# Ever been to a place featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728 "2009-12-27T20:03:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/61 "2009-12-29T14:55:29Z")
That list just confirmed what I’d always figured about Guy. There was only one barbecue place in North Carolina on there, and it was _King’s_. He obviously doesn’t know shit about barbecue. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/62 "2009-12-29T15:13:42Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > … > > - Geraci’s Restaurant, Cleveland, OH (Really in University Heights. Supposedly the East Side’s best pizza. It’s pretty good, but being raised on Buffalo-style, I wasn’t floored.)… Ah, yes, when we lived in University Heights we often went to Geraci’s. Pretty good pizza and pasta. Odd thing is, they don’t take credit cards - once I had to nip off to the bank ATM down the street after we placed our order and I realized I didn’t have enough cash on hand! We haven’t been back since it was on the show, but it was always crowded before then and I can’t imagine it’s gotten any less so: [More than just pizza makes the grade at Geraci's - cleveland.com](http://www.cleveland.com/sun/scoopdujour/index.ssf/2009/06/more_than_just_pizza_makes_the.html) ---
**Author:** ![HeadNinja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b4bc9f/32.png) [@HeadNinja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeadNinja)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/63 "2009-12-29T18:56:41Z")
Slightly off topic, but the Sausage Shoppe in Parma, featured on No Reservations, is the greatest place on earth if you enjoy pork and associated products. They have a twice smoked bacon that you eat without cooking. It melts in your mouth (only to reassemble in your arteries). And their Summer sausages are to Hillshire farms what Alec Baldwin is to Billy. (Or Stephen) If I actually lived near it I would have died long ago, five hundred pounds overweight and happy. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/64 "2009-12-29T19:13:43Z")
**San Francisco** Tommy’s on Geary - good Margaritas, OK food. Have a few margaritas, then cross the street to Trad’R Sam’s for a Scorpion Bowl. Then go get your stomach pumped. Tee Off Diner: Nice dive bar; better food than you would expect. Grubstake Diner, Joe’s Cable Car: Been to them; no memory of the food really at all. **Dallas** Louie’s - GREAT stiff drinks, good Greek Salad, fairly good (for Dallas) pizza. Bear in mind I haven’t been there in several years. **Portland** Otto’s Sausage: Fantastic. I buy all my sausage products there. Pine State Biscuit: Another great choice. Biscuits with loads of gravy, add a piece of fried chicken, wash it down with a bottle of grape soda. Bunk sandwiches: another solid choice. Worth standing in line. From there you can hit the Morrison Hotel for a drink, or cross the street and hit Grand Central Bowl. Pok Pok: I’m alone in thinking this one is average amongst my friends, but after living in SF, it’s hard for me to enjoy Thai Food in Portland. ---
**Author:** ![Loisseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Loisseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loisseau)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/65 "2009-12-29T19:35:03Z")
When I need a fix for my hamburger jones, this forty plus year old, under the same management establishment, provides it at reasonable cost, with fried onion rings as world class as the hamburgers. [Mr.Bartley’s in Cambridge, MA](http://www.mrbartley.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/66 "2009-12-29T19:56:11Z")
The two in Philly. ::shrug:: People in the Philly area don’t give a rat’s behind about some local places featured on Triple D. Our best dives number in the dozens and must not have certain camera criteria needed for the show. Same goes for New Jersey and New York. There are so many good dives in Jersey, Philly and New York, yet I still haven’t seen a legit one of these on the show yet. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/67 "2009-12-29T20:01:28Z")
I’ve never seen the show, but looking at the list I’ve eaten at two: **Niko Niko’s** - Greek food in Houston. Really mediocre. In any city with a sizeable Greek population this would be a run-of-the-mill Greek fast food place. But it is one of only two Greek places in this city of 5 million plus. Add that it is in a really trendy part of town and people around here think it epitomizes good Greek cuisine. I’ve tried it a few times and have always been disappointed. Not only is the food so-so, but there is no parking, it is always packed full, the service is bad, and it is way overpriced. The dearth of Greek food in Houston sucks, especially since there are neighborhoods up in Dallas packed with good Greek restaurants. **T Bone Tom’s** - homestyle food in Houston. The food is good old fashioned Texas homestyle. This is probably the best casual restaurant at the Kemah Boardwalk. It often gets overlooked though because the entrance isn’t actually on the boardwalk. If it were in my neighborhood I’d probably eat there more often, but I rarely travel all the way over to Kemah. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/68 "2009-12-29T20:13:18Z")
No. So why am I answering? Well, I’d gotten the idea that most of the places that Guy visits have some storied history. However, on his recent trip to my burg, he visited a place that’s only been around in its current incarnation a year or so. Not that I have anything negative to say about the place, since I’ve never been there, but it just seemed out of character. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/69 "2009-12-29T20:24:32Z")
I thought for sure the funky sushi barbecue place in Sacramento I ate at once was featured on the show due to his picture being up in the lobby. No, turns out it’s one of [his restaurants](http://www.texwasabis.com/). Darn good sushi. Edit: I have eaten at the [Falafel Drive In](http://www.falafelsdrivein.com/home.html) in San Jose, specifically because my wife saw it on the show. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/70 "2009-12-30T15:44:05Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > If you want to check, list of places he has been is here: > [http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/guys-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html](http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/guys-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html) > > Was it as good as he said? Did the show seem to affect the place? I imagine it is good for business. My fiancee and I went to Chino Bandido in Arizona. **Major disappointment.** I expect that a person with Guy Fieri’s cooking chops, and obvious size knows what sucks and what doesn’t. I have a list of the worst meals I have ever eaten. This place made the list at number 6. We hated it so much that we won’t even think about visiting any of his other recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/71 "2009-12-30T15:57:28Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > I expect that a person with Guy Fieri’s cooking chops, and obvious size knows what sucks and what doesn’t. What did you have, if you remember? Just out of curiosity. I did find an entree there that I really disliked (the Emerald Chicken), but everything else I’ve had has been excellent. The pork fried rice, which is the signature dish Guy showed the owner making in the kitchen, is simply addictive. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/72 "2009-12-30T17:12:21Z")
Sure, I’ve been to Charlie Parker’s in Springfield, Illinois (“Did I mention it’s in a quonset hut?!?!?!”), several times before Guy Fieri went there, and once or twice afterwards. 1. The place is always packed. _Always_. That’s one of the reasons I don’t eat there very often. As Yogi Berra said, “That place is too crowded, no one goes there any more.” I should note that it was always packed _before_ Guy Fieri was there, so Guy’s visit can’t really be said to have increased business. 2. The food there is delicious. It’s also cheap, and the place has a whole 50’s diner kind of feel to it. I think the last two characteristics are why it’s always packed. ---
**Author:** ![StoutHearted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@StoutHearted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StoutHearted)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/73 "2009-12-30T17:33:49Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > The two in Philly. ::shrug:: > > People in the Philly area don’t give a rat’s behind about some local places featured on Triple D. Our best dives number in the dozens and must not have certain camera criteria needed for the show. > > Same goes for New Jersey and New York. There are so many good dives in Jersey, Philly and New York, yet I still haven’t seen a legit one of these on the show yet. Agreed. Was expecting the Mayfair Diner or at least that huge one in Olney to be on the list. Not even the Reading Terminal Market’s Down Home Diner was on it. But every neighborhood has its own place; I’ve been to tons of diners in the Philly/South Jersey area and never hit any that were on this list. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/74 "2009-12-30T19:49:23Z")
I’ve never been to JT Farnham’s in Essex MA, but I’ve driven by it a thousand times. Of course, he really should have driven 10 miles west on Rt 133, and gone to the Clam Box in Ipswich. (I may be biased, my summer memories consist of the smell of cooking seafood, and the call of “Number 33 for pickup!” over their loudspeaker, both wafting across my yard as a kid). I’ve always wondered how the show picks these locations. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/75 "2009-12-30T19:55:33Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > I’ve always wondered how the show picks these locations. I received the second DD&D book for Christmas (random stocking stuffer), and it mentions that they’ve got a research team that surveys towns. Their objective is to find a town/city with at least seven places that match their criteria (I assume things like local/unique, popular, not highly marketed, good quality food, unique menu, etc.). If a place doesn’t have at least seven, they don’t go there. That’s why there’s a lot of episodes set in Phoenix or Chicago or wherever and very little in Asscrack, PA, even if Asscrack has a dynamite diner. Since I have to imagine that finding these places tends to rely on word of mouth and viewer submissions, it’s entirely possible that some restaurants would get overlooked simply because the research team wasn’t made aware of them. ---
**Author:** ![StuckinNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@StuckinNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuckinNJ)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/76 "2009-12-30T20:25:17Z")
I’ve been to 2 in the last month with out even knowing it. Red Arrow in Manchester NH and White Manna in NJ. I spent a lot of time at Doumar’s in Norfolk Va 15 or so years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/77 "2009-12-30T22:27:41Z")
I’ve been to 3 of the 4 located in Houston; Niko Niko’s, Lankford Grocery, and Kenny & Ziggy’s. Houston has MANY good Greek restaurants spread out through its sprawl, unlike what **Speak to me Maddie!** said. Niko Niko’s is the most well known, and it ranges from okay to really good depending on what you order. I’ve never left disappointed; then again, you never really enter expecting something divine. The Souzoukakia is really good, the fries awful; nearly raw and always oily. Lankford Grocery serves up a mean burger, but Beavers burger is better IMO. I’ve only been once and didn’t really understand the hype. The people there are really nice but it is crowded and noisy. The burger would be considered great in most of the world but in beef-centric Texas its only good. Kenny & Ziggy’s is Houston’s only real deli - it looks and smells like the image of a NY deli complete with surly servers. The walls inside are plastered with old playbills, famous people’s caricatures, and jewish grandmother inspired quotes. Its really a trip, but one you’ll pay for. DAYUM ITS EXPENSIVE! All the servings are monstrous though. I highly recommend the Reuben, served open faced. Really amazing corned beef, sauerkraut and swiss layered on rye bread with 1000 island on the side. Plenty to split or take home for leftovers. Their other menu items really can’t compare to the briney, gooey wonderfulness of the Reuben; despite the size its really hard to stop eating. They also serve full and half dill pickles when delivering the drinks. The number of pickles has slightly declined over the years, but its enough for everyone to get one. Cafe Pita + is on my list to go one day, its just a bit of a drive from where I live. Another place that was going to be on the show but didn’t make the cut is a great Pakistani place called Himalayas. Really nice owner with amazing food, plus every time I’ve gone he’s sent over free dessert. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/78 "2009-12-30T22:37:51Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > **San Francisco** > Tommy’s on Geary - good Margaritas, OK food. Have a few margaritas Huh, I missed that on the show site. Been there several times… went to grammar school right across the street. > [@](#): > > …then cross the street to Trad’R Sam’s for a Scorpion Bowl. Then go get your stomach pumped. Weenie. 😉 (Kudos for spelling _Trad’R_ correctly, though!) > [@MPB in Salt Lake](#): > > Even better beer selections can be found at Mad Dog In The Fog or Toronado’s which are both on lower Haight. Oh, [I’m well aware](http://goldengatebeerbars.com/about/). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/79 "2009-12-30T23:50:42Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > Weenie. 😉 (Kudos for spelling _Trad’R_ correctly, though!) I just didn’t want to be held responsible for anyone going there, then pitting me. I throw in the same disclaimer whenever I recommend The 500 Club. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728/80 "2009-12-31T00:31:33Z")
Let’s see… Twisted Root Burger Co. in Dallas (both locations, multiple times) Magnolia Cafe in Austin (both locations, multiple times) Green Mesquite BBQ in Austin (multiple times - in laws live about 5 minutes away) Haven’t been to any since they were on the show though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-to-a-place-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/522728.md?page=5)