Does anyone know where there are 1950's style diners within the state.?.  (other than Johnny Rockets)    :whip:

Hathaway's in downtown Cincinnati

Several train-car types in Cleveland.  One at E40th and Prospect, one in Cleveland Hts somewhere (Lee/Superior?), one at E55th and St Clair.  Maybe more.  Although I'm not 100% sure the latter two are still open.  Somers on Prospect is your best bet.  It even has the individual jukebox interfaces at each table.

Porky's in Mansfield is a very small 50s style diner, they still have car hop service.  It's one of my favorite places to eat in the whole state: http://porkysdrivein.com/porkysdrivein/how_it_all_began.htm

I've been to a few and I'm still biased toward the Steel Trolley Diner in Lisbon (about 1.5 hours southeast of Cleveland):

http://www.steeltrolleydiner.com/

 

Awesome shakes (served old-school style with the metal mixing tumbler) and huge burgers at a decent price.

 

I just like that it's called Steel Trolley.

Columbus has a ton.  Michael's is one of my favorites, actually.

Several train-car types in Cleveland.  One at E40th and Prospect, one in Cleveland Hts somewhere (Lee/Superior?), one at E55th and St Clair.  Maybe more.  Although I'm not 100% sure the latter two are still open.  Somers on Prospect is your best bet.  It even has the individual jukebox interfaces at each table.

 

I think you're thinking about the diner across from Zagara's.  Is it there or open?  I don't go down Lee Rd. that often.

That's the one.  Dottie's?  Debbie's?  Something like that.

Expressway Diner in Cleveland.  Great GIANT menu and open 24hrs a day.

 

http://www.freetimes.com/stories/14/47/greasy-is-the-word

Olly's Trolley in Cincinnati doesn't have dine in but it is some good food served from an old trolley.

 

There's also the Vinyl on Sycamore but I think that's closed.

for one, you just cant miss goody boy in columbus.

 

 

another one in cols that has been thru various incarnations

 

Columbus has a ton.  Michael's is one of my favorites, actually.

 

I love Michael's Goody Boy Diner, but other than that and Dan's on the South End, I don't know of others that fill the bill. Those two don't make up a ton.

There's that one in Hilliard, Delaware (off 23), one on East Main near/in Bexley, and would Blue Danube count?

Most of those I wouldn't count as classic diners -- though they are classic joints, which is different, in my estimation. In Hilliard, are you talking about Starliner Diner? Not a real roadside diner, but a great place. Bexley would be the Iron Skillet and, yeah, that may count as a diner. The one on 23 north of Delaware is the same one that used to be on Front in German Village. It is new, but is absolutely in the spirit of the classic old railroad-car diners. The Dube is definitely not a diner, but is one of the greatest places in Columbus. It's the regular Friday dinner spot for my wife and me, where we unwind from the week with drinks and Dube Dogs.

This website has a good, though out of date list:

 

http://www.oh-diners.com/

My sister worked at the dube, still does a few week(end) nights i think too.  Love the fact that PBR is on tap and the greasiest, friedest, food on OSU.  But it is definetly not a diner.  It is definetly a Dive though.  That place could be lit on fire and a week later if it could open you might not even know.

For the record, I've never been to "the Dube" and assumed it was diner food, like a trashy Jack & Benny's or something.

naw, the dube is probably technically a divey tavern not a diner, but it certainly has a fantastic diner-like menu. in fact the dube even has one of thee greatest diner menu items ever -- a thick cut fried bologna sandwich. terrible for you, so of course its delicious.

 

ps -- the soul food diner in the photo above is an actual old classic 'valentine-style' diner too. it was originally called the little chef. its located at 2169 parkwood ave, just south of east hudson st and east of cleveland ave. per google maps its still there, but it was unclear if it was still open or not.

 

^ I was wondering where that was. I was going to guess somewhere aroung Agler and Cassady. Now that you identify the location, I realize I've been past the diner. That shot should be added to the mis-named "North Central Columbus" thread.

good.. so there are still some in Ohio..  I need to plan a weekend trip or something to visit each one..

K's Hamburger Shop on Main St. in Troy is absolutely phenomenal.  Very throw back, they give you the same no-nonsense service you'd get in the 50's.  Put your order in then you go sit down and they just scream "Order's ready!" when its done, so you go check hoping its yours.  Still have photos up of the place from when they advertised 5 cent hamburgers outside.  Troy's a fairly decent town with a pretty cool, old historic downtown just about ten minutes north of Dayton. 

 

...great shakes too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kewpee

 

Not really a diner, but a hamburger stand in the best 50's dive tradition.  It almost makes a trip to Lima worth it.

Why don't you all just move to Jersey?

Why don't you all just move to Jersey?

 

 

hmmm... I Like the swensons on Hawkins in Akron.. Has car hops... and the BEST burger... (Galley Boy)

Here's just a few in Ohio:

 

Lester's, downtown Bryan

 

Downtown Athens

 

Outskirts of Hillsboro

 

Sabina

 

The venerable and absolutely classic Kewpee in downtown Lima

 

Kewpee interior

 

Coney Island, downtown Mansfield

 

The Spot in downtown Sidney (in the distance, across from the Louis Sulllivan bank)

 

Tom's Ice Cream Bowl, Zanesville. not exactly a diner, but a wonderful place for lunch and dessert

nice pics... Love the Kewpee

ack, what they've done to the Coney is a travesty.  I liked it better when it was the dingy dive I grew up in. :)

here's the sign for the mighty south lorain dog & suds.

there were 750 once, now this is one of only 11 that are left.

 

 

there are a few diners downtown & on the westside too. one was a manners restaurant & lots of local things after that. another is or was greek. one thing held over the years....they were all always terrible.  :laugh:

 

 

I was trying to find a picture of "Manners", "Big Boy" or "Manners Big Boys" sign or something. 

 

 

He reminds me of former Gov. Blagojevich  :|

what the? well i'll be damned if he doesnt. lol! he looks just like blago.

sure enough..