During my youth in the 1970s, a long cross-country drive across the United States would take you past numerous restaurants bearing large signs reading “EAT”, bearing little else for identification. It’s been years since I’ve seen an EAT restaurant. Are any still out there? Were the EAT restaurants part of a chain, was it a stock sign, or was it the work of a bunch of business owners that didn’t believe in such fancy-dancy things like names?
It never even occurred to me that those “EAT” signs referred to the name of the place. My only guess here is that it’s a shorthand way of indicating to truckers and others whose requirements for a meal are less than rigid, that this is a place to get something to eat.
I have seen those signs and never paid them much attention, but this is indeed a tantalizing question!
I am reminded of the Orlando bar & grill that boasts of Serving The Worst Steaks & Beer in Town on its sign.
I am reminded of a place called EA A OE’S.
Used to see that kind of sign on State Routes and US Routes years ago. Small diners used to use them because they were easy to see, quick to read as traffic went by, and cheap (only three letters.)
They usually didn’t denote the *name *of the restaurant, though, any more than those big signs that said GAS over gas stations meant that was the name of the gasoline brand.
Interestingly enough, those sorts of diners would do better to put up a sign that said GAS.
When I was a kid somebody told me a horror story about a restaraunt named “Eats”. But I’ve never seen one called just that.
There was an old diner here until about 10-12 years ago. It was actually called “Martin’s,” but you had to look close to see that. Mostly what you saw was the huge “EAT” sign outside.
Then there was the apocryphal story of the combination diner/gas station that had a sign out front:
EAT HERE - GET GAS
Come to think of it, there are signs with no indication of ownership to lots of establishments.
Motel
Rooms
Drinks
Pool
Bowling
They’re similar to taverns that are named “Bottles and Cans”.
There’s a Mexican restaurant on Route 1 in Saugus MA with a big EAT sign. It’s on the southbound side, right before Hilltop Steakhouse for those familar with the area. It has a real name, but we always just called it “Eats”.
Here’s an aerial photo. Expand to full screen, the sign is near the bottom. It looks tiny in that picture, but believe me, it’s obvious when you’re driving by it. Of course, it’s immediately overwhelmed by the 40 ft high cactus you pass at the Hilltop 3 seconds later.
There’s an enormous multi-colored neon sign on Route 1 in Saugus, MA that reads simply
EAT
It’s outside a place called The Border Cafe (Mexican food, natch), so “Eat” isn’t the name – the sign is clearly urging you to come in and EAT. (We haven’t been able to. Every time we drive by, the place is packed to the gills. So maybe the sign really DOES work.)
As Pepper Mill has pointed out, they even referred to this sign in “Cheers”. Norm mentions a place with an enormous sign reading “EAT”, and says something about it being his kind of place.
Rules for life
- Never eat at a place called “MOM’S”
- Never play poker with a man called “Doc”
- Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are greater than your own.
If there are only two resturants in town and the other is named “EATS” go to “MOM’S”
I read this somewhere and have lived by those rules since then.
There’s EAT deli shops all over the UK, but probably not what the OP is thinking of?
I’ve never seen an actual restaurant named “EAT”, but I did direct a movie about restaurants called “EAT”.
Or not. I’ve never seen it.
Then again, when I go by there, I usually already have dinner plans.
Was there a puppy in the parlor, and a skillet on the stove? And a smelly old blanket that a Navajo wove?
It’s blowin’ you and me.
The MST3Ked classic “The Girl In (or maybe With, I can’t be arsed to look it up) Gold Boots” made much of a restaurant with a big EAT sign.