Classic Diners and True Taverns in Connecticut These lists below are both difficult to maintain - and difficult to "complete." Diners and taverns are slowly disappearing for various reasons. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic decimated both types of establishments around the country. I can't define what a … [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...]
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
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 existence since 1935. I want to guess … [Read more...]
Makris Diner
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 to repetitive … [Read more...]
Olympia Diner
Olympia Diner Newington October 2019 When I first put together my list of "Classic Diners" on this website, the list consisted only of actual classic diners. For some reason, I've expanded that original idea to include a bunch of decidedly non-classic dinners in the years since. It sort of bothers me, but I've … [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...]
Norm’s Diner
Norm's Diner Groton January 2016 NORM! I wonder if there’s some doofus who gets his daily breakfast from Norm’s Diner and enters each morning by yelling “NORM!” Probably. And if I lived near Groton and was the type to buy my breakfast every morning, that doofus would be me. NORM! Norm’s Diner is a … [Read more...]
Skooter’s Diner
Skooter's Diner Windsor Locks October 2017 As I write this, I'm still not sure it belongs on CTMQ. The original intent of the diners list was "classic diners." The O'Rourke's, Zips, Quakers, Norm's, Aeros, etc. of the Nutmeg State. Skooter's is not old and is not classic. But it was built to look classic! … [Read more...]