I'll Have a Shingle with a Shimmy and a Shake in the Alley

Photo by Nat Farbman, April 1959 from LIFE Photo Archive

What the heck is the title of the post you say? It's diner lingo! A shingle with a shimmy is buttered toast with a jam or jelly spread and a shake in the alley is a shake on the side. Diners are right up my alley in so far as nostalgia goes. I love the coziness of the food, the throwback feel, and the sense of an American tradition. Locally I have three favorite diners that I would highly recommend if you are in the area.

Pie n'Burger in Pasadena, CA

913 E. California Blvd. (*Ooooh, and according to Yelp, a new Pie 'n Burger food truck is coming!!)
 

The Rocky Cola Cafe in Whittier, CA

6757 Greenleaf Ave. 

Andy's Coffee Shop in Pasadena, CA

1234 E. Colorado Blvd. (even the address is classic!)

I'm also listing some trivia about diner history and of course diner lingo. You can also visit this awesome website for more: http://www.dinerlingo.com

• The word diner comes from "dining car" because a diner is supposed to be a prefabricated structure that is brought to a permanent location where it will serve as a dining establishment.

• Diners started as converted wagons in the late 19th century (the earliest of lunch trucks). When electric steetcars began replacing the horse drawn wagons, they were converted into dining cars for a cheaper price than actually purchasing a new prefabricated dining car.

• After women got the vote in the twenties, diners begain re-vamping their image in order to gain a feminine following. They basically prettied up their places with flower boxes and fresh coats of paint. Bathrooms were also added.

• Streamlining of dining cars began in the 1930's and when buses replaced trollies, trollies were converted into dining cars as well.

• The 1940's and 1950's were the boom era of the diner. Demand for them skyrocketed and designs followed a more futuristic appeal, especially in the fifties.

• Many diners were and are open 24 hours and many were located strategically near factories that were open all night to cater to night crew laborers.

• Typical wallet-friendly menu items of most diners include hamburgers, fries, shakes, coffee, and of course classic breakfast items like pancakes, eggs, bacon and waffles (you know, all the healthy stuff).

Can you guess what this order would be in regular talk:

"A Stack of Vermont with a Baby and Throw it in the Mud"



Photo by Will Hastings from Flickr Creative Commons



(Answer: Pancakes and a glass of milk with chocolate syrup)

Let's Eat!

Ok, so here is a bucket list of sorts for very vintage and nostalgic restaurants right here in Los Angeles that I have yet to try.  Each one is steeped with history, famous clientele, fabulous menus, and in some cases infamous happenings.  I am going to try my darndest to get to each one, hopefully in this new year (and I will post Yelp reviews, so they will appear on the blog's sidebar once I do).

Musso and Frank Grill (opened in 1919)

6667 Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood, CA

Photo from latimemachines.com

Touted as the oldest restaurant in Hollywood, Musso and Frank Grill has been catering to celebrities and celebrity spotters for over ninety years.  Some of the famous faces that ate at the restaurant include Rudolph Valentino, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Charlie Chaplin, to name a few.  Classic (and I do mean classic) menu items include prime rib, pork chops, pommes lyonnaise, and corned beef and cabbage.  The eatery was named after original owners Joseph Musso and Frank Toulet.

Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet (opened in 1908)

aka: Cole's

118 E. 6th St.

Los Angeles, CA

Photo from latimemachines.com

Another eatery that has a claim to fame, and in this case it is "originator of the french dip" (don't tell Phillipe's) and the oldest restaurant and bar in the city of Los Angeles.  Now, I have actually stepped foot in Cole's, but only because I was on my way to The Varnish (the not-so-secret secret bar inside Cole's), but I have heard that they also have some mean drinks and of course some great sandwiches.  I'll have to be the judge of that one of these days.  The restaurant was founded by Henry Cole and it is located on the ground floor level of the Pacific Electric Building (hence the name).

Clifton's Cafeteria (this location opened in 1935)

648 S. Broadway

Los Angeles, CA

Photo from latimemachines.com

This cafeteria was the second location opened by Clifford Clinton in 1935.  Like many of his other restaurants and cafeterias, the location on Broadway had a theme, which was a lodge, complete with waterfalls, faux redwood trees, and a mural depicting a life-size forest.  Every day Clifton's offers up hundreds of choices in food, beverage and dessert, including navy bean soup, Texas toast, brisket, baked halibut, lemon rice, macaroni and cheese, their famous apple pie and a special "Treasure Tray" for kids which is a cafeteria version of a happy meal.  I honestly can't wait to try Clifton's, if only to see the kitschy decor and stand in the cafeteria line.

Formosa Café (opened in 1934)

7156 Santa Monica Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA

Photo from latimemachines.com

The Formosa Café used to be a trolley car, and that alone is enough to entice me.  However, it is also the place where Frank Sinatra allegedly spent many a night pining over Ava Gardner.  Other famous folks that dined at the Formosa include James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley and Judy Garland.  Besides cocktails (they do have a bar), you can also venture to try some of their menu items (although many Yelp reviewers warn against it).  Some of these include lobster mac and cheese, calamari, kung pao chicken, and pad thai (it seems their menu is a bit of Asian and a bit of American food).