There was a fairly interesting article in the Washington Post Travel section, “Spud Mountain or Bust: A Jersey Diner Diary,” on 13 April 2008. The author, John Diener, took a drive with a buddy and reported on gourmand experiences at at least four diners on Rt. 130. He noted that New Jersey was the “diner capital of the world” having about 600 state-wide.
Interesting that his name is Diener and he is reviewing diners. Bizarre that his name is “John Diener.” Does that mean he eats at toilets? Even stranger was the Travel section “Message Center” submission titled “High on Diners” by Maribeth Lombardo Hobgood dated 20 April 2008. She notes that her family is from central Jersey and she returns on a regular basis.
Apparently, they used to refer to the diner visits as “eat-and-runs.” Doesn’t sound too nice to me! I wonder if those places are anything like what the Greaseman used to refer to as “choke and pukes?”