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Friday, April 03, 2026
2026.0403.0003...
This one isn't really a diner, but I thought the old cars were spiffy.
I can't speak for the first three places, but most certainly can for the Marietta Diner - it's a poser.
Only open since the mid-1990's and the only thing "diner-ish" about it is the front facade. In reality, it's just an average, large restaurant inside with so-so food quality and only continues to exist today because back in the mists of time it was featured on the Food Network. It has it's devotees - mainly a small group of locals, as well as out-of-towners just wanting to experience the "ambiance" but you can get all the "diner" atmosphere it provides by standing outside and taking a picture of the front. I never found it worth the time (slow service), expense (high) or food quality (just below average to average) worth the hype that it's received. If you take away the mirror facade, the neon and the glass block it's really nothing more than a Denny's. It brings to mind the old saying about turning a sow's ear into a silk purse.
The menu is absolutely HUGE and management could easily lose about half of the offerings on it (which would allow them to focus on quality and cut down on expense). It displays an obvious mismanaged mess of cuisine styles consisting of everything from Mediterranean (mainly Greek and Italian) dishes to good ol' Southern US comfort food, seafood, steaks, breakfast selections and I think (although can't confirm) the menu has the kitchen sink smothered in cheese and tomato sauce as well. It's like it's suffering from some sort of hellish identity crisis. I will give props to the desert selections (TONS of cakes and pies selections!) but I believe those are brought in from an external bakery; it would certainly explain why they are superior to any of the entrees or al a carte items on the menu.
Since no one can avoid looking away from a highway accident, here's a link to their car-wreck of a menu: https://www.mariettadiner.com/menu
I was not aware of the history and heritage of "Diners" until I saw a program on the local PBS station about 10 years ago. I had always considered them to be places I did not want to be. In some cases, they still are, but for different reasons.
The original diner was a smaller building that could be TRUCKED to different locations, as desired. Very space-efficient, as a result. Places to enjoy great local food in generous portions at a good price for all. Bustling with business. Most with "catchy" exterior designs. Many open long hours into the night and early morning. Other than the local ones, Waffle House is the modern equivalent, it seems.
Seems that a real diner was built out of a railroad car, which is why they are all similar lengths and shapes? They served FOOD, not alcoholic drinks. From the documentary, it looked like most of the food would be loaded with high sodium and fat, which aided the taste of the possibly lower-quality meats and such. Back then, most who are there were WORKERS whose bodies used the fat and sweated-out the high sodium, so it all worked out.
The real diners are a huge part of American culinary history! Which moved west with expanding populations. The PBS documentary followed the relocation of one diner, by truck, as designed, to Truckee, CA.
I fully agree, whkattk - but honestly, Supper Clubs and Diners were diametrically opposed in theming, approach, menus and the types of crowds they generally drew. As Cdadbr pointed out, Diners were small, generally limited menu and catered mostly to people of a lower social standing than supper clubs. If the Marietta diner had gone for a Supper Club type of vibe, they would have succeeded. However, they went after the Diner crowd (supper clubs - while some still exist - just aren't popular anymore) and in my opinion, failed miserably. That's why I said it's having an identity crisis.
The fondest memories I have for diners, was after a night of clubbing my friends and I would go to a diner to have breakfast. Man, that place was full of hungry cocksuckers.
LOL, I agree with you Scott! When I was in my [much] younger going out all night party days in Dallas there was a small diner on Maple Ave. called "The Dutch Kitchen" and man, that was a shithole of a place. I don't think the menu or prices had been updated since the 1940's (nor had it been cleaned very well since then!) but that was *the* place to go after a night of sleazing in the clubs. The food was actually really good, several drag queens were waitresses and sassy as Flo on "Alice." That place used to have lines out the door and there was more cruising done there in the diner and the parking lot than you found at the clubs.
Course at that time in Dallas (especially on the strip in Cedar Springs) the bars were for the "oooh, look at me!" phase of cruising; picking up didn't happen until you got out of the bars and spotlight of society. :D
Outside the Chinese Dragon Restaurant- 59 Olds 98, 57 Lincoln Premier, 63 Olds F-85, 63 Buick Le Sabre, Peugeot 403, 62 Pontiac and a 58 Chevrolet. Out here California diners pretty much died out by the Sixties, as Drive-Ins were King in car obsessed California :) Back in the day my grandfather would drive me up to his cabin in Vermont from New Jersey, and we would stop by to eat at several diners were they served some of the best pancake breakfasts and full course lunches I ever had. I will never forget the fresh made pancakes with real maple syrup served along with other great food served at the Colonial House diner. -Rj
I can't speak for the first three places, but most certainly can for the Marietta Diner - it's a poser.
ReplyDeleteOnly open since the mid-1990's and the only thing "diner-ish" about it is the front facade. In reality, it's just an average, large restaurant inside with so-so food quality and only continues to exist today because back in the mists of time it was featured on the Food Network. It has it's devotees - mainly a small group of locals, as well as out-of-towners just wanting to experience the "ambiance" but you can get all the "diner" atmosphere it provides by standing outside and taking a picture of the front. I never found it worth the time (slow service), expense (high) or food quality (just below average to average) worth the hype that it's received. If you take away the mirror facade, the neon and the glass block it's really nothing more than a Denny's. It brings to mind the old saying about turning a sow's ear into a silk purse.
The menu is absolutely HUGE and management could easily lose about half of the offerings on it (which would allow them to focus on quality and cut down on expense). It displays an obvious mismanaged mess of cuisine styles consisting of everything from Mediterranean (mainly Greek and Italian) dishes to good ol' Southern US comfort food, seafood, steaks, breakfast selections and I think (although can't confirm) the menu has the kitchen sink smothered in cheese and tomato sauce as well. It's like it's suffering from some sort of hellish identity crisis. I will give props to the desert selections (TONS of cakes and pies selections!) but I believe those are brought in from an external bakery; it would certainly explain why they are superior to any of the entrees or al a carte items on the menu.
Since no one can avoid looking away from a highway accident, here's a link to their car-wreck of a menu:
https://www.mariettadiner.com/menu
Great example of the style, though Rick! Thanks!
RBrysco - You're welcome. And, thanks for the link. That menu is massive.
DeleteI was not aware of the history and heritage of "Diners" until I saw a program on the local PBS station about 10 years ago. I had always considered them to be places I did not want to be. In some cases, they still are, but for different reasons.
ReplyDeleteThe original diner was a smaller building that could be TRUCKED to different locations, as desired. Very space-efficient, as a result. Places to enjoy great local food in generous portions at a good price for all. Bustling with business. Most with "catchy" exterior designs. Many open long hours into the night and early morning. Other than the local ones, Waffle House is the modern equivalent, it seems.
Seems that a real diner was built out of a railroad car, which is why they are all similar lengths and shapes? They served FOOD, not alcoholic drinks. From the documentary, it looked like most of the food would be loaded with high sodium and fat, which aided the taste of the possibly lower-quality meats and such. Back then, most who are there were WORKERS whose bodies used the fat and sweated-out the high sodium, so it all worked out.
The real diners are a huge part of American culinary history! Which moved west with expanding populations. The PBS documentary followed the relocation of one diner, by truck, as designed, to Truckee, CA.
Cdadbr - Thank you for that info.
DeleteBut it does look like a Supper Club - also still quite popular at the time.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree, whkattk - but honestly, Supper Clubs and Diners were diametrically opposed in theming, approach, menus and the types of crowds they generally drew. As Cdadbr pointed out, Diners were small, generally limited menu and catered mostly to people of a lower social standing than supper clubs. If the Marietta diner had gone for a Supper Club type of vibe, they would have succeeded. However, they went after the Diner crowd (supper clubs - while some still exist - just aren't popular anymore) and in my opinion, failed miserably. That's why I said it's having an identity crisis.
DeleteScott from Massachusetts said.
ReplyDeleteThe fondest memories I have for diners, was after a night of clubbing my friends and I would go to a diner to have breakfast. Man, that place was full of hungry cocksuckers.
LOL, I agree with you Scott! When I was in my [much] younger going out all night party days in Dallas there was a small diner on Maple Ave. called "The Dutch Kitchen" and man, that was a shithole of a place. I don't think the menu or prices had been updated since the 1940's (nor had it been cleaned very well since then!) but that was *the* place to go after a night of sleazing in the clubs. The food was actually really good, several drag queens were waitresses and sassy as Flo on "Alice." That place used to have lines out the door and there was more cruising done there in the diner and the parking lot than you found at the clubs.
DeleteCourse at that time in Dallas (especially on the strip in Cedar Springs) the bars were for the "oooh, look at me!" phase of cruising; picking up didn't happen until you got out of the bars and spotlight of society. :D
👍😊😉
DeleteOutside the Chinese Dragon Restaurant-
ReplyDelete59 Olds 98, 57 Lincoln Premier, 63 Olds F-85, 63 Buick Le Sabre, Peugeot 403, 62 Pontiac and a 58 Chevrolet.
Out here California diners pretty much died out by the Sixties, as Drive-Ins were King in car obsessed California :)
Back in the day my grandfather would drive me up to his cabin in Vermont from New Jersey, and we would stop by to eat at several diners were they served some of the best pancake breakfasts and full course lunches I ever had. I will never forget the fresh made pancakes with real maple syrup served along with other great food served at the Colonial House diner.
-Rj
Rj - Thanks for the car IDs.
Delete