Topic is Sleeping.
ibonnie (original poster member #62673) posted at 1:15 AM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
Help me settle this debate, please.
Would you consider Waffle Houses to be an example of:
a diner
or
a fast food restaurant?
[This message edited by ibonnie at 1:16 AM, Thursday, March 2nd]
"I will survive, hey, hey!"
number4 ( member #62204) posted at 3:24 AM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
I probably haven't been to a Waffle House in over 25 years. If it's still the kind of place you sit down and a server takes your order from you at your table, and then brings out your order, then I'd call it a diner.
Me: BWHim: WHMarried - 30+ yearsTwo adult daughters1st affair: 2005-20072nd-4th affairs: 2016-2017Many assessments/polygraph: no sex addictionStatus: R
grubs ( member #77165) posted at 3:35 AM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
leafields ( Guide #63517) posted at 5:47 AM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
I've seen a meme that says a gas station bathroom that has food. I've never been to one, so don't know how brutal that might be.
BW M 34years, Dday 1: March 2018, Dday 2: August 2019, D final 2/25/21
BraveSirRobin ( member #69242) posted at 5:51 AM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
I haven't been to one since I was a teenager. It's basically like an IHOP, right?
Jeaniegirl ( member #6370) posted at 9:44 AM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
A diner. AND my go-to place for breakfast if I'm on a road trip. The workers are almost always very friendly and you can watch your food being prepared. Clean and GOOD food, especially the ham and hash browns. 
"Because I deserve better"
Tanner ( Guide #72235) posted at 10:42 AM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
It’s a Diner.
Like Jeanie we look for Waffle House on road trips. My advice is don’t go after the bars close, it’s full of drunks
Dday Sept 7 2019 doing well in R BH M 32 years
zebra25 ( member #29431) posted at 2:23 PM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
Being from NJ, I can't call Waffle House a diner. 
"Don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces."
D-day April 2010
Marie2792 ( member #44958) posted at 3:49 PM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
I am from NY but have been to Waffle House many times traveling to see my parents who live south. I consider anything that’s a chain, including Applebees, Chili’s, etc. fast food. A diner is a local place, more personalized service, they usually know you. That could happen at Waffle House too, I suppose, I just think that if it’s not the quality you would make in your own kitchen it’s fast food. That’s why you go there, to be fast.
Me: BS,48 (41 at dday)Him: WS, 56 (49 at dday)
Married 27 years, together 30
Dday : 9/9/14 3 week PA
ibonnie (original poster member #62673) posted at 7:24 PM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
zebra25 & Marie2792, since you're both in the NJ/NY area I'm wondering if this is a regional thing, because I was the one considering Waffle House to be a fast food joint and not a diner, and up until you both commented, I was starting to figure I was wrong.
When I think of a diner, I think of a place that has a million items on the menu, serves breakfast, lunch & dinner all day (and night), and probably has some sort of rotating, illuminated dessert case. Also: possibly Greek food on the menu, individual table juke boxes at booths, free toothpicks and mints at the cash register, and maybe some sort of 25 cent toy, scale or fortune teller machine in the vestibule...
Whereas Waffle House has a limited menu, breakfast-heavy menu, your food comes out in approx. 5 minutes, and you can just as quickly & easily order to go at the cash register...
"I will survive, hey, hey!"
Tanner ( Guide #72235) posted at 7:32 PM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
Waffle House to be a fast food joint and not a diner
I base my opinion strictly on the differences. Waffle House has wait staff and no drive thru. It’s mainly a dine in restaurant.
But I’m in Texas, y’all up north look at our lakes as rivers and our rivers as "cricks" 🤣
Dday Sept 7 2019 doing well in R BH M 32 years
zebra25 ( member #29431) posted at 7:35 PM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
Yes, ibonnie. That's what I think of when someone says diner. Not a chain restaurant.
I'm pretty sure NJ has more diners (the type you described) than any other state.
"Don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces."
D-day April 2010
Shehawk ( member #68741) posted at 7:57 PM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
Diner
Love the hash browns!
"It's a slow fade...when you give yourself away" so don't do it!
BraveSirRobin ( member #69242) posted at 5:10 AM on Saturday, March 4th, 2023
IMO, it's not fast food if you give your order at the table. Fast food is literally that: they hand it over the counter or out the window ASAP.
I've been to quite a few diners in NJ and southeastern PA, and ibonnie's description is spot on. The only thing missing is the paper place mats with ads for local businesses.
WhatsRight ( member #35417) posted at 11:39 AM on Saturday, March 4th, 2023
In my book, definitely a diner! Anytime you can eat at the counter, side by side, that’s a diner! Ha ha.
Best cheesy eggs ever! Can’t even imagine life without waffle House!
"Noone can make you feel inferior without your concent." Eleanor Roosevelt
I will not be vanquished. Rose Kennedy
PricklePatch ( member #34041) posted at 4:38 PM on Sunday, March 5th, 2023
I wanted to go forever to this awesome Waffle House! It is fast food you eat after drinking, White Castle.
I grew up on west coast we had nothing like it. In NJ and NY, a diner has an extensive menu. Invariably some kind of Greek food. Large portions with decent quality food.
Look up best diners in New Jersey. One I am familiar with is All Seasons Diner in Tinton Falls, NJ. They have a website you can see their menu by order online and scroll through. I would say it is fairly typical, since Covid nothing sees to stay open all night.
Want2BHappyAgain ( member #45088) posted at 7:35 PM on Monday, March 13th, 2023
Best cheesy eggs ever!
WhatsRight...I LOVE their cheesy eggs!!!
Waffle House has an extended menu...you have to ask for it though. At least...they did before Covid. I already know what I am getting...so I don't ask for it anymore.
A "perfect marriage" is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.
With God ALL things are possible (Matthew 19:26)
I AM happy again...It CAN happen!!!
From respect comes great love...sassylee
Marie2792 ( member #44958) posted at 4:08 PM on Tuesday, March 28th, 2023
Okay so I came back to this thread specifically to say this:
I returned to NY last night after a week with my parents in Columbus GA. My niece insisted on Waffle House for breakfasts yesterday morning so off we went. To me this is definitely fast food. Their menu is very limited, small space, and literally they have two waffle irons and a grill. My mother pointed out to me they don’t even use real butter.
I still consider this fast food.
[This message edited by Marie2792 at 4:11 PM, Tuesday, March 28th]
Me: BS,48 (41 at dday)Him: WS, 56 (49 at dday)
Married 27 years, together 30
Dday : 9/9/14 3 week PA
Jeaniegirl ( member #6370) posted at 6:20 PM on Tuesday, March 28th, 2023
To we southern people, fast food is something prepared ahead of time and you get it (sometimes cold) through the drive-thru line from your car. Waffle House food is made fresh while you watch. I do NOT like any type of eggs so I like it they cook eggs separately from my hash browns and ham. And let's face it, I like to watch others cook for me.
"Because I deserve better"
Topic is Sleeping.
