Diner: Difference between revisions

A '''diner''' is a type of [[restaurant]] found across the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], as well as parts of Western Europe and Australia. Diners offer a wide range of foodscuisine, mostly [[American cuisine]], a casual atmosphere, and, characteristically, a combination of booths served by a [[waiting staff|waitstaff]] and a long sit-down counter with direct service, in the smallest simply by a cook. Many diners have extended hours, and some along highways and areas with significant [[shift work]] stay open for 24 hours.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Russell |first1=Joan |title=The History of the American Diner |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/food/the-history-of-the-american-diner |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=Paste Magazine |date=18 October 2016}}</ref>

Diners typically serve staples of American cuisine such as [[hamburger]]s, [[french fries]], [[onion ring]]s, [[club sandwich]]es, and other simple, quickly cooked, and inexpensive fare, such as [[meatloaf]] or [[steak]]. Much of the food is [[flattop grill|grilled]], as early diners were based around a gas-fueled [[flattop grill]]. Coffee is a diner staple. Diners often serve [[milkshake]]s and desserts such as pies, cake or ice cream. [[Comfort food]] cuisine draws heavily from, and is deeply rooted in, traditional diner fare. Along with [[greasy spoon]] menu items, many diners will serve regional cuisine as well, such as [[clam chowder]] in [[New England]] and [[taco]]s in [[California]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-05|title=The History of the American Diner|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/food/the-history-of-the-american-diner/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=pastemagazine.com|language=en}}</ref>

Many diners serve casual inexpensive food, such as hamburgers, french fries, [[club sandwich]]es, and other simple fare, with menus resembling those from [[greasy spoon]]-style restaurants.. Much of the food is grilled, as early diners were based around a [[grill (cooking)|grill]]. There is often an emphasis on [[breakfast foods]] such as [[eggs as food|eggs]] (including [[omelets]]), [[waffle]]s, [[pancake]]s, and [[French toast]]. Some diners serve these "[[breakfast foods]]" throughout the business day and others that focus on breakfast may close in the early afternoon. These are most commonly known as [[pancake house]]s. [[Coffee]] is ubiquitous at diners. Many diners do not serve alcoholic drinks, although some may serve beer and inexpensive wine, while others—particularly in New Jersey and on Long Island{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}—carry a full drink menu, including [[mixed drinks]]. Many diners serve hand-blended milkshakes.

Several international ethnic influences have been introduced into the diner industry in the U.S., because of generations of immigration.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nrn.com/franchising/many-immigrants-restaurants-are-american-dream | location= | work=Nation's Restaurant News | title=For many immigrants, restaurants are the American dream | first=Jonathan | last=Maze | date=March 29, 2017 |access-date=December 17, 2020 |quote=Overall, immigrants own 29 percent of all restaurants and hotels, more than twice the 14-percent rate for all businesses, according to U.S. census data.}}</ref> Many diners in the United States—especially in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]]—are owned or operated by [[Immigration to the United States|first]] and [[Second-generation immigrants in the United States|second generation]] Americans.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thekitchn.com/why-so-many-classic-all-night-diners-are-greek-243252 | location= | work=The Kitchn | title=Why Are Diners Traditionally Greek? It's an Immigration Story, Naturally | first=Jonathan | last=Maze | date=April 17, 2017 |access-date=December 17, 2020 |quote=There’s no official Bureau of Diner Ownership to keep count, but if you’re a diner fan, you know that Greek families traditionally run the show at these beloved 24-hour joints, especially in the Northeast.}}</ref> [[Greek-Americans]], as well as [[Polish-Americans|Polish]], [[Ukrainian-Americans|Ukrainian]], Eastern European [[Jewish-Americans|Jews]], Italian-Americans, [[Mexican-Americans|Mexicans]] and [[Cuban-Americans|Cubans]], have notable presences depending on the area. These influences can be seen in certain frequent additions to diner menus, such as Greek [[moussaka]], Slavic [[blintz]]es, and Jewish [[matzah balls|matzah ball soup]], deli-style sandwiches (e.g., corned beef, pastrami, Reubens), and bagels and lox.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wbur.org/artery/2019/03/11/immigrant-owned-restaurants-incentives | location= | work=WBUR | title=Let's Stop Putting Immigrant-Owned Restaurants Into A Box | first=Irene | last=Li | date=March 11, 2019 |access-date=December 17, 2020 |quote=}}</ref>

Diners attract a wide spectrum of the local populations, and are generally small businesses. From the mid-twentieth century onwards, they have been seen as [[American culture|quintessentially American]], reflecting the perceived cultural diversity and egalitarian nature of the country at large. Throughout much of the 20th century, diners, mostly in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]], were often owned and operated by [[Greek-American]] immigrant families. The presence of Greek casual food, like [[Gyro (food)|gyros]] and [[souvlaki]], on several northeastern diners' menus, testifies to this cultural link.<ref>{{cite news |first= Joseph|last= Berger|title=Diners in Changing Hands; Greek Ownership on the Wane |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/16Rdinersnj.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 16, 2008 |access-date=May 27, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Dena|last= Kleiman|title=Greek Diners, Where Anything Is Possible |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/27/garden/greek-diners-where-anything-is-possible.html?pagewanted=all |quote=... Greeks became a visible presence in the diner and coffee shop business in the late 1950s after several waves of immigration. They congregated mostly in the northeast, where the food service industry provided an easy economic foothold for many immigrants who were often unskilled and unable to speak English. As with immigrants from many nations, one relative would send word of opportunity back home, encouraging others to come to America. |work=The New York Times |date=February 27, 1991 |access-date=May 27, 2009 }}</ref>

* [https://wwwpatents.google.com/patentspatent/US497598 Charles Palmer's 1893 patent]