There has been something missing all these years since I
returned to Northern Virginia. It is a pain that stems from a missing piece
from my collective culinary memory. The diner. The no frills, great home-style
inexpensive food diner.
When living in the south, you see them everywhere. The no
fuss no muss country fried dining options. They are not the healthiest choices,
but oh so delicious. They are the kind of places that are opened late, or even
24 hours. Basic black coffee and waitresses that call you sugar. No I am not
being sexist, so do not even start.
I had my favorite back there, in Charlotte. A wonderful
Greek owned establishment called Sunrise, excuse me while I hush all the groans
coming from my friends and family. They have heard of this place nonstop since
my return.
I noticed something when I came back to the DMV, these sorts
of small local diners were nowhere to be found. The streets were an endless
vista of Cheesecake Factories, Outback Steakhouse, and Red Lobsters. This is
one of the main reasons I started this blog. I wanted the world to see those
little places still left fighting the good fight.
It seems there are still a few rebels out there amongst the
Chipotles. Bob and Edith’s Diner in Arlington is one. There menu small, inexpensive,
and drool causing. They have breakfast 24 hours a day. You may laugh, but in my
younger years, during the summers I would get together with a friend or two and
off we would go to a 24 hour diner for coffee and convo. This is a very fond
memory.
I have been there once, but it was delicious, all of it.
Here is my run down. Country fried steak with homemade mashed potatoes and
gravy, check. Garden salad and key lime pie, check and check. I can also say the
French fries were habit forming as I discovered after hijacking one, or two, or
five off my hubby’s plate.
I loved this joint, it was small, sparsely decorated, but
bursting with character. A lot of that came from the awesome servers/employees
there that night. Luis (gosh I hope I remember that correctly, I am a moron at remembering
names) and Tom were both awesome. Full of smiles and willing to share. It was
just the 2 of them serving the entire diner, and never a drop of sweat did I
see. They really liked being there, and it showed.
Recently I have seen a recurrence of the food truck, maybe
diners will see a resurgence as well. Until that time, B&E will see my
patronage many more times to come.
Contact Information
2310 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 22204
Arlington, VA 22204
(703) 920-6103
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