Your Own Personal Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives - Please Share.

[folivier]

A very small chain "Off the Hook" in southeast Louisiana, excellent, fresh, seafood and poboys. My favorite is the debris roast beef poboy.
Fortunately in south Louisiana we can find plenty of great poboy shops. Duckroost is another of my favorites with fresh seafood.

 

[rk911]

Cracker Barrell for the best buttermilk pancakes on the planet...other than grandma's.

Alfie's Inn for ribs and cheesburgers.
http://www.alfiesinn.com

Pal Joey's for pan pizza.
https://www.paljoeys.com

The Smokehouse in Wheaton for burgers and gyros but they closed.

Wee-Dees Weenies in Carol Stream also for burgers, dogs and ribs but they also closed.

almost forgot my go-to lunch place for dogs...Tony's Steamers in Winfield.
https://www.tonyssteamers.com

 

[jollystomper]

Harpoon Hanna's, Fenwick Island, DE : https://www.google.com/maps/place/H...744bb7dc5e3!8m2!3d38.45176!4d-75.064076?hl=en

Great seafood, lovedboating up to their dock to eat, family "demanded" at least a couple of meals there during our vacations in the area.


Joel's BBQ, Flatonia, TX: https://www.google.com/maps/place/J...08dac2d7!8m2!3d29.6978028!4d-97.1024404?hl=en

Found this driving between Houston and San Antonio. So good we made sure to stop on the return trip.


Potomac Street Grill, Brunswick, MD: https://www.google.com/maps/place/P...5abb9eb8!8m2!3d39.3126277!4d-77.6259191?hl=en

Shawarma to die for. A great stop when biking or hiking the C&O canal.


Zuni, Jerusalem, Israel: https://www.google.com/maps/place/ז...be9415774!8m2!3d31.7810402!4d35.2198049?hl=en

Found this while wandering near the old city, ended up eating here several times. great food.


Mom's Kitchen, Lake Worth, FL: https://www.google.com/maps/place/M...e2d22dea!8m2!3d26.6172482!4d-80.1642521?hl=en

One of our children lived in this area for several years and found this place, so whenever we visited a meal here was mandatory. Inexpensive and delicious food.


Pampas Las Vegas: https://www.google.com/maps/place/P...3b9d329!8m2!3d36.1085456!4d-115.1706955?hl=en

The first south american steakhouse restaurant I ever ate at, and I ended having a meal here on every business or personal trip to Las Vegas. Expensive but worth it.

 

[Ronstar]

Javelina Cantina in Sedona, Az. Great little Mexican restaurant with a view and great margaritas. Never go through Sedona without stopping here.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/J...f268eb5bedc2d!8m2!3d34.8591777!4d-111.7624281

Hogfish Bar and Grill - Stock Island (Key West) Fun lunch place with great hogfish

https://www.google.com/maps/place/H...2566534c3a24f5!8m2!3d24.5662918!4d-81.7334015

SanTan Brewing, Chandler, Az

https://www.google.com/maps/place/S...5fff3bb22277c!8m2!3d33.3032883!4d-111.8422192

And 3 brewpubs with great beer and burgers close to home:

Lone Buffalo, Ottawa Il
https://www.google.com/maps/place/T...34277f41a49e0b!8m2!3d41.3482707!4d-88.8424453

Honest Abe's, Morris, Il

https://www.google.com/maps/place/H...ab5be3ce62d94c!8m2!3d41.3367362!4d-88.4222196

Brickstone Brewery, Bourbonnais, Il

https://www.google.com/maps/place/B...d5738cd791d0ef!8m2!3d41.1629562!4d-87.8850396

I'm mostly a burger and craft beer lunch person. Lots more places that I can't think of right now.

 

[Koolau]

Kim Chee 1 restaurant on Kamehameha Hwy at Kahuhipa St., Kaneohe, HI (Oahu). It's a Korean BBQ restaurant. I love the Fish Katsu. It's the only place I've ever enjoyed kim chee! Not too hot and not too spicy. Mamma (actually Grandma or tutu wahine) has done all the cooking there for (guessing) 30+ years. Kids and grandkids (I think) help out. A true hole-in-the-wall but great food. YMMV

 

[Ronstar]

https://chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/menu/
The Over Grinder in Chicago. Have to try the Pizza Pot Pie. Not your ordinary pizza. I went there several times as a kid when my Mom and I visited her Sister(my aunt). I haven't been there since she retired and moved back to Wisconsin 20 years ago but will go if I ever make it back to Chicago. It is a small place so get there before they open at 4p or expect to wait a while. Parking is difficult so only go on a nice day. Probably have to park in Lincoln Park and walk a few blocks. They are open for lunch on Weekends.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/C...b166ac3f916faf!8m2!3d41.9207587!4d-87.6373933

Great place! And across the street from the site of Al Capone's St. Valentine's Day massacre.

 

[braumeister]

My favorite is Keiths Diner in the Goulds, just outside of St. John's, Newfoundland.

Thanks for the tip. I've driven right past that place but never stopped in.

 

[Luvtoride]

Tarpy's Roadhouse in Monterey, CA
https://www.tarpys.com/
Everything is excellent.


Crown Candy Kitchen in St Louis, MO.
https://crowncandykitchen.net/
An old-time lunch counter with great chocolates and ice cream. And the heart-stopping BLT sandwich!


Berns Steakhouse, Tampa, FL
https://bernssteakhouse.com/
Awesome steaks and french onion soup. And a separate dessert room for those after-dinner treats. Expensive but worth it for special occasions.

I forgot about Berns steakhouse! Have been there several times but not in many years now. So unique and they will give you a tour of the wine cellar (on-site , they have a larger wine warehouse off site) and the kitchen. Amazing place but worth the cost for a special occasion.

 

[Luvtoride]

If you ever pass thru North Jersey, you have to make a stop at Rutts Hut in Clifton, NJ.

https://www.ruttshut.com/

It is home of “the ripper” the best deep fried hot dogs you will ever taste. Also have to try the unique mustard sauce on the hot dogs. I live nearby this place and can stop in frequently.

Great thread here. We need to index these great places by locales.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

The Cabin Restaurant in Bath, ME had the most amazing seafood pizza; shrimp, clams, and calamari with lots of garlic and butter. Still one of the best things I've ever eaten.

Oops, forgot the map link!

 

[Ronstar]

....Great thread here. We need to index these great places by locales.

I'm working on a google map showing all posted places. should have something in a few hrs.

ETA - Here's a map. I'll try to keep it updated as other places are posted

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=13_AjHJzoLolWNGGT1N-aHhXOB1iKiuKg&usp=sharing

 

[JRon]

O’Farrell Sisters at Lake Okoboji - best pancakes in the world. Only open for breakfast and lunch 3 days per week, yet has a full bar!

 

[Luvtoride]

I'm working on a google map showing all posted places. should have something in a few hrs.

ETA - Here's a map. I'll try to keep it updated as other places are posted

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=13_AjHJzoLolWNGGT1N-aHhXOB1iKiuKg&usp=sharing

Ronstar, that is awesome! I can’t wait til I have time to put something like this together in Retirement! Thanks [emoji120]

 

[RetiredHappy]

I ate at a place called The Wagon Wheel in Needles, CA.

Great meat loaf with a Southwest twist. And one of the best slices of apple pie I have ever had.

Who knew Needles was a stop for some of the best down-to-home American food?

+1 We spend several weeks in Palm Desert, CA every winter and always make it a point to go to Wagon Wheel which is along the route of our commute.

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Here are some notable Milwaukee entries:

Kopp's Frozen Custard (and old-school burgers): https://www.kopps.com. This joint was, believe it or not, the inspiration for "Arnold's" on Happy Days.

Solly's Butter Burgers: https://www.sollysbutterburgers.com. The burgers come swimming in a pool of melted butter, covered with stewed onions.

Sobelman's Pub and Grill: https://sobelmanspubandgrill.com . Good burgers, but notably home to an array of ridiculously over-the-top Bloody Marys, including ones "garnished" by bacon-wrapped jalapeno cheese balls, hamburgers, or even an entire fried chicken!

 

[Markola]

What a cool idea, OP! People are “hungry” for the authentic. And you’ve clearly hit a home run by crowdsourcing this intel from the forum. I’m sure we all hope you’ll make your map available and updatable somehow.

If no one has mentioned it yet, the Southern Foodways Alliance is a terrific resource. https://www.southernfoodways.org/

 

[Chuckanut]

The Wagon Wheel in Needles CA doesn't seem to have their own website so here's the yelp link:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/wagon-wheel-restaurant-needles

 

[clobber]

I'm working on a google map showing all posted places. should have something in a few hrs.

ETA - Here's a map. I'll try to keep it updated as other places are posted

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=13_AjHJzoLolWNGGT1N-aHhXOB1iKiuKg&usp=sharing

Thanks for that Ronstar

 

[Starsky]

Here's my top-of-mind Baker's Dozen top 5 must-stop places (in no particular order):

• Langer's Deli in Los Angeles
• Rock Springs Cafe, N. of Phoenix
• Webers Hamburgers in Orillia, ON Canada
• Luke's Lobster in D.C.
• Hodad's in Ocean Beach (San Diego), CA
• The Gumbo Shop, New Orleans

 

[txtig]

While it’s not really a restaurant (it’s a gas station/bakery), Hruska’s on Hwy 71 in Ellinger, TX has some of the best Kolaches anywhere. My favorite is the sausage, cheese and jalapeño. If you’re driving by, it’s definitely worth a stop.

 

[ElizabethT]

On a related note, every 'official' DD&D place we have ever visited has been fantastic. Here's a link to the show's list of DD&D's, broken out by state if you scroll down just a bit:

https://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives

 

[braumeister]

Another great BBQ place I always stop at is Dinosaur Bar-b-que in Syracuse NY.

They have a few other locations, but I've only been to the one in Rochester, which is also excellent.

https://www.dinosaurbarbque.com

 

[HawkeyeNFO]

I know W2R isn't posting so much right now, and I've been away from New Orleans for a while, but there is simply no better town in the world for foodies.

2 of my regular spots:
https://salvosseafood.com/
In Belle Chasse before you get to the Naval Air Station. As you eat lunch, the shrimp guys are bringing in more freshly caught shrimp. So good!!! And inexpensive!

https://www.rockyandcarlosrestaurant.com/
Po boy sammiches are some of the best in New Orleans (although this place is not anywhere near a touristy area, nor in the city at all), and I recommend the roast beef po boy. Also be sure to get the macaroni and cheese. It's like no other mac and cheese anywhere else.

 

[Koolau]

Not personally a fan of the small chain "Dog & Suds" but a w*rk buddy always tried to organize a lunch-time caravan when the local franchise opened in spring. He was absolutely passionate about D N S. I always thought their chili dog was pretty good, but I only joined the caravan a couple of times - more out of respect for my buddy than for the "experience."

Having said that, I used to have to travel to the "big city" quite often, and guys in my lab would beg me to stop at White Castle and pick up a dozen sliders for them. The few times I did, I put them in the trunk on the way home. Just goes to show you that everyone's tastes are different. YMMV

 

[John Galt III]

I define 'dive bar' as a place where you can get extremely cheap beer deals, and the decor is not quite top notch. One was in Kutztown, Pa where I could get a 64 ounce pitcher of on premises brewed craft beer for $1. Not a typo. That was 20 years ago, of course. Even then, it was a great deal. It was in the basement of a nicer place above it. Same beer the fancy place above served, but at a great discount. Only during happy hour, of course. Lots of poor college students there. Maybe that made it possible. I