We take our diner culture for granted. The tile floors, paper place mats and big booths too often get discounted as cheesy or boring. Au contraire. It just took moving to Paris and working eight months at a diner called Breakfast in America for me to realize this. Diners are raw. They refuse to hide the work that goes into them. We rolled silverware in paper napkins and washed glasses in front of customers. We shouted out milkshake orders across the dining room and took part in the occasional sing-a-long to Michael Jackson or Queen. These things were not scripted to create the right ambience. They happened because we worked at an American diner, even if it was in Europe. Diners represent the essence of Americans. We're as loud and as cheerful as the music on the jukebox and as hearty as the portions on the plate. There was always a line of people waiting to pack our inviting red booths, enjoy bottomless cups of coffee and relax. There's a je ne sais quoi in comfort created without even trying. American diners are not fancy, but they are real — that's something that translates effortlessly.
Pop Culture CLE brings bold, dairy-free desserts to Solon with handcrafted ice cream pops, over-the-top toppings and a vibrant, whimsical space. By Christina Rufo
James Beard Award finalist chef-partner Vinnie Cimino and proprietor Andrew Watts are bringing something fresh to the former home of Alea, which features a live-fire cooking setup. By Douglas Trattner
The two new concepts from Brad Friedlander and the Cleveland Restaurant Management Group will open in the former Bar Louie and California Pizza Kitchen spaces. By Douglas Trattner
