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A few months ago my husband planned a surprise. He knows my love of experiencing new restaurants is out shined only by my need to have those meals that are so good you close your eyes and sigh while you eat them. The meals that may not come with a swan carved out of chocolate, but the moment of that first bite you feel like you’re home. Flowery words, I know, but there is just something so amazing about good food.
That day it was cold and overcast. We drove out at lunch time and I had no idea where we were going. We went deep into the city warehouses and closed shops; near to, but not quite part of, the Woodland Street Historic District of Worcester. It definitely wasn’t the scenery I was used to when going out on a lunch date since we typically head downtown. But I would soon find out that some of the best spots are the ones you’d never suspect.
The Corner Lunch Diner swung into view. As we pulled into the tiny corner parking lot, I was absolutely delighted. I had never eaten in a diner car before. Of course, I’d been to “50s” diners several times. But, they weren’t authentic. They were neon signs, brand new buildings and rollerskating waiters that were born 35 years after the iconic era. This was a real 50s diner car.
Located at 133 Lamartine Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, it is the largest diner in the city. The diner was originally built in 1955 by DeRaffele Diners of New Rochelle, New York, and first installed in Babylon, New York. It was acquired in 1968 by Demetrious Efstathiou, who operated a lunchroom called the Corner Lunch on the site where the diner now sits. In 2000 it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The diner still sits in it’s 50s style with paint peeling from the bar stools and gold glitter booths. It’s a far cry from the dimly lit, dark wood paneled restaurants downtown and it may not be for everyone. But, for me, it was perfect. I felt like it was real, not glossed over and commercialized. Not to mention, there wasn’t a speck of dust or a crumb to be seen.
Stepping through the door is like traveling back in time. I would say the only thing missing is a jukebox playing doo-wop hits, but on our last visit a man was actually playing some of the tunes on his iPad while he ate. Picture complete.
The food? Oh the food. First off, the prices are almost historical themselves. They have an early bird breakfast special that I know I could never eat in one sitting and it’s less than $4.00 Lunches average $7 and that’s a full meal – not just a burger. Though…I definitely recommend you grab an Angus burger anyway.
That is one monster burger and it was delicious. Normally I would devour my fries first, but this time I ate 75% of the burger before I touched anything else. It was so good I couldn’t put it down. I did, however, save room for dessert.
Check out their Yelp reviews
The Corner Lunch Diner doesn’t just serve lunch. They also serve hearty, warm breakfasts that will fill you up and then some. I grabbed the steak and eggs (yes, I like my steak rare) and Dan had a cheeseburger omelette. Both were flavorful, hot and cooked exactly as requested.
There’s one more thing I have to share about this diner: the service. We’ve had the same waitress each time we visited (you can see her briefly during the video, leaning against the counter talking to a customer). I know there are many servers out there who love their job and do it well. I also know that a bad server can ruin an otherwise enjoyable meal. The day server at The Corner Lunch Diner isn’t just nice – she’s a joy to be around. We look forward to seeing her as much as we look forward to the food. Each time we’ve returned she’s remembered us and greeted us like old friends. Conversational without being intrusive; I feel like I can just chat with her while we wait for our food. As if having an awesome personality wasn’t enough, she’s also great at her job. You don’t find that every day.
The Corner Lunch Diner is definitely my new favorite ‘secret’ spot for lunch or breakfast. I look forward to going back again soon.
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