Diners Done Right
Bored with chain restaurants? Tired of overpaying for fussy food when all you really want is something simple at a fair price? There are a ton of great local joints serving cheap, tasty eats, but if you're not careful, you might drive right past them. We scoured the country and checked reviews on sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor as well as rankings by expert food writers for some of the best hole-in-the-wall diners, all of them longtime favorites with even longer lists of regulars. Here are the top picks in all 50 states.
Iowa: The Fort Diner
801 Ave. H
Fort Madison, Iowa
What people say: Blink and you might miss this tiny mom-and-pop diner, just a stone's throw from the Mississippi River in southeastern Iowa. Seating is limited, but reviewers say this modest spot is worth the stop. Bring cash; credit cards aren't on the menu, and consider getting it to go as the seating inside is limited.
Where it's at: Fort Madison is just a few miles from the Iowa-Illinois border, and the diner itself is just a few hundred feet from the Mississippi River. Diners might want to visit Riverview Park post-meal, where they can check out the historic Old Fort Madison or take a stroll around the grounds.
What to order: The diner's specialty is the gut-busting Wallyburger, made with a pound of ground chuck, grilled mushrooms and onions, and American and Swiss cheese.
I hadn't heard of any of these 50 so I can't really comment however the Wallyburger is a little much even for Rico to attempt.
Bored with chain restaurants? Tired of overpaying for fussy food when all you really want is something simple at a fair price? There are a ton of great local joints serving cheap, tasty eats, but if you're not careful, you might drive right past them. We scoured the country and checked reviews on sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor as well as rankings by expert food writers for some of the best hole-in-the-wall diners, all of them longtime favorites with even longer lists of regulars. Here are the top picks in all 50 states.
Iowa: The Fort Diner
801 Ave. H
Fort Madison, Iowa
What people say: Blink and you might miss this tiny mom-and-pop diner, just a stone's throw from the Mississippi River in southeastern Iowa. Seating is limited, but reviewers say this modest spot is worth the stop. Bring cash; credit cards aren't on the menu, and consider getting it to go as the seating inside is limited.
Where it's at: Fort Madison is just a few miles from the Iowa-Illinois border, and the diner itself is just a few hundred feet from the Mississippi River. Diners might want to visit Riverview Park post-meal, where they can check out the historic Old Fort Madison or take a stroll around the grounds.
What to order: The diner's specialty is the gut-busting Wallyburger, made with a pound of ground chuck, grilled mushrooms and onions, and American and Swiss cheese.
I hadn't heard of any of these 50 so I can't really comment however the Wallyburger is a little much even for Rico to attempt.
