Trains.com

Some Tasty Transit News!

1373 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • 2,560 posts
Posted by 54light15 on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 9:40 PM

If you're driving up Route 9 in Red Hook, New York stop in at the Red Hook diner- built in 1927 and on the National Register and the home fries are first rate! I picked up a copy of Roadside there. Also, Worcester, Massachusetts has some amazing diners. I think they started there in the 20s and I recall one that was obviously restored to original and it was called a "lunch car." It looked like a streetcar but I don't think that was how it was originally built. 

A classic film from 1947 is early on set in a diner. "The Killers" with Burt Lancaster and written by Ernest Hemingway and the dialog is him verbatim. It's one of the few films made from his books that he actually liked. 

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 8:30 PM

Overmod
I find I'm still upset about the Tenafly Diner being rebuilt to googie-style architecture... circa 1967

Yes, Lady F and my self have seen it, it's been thoroughly "Lou-Roc'd!"

What's "Lou-Roc'd?"  Well, back in the 90's there was a fun mgazine for diner enthusiasts called "Roadside," a contemporary of "Eleanor P" in fact.  "Roadside" was all about classic diners and diner culture, they came up with the term "Lou-Roc'd" after the Lou-Roc diner in Massachusetts completely remodeled their classic stainless steel exterior into a nondescript "modern" boxy-looking structure, a fate many classic old stainless steel diners have fallen victim to. 

The Suburban Diner in Paramus NJ is another classic example of "Lou-Roc" modification.  It's not even fair to call it a diner anymore.

Mind you, the term "Lou-Roc" has nothing to do with the quality of the food served!  It's all about the loss of the classic diner look. 

For ice cream in North Jersey our go-to place is Van Dyk's in Ridgewood!  The best!  Lady F has NO problem traveling 360 miles for their maple walnut ice cream!

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 1:33 AM

Flintlock76
Speaking of which, Lady Firestorm and I being diner fans were going to try the Tenafly Diner the last trip north.

I find I'm still upset about the Tenafly Diner being rebuilt to googie-style architecture... circa 1967.  Many is the cheeseburger with mashed potatoes on the side that I had in there... before it got gentrified.

And then there's Baumgarts in Englewood, the place my mom and I determined, scientifically and conclusively, that fries taste better when stolen off someone else's plate.  It's weird in there now... and I don't think the ice cream is still homemade in there at any price.  (I'd be upset if Bischoff's went that route!  And I still can't believe Gerenser's in New Hope is gone without revival...)

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 9:52 PM

Overmod
an eye-watering price.

Speaking of which, Lady Firestorm and I being diner fans were going to try the Tenafly Diner the last trip north.  Until I looked at the menu on line and saw the "eye-watering" prices! 

C'mon people, it's supposed to be a diner, not the Ritz! 

So we went to the Empress Diner in Fair Lawn instead.  Good food and VERY reasonable!  Dinner 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 8:25 PM

It wasn't like Swindon.  The real issue was sullen, slow service for an eye-watering price.

I cannot remember reading even one positive review.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 3:43 PM

Overmod

Everything that that awful little bistro in the Tenafly station for so long was not!

 

I never made it to that one!  Sounds like I didn't miss anything!  Ick!

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 1:43 PM

Everything that that awful little bistro in the Tenafly station for so long was not!

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Some Tasty Transit News!
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 9:28 AM

Talk about conveniance and making a transit stop a destination location!

https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/paramus/business/italian-restaurant-frequented-by-celebs-brings-cocktail-lounge-pizzeria-to-nj-train-station/845854/

Put a bagel shop there as well and that station'll have everything you need!

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy