Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone

Subject: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: ossonflags
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 12:18 PM

You have been there haven't you? driving somewere and need a little light refreshment, you pull into a motorway "service's" and need to take out a second mortgage for a plate of luke warm food and a tea bag in hot water.

What has happened to all the lorry drivers caffs of my youth were you got value for money?

I found a coupla little gems the other day called "The Limes" just outside of Nottingham and another in Dewesbury called the "Boatyard "were you got the full english breakfast that included unlimited tea or coffee for less than four quid.

Any more little gems out there?

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 12:20 PM

Should be below the salt....

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 12:33 PM

There are more lay by mobiles these days than fixed locations, but some of them are good, but as Leadfingers found out they aren't always open when you need them.
Giok

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 12:35 PM

There are two greasy spoons in Orillia. Good ones. One is called "Rombos Restaurant" and the other is "Hill's".

Most of them, though, have been swallowed by the fast food industry: McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Harvey's, Wendy's, Tim Horton's, etc...

The fast food industry is in the business of creating sugar and caffiene addiction, grossly overweight people, diabetes, and cancer, to mention a few of their glorious accomplishments.

The fast food industy does not exist yet in Cuba. Everything is still real food there. I wonder how much longer it will last?

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 12:40 PM

I want to go to Cuba, but my other half isn't keen.
G

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: pdq
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 12:43 PM

"bought by chain stores everyone
when will we ever learn
when will we ever learn"

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: open mike
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 12:49 PM

they got hot water and soap and are using plastic
"silverware" wrapped in plastic so the grease does
not get to it...your arteries are not so protected,
though. Sporks!

In the book Blue Highways, William Least Heat Moon
describes the best road side cafe's as the ones with
the most calendars ahnging on the walls..

see http://www.twbookmark.com/books/77/0316353299/
http://www.twbookmark.com/authors/68/1751/

the review puts it in the category with Jack Kerouac
On the Road and Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie...

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: jimmyt
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:26 PM

openmike, you beat me to it! I was just going to wax eloquent about William Least Heat Moon's great book, Blue Highways. He also factored in some other factors, ie whether there was a Hav-a-hank sales promotional display, sold combs, and BC or Stanbac headache powders. These things could actually add to the Calendar count in the Greasy spoon, but make no mistake, I still seek these places out when travelling and often tell my wife as I am turning in the parking lot, "this looks like a 5 calendar Resturant."

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: sapper82
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:39 PM

Jack's Hill Cafe, A5 mile or so N. of Towcester, ¼n North of Oxford Road Roundabout. Worth dropping off M1 at J15A for.
Also, on the A5 at Cannock area
and another on Junction A49 and A533 between Northwich and Runcorn.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:43 PM

The Rumbling Tum, Victoria Road, Ruislip... bloody lovely but not open in the afternoons..

LTS

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:47 PM

Greasy Joe's Cirencester Gloucs - on the old main Rd first roundabout approaching Ciren. Turn to superstore then hang a right immediately. Open all night.

There may still be one about 1/4 mile from the Little Pie Factory - towards Dudley RHS of road, run by Sam & Ella (would I lie to you?).

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:58 PM

Here in western Canada there are trucker's stops with good food, still independent. Some have phone jacks in the booths, showers, etc. One in particular is a favorite, near Red Deer, on the Hwy. between Calgary and Edmonton. Also the Blackfoot truck stop in Calgary. Great 'blue plate' food and lots of it. Always tons of pies.
Lots of little places, independent, in business and industrial areas in Calgary (and I am sure in other large centers. Drive into these areas, outside of downtown, and you will find them. Also dozens of fine little restaurants that are not chain-controlled.
Even on the big island of Hawai'i, there is one in Kona, in a little industrial area, that is a favorite of mine.

Ossonflags is talking about the UK, but all you would ever want in Canada-U. S. A. The fast-food congloms are there too, usually in high-visibility high-rent locations on close-in hwy. strip malls, but so are the others, maybe a block or two off the bright-light strip.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: jimmyt
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 05:07 PM

My wife always wonders why people choose fast-food places over these "greasy spoons" diners, truckstops, whatever you want to call them. I heard a consultant once in a lecture talk about this interesting phenomenon. His contention is that Americans do not mind mediocrity in their food, as long as it is predictably mediocre. I tend to believe he may be on to something there!

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 05:11 PM

There is that.. you can always guarantee that in any McNastyFlameGrill the food will taste the same anywhere in the world (except in Australia/New Zealand where they don't get cod...). If you don't like surprises or aren't adventurous enough to 'eat native' then that's the place for you.... It's food you can always eat, whether it is good for you or not and regardless of where you are.

LTS

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 05:27 PM

philosophy of Diners

we had one...this one, in Silver Spring, MD--real thing! smart-alex waitresses, free-for all seating, greasy spoon food...but the Discovery Channel bought the land and threw 'em out....so they moved 5 blocks and now there is "wait to be seated" and upscale menu....

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 05:46 PM

You've obviously never heard of the famed Murray Cod Liz.
G.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Deckman
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 06:32 PM

It was just one year ago that I discovered "The Blue Beacon," in Aberdeen, Washington, U.S.A. (the northwest corner of our country). I had spent a couple of days at my brother's home. He lives another 30 miles west at the Ocean. Spending any time with my brother is exhausting, and I needed some solid food before my four hour drive home.

I had spotted this place previously, but I'd never entered before. It was after the lunch rush when I staggered in. I say staggered as I was still recovering from my brother's stories, and also because the floor tilted. This is a smallish place, maybe 6 stools and four small booths.

I lurched onto a stool and looked around. There was no one in sight, but soon this obviously tired waitress came out from the back room. She greeted me with, "Well, how the hell are you honey? Are ya hungry?" I started laughing immediatly. I learned a trick many years ago about how to order at these greasy spoons. You NEVER look at the menu.

I asked her if she had eaten lunch yet. She said, "Of course." I said, "O.K. Gimme what you had, please." She looked at me for a minute and started asking the questions: "what kind of toast, do you want the ......"

I said, "Please, just give me what you had for lunch."

Then I heard her shout to the cook, through the hole in the wall, "Louise ... we've got a winner here. Bring it to me again!"

Out came the most delicious fish sandwich, halibut I think, and this large bowl of homemade clam chowder." I swear, I've NEVER tasted better! I can still smell it and taste it. It was like manna from heaven.

As I was enjoying my meal, I was still the only customer, she sat down next to me on a stool with two bottles of dark beer. "Here," she said. "The beers on the house!"

So, if you're ever in the south end of Aberdeen, heading for the beach, I strongly recommend "The Blue Beacon." note, don't ever try to play marbles in there, the floor sags like crazy! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson P.S. The only better meal I ever had at a greasy spoon was at "The Little Quilcene Cafe," on the Olympic Pennisula ... but thats another story)

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Cluin
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 06:59 PM

Need a "greasy spoon" fix?

A big plate of clear-your-throat cough-causing oily french fries and clog-your-arteries gravy?

A greasy near-rancid Western sandwich with a well-past-its-prime tomato slice?

A Hungry Man brekkie of bacon, eggs, & homefries sliding around on your plate, almost of their own volition?

Pull into any old Husky Car/Truck stop across Canada for a bite (especially in the wee hours) and it all comes flooding back on a rancid greasy wave.


But the coffee's still good. Always got the best coffee in any greasy spoon I've haunted...

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: open mike
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 11:14 PM

i always try to eat in a ma and pa place
with a name i never heard of...would walk
across the street or around to block to
find such an eatery--I would rather support
an independant, family-owned business than
a franchise or chain!

it is hard to find either one which
has live folk music to eat dinner by,
though!!

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: dianavan
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 11:19 PM

Helen's Grill in Vancouver. Main and King Edward. Never mind the food - its the usual greasy spoon menu but the decor is original 50's - complete with the stools at the counter that spin and the little jukeboxes at the booths. Nothing fancy but you can always get the daily paper. They have real milkshakes, too.

Actually the food is decent and the service is friendly. Of course the waitresses have been there since it opened. The owner, George, is usually sitting there reading the paper or sitting with a group of locals discussing the weather. He always acts as if he's known you forever.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 12:39 AM

A friend & I stopped in a little town in Kansas for lunch one day...there were two small restaurants. We flipped a coin....we lost. He ordered fried chicken, I ordered a hot beef sandwich. We both tokk a bite and looked at each other. His chicken looked 3 days old and dried out...and not well plucked. My 'beef' was tough and full of gristle....and when I tried the mashed potatoes, there was this strange, but oddly familar flavor...I tasted it several times, trying to pin it down...until suddenly it hit me! Watermelon! It was like the gravy and/or potatoes had sat in the refrigerator under a drippy piece of watermelon. I tried to wash it down with iced tea....almost transparent tea with that 'tang' you get at 2½ days old. We left. Got a hamburger 30 minutes later.

We really had more good food stories than bad, but sometimes 'greasy spoon' just goes VERY wrong!

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 12:47 AM

Ther's a cafe near the junction of the A303 and A30 on the Somerset/Devon borders that will serve deep fried bacon sandwiches!

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 04:48 AM

go to a "climbers cafe" not as many around as there used to be.
Enormous portions great value and full of Characters!!!

Pete's Eats in LLanberis

Eric's Cafe in Tremadog
Among the best.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 05:00 AM

Oh yes just remembered this true story.
I was in Pete's Eats some years ago when two Very large men sat down at a table next to me. When I say "Large" I mean in all dimensions they were at least 6 foot 6 tall and built to match. They explained they just had a big day on the mountains and were starving .

ONe ordered a mixed grill and the other went for the speciality "A Big Jim" which was advertised as "if you finish one,.. you get the second one FREE". Many tried many failed. When one is ordered the room goes quiet with expectation.
AS the staff came over carrying a large plate the one who had ordered the BIG JIm looked at the plate and said "Ah! that will be mine"
"NO" said the staff "this is the mixed grill, yours is coming".When he saw the size of the plate and its contents his jaw dropped.
His partner could not finish the mixed grill and needless to say the second free portion was not called for either.

Tea was served in Half pint mugs or pint mugs.

A chip butty takes two to finish.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 05:25 AM

Healthy equivalent - the restaurant I worked in used to serve a 'beggars' banquet'... a whole round loaf of wholemeal bread (half if it was only for one person), a great hunk of cheddar cheese, a portion of cucumber sticks, a couple of tomatoes, raw carrot sticks, 2 boiled eggs, a big spoonful of pickles and a pint of tea or orange juice with it. Dessert came at the same time and consisted of a couple of apples, plums, apricots or whatever fruit was in season, some grapes and raisins and a flapjack. All this cost £3.50 (but it was 20 years ago) and only one person ever managed to regularly finish the lot.

It grew out of the 'picky plate' that the owner had devised to get her picky son to eat. That was a plate of similar foodstuffs, but in smaller portions, so that he could just nibble at it as he played. It's an idea that I've carried on with Limpit and she loves them.

LTS

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: ossonflags
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 06:03 AM

Great stuff here.

keep 'em coming, folks!

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: jimmyt
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 04:30 PM

I have a list of these joints in my mind for years. The ELectric Maid Cafe, in Takoma PArk, Md, The Home Cafe in Loma Linda California, Stavers' Original Resturant in Colton, Calif, (When I was a dental student, I used to study late nights here and frequently had little money so I would leave a toothbrush as a tip)

The Oakwood Cafe in Dalton, Georgia, The Greenlawn and Brown Cow Driveins in Zanesville, Ohio. Charberts on High Street in Columbus, Ohio. Oggies in Cambridge, Ohio,

The Alpha In WHeeling West Virginia, (actually a bar, but since I am on a roll, one other bar comes to mind that was a great haunt with decent food and great atmosphere, the Top of the Hat Lounge and Pool Hall in Mexican Hat Utah, just off the Navajo Reservation where I worked for a while. Sorry for the thread drift but these fine establishments take me back in time! I might plan a road trip to see how many are still around.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 04:54 PM

Nearest to me is a mobile one, only open early morning through to lunch time. Roy Boy's A148 near Aylmerton. I'm not sure what else he may have but a good beef burger, steak sandwich and an omlette (which Pip tells me is delicious) are available as well as a mug of tea or coffee. Very popular and very reasonably priced.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 04:56 PM

Bob,

I love that story! Thanks!

There is a corner gas station about a mile from me in Fort Worth that used to have just the little office and the bays in the back, but they enclosed the bays and turned it into a store, still running the pumps. It's your usual filthy floor, dusty groceries, an ample and well-stocked set of coolers for beer, wine, juice, milk, and pop, and then there is the food. People mill around the front waiting for their bag to appear over the top of the food display area. They sell a variety of sandwhiches, burgers, fried chicken, burritos, quartered potatoes that are fried and seasoned, egg rolls, and they have the best gyros. The meat is roasted on one of those upright grills like I've seen in cities back east, and they heat it up on the grill quickly with veggies and the whole thing probably has at least a half-pound of lamb when they finish. It costs $1.99 ($2.15 after tax) and is a favorite for a quick lunch on the weekend. If I've had a rough day and want to kick back for dinner on Saturday night, I stop and get an inexpensive bottle of red French wine next door and then pick up the gyro. It's a very civilized quick meal!

My out of town friends always get the whoozy impact of the inside of the store (pretty marginal) but then there is this great food. They're always amazed at the food that comes out of there. It's run by a couple of Lebanese families, and the cook is from Jordan.

Years a go I used to love to stop to eat at Zeke's in Gold Bar, Washington, on the way back from climbing in the Snoqualmie Pass area. I see them still listed in the online directory. Is it still in the caboose, and is it still huge burgers and gigantic real ice cream milkshakes?

SRS

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Deckman
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 05:17 PM

Maggie ... Zeke's is still there, just the same. And they do make the best burgers and shakes around. It nice to see that some things don't change. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Mingulay
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 06:22 PM

In my drinking days in the mid 60's, to finish off a Saturday night we would drive the 20 or so miles to Tony's Cafe on the Grantham by-pass and religiously order "The Lot and Chips with 2 bread and butter and a pint mug of tea". This cost the princely sum of 3 shillings and sixpence (171/2 pence). That cholesterol still lines my arteries to this day.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 07:23 PM

Ossonflags, the Limes is within half-a-mile of my door. It hasn't changed much since I last lived in these parts in the 1960s, except that the two pin tables have gone.

Jack's, mentioned by Sapper82, is truly exceptional. An institution, known to every long-distance truck driver in the UK. And also good for cheap accommodation in private cubicles.

The BBC did a feature about this dying community of eateries a year or two ago. It celebrated, among others, a family-run caff in Lincolnshire, where all the food served is produced with ten miles ofthe caff. Unfortunately I didn't catch the name and place, and never followed up. Can anyone provide more details?

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Deckman
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 07:43 PM

Well ALRIGHT!!! As long as soooo many of you have asked, I'll tell my tale of "The Little Quilcene Cafe!" (You can thank me later ... send money).

This adventure happened at least 20 years ago, back in my hiking days. I was headed for a two week solo hike in the Olympic mountains of Washington State, NW corner of America. My first day of the "adventure" was always to get myself and my heavy pack to the East side of Hood Canal. I always spent that night there at the home of friends, and then they would drive me to the trailhead at dawn the next morning.

As I crossed the Hood Canal bridge and headed South on 101, Quilcene was the first, and just about only, village I came to. It was late in the afternoon and I thought I'd get supper there, so as to not trouble my friends.

I walked into "The Little Quilcene Cafe." Oh, it was SWELL. The town of Quilcene, in those days, was so small it didn't even own a stop sign. I grabbed a booth and looked around. I saw a man's face appear in the hole in the wall which must of been the kitchen. He stood his ground and we started talking.

He said his name was "Bob." He said that he was busy fixing the evening "special," but invited me to go behind the counter and serve myself to coffee. I did. As I was in no hurry at all, I started to really enjoy the conversation that happened. I moved to the counter so I could hear him better as he told me his story:

He said that he bought this small place, which was very pleasant and homey, to "save his life." It seemed that he had been a stock broker in downtown Bellevue until six months before. The pressure of that horrible job put him in the hospital emergency room with a heart attack.

After his successful surgery and recovery, he had found this tiny out of the way and rundown cafe. He bought it,lock, stock and stove. He'd never cooked anything before in his life but he figured that this was his last chance to learn to live.

He lived on a very tiny island in the hood canal, just behind the cafe. There was no running water or power. And he rowed a boat to get to and from the island. But it was his cabin, and he loved it.

After an hours' talking came the meal. By then several other customers had come in, including one lady who jumped behind the counter and served the role of waitress. I knew she wasn't an employee ... she was just "helping out."

When my meal arrived, I was astounded. It was a huge slab of baked halibut. And the flavor was awesome. And I still remember the fresh vegetables. They were barely steamed and almost raw ... PERFECT! I was in heaven.

Afterwards, as we sat over coffee, I asked "Bob" what his secret was. He smiled and said ... "Just garlic butter!"

As I sat in the car before leaving, I looked at that place and listened again to his story. This was a real success story, and I felt honored to have witnessed it. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 08:16 PM

The Greasy Spoons are all here

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: frogprince
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 08:40 PM

One of our favorite "greasies" is a long way from home; we flew down to the Carribbean to St. Martin for our anniversary, and after spending a good share of a day bumming on Orient Beach, tried the grilled swordfish at the sem-open shack next to the beach. Six bucks for a slab of fish like a cross-section of a good sized log, and delicious. We went back for the same two days later.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Peace
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 08:43 PM

Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone


Ossonflags, I don't mean to criticize, but that line don't scan fer shit. I suggest you try something like daisies or roses or even flowers.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Peace
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 08:50 PM

Q,

The place you were talkin' about between Calgary and Red Deer--is it fairly close to Bowden?

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: number 6
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 09:21 PM

Where have they gone ??

Doesn't matter to me anymore ... gone back to being a vegetarian again ... back on the road to Nirvana.

sIx

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 10:10 PM

Thanks, pdq. If I hadn't seen it I would have typed it in.

Hubby and I have found a neat indep. eatery here--really about 7 miles away. Walnut Creek Cafe is it's name. It's on Texas 20 at the intersection with Pleasant Chapel Road, just about 1 or 2 miles north of Rockne, Texas. (Walnut Creek is the original name of Rockne.) Rusty Edwards, who owns/runs the place, is a former Bastrop County deputy sherriff. His brothers, dad, uncles, and grandad also have done/are doing that job for years. His greatgrandad (or great-great?) was a Texas Ranger and Indian fighter. The cafe occurs in conjunction with the Walnut Creek Arena, a place for barrel racing and calf-roping contests, and other rodeo events. (Big ranching area around here.) Really good fried catfish, chicken-fried steak, and regular steak as well. The sides are homemade. There's a salad bar, but it's not spetacular.

Molly Ivins tells a story about an extended trip through the American west (inland states) during her coverage of a particular political campaign about 15-20 years ago. (Molly Ivins is a political journalist based in Austin, Texas.) She was restricted to hwy. truckstop eateries by the exigencies of her trip, and found that limited her menu choices to fried meats and 2 or 3 potato variations. At one point she was so desperate for something green that she ate the rather dispirited piece of parsley garnish on her plate. The waitress came to get the plate, noted the absence of the garnish, and informed her, "Honey, if I knowed you was gonna eat it, I woulda washed it."                         Tw

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: CarolC
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 12:08 AM

They're everywhere here in the deep south of the USA. Just stick to the back roads and avoid the interstate highways and you'll find them easily enough. There's a lot of good southern home cooking (soul food) even in many of the gas stations on the state and county roads in this part of the world. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to pretty much everything they serve, but JtS loves it. Reminds him of the cooking back home in Newfoundland.

I found one of those old trailer diners from my father's home town (Framingham, Massachusettes) on display in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan while we were staying up that way a couple of years ago (not operational, of course). I keep meaning to ask my dad if he ever ate there when he was growing up. They've got the Rosa Parks bus on display there, too.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 12:09 AM

Does anyone here remember "Heavenly Hamburgers" in Felton, California, around 1962? Bob

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: GUEST,J
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 12:55 AM

There's a place well worth mentioning in Springhill, Tn. The Poplar House is the best kept secret in the Greater Nashville area. The food is solid, formica table, mismatched utensil, chipped coffee cup, downhome good. Generous portions. It's been there for years. I'll recommend the Super Cheeseburger w/double fries, peach cobbler ala mode and coffee. Lots of blue hair, mesh hats, bib overalls, bolo ties and no alcohol. On Saturday nights there's music starting at 7:00PM(CST) and it goes until everyone gets too tired to dance. Usually a local bluegrass band such as the Hood Family(the fiddler's only 11) the Retreads or the Fireside Pickers will do an hour. Then the Tennessee Travelers until closing.
    If you come to Nashville for a holiday or business and have a Saturday night free you'll spend less than 50.00US(for two...including a generous tip!) and have the time of your life. Take I65 South, exit at The Saturn Parkway and go west. Exit the parkway at Route 31 and go north 2-3 miles and the Poplar House is on the left...can't miss it. It's about 35-40 miles from Nashville.
    Get there around 6:30PM to get a good seat. There's plenty of seating though you may end up behind the staging area or at one of the two long 'picnic style' community tables.
    The owners' names are Beckey and Pete. Pete plays the guitar and Beckey plays the autoharp, but Beckey's married to Zeke the fiddle player in The Travelers. Curley plays banjo and Jim plays dobro. Stop in and say hello...it doesn't get any better.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 01:33 AM

Memories!
Over fifty years ago, in Austin, Texas, the Nighthawk on the drag alongside the University served a large plate with a hamburger steak smothered with beans and a toasted bun on the side. A great meal for hungry, poor students.
I often remember it, and wonder if it is still there. Probably replaced with a franchise outlet.

Currently, a little place on Hwy 22 (in ranching and cowboy country) between Calgary and Black Diamond. Great hamburgers, and a fine breakfast of eggs, good bacon or ham, hash browns and thick toast. They serve homemade pies, and will sell you their frozen whole pies to take with you.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 02:53 AM

There's the Redbeck, just outside Goole, off the M62. Just changed it's name, but the food's the same. Open 365/24/7.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 02:59 AM

Q, I'm sorry to tell you, but your guess is just right. Night Hawk, the group of good local eateries, has died--except for a frozen foods division. You can buy some packaged hamburger steak dinners by that label in some supermarkets. Very basic meals, on the low end pricewise, better than most in the price range.    Tw

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: ossonflags
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 06:39 AM

Going east or west greycap?

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 11:23 AM

I hope that you can find time to use the excellent caf on Cleveland Street in Hull, Mick, as Lesley is suffering a bit while North Bridge is closed. Her student customers from Hull College can't swim so well.

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 11:38 AM

Oh! Gracious! I said Snoqualmie Pass. Gold Bar is on the way to Stevens Pass. Geez.

SRS

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 11:46 AM

But while I'm harking back to Washington eateries, I always manage to make at least one stop at the Spud in Seattle for a good helping of fish and chips. The chips aren't anything to brag about (the seagulls eat them) but the fish is wonderful. There are two of these restaurants in Seattle, one at Alki in West Seattle (my favorite, the place we would go when my family lived nearby) and one near Greenlake. I think the Alki one tastes better because it's right across the street from the beach. All that salt air.

SRS

Subject: RE: Where have all the 'Greasy Spoons 'gone
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 05:13 PM

Hey Maggie ... Did you ever eat at the "Homestead," just around the corner from the "Spud" on Alki Beach? Bob