Cultural Consumption of Diners

While mom-and-pop diners seem to be disappearing, and retro franchised diners taking over, diners have left a lasting impression on American culture. From books to movies to music, to pop art, diners are remembered and commemorated as the working man’s haven, “the place where the boys wasted their time away”, and the local community gathering spot.

Barry Levinson wrote Diner, along with Avalon and Tin Men, as part of his “Baltimore Trilogy” to commemorate his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.

In Pulp Fiction, John Travolta takes Uma Thurman to a retro diner that features celebrity look-alike waitresses and five-dollar milk shakes. The couple sits at a table set inside a reconstructed convertible.

Jack Nicholson’s Five Easy Pieces features “one of the all-time greatest diner scenes,” when he harasses his waitress because she will not allow any substitutions in his order.

Dupea: I'd like a plain omelette, no potatoes, tomatoes instead, a cup of coffee, and wheat toast.
Waitress: (She points to the menu) No substitutions.
Dupea: What do you mean? You don't have any tomatoes?
Waitress: Only what's on the menu. You can have a number two - a plain omelette. It comes with cottage fries and rolls.
Dupea: Yeah, I know what it comes with. But it's not what I want.
Waitress: Well, I'll come back when you make up your mind.
Dupea: Wait a minute. I have made up my mind. I'd like a plain omelette, no potatoes on the plate, a cup of coffee, and a side order of wheat toast.
Waitress: I'm sorry, we don't have any side orders of toast...an English muffin or a coffee roll.
Dupea: What do you mean you don't make side orders of toast? You make sandwiches, don't you?
Waitress: Would you like to talk to the manager?
Dupea: ...You've got bread and a toaster of some kind?
Waitress: I don't make the rules.
Dupea: OK, I'll make it as easy for you as I can. I'd like an omelette, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce. And a cup of coffee.
Waitress: A number two, chicken salad sandwich, hold the butter, the lettuce and the mayonnaise. And a cup of coffee. Anything else?
Dupea: Yeah. Now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules.
Waitress (spitefully): You want me to hold the chicken, huh?
Dupea: I want you to hold it between your knees.
Waitress (turning and telling him to look at the sign that says, "No Substitutions") Do you see that sign, sir? Yes, you'll all have to leave. I'm not taking any more of your smartness and sarcasm.
Dupea: You see this sign? (He sweeps all the water glasses and menus off the table.)

Gina works the diner all day/ she works for the man/ she brings home her pay for love. – Bon Jovi, “Livin’ on a Prayer”

Dean Martin, God rest his soul/ talking to me from a cereal bowl/ there’s a couple from the Show-Me State/ knockin’ back a little meatloaf plate/ Dine in my shiny shiny love – Martin Sexton, “Diner”

I am sitting/ In the morning/ At the diner/ On the corner/ I am waiting/ At the counter/ For the man/ To pour the coffee/ And he fills it/ Only halfway/ And before/ I even argue
He is looking/ Out the window/ At somebody/ Coming in – Suzanne Vega, “Tom’s Diner”

Eminem uses diners in his lyrics and stories often, for example in “Nuttin’ To Do” and “The Kids.” It is rumored he practiced his rapping by rapping out food orders at a diner in his hometown in Michigan.

I’m calling from the diner/ the diner on the corner/ I ordered two coffees/ one is for you/ I was hoping you’d join me/ cause I ain’t got no money/ and I really miss you/ I should mention that too. – Ani Difranco, “The Diner”

Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” was based on a diner in Philadelphia, but Hopper intentionally painted the lonely picture to be both “timeless” and “seamless” to show its relevance to all generations of people.

Finding Diners in Pop Culture

On the Screen

Jukebox Diner

Artistic Effects

Back to Diner Central

Barry Levinson wrote Diner, along with Avalon and Tin Men, as part of his “Baltimore Trilogy” to commemorate his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.	Courtesy: Internet Movie DatabaseCou
http://baseline.hollywood.com/screen/strange/people/uthurman.asp	In Pulp Fiction, John Travolta takes Uma Thurman to a retro diner that features celebrity look-alike waitresses and five-dollar milk shakes. The couple sits at a table set inside a reconstructed convertible.
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0068646
Jack Nicholson’s Five Easy Pieces features “one of the all-time greatest diner scenes,” when he harasses his waitress because she will not allow any substitutions in his order.	Dupea: I'd like a plain omelette, no potatoes, tomatoes instead, a cup of coffee, and wheat toast. Waitress: (She points to the menu) No substitutions. Dupea: What do you mean? You don't have any tomatoes? Waitress: Only what's on the menu. You can have a number two - a plain omelette. It comes with cottage fries and rolls. Dupea: Yeah, I know what it comes with. But it's not what I want. Waitress: Well, I'll come back when you make up your mind. Dupea: Wait a minute. I have made up my mind. I'd like a plain omelette, no potatoes on the plate, a cup of coffee, and a side order of wheat toast. Waitress: I'm sorry, we don't have any side orders of toast...an English muffin or a coffee roll. Dupea: What do you mean you don't make side orders of toast? You make sandwiches, don't you? Waitress: Would you like to talk to the manager? Dupea: ...You've got bread and a toaster of some kind? Waitress: I don't make the rules. Dupea: OK, I'll make it as easy for you as I can. I'd like an omelette, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce. And a cup of coffee. Waitress: A number two, chicken salad sandwich, hold the butter, the lettuce and the mayonnaise. And a cup of coffee. Anything else? Dupea: Yeah. Now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules. Waitress (spitefully): You want me to hold the chicken, huh? Dupea: I want you to hold it between your knees. Waitress (turning and telling him to look at the sign that says, "No Substitutions") Do you see that sign, sir? Yes, you'll all have to leave. I'm not taking any more of your smartness and sarcasm. Dupea: You see this sign? (He sweeps all the water glasses and menus off the table.)