Directory of Diners: Connecticut

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Acropolis Diner

1864 Dixwell Avenue, just past the Stop 'n' Shop. Hamden.
It is small, seating fewer than one hundred by my estimate. The coffee is potable and not charmless. The grilled cheese comes on rye; "grilled liver" is also available for the intrepid epicurean. Angela's friend Elwood received Eggos when he ordered waffles, but apparently, he deserved it. A solemn pile of cooked bacon and blocky hash sits atop the grill, waiting for only a blast of heat to bid it bon voyage and some unsuspecting patron bon appetit. Prices are right. Open all night. Josh, the author, bummed his first cigarette from a stranger there.

Athena Diner-Restaurant

3350 Post Road, Southport. Exit 19 off I-95
I stopped at the Athena after a devastating trip to Foxwoods. I was decidedly in the mood for a pick-me-up. Well, the Athena didn't quite fit the bill, but it was a satisying meal. I ordered a grilled swiss cheese sandwich with a side of slaw (A-). I finished off with a delicious rice pudding. The service was friendly and efficient, and the prices were pretty typical for a diner. All in all, this place was nothing spectacular, but it was certainly a nice place to stop off for a bite to eat.

Blue Colony Diner

Exit 10 off I-84, Church Hill Road. Newtown.
Despite its claim of being "The Meeting Place", I would like it known that we went there together. Tremendous numbers of pastries, muffins, pies and cakes strewn everywhere in an almost random manner, yet one cannot help but think that there is a method to the madness. No jukeboxes, but well ventilated; case in point: A smoker not five feet from us and none of the usual tobacco odor. Really good mints; really, I mean it. Service was okay, but for some reason, Heitz's cole slaw (B- on the Heitz scale) was served well in advance of all other foodstuffs. Also, the business end of all of our utensils were groped and then haphazardly flung at us. Also, the mints were great. Grilled cheese avec tomatoes was good, however, the bottom got a bit soggy. One final note, anywhere on the menu where the term "platter" is used, substitute, gratuitously enormous.

Goldroc Diner

In West Hartford, across from Edwards' supermarket. The Goldroc is a godsend. It's open twenty-four hours and is the only viable competition to the other twenty-four hour joint nearby, the Toddle House (for which, we have no review as of yet, ed), which features a torn bumper sticker above the rarely cleaned grill reading "I Proud American". Yes, well, the Goldroc is situated inside an old Abdow's Big Boy, and serves pancakes which I believe taste of shrimp. But the burgers and omelettes are wholesome fare, and it's the only diner I (Austin Lynch) know of in Connecticut that uses the fake-rock facade so popular for Long Island diners.

Sherwood Diner

901 Post Road East, Westport
4/29/98: Excellent 24 x 7 diner! Right off I-95 exit 18. Salmon filet dinner now all the time. World Class! (Forgive the overused phrase).

For freaks, NOT a "prefab, dragged to site" diner, but rather a free-standing modern restaurant. Lots of high-school kids late evenings, plenty of transients (good sign on I-95). Also, the cole slaw gets an "A". -- Review by Jess Girard