Greasy Spoons

Do you have a greasy spoon restaurant in your neck of the woods? Do you ever eat there? If so, what do you get?

There is one here called AJ's Texas Hots. You can get 3 dogs with special sauce and FF for $3-something.

I am lucky to live within driving distance of a bunch of small independent eateries. Within the last few days I have eaten at one that shows up in the restaurant section of this site, and another that should. I don't, however, eat at restaurants that are "greasy spoons" in the classic definition (dirty, with greasy low quality food---cheap). Competition in the urban areas of my state is very strong, and people vote with their feet and wallets. The chains are doing well because as another poster said, they in general put out a good quality, uniform product. To compete, the local guy or gal needs a better product, a good location, good prices and a little luck to build a reputation before the money runs out.

lol tmiles. Yeah, i guess that is a good definition of a "greasy spoon!" There are a few of those here in town also. I guess my definition was little diners, etc. A place where you can go in and you know everybody, get a huge omelet with homefries and bacon for 2.99, including coffee.

29 Tastee Diner in Fairfax VA. Dirty place, but I love it cause it's a classic diner.

We used to have one just down the street, but they closed a couple of years ago. Betty's BBQ...home of the $2.49 breakfast special (three buttermilk pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, 2 toast and coffee). The closest one to me now is on the lakeshore (Carmen's in Muskegon, MI), but I haven't been there since they moved.

I would consider Brewer's restaurant in Hamilton, OH, on East Ave a greasy spoon. But, excellent roadfood breakfasts. There used to be a greasy spoon hamburger joint in Hamilton, I can't recall the name of it. It was on Rt 4 for years, but closed down about 15 years ago.

In my area, the most famous (or is it notorious?) greasy spoons are the "Grease Trucks" at Rutgers University. There is a parking lot for them, provided by the college, and this assemblage of vendors sells all kinds of artery-clogging sandwiches--most of which seem to be deep-fried (but that could be my imagination).

A typical menu item would be something like a double cheeseburger, with french fries and cole slaw shoved between the two pieces of the roll, along with the meat and cheese. Although many healthier options (including vegetarian fare) exist on the campus, there is always a line of students queing up for the trans-fat/saturated fat specials served up by the guys who operate these trucks. Yuck!

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre

I would consider Brewer's restaurant in Hamilton, OH, on East Ave a greasy spoon. But, excellent roadfood breakfasts. There used to be a greasy spoon hamburger joint in Hamilton, I can't recall the name of it. It was on Rt 4 for years, but closed down about 15 years ago.

Hyde's is the place I'd call the definition of a greasy spoon in Hamilton OH
http://www.restaurant.com/microsite.asp?rid=311696

The greasy spoon I used to visit on a fairly decent basis was Ma's Kitchen... Greasy, dirty and as tasty as it gets! It looked liked it was a house converted over to a diner thats expanded over the years (uneven levels, yet on the same floor). But they closed down a little over 10 years ago. It was located in Grand Rapids on the NE side with fields all around it. Now there's nothing but restaurants and commercial buildings in them former fields. Where Ma's used to stand first became a Kenny Rogers, then was leveled and built into a Donato's pizza, which closed here a couple years ago and now is an expansion of one of our local Mexican eateries, The Adobe. I sort of miss Ma's, but with the Adobe being the final outcome, I wont complain!

quote:

Originally posted by felix4067

We used to have one just down the street, but they closed a couple of years ago. Betty's BBQ...home of the $2.49 breakfast special (three buttermilk pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, 2 toast and coffee). The closest one to me now is on the lakeshore (Carmen's in Muskegon, MI), but I haven't been there since they moved.

Hey Felix, is the Clock Diner still open on your side of town?

ok..it isn't where i live now, but where i used to live.. my first husband and i used to go to this place -- i think in paterson (never really sure,the way towns blend togehter in that area) might have been clifton, but it was called 'egg platter' (i think- or silver platter) {i know-- not much help when i can't remember the name - but if you are from that part of town you'll know where i'm talking about......} it was a small diner type place and they had the BEST omlettes.. and every possible kind you could imagine.. the guy could crack like 3-4 eggs at a time with EACH hand.. and he'd slide your order down the counter -- if you were sitting at the counter of courst...that place was awesome...
there was another little place (can't remember the name) it was a small mexican diner type place on route 4.. awesome!!

Err, what part of the world was this place in, more or less, jerseygirl?

In my humble opinion every Waffle House/Waffle & Steak location that I have visited would meet the criteria y'all have expressed.

quote:

Originally posted by UncleVic

quote:

Originally posted by felix4067

We used to have one just down the street, but they closed a couple of years ago. Betty's BBQ...home of the $2.49 breakfast special (three buttermilk pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, 2 toast and coffee). The closest one to me now is on the lakeshore (Carmen's in Muskegon, MI), but I haven't been there since they moved.

Hey Felix, is the Clock Diner still open on your side of town?

Yeah. That's not a place that I would go voluntarily or sober, though.

quote:

Originally posted by jerseygirl127


ok..it isn't where i live now, but where i used to live.. my first husband and i used to go to this place -- i think in paterson (never really sure,the way towns blend togehter in that area) might have been clifton, but it was called 'egg platter' (i think- or silver platter) {i know-- not much help when i can't remember the name - but if you are from that part of town you'll know where i'm talking about......} it was a small diner type place and they had the BEST omlettes.. and every possible kind you could imagine.. the guy could crack like 3-4 eggs at a time with EACH hand.. and he'd slide your order down the counter -- if you were sitting at the counter of courst...that place was awesome...

The online yellow pages have this listing: Eggplatter Diner, 159 Crooks Avenue, Paterson, NJ

6star---- thank you-- after reading TJ Jackson's post i thought i was losing my mind.. i knew we used to go there but couldn't remember if it was paterson or clifton... THANK YOU.. if they are in the phone book they must still be open- i highly recommend this place to anyone that likes greasy spoon breakfast diner type places.. it's the best.. (in my opinion anyway!:)

and to tj jackson ( in my defense)- if you've ever been to parts of jersey- you sometimes have no idea when you are entering a new town or not- they all kind of blend together and sometimes there are no signs saying "welcome to..."

I know that this doesnt sound real--but its true--i swear---my FAVORITE greasy spoon is---you ready--a vegitarian breakfast amd ;unch counter in Berzerkley California---Smoky Jo'es Cafe---its a classic and i cannot imagine a trip to the Bay with a stop there. Good coffee---MORNING coffee--eggs and taters and bisuits and tortillas and salsas and grease---but no meat!---but GOOD food great coffee--amazingly interesting staff and clientele and plenty of newspapers!!

I LOVE greasy spoons. They are the epitome of America and a great way to learn about different parts of the country .

There is another one here in town, and it's far from dirty. I have met my dad there a few times for breakfast. It's a small diner that's located in the back of a pub. You actually have to pull in the pub's driveway to see the sign. I think it's called McMurdy's.. on 2nd St--Jamestown, NY. Dad and I always sit at the counter, but they have around 12 tables. They have awesome french toast!

quote:

Originally posted by jerseygirl127
[brif you've ever been to parts of jersey- you sometimes have no idea when you are entering a new town or not- they all kind of blend together and sometimes there are no signs saying "welcome to..."

Understood....but....your post left it in question even what state you were talking about. All I wanted to know was approximately where it was you were referring to....

TJ .. sorry.. guess i didn't mention that did i.. sorry bout that... please forgive me...
and you know that all that MAYO stuff is all in fun right???
:)

yep, and no apologies necessary :-)

do you have any messenger thingies???

and WHOOO HOOO this is post 300 for me!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHhh