November 19 2016 - Chet's Diner Northborough MA

Mo, Jill and I made our monthly diner stop on Saturday November 19th.  This month we chose Chet's diner in Northborough MA.  Jills home town.   She shared stories of her father and her going here many times for breakfast and how he used to spend an ample hours at Chets after selectmen meetings.  She warned us of questionable coffee.

History First
Chet’s Diner is #177 from the Worcester Lunch Car Company.  These lunch cars were hand-built at the factory, then transported to their sites with a large truck. Diner #177 was shipped in two pieces and assembled on-site because of its extra length.  The Worcester Lunch Car Company would eventually build 651 diners, approximately 140 of which are still in operation throughout the United States.  The National Register of Historic Places contains many diners; Chet’s Diner deserves consideration for this prestigious designation.

In the late 1920’s, Route 20 through Northborough was straightened; the old road became East Main Street, and this new portion became Route 20 / Main Street. Chet’s Diner opened along the new highway on July 2, 1931. The original owner was Chet Warren. However, by the mid-1930s, the diner was bought by Paul and Bessie Strazero, who ran it until they retired, and their son took it over.  Nancy Pantazis acquired it in 1964 and it is now operated by her granddaughter Jessica Fidrych, daughter of the famous Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark “the Bird” Fidrych.  

Our Experience
This place is definitely a local favorite based on the number of people there on Saturday morning at 8:15 AM. 

There were old timers there, mature adults like us, and young families. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves - it was quite lively in there.   The diner was staffed appropriately and it was amazing how they managed to keep things going in the limited diner space.   The atmosphere was great and it was nice to see this very functional and well preserved diner in operation.   Somewhat modernized but still very original.

Although Jill warned us about questionable coffee it was actually very good.  Hot and strong enough to wake you up.

I had eggs over easy, marble bread and a side of hash.  Jill had eggs over hard and the marble bread and Mo had one of the omelets.  Jill had to send her eggs to be hardened up and the hash was homemade and tasted alright but had green peppers in it that just overtook the taste.  Not of fan of green peppers in anything.  Otherwise it was very good and the meals were served quickly and our waitress took care of us very nicely even with the crowd that was in there.  

Food was good, atmosphere great and original diner feel made it well worth the stop.  On our recommended list.

And yes of course the diner queens picture.

Oct 29 2016 - Miss Mendon Diner

Gabby, Jill P, Mo and I were able to get together in October for our monthly diner breakfast.  It was a little later in the month then usual but we pulled it together.   Our October 2016 visit brought us to the Miss Mendon Diner on halloween weekend.   

The history
Miss Mendon actually started her life as Miss Newport and her car number was #823.  Even though her car number is 823 she was actually the 623 car built by Worcester Lunch Car Company since they began their numbering sequence at 200.   She was delivered on May 16, 1950 to her first owner.  The car layout remains the same as it did in 1950; it has been modernized a little bit, added a new dining area onto the side, and built a professional kitchen onto the back of the car and, re-chromed the seats and cleaned up and restored all of the finishes.

Our Experience

Miss Mendon diner is located in the Imperial Car Dealership parking lot in Mendon MA.   The original diner is well maintained and many amenities have been added to modernize the dining experience.  Sill had plenty nostalgic material however including the tabletop jute box selector.

Our meals were very good although nothing special.   Coffee was  good, hash was bland,  Gabs pancake was okay but not the one she ordered.   I guess we have given the food a B - okay but again nothing special.

As always a picture of the diner queens.