Bridgeview Diner

Bridgeview Diner is a real diner. The question has been asked many times. What, exactly, is the definition of a diner? for my own part, I have often stuck to the party line of 24 hour breakfast, or else Ive offered some half-hearted claim that I know a diner whenI see one, but to try to describe definite characteristics which make one restaurant a diner while another is not is somewhat difficult, to say the least. However, Id like to make some attempt here to define (or perhaps interpret) what a diner is. For one thing, there are a number of characteristics which many diners share. Most are open 24 hours a day, or at least extremely late, and serve breakfast for the whole time. Most serve coffee (black as death) as a staple. Another typical characteristic is one of several themes: Hellenic, Neon 50s, or Abandoned Train Car. Fare ranges from American to Italian to Greek, but any diner will be able to give you cole slaw, pickles, some sorts of pastries, waffles, coffee (this point bears repeating), grilled cheese and so forth. Finally, typical diners have jukeboxes at tables, or somesuch. But, though these qualities can be found in many diners, there are some which possess few, or perhaps none, of them. It becomes rather tricky to say which of these attributes are strictly necessary to be a diner, and which are merely unexpected treats, turning an otherwise pleasant diner into a great one…