sit in the window booth, the server was just the right amount of brusque with all of us, and was sweet to my 4 year old. Definitely recommend!
i love this so much! and the cherry on top (so to speak) is the fact that i've been to Lou's: two eggs over-medium with ham and hash browns. yum. thank you for taking me back.
You are? If you’re here long enough and feel like/have time for coffee, let me know! After I read your piece on buttons I was reminded of a place in NYC called Tender Buttons (now closed, unfortunately) but it was an amazing place!
Oh, the first sentence of this one FILLED ME WITH JOY. I wish so much I was sitting beside you having scrambled eggs and rye toast at Lou Mitchell’s. Thank you Jolene for another cozy morning read❤️
Great read, Jolene! When Phil and I came thru Chicago this past April, we had breakfast here and Virginia was our waitress too. We were totally ready for the next leg of our trip west. We always look for a diner and we were very satisfied with Lou Mitchell's.
I love this so much. Jolene, you're a wonderful writer, a beautiful person and a national treasure!
Love,
Jamie
P.S. Have you written about Howard Johnson's? I worked there all through high school. Did you know that Jacques Pepin was in charge of the menus for a while in the 1960's?
The other day, after spending the morning at the Whitney, we went to this tiny diner on West 12th Street called Hector's, which really looks like from another era (particularly on the West Side, where everything is so luxe now). I had a fantastic tuna salad sandwich with tomato on rye (I'm more a diner sandwich person than a diner breakfast person). We also recently took our daughter to S&P Lunch (formerly Eisenberg's) in Manhattan, where she loved sitting at the counter. The food was good, but the generous pickle plate was even better.
Possibly my favorite part of this feature is seeing that you made multiple friends while at Lou Mitchell's—which doesn't surprise me one bit 🤗 I can't believe I've never eaten there!
My favorite diner is Diner Grill on Irving Park Rd., a few blocks from my old apartment. I preferred the old-school vibe they had before the place burned down in 2016; I've since been back and it's a bit too shiny and new. But the food is still tasty and greasy—perfect to cap off a Ravenswood brewery crawl!
The Roadkill Rt 66 Cafe was worth a try for sure in Seligman. I wish I had a personal photo of when we were inside eating alongside numerous attendees. Certainly, a kick on Rt six six.
I'm glad I grew up with the diners. It was a special time that I doubt can be replaced.
Lovely piece, Jolene! Thank you.
Thank you, Mel, I’m trying to find out where there are still great diners. Do you have a favorite that’s still going?
Do you ever make it to Central Florida? There is a little town on 415 called Osteen. Their diner is "Osteen Diner". That place has it all! Hubs and I love the biscuits and gravy and the chicken and waffles!
https://www.facebook.com/p/Osteen-Diner-100033530696945/
Thanks, Mel!
Thanks for the trip to Lou’s, Jolene—delicious food descriptions both written and visual, but your musing on the long history of rumps which those original stools have known gave me a little mental explosion of diner stools *I* have known. Oh the TIME TRAVEL!
The antithesis of diner breakfasting also sprang to mind, and this immortal sketch from the geniuses Key & Peele: https://youtu.be/yPhLlniGGVs?si=a_ksvNElUFxQq2Lh
Howling laughing! 🤣 “I love being in-continent” 🤣🤣🤣Thank you, Maria, what’s a favorite diner of yours?
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST!!
Still laughing! 😆
I can never watch it just once!
I just watched it 3x 😆
I can't get through a week without referencing it. La-dee-DAH!
I grew up in New Jersey, land of diners, but I also love the Midwest style diners or coffee shops. I will definitely try Lou's next time I am in Chicago. Last year, I went to Sunrise Cafe on W.Chicago Ave near Ukrainian Village and loved it. Got to sit in the window booth, the server was just the right amount of brusque with all of us, and was sweet to my 4 year old. Definitely recommend!
Will check that out Alycia, thanks!
You touch my Jersey girl heart with this one!
Diners, how we love them ❤️ any favorites, Melanie ?
I have quite a list of favorites, so I’ve been pondering this, but my “go to” these days is the Tri-Valley (in Jersey, of course)
Thanks, Melanie! So many people have reminded me that Jersey is the land of Diners! :)
Mustard is flustered by your kindness. Thank you so much for the shout! 😊
Absolutely loved this newsletter. This condiment loves diners. They are a wonderful place with delicious food and good memories.
“Mustard in Flustered” so good! 😂 so glad you enjoyed!
a diner is a sacred place where every picky eater can find something they like
So true!
Route 66 is a somewhat sad and diminished byway these days but American diner culture should rightly be celebrated and you do it wonderfully, Jolene!
Thank you so much, it would be interesting to track what diners are still around on what’s left of the original route, any thoughts?
Fun idea, Jolene. DM me and we can explore
i love this so much! and the cherry on top (so to speak) is the fact that i've been to Lou's: two eggs over-medium with ham and hash browns. yum. thank you for taking me back.
We are going the next time you visit Chicago! Thank you, Danyel! 🍳 ❤️
Ooo headed to Chicago this week. Definitely going to check out Lou Mitchell’s!
You are? If you’re here long enough and feel like/have time for coffee, let me know! After I read your piece on buttons I was reminded of a place in NYC called Tender Buttons (now closed, unfortunately) but it was an amazing place!
Oh I think I remember that spot! It had a big button outside on the Upper East Side? And yes, I'll DM you about a meet up <3
Yes!
Thanks for sharing. That's a lot of extra work for those fluffy eggs, but they sound worth it!
I tried the blender and made scrambled eggs (so just the first two steps) and they were creamy, Vicky! My new egg hack 🍳!
Good to know! Thanks.
Oh, the first sentence of this one FILLED ME WITH JOY. I wish so much I was sitting beside you having scrambled eggs and rye toast at Lou Mitchell’s. Thank you Jolene for another cozy morning read❤️
We are going to one of these days, Christene! 🥞☕️ I’ve been thinking about some of the diners on Montauk Highway, so good! Thank you, my friend! xx
Another newsletter gem, Jolene. Makes me so nostalgic for the Midwest. Still hoping I can work in a Chicago visit soon!
And we are going to Lou’s, Domenica! I hope you come back this way soon! xx
Great read, Jolene! When Phil and I came thru Chicago this past April, we had breakfast here and Virginia was our waitress too. We were totally ready for the next leg of our trip west. We always look for a diner and we were very satisfied with Lou Mitchell's.
That’s right, I remember you had a picture! I loved it and Virginia! Thanks, Kay! 🤗 ❤️
I love this so much. Jolene, you're a wonderful writer, a beautiful person and a national treasure!
Love,
Jamie
P.S. Have you written about Howard Johnson's? I worked there all through high school. Did you know that Jacques Pepin was in charge of the menus for a while in the 1960's?
Thank you so much Jamie, and what a good idea!! 😃❤️
The other day, after spending the morning at the Whitney, we went to this tiny diner on West 12th Street called Hector's, which really looks like from another era (particularly on the West Side, where everything is so luxe now). I had a fantastic tuna salad sandwich with tomato on rye (I'm more a diner sandwich person than a diner breakfast person). We also recently took our daughter to S&P Lunch (formerly Eisenberg's) in Manhattan, where she loved sitting at the counter. The food was good, but the generous pickle plate was even better.
Thank you, Raquel, (and I love a good pickle plate, too!)
Possibly my favorite part of this feature is seeing that you made multiple friends while at Lou Mitchell's—which doesn't surprise me one bit 🤗 I can't believe I've never eaten there!
My favorite diner is Diner Grill on Irving Park Rd., a few blocks from my old apartment. I preferred the old-school vibe they had before the place burned down in 2016; I've since been back and it's a bit too shiny and new. But the food is still tasty and greasy—perfect to cap off a Ravenswood brewery crawl!
Tasty and greasy! Love it! We will go to Lou’s when you are back! (Talk tomorrow 😆)
YES 🥳
The Roadkill Rt 66 Cafe was worth a try for sure in Seligman. I wish I had a personal photo of when we were inside eating alongside numerous attendees. Certainly, a kick on Rt six six.
I just googled it! Love it!