Diner Days Are Upon Us
Brimming with the nostalgia of a warm bowl of soup and a slightly crushed packet of oyster crackers or saltines.
People often comment on my food tattoos, which isn’t surprising. What is shocking, though, is when someone takes it a step further and starts petting my arm while they try to talk to me about said tattoos. It happens more now than when I was serving, and back then, it happened way too often. Most people comment on the cosmic pizza (shoutout to my sister and our matching tattoos, Chelsea ❤️) or the tomato vine—usually with a side note about whether they even like tomatoes. But the true foodies, the ones who get it, light up with a nerdy kind of joy when they spot the morel. Those are the real ones.
One of my first tattoos turned out way bigger than I’d initially planned (which I now adore, and note, find an artist you trust), hurt like hell, and had me glued to Pokémon Go for the entire two-and-a-half-hour session. Thank god the shop was a PokéStop and next to a gym, or I’d have never made it through. And to anyone who says tattoos don’t hurt—you’re a liar, pent up full of trauma, and I get it because, in the same breath, I’ll say they’re absolutely therapeutic.
The coffee pot and lemon wedges I chose may seem unconventional, but they represent my nostalgia for my early years in the restaurant industry. I spent my first days at the age of fourteen slash fifteen refilling coffee and water at my parents’ diner, celebrating little victories, like spotting a doily under a cup that signaled I should pour from the decaf pot. It brings back memories of the closing shifts I worked before heading off to college and again when I returned home on breaks. For those who don’t know, you can clean the stains from glass coffee pots by filling them with a bit of ice, salt, and lemon wedges, then shaking them up.
Those cozy diner vibes are exactly what I think the industry will lean into as we head into the cooler months. Detroit’s summer of burgers set the stage for it—and what a summer it was. Local pop-ups like Melway and Bill’s made the rounds, popping up at bars and community-centered events all across the city. The pierogi queen herself created a Polish burger, wedged between two potato pancakes, and sold them out of her spot in the Gratiot meat market. There was the BBQ burger that Batch Brewing sold out of their foodtruck Yellow Dog BBQ on occasional weekends, a nightly Monday burger deal at all the Bobcat Bonnie’s locations, the signature hand-butchered option at Marrow that even found its way to the ballpark, and Barda has a burger available Thursday through Sundays, only at the bar. Ladder 4’s summer was a parade of burgers and pét-nats, until the inevitable 86 came, often before noon on those perfect sunny days—or closer to 2 p.m. when clouds rolled in, bringing the brisk smell of an impending downpour, and we all collectively sighed, "We really needed this."
In that spirit, I hope the industry continues capturing those nostalgic diner vibes this fall. I envision bowls and bowls of soup (sorry Jena, soup for life!) crumpled packs of oyster crackers or saltines, often slightly discarded and leaving crumbs scattered across the table, alongside baskets of what used to be white bread, now replaced with house-made loaves that scrape the roof of my mouth raw. And let’s not forget the slightly burnt diner coffee, served in a cup that never dips below halfway, with someone swinging by for a warm-up and a cheeky, “Have a good day, darlin’,” in a thick smoker’s accent. That’s the kind of nostalgia I’m craving this season.
I can hear my father-in-law launching into one of his poetic monologues, reminiscing about the diners of his day—how the service was always friendly, the fries were always crisp, and the milkshakes? Well, you just can’t find them like that anymore. He'll shake his head and grumble about how no spot around here seems to get it quite right, the way they did back in the day, when everything came in tall glasses with whipped cream and a cherry on top.
So where can you find these cozy diner vibes I’m so desperately craving? Thankfully, there are a few openings on the horizon that have me really looking forward to what’s next. Some friends are launching their own ventures, putting a personal spin on the classics while honoring the traditions of hearty food that fills people up—doing it all in a more sustainable way, with genuine intentions for individuals, communities, and the planet.
Keep an eye out for these new spots, and don’t forget to support your favorite diner. Share your go-to places for soup with me—I’d love to hear your recommendations!
The Harvest Walk on Livernois is happening on October 12th from 6 - 10 p.m. and features an array of local vendors including Tall Trees Cafe, which if you don’t know is a sandwich shop and lunch counter that’s opening next to the Secret Bakery. In fact, at the harvest walk they’ll be collaborating on a sandwich that you’ll absolutely want to taste.
In other sandwich collaborations, you can now grab Bocadillos at Dessert Oasis locations, as well as Milwaukee Cafe. It’s so cool to see how pop-ups evolve, and I’ve taken special interest in the ones that happen at the Secret Bakery because I know the bread will be tasty.
Also, Norm’s Diner is coming to West Village. Run by industry pros who have been working the lines for decades at some of the top spots across the city. When I think nostalgia diner vibes, this is exactly what I mean. Malts, pies, sandwiches, salads, breakfast-y everything.
Lady of the House’s incredibly fluffy pancakes are coming to Core City, and yes for those of you that were concerned, they’re also bringing their Ryan Gosling stool that the women’s bathroom came to love and appreciate in their Corktown days.
Anna’s Cafe is hoping to open in Brush Park in a 309 sq. foot space where they’re goal, is to offer what their mobile espresso bar has been—cardamom oat milk lattees, espresso, and great cups of coffee. They’re finding that construction takes even longer than anticipated, but they’re opening is on the horizon.
And don’t forget the classics! More on that to come.
🎉💞🎉