Your favorite diner, dive or drive-in

[Peacone36]

I have eaten at Primanti and it was OK. But, I don't think a multi-city chain qualifies as a dive or diner.

But, Ranelli's in Birmingham (almost on the UAB campus) is definitely a dive. The Richman's Poboy is iconic in the Magic City. Their baked lasagna is only available on Thursday and they always sell out. I think there is parking for 7-8 cars, but not always since their might be 7-8 bicycles there as well. Their sandwiches don't have a bunch of gourmet stuff on them, but they have great bread and very good meat on them. The Richman is 16" long, so you need help with it. My three sons would not drive past Ranelli's without stopping and they have not lived in Birmingham since 1980.

i didnt realize it was a chain. I have only seen one and it was over by the outlets when I was in western PA.

In Indiana PA id recommend:

9th Street Deli (24" steak and cheese")
Al Patti's-A dive that will give you a rib eye on a Styrofoam plate
Culpeppers: Good wings. (they may have go-go dancers as well)

I havent been there in quite a few years now, those places may not even be there any longer.

 

[JacketFan27]

Any recommendations near Pitt?

PITT - one of my best friends is a lifelong Pittsburgh guy - and Pitt grad (I won't hold that against him). Just asked him and he gave 2 recommendations that are very near the stadium...going from more casual to more fancy. He had a pre-game burger and beer at CityWorks last season before a Pitt game. Had dinner at Valozzi's last week:

CityWorks - casual spot, American electic food, large space....sandwiches, burgers, 50 beers on tap....great for a larger crowd, really good, really big sports bar vibe
Valozzi's - Italian, more upscale, Lobster Risotto, Beef Osso Buco, pastas, salmon, finer dining (best upscale place close to the stadium), need reservations

 

[apatriot1776]

Whistlin Pig BBQ in Pine Mountain GA.
For a true diner, always love going back to Silver Skillet on a crisp Tech morning.
Y'all who might be older might not have tried Hankook Taqueria off Collier Rd, but it's become part of GT student canon these days. It's right next to my office so I'm grateful to walk over once a week.

 

[AUFC]

Whistlin Pig BBQ in Pine Mountain GA.
For a true diner, always love going back to Silver Skillet on a crisp Tech morning.
Y'all who might be older might not have tried Hankook Taqueria off Collier Rd, but it's become part of GT student canon these days. It's right next to my office so I'm grateful to walk over once a week.

RIP Takorea on Juniper.

A go to during my Tech days. I had Hankook towards the end of 2025 and it hit with every bit of nostalgia though, especially those sesame fries.

Looking back, my most frequented bars/restaurants during my time at Tech in some order were probably Jack's Pizza and Wings, Takorea, Hudson Grille (Midtown), The Porter, and Elmyr.

 

[4shotB]

Another out of town and out of state place. In an old NM mining ghost town. The Hillsboro Cafe in Hillsboro, NM about 70 miles north of Las Cruces serves both traditional and the local version of TEX-Mex. So good I ate there 4 times on a recent visit in the area. Located in a small and historic building that seats maybe 25 people and has been a bank, pharmacy, mercantile and a few other things over the years.

 

[TooTall]

Vesuvio in Elizabeth NJ.

Owner is kind of a moron but the fried zucchini flowers are top notch.

Even though a lot of people don't like it...I highly recommend the rabbit.

 

[Peacone36]

Even though a lot of people don't like it...I highly recommend the rabbit.

I was so disappointed when that joke didnt land. Glad someone got it.

 

[apatriot1776]

Whistlin Pig BBQ in Pine Mountain GA.
For a true diner, always love going back to Silver Skillet on a crisp Tech morning.
Y'all who might be older might not have tried Hankook Taqueria off Collier Rd, but it's become part of GT student canon these days. It's right next to my office so I'm grateful to walk over once a week.

A couple more off-the-beaten-path around the state that I thought of

Midway Meal House, Milton/Alpharetta
Harvest Moon Cafe/Dark Side of the Moon, Rome
Stanleys on North Broad, Rome
Frankfurt Doner and Meats, Ball Ground
Southern Soul BBQ, St Simons Island
The Black Cow, Columbus
Nuevo Laredo, West Midtown
NFA Burger, Dunwoody
Eats, West End (formerly on Ponce)
The Local on Ponce

 

[orientalnc]

A couple more off-the-beaten-path around the state that I thought of

Midway Meal House, Milton/Alpharetta
Harvest Moon Cafe/Dark Side of the Moon, Rome
Stanleys on North Broad, Rome
Frankfurt Doner and Meats, Ball Ground
Southern Soul BBQ, St Simons Island
The Black Cow, Columbus
Nuevo Laredo, West Midtown
NFA Burger, Dunwoody
Eats, West End (formerly on Ponce)
The Local on Ponce

Great list. Add the Breakfast Club on Tybee. Simple, easy, and good. Not fancy. Close enough you can walk to the beach when you're done.

 

[Jim Prather]

I can vouch for both Nuevo Laredo and NFA. Both are top notch

 

[awbuzz]

Even though a lot of people don't like it...I highly recommend the rabbit.

Jessica Rabbit?

 

[awbuzz]

Vesuvio in Elizabeth NJ.

Owner is kind of a moron but the fried zucchini flowers are top notch.

Although I have never eaten there, I understand the placed has boomed.

 

[DCSS]

Some of my favorite BBQ joints for your consideration:

Ridgewood BBQ - Elizabethton, TN
Central BBQ - Memphis, TN
Arthur Bryant’s BBQ - Kansas City, MO
Lexington BBQ - Lexington, NC
Golden Rule BBQ - Irondale, AL

Favorite Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives that appeared on the tv show:

South 21 Drive-In - Charlotte, NC
Penguin Drive-In - Charlotte, NC
Pizza Palace - Knoxville, TN
Hankook Taqueria - Atlanta, GA

 

[4shotB]

Some of my favorite BBQ joints for your consideration:

Ridgewood BBQ - Elizabethton, TN
Central BBQ - Memphis, TN
Arthur Bryant’s BBQ - Kansas City, MO
Lexington BBQ - Lexington, NC
Golden Rule BBQ, Irondale, AL

Favorite Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives that appeared on the tv show:

South 21 Drive-In, Charlotte, NC
Penguin Drive-In, Charlotte, NC
Pizza Palace, Knoxville, TN
Hankook Taqueria, Atlanta, GA

Isn't Arthur Bryant's rather famous? I ask this bc I am nearly always disappointed with the big name places. For instance, I used to travel to Memphis for business. The Rendezvous is the most well known of all the places there but it was just okay (maybe I was expecting too much based on the hype tbh). There was a place there (I just checked to see that it is still there fwiw) called Payne's BBQ on Lamar Ave. It's probably in a part of town that maybe the less venturesome would avoid. The typical tourist or even local would probably drive right past upon inspection. The building looks like it may collapse at any moment but a restaurant that can thrive there HAS to be serving good food right?

 

[Peacone36]

I dont know why any of you would be in Bangor ME, but if you are, check out "The Butcher, The Baker"

My brother's buddy and his wife own it and its fan-effing-tastic. Definitely get the pork belly, and kimchi pickles........and the gnocchi..............................and the birria tacos.

 

[4shotB]

I dont know why any of you would be in Bangor ME, but if you are, check out "The Butcher, The Baker"

My brother's buddy and his wife own it and its fan-effing-tastic. Definitely get the pork belly, and kimchi pickles........and the gnocchi..............................and the birria tacos.

I get up to Maine frequently and when I do, I love to go smallmouth fishing in the Penebscot River. The fishing there is incredible. So I travel through Bangor and will check it out. Btw, my wife was born in Bangor. My FIL (deceased now) was in the AF and was stationed at Dow AirForce Base at the time. That place has been closed for decades now iirc.

 

[Peacone36]

I get up to Maine frequently and when I do, I love to go smallmouth fishing in the Penebscot River. The fishing there is incredible. So I travel through Bangor and will check it out. Btw, my wife was born in Bangor. My FIL (deceased now) was in the AF and was stationed at Dow AirForce Base at the time. That place has been closed for decades now iirc.

Yeah since before I was born but that area is still occupied by the Army National Guard, BIA and UMaine-Augusta

Make sure you don’t get a hold of a sturgeon (though they are usually in the Kennebec) after they drag you all over the river the wardens will charge you.

 

[4shotB]

Yeah since before I was born but that area is still occupied by the Army National Guard, BIA and UMaine-Augusta

Make sure you don’t get a hold of a sturgeon (though they are usually in the Kennebec) after they drag you all over the river the wardens will charge you.

Don't know how old you are Peac but are you old enough to remember the Maine Black Bears as a baseball powerhouse in the 70's and 80's? Certainly the top program up in that neck of the woods back in the day and a regular in the CWS every year.

ETA - it might be worth a fine to hook up with one of those fish!!!!!

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Don't know how old you are Peac but are you old enough to remember the Maine Black Bears as a baseball powerhouse in the 70's and 80's? Certainly the top program up in that neck of the woods back in the day and a regular in the CWS every year.

ETA - it might be worth a fine to hook up with one of those fish!!!!!

Got me thinking. There was a former baseball player for UMaine who ended up running a really good hotdog place in Orono. Don’t know if it’s still there or not but a great place to get all styles of hotdogs with great sides and French fries.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Haven’t been to Columbus, GA in a very long time but for a real southern meat and 3 lunch, Ruth-Ann’s was the place. It’s been going strong since the 1950s. Very consistent. Hard part used to be choosing between their biscuits and cornbread.