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Thursday, February 26, 2015

Back to the 50s

We like diners — inside & outside. 

They serve what lots of people call comfort food and often a LOT of it.

And, it could also be because we grew up seeing and eating in a lot too many in our home state of NJ. It's a known fact that the small state of NJ (# 46 out of 50) has more diners than any other state — so many that it's nickname is the "Diner Capital." 

When we saw the chrome exterior of Joey's Diner in Amherst, NH recently, we had to stop in for a look and a meal. It was fun to go back in time for an hour or so as we had lunch on a cold and chilly day. The decor is styled after similar 1950 era eateries


Stepping inside Joey's Diner is vintage retro from the checkerboard floor design, counter service and stool seating, chrome and vinyl chairs, and formica table tops. It's a trip down Memory Lane when life was simpler. Back then, going to a diner after a late night date, bowling or a movie, folks came to share good times over a burger while they talked and listened to tunes on the jukebox. You'll still hear those familiar tunes at Joey's.

After entering, the first thing we saw was a telephone booth with a coin-operated phone. Then came a large jukebox right inside the front door complete with rock &amp tunes. There's a Coke® machine and several gas pumps, as well as vintage toys and other items. 

Comfort food is the norm here like on most diner menus including some special breakfast items like the "Elvis Presley" and "General MacArthur."  We sampled some "standard" diner fare: onion rings and really thick clam chowder (New England of course). While the soup was good, we suspected that the onion rings were reheated frozen ones.


Other timeless diner meal choices include: meat loaf, hot dogs with grilled and buttered buns, burgers named after 50s entertainers — "Big Bopper" burger and "Buddy Holly" cheeseburger, also chicken pot pie, club sandwiches. fries, and even "tater tots." Standard desserts include apple crisp, blueberry and coconut creme pies and ice cream, which we bypassed this visit.


The labels on a selection of bottled sodas, including the diner's signature root beer, feature a 1956 Chevy, which can be seen inside the diner. The rear of this car is also there and being used as a bench seat; it was occupied the day we stopped in, so no photos were taken.



Unlike diners of years ago, Joey's Diner is not a 24-hour operation but like most diners, serves all-day breakfast. It's located on Amherst Street (Route 101A) in Amherst, NH. 

Go for the ambiance, which is terrific. But, as natives of the "Diner Capital," we've had better diner meals. Also, the prices are definitely not back to the 50s.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like a lot of fun.
And I don't mind comfort food.

MadSnapper said...

i am a big fan or retro and vintage. have never been in a diner, only seen them in movies and photos and listened to hubby talk about them from many years ago... i love the look

Gill - That British Woman said...

always fun to see inside of a diner. Don't have that type of thing around here.

Gill - That British Woman said...

always fun to see inside of a diner. Don't have that type of thing around here.

Out on the prairie said...

I always ask if they make their own rings. If not I pass. I like this kind of food myself.

Anvilcloud said...

It would be really nice to pay 50s prices. There is an Ottawa place, I think it's called Rockin Johnny's, but I have never been. Doesn't seem genuine for one thing.

R. J. said...

Yes, yes, love those diners. We like one we found in Reno, NV called Mel's Diner. We found a nice diner on the Pacific Coast Highway in CA but I don't remember the name. Johnny Rockets is always fun.

Doris said...

Looks like a fun place. We love to go to a diner in Wildwood, MJ....food ia ok....servings are huge!!

William Kendall said...

It certainly does look like a throwback to an earlier era, and fun!

Emma Springfield said...

Going to a diner was always such a treat. I would enjoy seeing this one.

Anonymous said...

I wish we had diners like that here! I don't think they even have it in our biggest cities.

That place just look fantastic!

Have a great day!
Christer.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Too bad about the rings...the atmosphere looks great though!...:)JP

Montanagirl said...

The food choices sound good! And I really like that dining set. It's a lot like the one in our local ice cream shop.

Connie said...

I like diners too. I usually like the comfort food, and they just seem more relaxed and laid-back than other restaurants.

Anonymous said...

We enjoy diners like this, too. Your photos make me hungry! We have had snow and ice in Georgia and were without power for more than 2 days. I see that you have been struggling with cold/snow too.

L. D. said...

It looks like a fun place to visit. It is too bad they can't find some deep fat friers and make some real onion rings.

Elaine said...

Great decor! We always like finding a diner like this to eat at. We even have one that's retro in North Pole, and occasionally we'll stop in there.

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

How I wish there was a place to go around here like that. It would be my new favorite place!!