Nowadays, it seems to be all the rage to eat at roadside diners. Celebrity chef Alton Brown has made the concept into a show, Feasting on Asphalt, and everyone else seems to be reminiscing about the “good old days” when you could get an unlimited cup of coffee for 50 cents.
This weekend, I went on an impromptu road trip to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and when we ate at one of these diners for breakfast, I appreciated their allure.
We ate at around nine in the morning, and the diner was still relatively empty. A table of two couples and another table with a family were the only other filled tables I could see. The service was fast, and the menu was simple: eggs, pancakes, waffles, and french toast.
For exactly $8.27, my travel companion had scrambled eggs with toast and home fries, and I had a stack of blueberry pancakes. We were also served unlimited coffee.
It’s impossible to compare this sort of food to gourmet restaurant meals. This sort of food is simply good. Unassuming. It’s the sort of food you want when you’re in an awful mood and you just want something to fill you up. The pancakes were tasty and fluffy, served with maple syrup and a smile. As you can probably see from the picture, I enjoyed them thoroughly.
The waitress was attentive and nice, arriving every few minutes at our table to refresh our cups of coffee. She seemed amused that I intended to take the “unlimited refills” literally. Anyone who knows me, however, should know that “unlimited coffee refills” is not a phrase that should be used around me. It will be taken literally.
