Oftentimes, it’s hard to go wrong with diner pancakes. We spoke to chefs who shared their favorite and least favorite dishes to order at a diner. According to them, some must-try items include diner-style home fries, pancakes, and milkshakes. However, it may be best to skip soup and pasta sauces as they are often not homemade. If you want to test the skills of a diner’s cook, try ordering the eggs Benedict and pay attention to the taste of the hollandaise sauce.
Chef and host of the Netflix show “Restaurants on the Edge,” Nick Liberato, believes that eggs Benedict is a true test for diners. He looks for perfectly poached eggs and a hollandaise sauce with a tangy flavor from lemon juice. If you’re a fan of hollandaise sauce but prefer a different egg dish, you can ask your server if you can order it as a side to pair with your chosen dish.
Pancakes are always a safe and delicious choice at any diner. According to Liberato, diner pancakes are hard to mess up, and it’s a major plus if they serve them with Canadian or Vermont syrup. For a flavorful twist, Liberato recommends ordering pancakes with sliced banana, chocolate chips, butter, and syrup.
When it comes to home fries and hash browns, they always seem to taste better at a diner. Chef Heloise Blaure explains that griddles provide the perfect balance of softness and crispiness, which is hard to replicate at home. Even if you’re a decent cook, most diners will have better home fries than what you can make in your kitchen. It’s important to note the difference between home fries (whole pieces of fried potato) and hash browns (shredded potatoes formed into patties). If the menu simply states “fried potatoes,” ask your server to specify the style.
Diner milkshakes have a thick and creamy texture that is difficult to replicate at home. Blaure mentions that the special mixing equipment at diners contributes to this texture. As long as the diner has a restaurant-grade milkshake mixer, their shakes will be better than anything you can make at home. Plus, the presentation in a retro glass with the excess served in a cold metal mixer cup adds to the experience.
Many diners are known for their delicious pies. Chef Judy Joo suggests checking out the pie selection before considering any other dessert. Most diners have a wide array of amazing pies with rotating flavors. Joo’s top choice is apple pie a la mode with vanilla ice cream. She also recommends trying sweet pies with a cheddar-cheese crust, which are often found in old-school diners.
Disco fries, a popular late-night dish often named after its popularity with nightclub crowds, are similar to Canadian poutine. They consist of fries topped with brown gravy and mozzarella cheese. Joo suggests ordering disco fries with cheese and gravy, describing them as “delish” and a classic dish that completes the diner experience. In New Jersey diners, disco fries can be served with toppings like Gruyere cheese, mustard powder, sour cream, and mushrooms.
Diner-style scrambled eggs can sometimes have a slightly sweet taste due to the addition of pancake batter. Chef Dirk Tolsma notes that diner cooks often use pancake batter to fluff up the eggs and add a touch of sweetness. You can try this trick at home by whisking fresh pancake batter into your eggs before scrambling them.
For a rich and indulgent lunch, Tolsma recommends trying a tuna melt toasted with bacon grease. The leftover bacon grease adds a flavorful touch to the sandwich. Even if tuna isn’t your preference, you can ask if the kitchen staff can toast a different sandwich bread in the grease to enhance the taste.
A simple open-faced turkey sandwich with gravy is Chef Ed McFarland’s top choice for lunch at a diner. He suggests ordering it with a side of fries and dipping them in the gravy. The turkey sandwich with gravy is a comforting and satisfying meal option.
On the other hand, Blaure advises against ordering soup at a diner unless it’s one of their specialties. Most diners use canned soup instead of preparing it from scratch. However, pairing soup with a grilled cheese sandwich can still make for a tasty combination.
When it comes to pasta with red sauce, Blaure mentions that the fast-paced nature of a diner kitchen may mean the sauce is not homemade. If you’re looking for a better value, ordering something other than pasta with red sauce will likely provide a more satisfying meal.
Salads may not be the best choice at a diner. Liberato advises against ordering them as they are usually pre-cut with mass-produced dressing that isn’t made in-house. Additionally, the lettuce may not always be fresh.
Seafood at a diner may not be the freshest option. Liberato suggests going to a seafood-dedicated eatery for a better seafood experience. Diners are more likely to use frozen and prepared seafood, which may not have the same quality and flavor.
In summary, while diner pancakes, home fries, and milkshakes are usually safe and delicious choices, it’s best to skip soups, pasta sauces, salads, and seafood. Diners are known for their pies, so don’t miss out on trying their rotating flavors. Disco fries, fluffy scrambled eggs with pancake batter, tuna melts toasted in bacon grease, open-faced turkey sandwiches with gravy, and other non-seafood and non-salad options are also worth exploring at diners.
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