gourmet diner food

[jbarone2000]

Can anyone recommend any authentic diners in the U.S. that have gotten beyond the typical

diner fare and have gone gourmet? I'm doing a cross country trip and would love to stop in at a few.

[Gifted Gourmet]

Well, there are a few ... namely: Gourmet Diner in North Miami Beach which serves French cuisine such as beef Burgundy, trout almondine, frogs' legs Provencal, chateaubriand, pommes frites and other hearty French fare. All of which are hardly classic "diner cuisine" ...

and then there is the Buckhead Diner in Atlanta which serves some very elegant dishes: homemade potato chips with warm Maytag bleu cheese, calamari, mile high Banana Cream Pie, veal meatloaf ... a very upscale and popular destination!

A warm eGullet welcome to you, jbarone2000!

[Bobby 2 Shakes]

In Philly, there's the DownHome Diner in the Reading Terminal Market.

[Gifted Gourmet]

In Philly, there's the DownHome Diner in the Reading Terminal Market.

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I just read Downhome Diner's menu for dinner which looks to be fancied-up diner fare ... but, admittedly, very nicely prepared.

[Bobby 2 Shakes]

How about Jones, another Philly favorite from the superponymous Starr Restaurant Organization?

[ZenKimchi]

and then there is the Buckhead Diner in Atlanta which serves some very elegant dishes: homemade potato chips with warm Maytag bleu cheese, calamari, mile high Banana Cream Pie, veal meatloaf ... a very upscale and popular destination!

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Buckhead Diner -- very recommended. My little brother is a chef in Atlanta and used to work at the Buckhead Bread Co., across from the Buckhead Diner. He knew the head chef there and had lots of respect for him. The fried chicken there is marinated in raspberry vinegar and is the best fried chicken I've ever had.

[DTBarton]

The Fog City Diner in San Francisco is pretty upscale:

http://www.fogcitydiner.com/index_body.html

[jbarone2000]

Thanks for all the suggestions. But I'm looking for actual authentic diners -- not those that appear to be diners but are not, like the Buckhead which I've visited -- that have revamped their

menu to be much more than traditional fare.

I'll check out some of the other suggestions, though.

[NYC Mike]

Carman's Country Kitchen in Philly.

link

mike

[DTBarton]

If you're in the greater Baltimore area, there are 7 locations of the Double T Diner.

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1385609

Not sure I'd say gourmet, but the places are big with extensive menus beyond regular diner fare. And huge selections of baked goods. I've never had anything bad at the Annapolis location.

Holly eats review:

http://www.hollyeats.com/DoubleT.htm

sample menu:

http://www.marylandrestaurants.com/Menu1/doublet.html

[Busboy]

Admittedly it has been a loooooong time since I staggered into the Double-T after a long night of underaged (and aged -- 18 for beee back then) drinking, but I'm betting that it is still not a gourmet destination.

Best Double-T moment: the night after the last day of high school, 8 best buds singing "You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me Lucille" anthem-like along with the jukebox.

Second Best: Being threatened by an alleged "Vietnam Vet" for getting sassy with him. (no, the two incidents were not related).

[Lochina]

O'Rourke's in Middletown, CT - since 1946.

[ludja]

O'Rourke's in Middletown, CT - since 1946.

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Good point! I grew up there and had forgotton about them! It is a real diner too. Besides their more ambitious offerings they are famous for the regional (that part of CT) steamed burgers!

This may or may not fit all your criteria, but Zia Diner in Santa Fe also has more upscale offerings. I haven't been there in awhile. Zia Diner

[Jim Charles]

You can't turn around in South Jersey without bumping into a diner, but after many years of going in them, this is my favorite: http://www.mastoris.com/

[saltshaker]

For New York City - pick and choose:

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENE...ers/diners.html

[Eatmywords]

For New York City - pick and choose:

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENE...ers/diners.html

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Salt, great link! Love the pics and blurbs on 11th Ave history.

I don't have any specific recs but I will say that Astoria, Queens is famous for some of the best Greek Diners. Many pride themselves on inhouse baked goods and various greek specialities. I imagine it would be pretty easy to Google a best of......gluck!

[johnnyd]

If you get this far northeast, you must get to the A1 Diner in Gardiner Maine. Real diner food with better than usual respect.

Here is a review from Splendid Table on Minnesota Public Radio

[suzilightning]

this may fit your criteria:

i was listening to the food network special on diners(hey, i do live in jersey where they are thick on the ground - 2 in my town alone) while entering hawk data and they mentioned The Modern in Pawticket, RI which seems to be really upscale on the weekends with up to 35 specials on the weekends only. during the week it is regular diner food...

tim russert is interviewing tom brokaw - gotta go. hope this helps