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New England Diners: 20 Classics
Richard Gutman selects the best diners
by Richard Gutman
Richard Gutman, curator of the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, chose these 20 diners in addition to his list of Best 5 New England Diners in the May/June 2008 issue of Yankee.
Scan his list and, if you don't see your favorite, add it in at the "Comment" section below. Great dining all around!
Vermont
The Farmer's Diner
Timber Village, Rte. 4
Quechee, VT 05059
802-295-4600
1947 Worcester Lunch Car
Owner: Tod Murphy
farmersdiner.com
Owner/chef Tod Murphy is a pioneer in the sustainable food movement, serving fresh, organic and local as much as possible. The coffee urns are filled with Fair Trade brew. For once the diner business has a leader, not a follower.
Chelsea Royal Diner
487 Marlboro Road
West Brattleboro, VT 05301
802 254-8399
1939 Worcester Lunch Car
Owners: Todd & Amy Darrah
chelsearoyaldiner.com
The original barrel-roofed Royal Diner is now part of a larger restaurant, but even without the counter, the ambiance remains, like icing on the cake of its renowned desserts. Their "high-end home-style cuisine" includes Mexican food Tuesday through Saturday nights. During ice-cream season, don't miss their homemade offerings.
Blue Benn Diner
318 North St.
Bennington, VT 05201
802 442 5140
1948 Silk City Diner
Owners: Sonny & Marylou Monroe; daughter Lisa Monroe LaFlamme
The Monroes have serve traditional and innovative diner fare at the Blue Benn since 1974, with vegetarian fare alongside Tex-Mex, daily specials and a wide variety of classic dishes. (They make their own doughnuts.) With only 40 seats, be prepared to wait.
Maine
Palace Diner
18 Franklin St.
Biddeford, ME 04005
no phone
1927 Pollard Diner
Owner: Kyle Quinn
One of two surviving diners built by the Pollard Company of Lowell, MA, this little palace has seating for 15 at stools only. New owner Kyle Quinn said in a Boston Globe interview that his menu remains pretty close to what they served in the 1920s: "Diners have always been about large portions and short prices."
Moody's Diner
Route 1
Waldoboro, ME 04572
207 832-7785
1927; built on site
Owner: Mrs. Nancy Moody Genther
This family institution started as a roadside lunch stand more than 80 years ago, and its success has required 16 additions to expand it. If you stay in Moody's cabins up the hill, you can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the diner.
New Hampshire
Daddypop's Tumble Inn Diner
1 Main St.
Claremont, NH 03743
603 542-0074
1941 Worcester Lunch Car
Owners: Debbie & Paul Carter
A beautiful, one-of-a-kind Worcester Diner with striking ceramic mosaic tile and porcelain enamel. Scrapple, kielbasa, and baked beans join the excellent home fries as accompaniments to the breakfast fare. Heaping portions -- in the diner style.
Red Arrow Diner
61 Lowell St.
Manchester, NH 03101
603 626-1118
1922; built on site
Owner: Carol L. Sheehan
redarrow.com
One of the few 24-hour diners in New England, it has also been smoke-free for 10 years. Hash-brown specials with ham, cheese, and onions make a meal out of a side dish. And leave room for the pie.
Reader Comments
Comment from GERALD AURICCHIO on April 26, 2008
How could you possibly omit the Maine Diner at Wells?Great seafood, fresh local vegetables? Too good to miss
Comment from Leslee Holloway on June 9, 2008
Two more good diners; - Miss Bellows Falls, 90 Rockingham St. Bellows Falls, Vt. and Lindy's Diner, 19 Gilbo Ave, Keene, NH
Comment from jeanie gover on June 9, 2008
Great article. I have been going to Claremont NH for years and never knew there was a Diner there. I won't miss it again. Thanks
Comment from Diner Guy on June 17, 2008
My favorite diner is "CENTRAL DINER" in Millbury, MASS. It's currently being restored back to its orignial glory. It's open while under construction and the food is fantastic. Stop in and try it. I can't say enough about it. The omelets are the best I've ever had.
Comment from Heather Del Balso on July 29, 2008
wow - kind of a disappointing list for massachusetts. Worcester, home to so many diner cars around the country, has TONS of really good diners that put places like the Rosebud and the Modern to shame. And they are far more reasonably priced, like diners ought to be. No one should have to pay over $10 for breakfast at a diner, no matter how tasty it is.
Comment from ELIAS KRITIKOS on December 16, 2008
THE OLYMPIA DINER IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE OLDER,1953 IS CORRECT.MY FATHER WAS THE SOLE OWNER ,MIKE KRITIKOS,UNTIL 1955.HAPPY TO SEE IT STANDING LOOKING GREAT.
Comment from Nancy Fink on March 17, 2009
Love the diner in Quechee, Vt. We always stop and eat there on our way from Ohio to Maine. This has been going on for over 10 years. May have to check out some of the others on our way back.
Comment from Terry Wood on March 17, 2009
The Maine Diner.....is not a diner! It is a YUPPIE resturant with exorbitant prices.
Hope that answers your question.
The Palace is a great diner with great prices and you get what you order.
Good old fashioned diner food
Comment from John Hosters on March 17, 2009
My wife and I are avaid campers, and traveling throughout new england as well as other place in this country, we love to visit diners. I would like to see someone publish a book or list of diners through the east coast and include it in rv mags. etc.. Love yankee mag on line read it all the time.
Comment from Ann LeBlanc on March 18, 2009
Massachusetts has a great diner in Northampton, Ma. It is called the Blue Bonnet on route 5. Anyone who lives in this area knows about the restaurant.... great food...
Comment from Kathryn Drelicharz on March 19, 2009
Do not forget Becky's Diner, 390 Commercial St, Portland, ME The best for whatever comfort food you crave!!!! Also, Just Barb's in Stockton Springs ME. Awesome breakfast!!!
Comment from cheryl donahue on March 19, 2009
Did the Agawam Diner,Rte #1 in Rowley,Ma. somehow get over-looked?.....I'm thinking that it was NO oversight so much,as this is apparently considered a NON-YUPPIE-type of diner!No ridiculous over-pricing,& No Sushi or Thai-food on the menu! I come from many generations of Yankee's,& have been an avid reader for many years,but this once seriously YANKEE magazine has now turned into a ridiculous self-serving YUPPIE publication.Websters Collegiate Dictionary defines Yankee as;a native,or inhabitant of N.E.,Yuppie;A young person with a well paid job,young urban professional.&the connection is???!!!
Comment from Linda Barton on May 10, 2009
As far as the Maine diner in Wells goes, tried it several times and was extraordinarily disappointed. Not only was the food not prepared well, but it could use a good cleaning; maybe the carpet should just be pitched. We like good sensibly priced homemade kind of food, but garlic in home fried potatoes for breakfast? I don't think so.
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