This directory contains the reviews of those diners which have been closed, changed ownership, or have been so utterly revamped, as to make the previous review virtually useless.
If you would like to add a comment, or would like to inform me that either something has been placed in this section in error, or that a diner has now closed, please feel free to mail me anytime, day or night. .
Back to the regional listing.
This is a shiny diner. Overall, it was an acceptable diner experience, however I feel it is my duty to warn the diner traditionalists that there were a few minor bothersome points. First, they use Kraft brand ketchup. Second there are exposed wires at each table, presumably the relics of jukeboxes long gone.
Andy's diner offers both traditional diner favorites and some new-fangled veggie selections. Dave enjoyed his selection of a veggie pita and corn muffin. He was especially pleased with muffin, from the moment the waitress asked him if he would like toasted, to the last savory crumb.
As for the standard tests:
The B and W Milkshake and Cheese Fries ratings are very
high. The milkshake was very impressive, and awfully thick.
So thick, in fact that sucking it through a straw was almost
painful. It was a pleasant pain however, the pain that
accompanies anticipation of a great event. (And believe
you me, in my world, there are few events greater than a
B and W milkshake for me to anticipate, except, perhaps, for
my impending accordion purchase.)
The cole slaw received a grade of A-.
General comments:
"Resplendent in chrome!" -Dave
"Two jellies!" -Dave
"Copious cheese." -Lauren
In conclusion, Andy's diner is a fine and pleasant but unspectacular diner experience. Apologies from the author for any misrepresentations due to the delay in the writing of this review. My memories of this diner review with Dave have aged like a fine cheese, which is interesting, because the time I spend with Dave shares many of the qualities of cheese.-- Review by Lauren Flax
7/23/99: I got an email from Gina Esposito who informs me:Andy's Diner in Philadelphia is not only closed, but torn down and being replaced by a pharmacy (Eckerd Drugs, I believe). It was sad to see it razed. It's a loss to our neighborhood, especially since there is a newly built pharmacy across the street, and at least a dozen others within a mile.
To begin with the vital stats, it's fairly large, plenty of parking, open till one during the week and till three on Saturdays. The regulars claim that it's a bottomless cup of Joe (which is great according to the locals), but I was unable to determine whether you need to know someone on the inside, or whether that's true for anyone. The decor was nice and shiny, with booze scattered everywhere. No jukeboxes.
Our waitress was nice and personable. The food was pretty cheap, and my Veggie burger (two sizzling veggie-type patties) were a scant $2.95 including the complimentary pasta salad, bread, and wine (Inexplicably, July is Wine month at Dorian's!), though the latter was better suited for removing paint. I should also point out neither Becca nor I were wholly comfortable with the idea of wine served standard. It seems somehow unwholesome and otherworldly, especially if you consider that in an ideal world, Diners should be frequented by truckers on the job, old people, and high school kids, of whom none should be hitting the sauce (though, of course, pursuant to federal and New Jersey State law, they do not serve people under 21). I also got a side fries, Cole Slaw (A-), and a good pickle. One comment on the food: it was good, but very greasy! The fries and pasta salad were merely the most extreme examples. Oh, I should also make the recommendation that honey mustard dressing on a veggie burger makes a great taste treat! If no-one at your table orders a salad, just ask for the dressing. Becca had spaghetti with sausage (after seeing the concoction that Rich, my roommate, was cooking back at the pad) and apparently the sauce (or "gravy" as they say in some parts) was good, but the pasta was overcooked. Big friggin' portions.
Now for the local juice. We spoke with two of the waitstaff (Carrie and Mike), and a number of the customers (Jim, Katie, Shoshana, Alison, and Jen). All were crazy about the place, as you might expect, but more importantly, were bitterly angry about the Americana which was just down the road. Apparently Mike had been fired from the Americana for coming down to Dorian's to meet friends and drink coffee during his breaks. Shoshona and Alison were thrown out from the Americana for putting up a sign with the word "PENIS" on it, with an accompanying, anatomically correct drawing. Jim, however, claims their expulsion was due to their shaved heads. Apparently, they are no longer welcome there; a policy enforced by Marlene, the hostess.
They have congregated here at Dorian's. They claim that unlike the Americana, which is actively hostile to young (i.e. recent Hightstown High grads) customers, Dorian's will allow the waitstaff to fraternize, and the young folks to loiter. These guys (who in fairness were probably prejudiced by virtue of their friendship with the waitstaff) went on to exalt the service, the cheesecake (likening the cheesecake at the Americana to paste), the chocolate layer cake, grilled cheese, and the root beer floats. They claim that a lot of regulars at the Americana are now at Dorian's every night. What's more, they claim that they will let you in pretty late, even if you only make it in under the wire.
Finally, they raved about how much not only they, but various family members (mothers, grandparents, etc.) love this place. As you can see, there is a strong and devoted following.
Revisit: Charles and I went back to Dorian's about a week after my first visit, and we brought the tape recorder with us despite the fact that we hadn't intended it as a fact finding mission. One of the first things we noticed was that the place is much larger than it seemed on my first visit. There is a second, much brighter room which is apparently not always opened. I wasn't crazy about the color scheme, so we opted for the smoking section. This was only a tea and cake visit, but upon asking our waitress what she recommended, she replied that she normally had the chocolate mousse cake. However, since there was only one slice left, she figured it would be crusty on both sides, and that I might be better off with the German chocolate cake. How right she was! And what candor! I really appreciate it.
1/24/98: I went by Dorian's with Mr. Mike Blanton, and found it closed, and in the process of being transformed into the olympia diner or somesuch. We were most disappointed.
The jukebox had Springsteens cover of Jersey Girl years before you could get in a record store, Mack the Knife, Blue Velvet, New York New York, and enough curr ent stuff to satisfy hoi polloi, and you got two tunes for your quarter long aft er everyplace else charged a quarter each, if they had a jukebox at all.
The smoke could get thick, especially when the bars closed and the night shift c ame in around 2AM, but it was a great place stop on the way back from Nantasket Beach, or for the date test (does she like diners?) or after we wrecked the borr owed 68 Caddy limo (not our fault -- it was a hit-and-run, but Eddys was the o nly bright spot in that night).
The London Broil was always a good bet; with a side salad heavy on the iceberg; rolls and butter; fries, mashed, or baked; peas or carrots; and pudding. The po rk chops and burgers never disappointed. For vegetarians, there was chicken, tu rkey and fish. The green beans werent crunchy, but you could get your breakfas t-anytime steak-and-eggs rare and runny if you liked.
It was my unrealized dream to spend a long weekend at the adjacent Eddys Motor Lodge and eat each meal (and midnight lemon meringue snacks) at Eddys Diner, a fresh roll of quarters by the tabletop jukebox. My advice is to chase your drea ms now, tomorrow may be too late.-- Bob Marville
At some unspecified time, the Golden Coach closed, and reopened as Dorian's, which also subsequently closed.
1/6/98: I've been informed by Joe Barnaby that the Mayflower is no more. I'm sorry, folks.
This place isn't so much a diner as it is an extremely small place which serves incredibly greasy food. However, it's got a counter, and it's open pretty late. Also, it's right in the heart of Harvard Square, so all the really cool high school skater kids and really frightening old people hang around there.
11/4/97: I got an email from Joe Barnaby that the Tasty has closed as of November 1. The story is covered in the Boston Globe.