That's not a dinner. That's a greasy spoon hole in the wall dump of a place.

Speaking of diners, does anyone know the story of the place on the corner across from The Charles Theatre?

If diners are so horrible, how come they are always packed to the gill on Saturday and Sunday mornings? Just pick one out of the phone book and go there at 10am on a weekend and see if you can get a seat.

And how ironic for the "resident cheeseburger expert" to complain about food being too greasey.

A diner is supposed to have good, decent food at decent prices and be open at all hours. The reason why the worst diners are always packed is because there is nowhere else to go. If there was a good diner around, the gross places would go under. But since good diners are few and far between, those of us desiring a burger at 2 AM are forced to eat at whatever place is open. Baltimore is definitely lacking in good real diners. Back me up on this people.

Diners just like restaurants can be good or bad. I don't think diners are inherently bad, greasy, filled with dead linoleum, etc. I've had many a tasty meal, prepared well, and served efficiently in a diner. Whereas I've had inedible meals, prepared by a ill trained cook, flung at my table late by a harried server in a "fine dining establishment".

Whether cafe, bistro, taverna, or diner... it's the quality of the product not the name above the door that should keep anyone coming back.

My 2cents.

A diner is a place to get good food at 2,3,4 am!

Pass the ketchup - Hadn't been to a diner in years, Monday following a Md appt, I stopped at Towson diner for a $29 breakfast. I had a three egg omelet w/ coffee, my partner had one egg , 2 pancakes w/ bacon, juice and tea. Omelet dry and tasteless, home fries were warmed potatos with no additional spice or adds. Had to ask for more coffee (pet peeve at breakfast). Lately, I watched on cable, the guy who travels from diner to diner - If he finds this one - He'll leave unimpressed

If it weren't for diners then where would you go for open-faced hot turkey (with neon yellow gravy of course) or meatloaf platters?!?!

The place across the street from the Charles is owned by the people who own Club Charles and Zodiac. They were fixing it up to open it as a Sci-Fi themed diner. But it's been a couple of years since they told me that and the last time I looked it was still unfinished.

Thanks, Owl Meat Jerky! They did a really nice job on the façade several months back.

Ditto on the comment about diners filling the void in the middle of the night. Stereotypically, the staff there are usually super friendly and fast. The folks at an old diner that was torn down in Bethesda on Wisconsin and East-West Hwy fall in this category. A good diner has decent, quick food, a bottomless, hot cup of coffee, charming use of the word "hon", and warm service.

I agree with Bill--that's a greasy spoon! For years I ate at a great example on Calvert St.--The Bridge--God rest its greasy Greek soul! Place looked like hell, but some of the food, especially the Greek specials, was very good!

The diners I frequent are clean and well-lighted, the food is tasty, plentiful, and reasonably priced, and the waitresses (never "servers") are cheerful no matter how swamped they get. To quote Alton Brown, "that's seriously 'Good Eats'!"

So give us some names.

HUGE yummy crabcakes at the Silver Moon Diner on Rt 40 and Middle River Road. And you can't beat the Double TT breakfast... 2 of everything!!

If it has counter service, and it's not a bar, then it's a diner. Pretty simple. A diner CAN be a greasy spoon, in fact a lot of them are.

My favorite diners are Sip & Bite in Canton and the Double T in Catonsville (the one in Ellicott city is good too). The Forest Diner in Ellicott city great too, especially when the Double T is too crowded. They are right next door to one another. The Forest Diner probably gets a lot of overflow biz from the Double T.

I was highly disappointed inthe Hollywood Diner. the food was mediocre at best and it is MUCH smaller than it looks on TV and in the movies. It was the structure used for the movie "Diner", but it was built on a trailer. During the filming of the movie (in 1982--wow!) it sat right on Boston Street which had vacant waterfront at the time. It has been since moved over near City Hall. My wife and I tried it one mornign for the heeck of it, and other than the fact that it was in the movies, it was unimpressive.

So is Cafe Hon a diner?

Never been to Cafe Hon.

But I have been Mike's Place just a few store-fronts down from there on 36th Street, and I would most definitely call that a Diner. Great Breakfast and home cookin' like my grandmother used to make.

Cafe Hon isn't a dinner, nor is it a greasy spoon.

We visit Overlea Diner most often (Belair Rd south of Northern Pkwy). It's not huge, not 24/7, and smallish menu for a diner, but the food is good, plentiful, and inexpensive.
Ditto Bel Loc Diner (Loch Raven & Joppa).
Double-T in Perry Hall is big, longer hours, and a huge menu. The food is good, always enough for two meals unless you're used to eating like a stevedore, and reasonably priced.

I'd like a "commoner's" opinion of Silver Moon Diner on Pulaski Hwy. (Karen Nitkin seemed to like it, but she's a "pro.") Thanx.

There's a teensy diner in Hampden (corner of 36th & Roland?) that recently re-opened with new owners. A friend and I have lunched there and liked it. The menu is smallish--appropriate for a small place--but it meets diner "requirements"--good food, plentiful, and inexpensive. Breakfasts (offered all day) are huge and look terrific!

What's its name?

Um...Avenue Diner?