I find the inevitable Iowa diner meet & greets alienating

[MineralMan]

98. I used to live in Santa Barbara, CA. I was the very young manager of a

very busy gas station on the northern end of that city. I worked about 12 hours a day at that job, and for not a lot of pay, back in 1965. Every morning, at 6 AM, I went to a diner about a block away from my work. I sat down and ate a fried egg sandwich with bacon on it. It cost a dollar. I didn't have a kitchen where I lived, so I ate at that diner every morning, and I worked there six days a week.

Every morning at 6 AM that little diner was full of people doing just what I was doing - having breakfast before going to work nearby. I got up early enough so I could do that.

The place also made burgers. About half of the time, I called that diner and ordered a cheeseburger for myself and whatever the guys working at that gas station wanted. Then, I walked down there and got the food and carried it back to the gas station.

Diners are full of working people who eat there because it's the most convenient place for them to eat. Working people. The food's cheap and the service is fast. The cook is standing right in front of you at the flattop grill and knows what you want when you walk in the door. You eat, chat with the person next to you, and then you go to work.

I think you have a mistaken idea about small town or urban diners and cafes. I truly do.