Walk-In the Drive-In Glenwood Drive-In, Hamden June 2024 Probably saying too much here, but I'm going for it: my 13-year-old son is having an existential crisis related to his soccer "career." He plays on a high-level team and it's all quite intense. This year, training began in late August and his season will … [Read more...]
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Orem’s Diner
"Pancakes Or, Em, an Omelet?" Orem's Diner, Wilton August 2022 Some of Connecticut's oldest (and best) classic roadside diners are located in the ritziest towns. People don't think old school diner when they think about Wilton, yet here we are. At Orem's Diner. Did I say "old school?" I mean ollllld … [Read more...]
Lakeside Diner
Lake With a Side of Home Fries Lakeside Diner, Stamford April 2022 Lakeside Diner appears on the Roadfood Eat Before You Die List for its donuts. Recency bias is a very real thing that we all suffer from. Try as I might to fight it, it's impossible to completely disengage from its clutches. If you're not … [Read more...]
Towne Tavern
Townee Bar Towne Tavern, Torrington February 2022 I'm bummed out. When I first put together my list of "true taverns" of Connecticut, there were maybe a dozen lone survivors. The tavern license was unique and wonderfully limiting. It allowed establishments to only serve lower alcohol beer and wine. No liquor, not … [Read more...]
Twin Colony Diner
Brave New World Twin Colony Diner, Torrington February 2022 Something just occurred to me. A lot of diners have the word "Colony" in their names. And I may just be obtuse, but I don't know why. There was White Colony Diner in Waterbury. The Blue Colony is going strong in Newtown. Colony Diner is slinging hash in … [Read more...]
White’s Diner
Spotty History of White's in Bridgeport White's Diner, Bridgeport January 2020 I'm pretty bummed out that White's Diner doesn't have a website. In fact, I just spent an eternity trying find something about this joint's history. After those three minutes, I found this: White's is a Bridgeport institution, in … [Read more...]
Makris Diner
Makris Makegrits? Makris Diner, Wethersfield December 2019 As I pulled into the parking lot along the busy Berlin Turnpike, Calvin said, “didn’t we just go here?” Chuckling, I replied, “Sorta. But that was a different diner on the same road that serves the same food.” Calvin knows by now that I bring him … [Read more...]
Olympia Diner
Olympian Olympia Diner, Newington October 2019 The mighty Olympia will close and disappear in 2025. As it is an institution, I ate there one last time to celebrate my CTMQ "completion" of Newington. When I first put together my list of "Classic Diners" on this website, the list consisted only of actual classic … [Read more...]
Triple-A Diner
Where’s the Fonz? (AAAAaaaaaaa) AAA Diner, East Hartford May 2019 Yeah, I know. This diner sort of stretches the definition of “Classic Diner.” Except that there really is no definition of what makes a diner “classic.” The authors of Classic Diners of Connecticut are clear to say that a diner is “classic” if you … [Read more...]
Book Review: Classic Diners of Connecticut
Diners, Dives, and Drive-By's Classic Diners of Connecticut Garrison Leykam, 2013 Let's face it, diner culture is dying. Some have probably engraved the headstone already. It is for that reason that I decided to list and visit Connecticut's "classic" diners several years ago. My list has grown and shrunk over the … [Read more...]