Discover 19 Dreamy Diners in Rhode Island

The vintage-style neon sign on top of Cindy’s Diner and Restaurant. Vintage cars courtesy of Bill Napolitano (1958 Ford Thunderbird), John Pagliarini (1967 Pontiac Catalina) and Joe Porter (1950 GMC 100 Truck). Photography by Wolf Matthewson

Little known fact: Rhode Island is the birthplace of the American diner.

A tabletop vintage jukebox sets the scene at the Seaplane Diner with the California chicken omelet, home fries, toast and a coffee milk. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

It all started with Walter Scott and his horse-drawn lunch cart in 1872, which wobbled down Providence’s Westminster Street “laden with tasty sandwiches, boiled eggs, pies and coffee,” according to diner expert Richard J. S. Gutman, who spent decades researching the culinary phenomenon, ultimately writing the book American Diner: Then and Now. 

“The problem was that nighthawks, late-night workers and carousers couldn’t get anything to eat anywhere in town after 8 p.m. when restaurants closed for the evening,” Gutman wrote in his book. “At the age of eleven, Walter sold newspapers, fruit and homemade candy on the street to support his family.” It turned out, Scott made a career out of feeding hungry workers at three newspapers between editions with a late-night wagon parked in front of the Providence Journal. “He is the person who is credited with the first lunch wagon that was the precursor to the diner,” Gutman says. “He had started as a peddler with a basket of food, then a pushcart, then he needed more food, so he got a horse and hooked it up to a modified freight wagon, and that’s how it all started.”

The revelation of satiating the masses through a mobile cart proliferated and more lunch wagons hit the streets. They were like modern day food trucks. “It was a good idea, so people copied it,” Gutman says. “It expanded and it’s been a never-ceasing expansion and stealing of ideas ever since.”

Gutman became entranced by diners as an architecture student at Cornell University in the 1960s. Like newspaper workers, architecture students are known to pull all-nighters. 

“We used to go to diners at all hours of the day and night because architecture students have a reputation for needing to spend all night in the drafting room,” Gutman says. He began learning everything he could about historic diner cars that were prefabricated in factories. He also began collecting memorabilia and diner fixtures, which were loaned for use in exhibits at the Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts Museum in Providence, where Gutman worked for fourteen years before it closed to the public. He ended up donating most of his diner artifacts collection to the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.

The counter at the
Miss Lorraine Diner. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

Gutman still calls Rhode Island a diner hotbed. “If you look at four of Rhode Island’s authentic diners, the Seaplane Diner, the Modern Diner, the West Side and Miss Lorraine, you have four diners from the heyday of diner history that are survivors,” he says. 

However, many family-run spots in Rhode Island also pay homage to authentic diners by creating diner-like menus, hosting counter service and including the word “diner” in their name, like the Middle of Nowhere Diner in Exeter. “It’s a classic example of a restaurant that really wants to be seen as a diner but has no distinguishing architectural elements that would qualify it for that designation,” Gutman says, adding that it serves great food.

Either way, diners are here to stay. “There is now such magic in the word ‘diner’ that it’s desirable to use it in a restaurant’s name,” he says. “I’m optimistic that diners are going to be around forever in one shape or another.”

Here’s a list of what Rhode Island Monthly considers to be diners in Rhode Island, whether they’re authentic diner cars, a breakfast spot in the location of a former diner, or a mom-and-pop restaurant with ‘diner’ in the name.

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Seaplane Diner

Regulars visit the Seaplane Diner daily. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

The prop plane perched on top of this 1956 Jerry O’Mahony Diner Company car looks like it soft-landed on the roof of one of the most popular and prolific breakfast spots in Providence. Guess they really wanted a Western omelet that bad. “It’s called the Seaplane because there was a seaplane port in Narragansett Bay across the way from it,” Gutman says. David Penta took over full ownership of the diner in 2008, which was when artist Tony Makinlaw proposed designing the plane to display on top of it. He created the model and still maintains it today as well as the sign on the front. Penta is also part owner of the West Side Diner and the Lighthouse restaurant with Michael Arena, and he originally owned the Seaplane with Arena before taking it over. He has always classified the Seaplane as a slice of city life; a melting pot of professors and students from nearby Johnson & Wales University, judges and lawyers from downtown Providence, construction workers who toil their days away on the I-95 overpass, medical workers from nearby hospitals and patrons from the Allens Avenue gentlemen’s clubs. “We have a very diversified crowd that get along well. We have people come here from all over the state, and it’s not just a neighborhood thing,” Penta says, adding that some might first be deterred by the Allens Avenue location, but once they try the food, they’re hooked. “When someone comes here, they usually come back.” There are more than twenty daily specials that change throughout the week. Hefty stuffed omelets and bacon and eggs are the way to go, but longtime regulars also worship the heaping plates of turkey with all the fixings, the Bolognese, chicken Parm and hot comfort food specials. Authentic tabletop jukeboxes give it a kitschy atmosphere (even though they don’t work), but what really keeps people coming back is the menu. Try the California chicken omelet, which is a little breakfast on top with lunch wedged in the middle, served with crisped home fries. Also surprisingly good is the lobster ravioli, but if you prefer to opt for a crowd-pleaser, then go for a never-failing turkey club sandwich. 307 Allens Ave., Providence, 941-9547, facebook.com/seaplanediner

Photography by Wolf Matthewson

“At least three years after I left Johnson & Wales, I went to the Seaplane Diner and ordered my club sandwich and french fries. The waitress brought it out, she put it on the table and looked at it and she said, ‘You like your french fries done more than this, don’t you?’ And I said yes. She remembered after three years. That’s one of the things, the staff in diners, they can establish a rapport with individual people and they know what they like.” —Richard Gutman

Photography by Wolf Matthewson

Haven Brothers Diner

This mobile diner on wheels comes close to what the very first diner was like. It’s also Rhode Island’s best late-night hangover remedy. Haven Brothers Diner began as a horse-drawn lunch wagon in 1893 at the corner of Dorrance and Washington streets. It was run by Anna Coffey Haven, a widowed immigrant who purchased the carriage using funds from her late husband’s life insurance policy, with the purpose of feeding hungry factory and city workers. After being sold to various Haven family members down the line, in 1953 it was handed off to Albert Mollicone, who ran it for thirty-five years, then to Savero Giusti and Jack Ferry in 1986. The Giusti family still owns and operates it outside Providence City Hall, which is said to have had a symbiotic relationship with the metal trailer on wheels, though owner Patrizia Prew says the rumor that it once illegally plugged into the building’s electricity supply might be a myth. “The only crime Haven Brothers is affiliated with is serving the infamous Murder Burger,” she says with a laugh. The business is proud to continue a family tradition. “My favorite part of owning the diner is continuing the legacy of hard work, consistency and dedication that my father exemplified as did the families that owned it before the Giusti family,” says Prew. Every day the trailer is driven at ten miles an hour from a commissary on Spruce Street to 25 Dorrance St. near Providence City Hall, and at the end of the night, it returns to Spruce Street, where it is cleaned and restocked. Haven Brothers is open until 3 a.m. on most weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends and holidays. Visitors expect to see people from all walks of life biting into their famous Murder Burgers, flat-top grilled patties piled high with lettuce, tomato, bacon and a fried egg (make it a triple with three stacked patties), as well as loaded french fries, juicy Haven dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken tenders and root beer floats. You can also order a garbage plate, a heap of french fries topped with chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks and nacho cheese with bacon bits. If you don’t kill your hangover with a Murder Burger, then you clearly didn’t do the job right. 25 Dorrance St., Providence, 862-6703, havenbrothersmobile.com

El Rincon Dominicano

This converted 1947 Worcester Lunch Car Company diner car specializes in homestyle Dominican food. Located in the former Elmwood Diner and Liberty Diner, the family-run restaurant, owned by Paola Ortiz, offers traditional Dominican breakfast items like mangú (mashed plantains with scrambled eggs, fried eggs or fried cheese and salami and sausage) and egg sandwiches called campesinos (egg, ham and cheese slathered with mayo-ketchup), plus salty tostones, which are savory fried plantains. Ortiz started the restaurant after cooking for family and friends at home, and then she moved into catering and events, eventually opening her own takeout restaurant in 2020. Unfortunately, the first location on Lockwood Avenue was lost to a fire, but she didn’t give up and found the new location on Elmwood Avenue. “With the help of the Rhode Island business loan fund, we were able to get a loan and purchase the diner,” Ortiz says. The all-day diner is really known for its mofongo, which is a mound of mashed sweet plantains served with a variety of proteins, from shrimp and pork chicharron to chicken and cheese, complemented by a garlic butter sauce or spicy chipotle red sauce. Have no fear if you’re unfamiliar with the food. “We make sure our customers feel comfortable and feel like they are home,” Ortiz says, adding that local families appreciate her homestyle cooking. “I get a lot of compliments and comments about how the food tastes like their grandma’s or mother’s food.” Try a chimi sandwich or empanadas washed down with a freshly squeezed tropical juice. Follow it up with homemade flan and feel like you took a trip to the Caribbean right in the Creative Capital. 777 Elmwood Ave., Providence, 919-5129, instagram.com/el_rincon_dominicano

Miss Lorraine Diner

The Miss Lorraine Diner car is a perfectly restored 1941 Worcester Streamliner displayed in front of the Lorraine Mills. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

A turkey club at the Miss Lorraine Diner. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

This fully restored 1941 Worcester Streamliner diner might look slightly out of context smack dab in front of the red brick Lorraine Mills building, but that’s just the sort of place it was intended to be. Diners were constructed to feed busy factory workers in a speedy fashion, so Miss Lorraine’s current placement is convenient to the many local businesses that function inside the building. The owner of the diner, Jonathan Savage, personally tracked down this specific diner car model in a field in Middletown, Connecticut, intending to restore it to its original splendor. “[This] was the deluxe, top-of-the-line model,” Savage says, adding that only twenty-three of them were made and there are only seven or eight left in existence, one of which is prominently displayed at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan. The diner has seating inside the original car and in an adjoining dining room. The pale-yellow tiles and metal strips along the back wall are all original, as is the mosaic tile floor and wooden door leading to the back dining room. The booths were upholstered with red vinyl to look like the originals and countertops are made with Tennessee marble from the same quarry used in the original Worcester Streamliner cars. The diner is run by the Arena family: proprietor Michael and his daughter, Amanda, who is the manager. The menu (served until 2 p.m. seven days a week) features everything from Benedicts and omelets to breakfast favorites like corned beef hash and lemon ricotta pancakes, as well as burgers, sandwiches, salads and comfort food specials. The food is classic with a hint of nostalgia, just like a diner ought to be. 560 Mineral Spring Ave., Pawtucket, 560-8686, misslorrainediner.com

The Tennessee marble counter inside the Miss Lorraine. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

Louis Family Restaurant

This no-frills spot has been serving hungry Brown students and fervent neighborhood regulars since 1946, when Louis Gianfrancesco and his brother Dominic opened the eatery after serving in World War II. The decor is almost as memorable as the food — weathered pictures, paintings and news clippings ring the walls, while bookshelves heave with used tomes and even the tabletops are stuffed with tchotchkes. But it’s the all-day breakfast that draws crowds, with Louis’ son John continuing his father’s tradition and serving up granola pancakes the size of dinner plates, homemade muffins split and grilled with butter, hearty omelets and home fries — good home fries, with just the right amount of seasoning and crispy bits. And with prices like $5.95 for two eggs, toast and home fries, it’s likely that Louis will be around for at least another eighty years. 286 Brook St., Providence, 861-5225, louisrestaurant.org

West Side Diner

This prefabricated diner car was saved from demolition by John Ozbek, who purchased, relocated and renovated it. The Kullman Dining Car Company car led many lives, first as Poirier’s Diner in Providence’s Eagle Square from 1947 to 1955. After that, it was known as Armand’s, Squire’s, Arnold’s, the Top Hat, Krystal’s and the El Faro before closing in 1999. After Ozbek purchased it, he moved it to 1380 Westminster St. on the West Side, where it was painstakingly restored over many years. It’s run by part-owner and restaurateur Michael Arena, who also owns Amanda’s Kitchen in Pawtucket, co-owns the Lighthouse Restaurant in Johnston, and runs the Miss Lorraine Diner in Pawtucket. Favorite dishes include the stuffed banana berry French toast, Tex-Mex burrito and a Philly cheesesteak omelet. There’s also a very potent full bar with excellent espresso martinis (no free refills with these, of course, though hot coffee is bottomless!) and flavored mimosas. Just make sure you get there before 2 p.m., as it closes promptly when the clock strikes dos. 380 Westminster St., Providence, 490-0644, westsidedinerri.com

Modern Diner

The Modern Diner is a late-1930s and early 1940s Sterling Streamliner diner car. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

The Sterling Streamliner car, made in the late-1930s and early 1940s, was the first diner in the nation to be accepted on the National Register of Historic Places. The gold and maroon, metal-fabricated restaurant was in disrepair when it was moved from its previous location on Dexter Street to its current spot in 1987. It’s known for the dozens of seasonal specials that are handwritten in colorful magic markers and posted on the walls. In the kitchen is owner and chef Nick Demou, a 1997 Johnson & Wales University culinary arts graduate. “Sometimes on the weekend, we have so many specials, it’s easier for the customers to just come in and take a snapshot on their phone, then go sit down and take a look at what they want,” Demou says. He started working at the Modern Diner with his father and now runs the show with his sister and brother-in-law. While the Modern Diner serves up all the staples from eggs and omelets to pancakes and Belgian waffles, the Pawtucket mainstay is most famous for its custard French toast covered in fresh fruit, which was named Food Network’s “Best Diner Dish in America” in 2015. “One day, I was making vanilla pudding. I had too much and I didn’t have enough cups. I thinned it down, and I put some liquor in it and put it on the French toast and it took off,” he says. “It’s just like anything with this business. You don’t know what’s going to work. You have to experiment.” Other favorites include the cheese grits, strawberry and blueberry crepes, lobster Benedict, corned beef hash and anything with Portuguese chouriço. But Demou’s favorite dish is a simple omelet with caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes and feta. More than anything, he loves the regular customers who keep coming back with their families. “I am on my third generation of people,” he says. “I started with parents and their kids, and now their kids are coming in.” 364 East Ave., Pawtucket, 726-8390, moderndinerri.com

A customer enjoys breakfast at the counter. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

“The Modern Diner is one of the legendary places to serve better and more interesting food, in addition to standard diner fare,” Gutman says. “Nick Demou is from Johnson & Wales, and he was an early pioneer and a professionally trained chef who said, ‘I’m going to take an ordinary, everyday place and I’m going to serve great food.’”

The Modern Diner’s custard French toast. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

Patriots Diner

With its vintage chrome walls and vinyl-upholstered interior, Patriots Diner could have dropped straight from the 1950s into this lot just off the highway in Woonsocket. In fact, it’s a relative newcomer to the state’s diner scene, having first opened as the Blue Onion in 2002. The Dinermite building arrived in the city from Atlanta, Georgia, where the company still manufactures prefabricated diner cars. Inside, office workers from the CVS Health headquarters and guests at the Holiday Inn Express rub elbows with regulars ordering everything from stuffed French toast and kielbasa omelets to loaded dinner specials like chicken Parm and Greek spinach pie. The diner is open seven days a week with breakfast served all day. Try the red, white and blue waffle — topped with strawberries, bananas, blueberries and whipped cream — and finish it off with an old-fashioned milkshake to complete the fifties vibe. 65 Founders Dr., Woonsocket, 765-6900, patriotsdiner.com

Champs Diner

Joe Garlick was sitting in traffic on I-95 one day when he spotted the old Champs Diner — a Worcester Lunch Car Company diner that had served hungry customers in Woonsocket’s Park Square for more than fifty years — in a Providence junkyard. Garlick, head of Woonsocket-based NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, decided to purchase the car for the organization’s new development on Front Street. Today, the resurrected Champs serves up breakfast classics with a side of history. Customers can sit at the original diner counter and reminisce over eggs and bacon or embrace the city’s French-Canadian heritage and order the crepes with all the toppings. Local restaurateur Judy Beauchemin, best known for serving an annual free Thanksgiving dinner at her other restaurant, Missy’s, took over the diner with her husband earlier this year. 719 Front St., Unit 111, Woonsocket, 762-0518

Pazi’s Place

Like many Ocean State establishments, Pazi’s Place can’t escape its past. “It will always be Ceba’s to the people of East Providence,” says owner Jayson McVeigh. But before that, it was Harry’s: a gas station with a small, attached diner founded by Harry Abbood in the 1940s. It wasn’t until the sixties that the diner took up the Ceba’s moniker, a name Harry’s wife, Josephine, often went by. The couple left the family business to their children, Sam Abbood and Racheal Demelo, and the siblings kept it going until 2011 when Pam “Pazi” Leite took over. While she didn’t keep “Ceba’s,” she did continue with the nickname tradition by dubbing the diner after her own nickname. And with the cultural nod — Paz is “Portuguese” for peace — came a cultural spin on the menu (see: chouriço as a breakfast meat staple). Having grown up eating at similar establishments with his dad as a kid, McVeigh was more than happy to keep the memories alive when he bought Pazi’s in 2021. Not only did he keep the name and the Portuguese dishes, but he also created the Big Sam (eggs, two crispy bacon slices, two hefty sausages, two fluffy pancakes and a heaping pile of home fries), named for one of the previous owners. It’s in good company among omelet variations named after Marlon Brando, Doris Day and many more from Hollywood’s heyday — a fitting menu for a quaint building boasting checkered floors, shiny red stools, windowsills lined with vintage trinkets and walls covered in black-and-white celebrity photos. Pazi’s can’t quite promise fifties prices (R.I.P. coffee for a dime), but it continues to serve up some nostalgia alongside your breakfast of choice. 390 Taunton Ave., East Providence, 434-9783, pazisplaceri.com

Rod’s Grille

Rod’s has been a family-owned business for more than six decades, now run by the third and fourth generation of the Rodrigues family, Raymond Rodrigues Jr. and his youngest daughter, Meghan. It was opened in 1955 by Raymond’s grandparents Mariano and Margret Rodrigues, with his grandmother’s special wiener sauce recipe as the draw that’s still served today. Back then, the couple reserved Sundays for family and the diner continues this tradition today by remaining closed on Sundays (and Mondays). It’s known for its hot wieners, but you can also go for all-day breakfast — which costs as little as $3.75 for one egg, toast and home fries — or fill up on other good lunch and early dinner eats like burgers, patty melts, grilled cheeses, steak sandwiches, chouriço hoagies and more for a steal. It’s fun to sit at the counter and watch the cooks at work. Be sure to add on coffee milk to make it a true Rhode Island experience. 6 Washington St., Warren, 245-9405, rodsgrilleri.com

Middle of Nowhere Diner 

Enjoying breakfast at the Middle of Nowhere’s counter. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

Guests at the Middle of Nowhere Diner. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

We’d willingly drive to the middle of nowhere if it involved a hearty meal at this red-paneled diner, which feels like a visit to grandma’s house where kitschy holiday decorations cover every corner, and “J’eat?” is always followed by a giant portion of whatever’s cooking. While it’s a prime spot for breakfast — including four-egg, thinly layered omelets stuffed with everything from meat and vegetables to hash and cheese, or the banana bread French toast (a.k.a. “dessert for breakfast”) — it also serves up homestyle lunch and dinner options. Plates are stacked high with comfort food specials like Yankee pot roast and baked stuffed shrimp or steak alla mama. Owner John Zarokostas says the best part of running the diner is watching the customers savor homemade meals. “It’s such a nice way to connect with someone through food, and we see so many families, friends and everything in between meeting here to indulge in one of their favorite dishes,” he says. If you can even think about dessert after your meal, the seasonal Next to Nowhere Creamery next door serves scoops of ice cream in spring, summer and early fall. But trust us — take a walk first and then come back for a cone. Open 6 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 6 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. 222 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Exeter, 397-8855, themiddleofnowherediner.net

The homey red-paneled exterior of the Middle of Nowhere Diner. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

Jigger’s Diner

The iconic blue Jigger’s Diner car has been holding court on East Greenwich’s Main Street since 1950, when it was delivered by the Worcester Lunch Car Company, but its roots stretch back to 1917, when original owner Vilgot “Jigger” Lindberg set up a hot dog stand next door. Join the line of locals waiting to get inside for a taste of the homemade chili or chowder or opt for all-day breakfast goodies like two eggs with your choice of bacon, sausage, ham, chicken sausage, steak, smoked salmon or corned beef hash. Or go all Rhode Island with an order of johnnycakes washed down with coffee milk or a coffee cabinet. Christos Spyridis recently purchased Jigger’s from longtime owner Karie Myers, but don’t expect any changes. Some classics are better left untouched. 145 Main St., East Greenwich, 884-6060, jiggersdiner.com

“Jigger’s is another interesting rebirth. That diner goes back to a family that started it before World War I,” Gutman says. “They have a picture of the previous diner in there from the 1920s, and the current car was brought in around 1950 and then it closed. It was gutted and used for storage for the paint store next door. Then it was purchased and brought back to life as a diner, very authentically [by Karie Myers].”

Johnny’s Victory Diner

Johnny’s is located on the site where an authentic 1930s diner once stood, and it’s been running as a restaurant ever since. “Our little diner has been in the same location since the 1930s. We take great pride in making sure your breakfast, lunch or dinner is served fresh, hot and with all the love and care your momma used to make it with,” say owners John and Rhonda Hanaway. Now it resembles a house sitting on the original footprint that serves up an intense breakfast of omelets, Benedicts, French toast, egg sammies and more. Many egg dishes can be topped or stuffed with the diner’s famed house-smoked pulled pork or corned beef hash. The Burrillville mainstay hosts seasonal barbecue nights on Fridays from May through October, complete with live music on the deck from 6 to 9 p.m. The barbecue is legendary in northern Rhode Island, smoked with oak sourced from the Hanaway’s property and applewood from Steere Orchard in Smithfield. “The apple provides some sweetness, while the oak brings the heat,” John says. Johnny’s uses an in-house rub — which you can buy in the diner — for all its meats. 2731 Victory Hwy., Burrillville, 765-2661, johnnysvictorydiner.com

Cindy’s Diner and Restaurant

Customers can bite into fresh baked goods at Cindy’s. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

A juicy burger at Cindy’s. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

In many ways, Cindy’s Diner is exactly what you would expect of a fifties-born eatery off Route 6 in rural — some might say sequestered — Rhode Island. The intimate interior is lined in checkerboard floors and wood-paneled walls with strips of vintage blue wallpaper and windows dressed in picnic red-and-white checkered curtains. Red booths and stools simultaneously host ladies who lunch, families with toddlers in tow, gaggles of teenagers and the occasional curmudgeonly gentleman with a secret heart of gold. Its expansive sunrise-to-sundown menu ranges from fresh omelets and muffins to homemade soups and sandwiches to marinated steak tips and Cajun fried haddock — any of which can be paired with a classic Shirley Temple, root beer float or creamy milkshake. Only the iconic rooftop sign complete with bubblegum pink script outlined by a yellow cloud belies the diner’s spunky spirit — even local high school graduates can’t resist its charm by snapping pics. Named after the original owner’s daughter, Cindy’s youthful take centers around its found family: constantly celebrating employees’ birthdays and work anniversaries, hosting patio parties at its outdoor seating area, and enticing customers new and old with unique seasonal specials, decor and more. Need more proof? Just search “Cindy’s Diner RI” on TikTok. 46 Hartford Ave., North Scituate, 934-2449, cindysdinerri.com

Hope Diner

This is the place where locals flock for a hearty breakfast with a side of character. That character manifests in many ways: from the chorus of waitstaff shouting orders across the busy diner, to chef Nathan greeting customers and offering kids a treat from the toy chest, to the malassadas offered after you pay your bill. It adds just the right amount of authentic Rhody ambience and makes you feel like part of the family. Though the dozen or so tables will likely be full, as they are most mornings, saddle up to the counter, where vinyl swivel stools overlook the tiny open-line kitchen and your neighbor will likely be a regular. They don’t offer lunch on weekends, so we stuck to brekkie. No matter — it was a clean plate club all around, from the whole wheat French toast to the Bobby O’ omelet with peppers, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and cheese. Don’t forget the side of freshly sliced home fries or the hearty portion of grilled ham. The Portuguese fare is special, too — go with chouriço and eggs and grilled Portuguese sweet bread. But bring cold hard cash to pay the bill. 742 Hope St., Bristol, 253-1759

Blue Plate Diner

Eating breakfast for dinner is a thing, right? For those of us who subscribe, it’s convenient that Blue Plate Diner serves breakfast all day, so we can satiate our eggs Benedict craving while dinner fans can order traditional pasta or a burger. The extensive menu also includes omelets and breakfast burritos, with comfort food staples like shepherd’s pie honoring “dinner.” The owners, who established the restaurant in 2004, have Greek heritage,
so the gyro sandwich, souvlaki plate and Greek omelet are deliciously authentic picks. The large space itself harkens back to the good ole days of diners, with vinyl booths (and there are plenty of them), an active counter with coffee bar, oldies and classic rock playing on the stereo, and friendly servers with menu suggestions at the ready, in case you can’t decide. Meanwhile, don’t forget to look up: tongue-in-cheek commandments inscribed overhead direct your actions (think: “Thou shalt sit at the counter,” and “Thou shalt not worship the Golden Arches.”) 665 West Main Rd., Middletown, 848-9500, blueplatedinerri.com

The Olde Theater Diner

From pizza, grinders and New York sirloin to breakfast foods like the strawberry banana French toast and the meat lovers’ omelet, the Olde Theater Diner is a staple for devoted Coventry residents and visitors. Restaurant owner Ernie Nardolillo has worked here for about thirteen years (he bought the diner six years ago) and estimates the theater became a restaurant sometime in the mid-eighties. The theater used to be about thirty feet from the entrance. Instead of a film, guests can now expect ninety minutes’ worth of good service, great company and a delicious fish and chips platter or creamy chicken carbonara worthy of an Oscar. And don’t judge an old theater diner by its exterior: “For people on the outside, it can be deceiving. We can seat just about 400 people total,” says Nardolillo. Aside from the main space, the diner offers an event area and a back bar. Open daily, the diner serves meals from 8 a.m.–10 p.m., while both the main and back bar are open until 1 a.m. 33 Sandy Bottom Rd., Coventry, 828-1810, oldetheaterdiner.com

Rick-N-Dee’s Restaurant

The exterior of the retro-tribute restaurant Rick-N-Dee’s. Photography by Wolf Matthewson.

Regulars share a laugh at Rick-N-Dee’s. Photography by Wolf Matthewson

If the Texaco pump and the Elvis mannequin by the front door don’t make it clear, the line of locals at the counter will: This is the place to get good homestyle grub, with all the fixings and a side of sass, not an avocado in sight. The fifties-themed diner — which serves breakfast only daily from 6:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. — has been cooking up homemade hash and loaded home fries since 2003, when Rick and Dee Matthews purchased the restaurant on Route 116. After Rick passed away in 2019, Dee took over the grill with help from her daughter, Tina, and granddaughter, Michaela, making it a three-generation family business. You don’t have to be a regular to order the cranberry nut pancakes or the SOS (sausage gravy over biscuits, a cold weather special), but one bite and you might just become one. “Our customers are like family. They really are,” Dee says. 17 Knotty Oak Rd., Coventry, 828-3732 

Diners at Rick-N-Dee’s. Photography by Wolf Matthewson