Local diner-type restaurants are wonderful staples to
communities because they bring in all kinds of people. You have regulars
rubbing elbows with first timers, waitresses busily taking orders and zooming
through tables, and good food being served. These places usually do a good job
of keeping their prices fairly low and still delivering delicious food. While
it is occasionally frustrating that some of these restaurants don’t stay open
for dinner, I find that it adds to the character of the place. The following
restaurants all fit the same description of making delicious breakfast and
lunches that focus on classic American food.
1. Nick’s Kitchen (Huntington)
Nick’s is the home of the Breaded
Tenderloin. Its recipe was created in 1908 and has not changed since. The
tenderloin was named “Indiana’s Best” in a 2017 survey, and for good reason. It
has also been on TV a couple times over the years and has developed quite a
reputation. Nick’s has a homey feel about it, with pictures adorning the walls
of different historical events from the Huntington area. Aside from
tenderloins, people also rave about the great breakfasts and the pies,
specifically the sugar cream pie. It is located right in the middle of downtown
Huntington and has the following hours: Mon+Tues: 6am-2pm, Wed-Sat: 6am-8pm.
2. Country Café and Bakery (Marion)
This is easily one of the most
underrated places on this list. Their menu is smaller than some of these other
places, but pretty much everything you will eat there is homemade. When you
walk in, you immediately see all of the baked goods they have behind the glass.
They make their own breads, noodles, jams, salsas, sauces, and more! Much of
their food, including the meat, comes from local places or their own farm,
Creech Farms. The coffee there comes from Midwest Coffee Company, which is a
local coffee shop in Marion. One whole side of the menu is taken up by grilled
cheese options, which range from $4-7. There are some fun options for a grilled
cheese, such as a pepperoni pizza one, which has mozzarella, marinara, and
pepperoni, all inside tomato Italian bread. Another great option is the Grown
up, which has bacon, cheddar, carmelized onions, and BBQ sauce. The other side
of their menu features tasty breakfast options (Lumberjack Bowl) and several sandwiches.
Country Café is open Mon-Sat from 7am-2pm.
3. Johnny’s (Huntington)
Johnny’s is a unique location that
has some real charm to it. The building itself has no sign on the outside and
looks more like a mini castle than anything else. The inside is circular with a
bar in the middle. The waitresses here are sassy and will sit down in your
booth with you to take your order. All of this adds to the fun ambiance of the
place, but we’re here to talk about food as well. The most popular thing here
is the cinnamon rolls, which are a dollar for 2 rolls. These aren’t typical
cinnamon rolls either…its more like a biscuit that in doused in icing and
cinnamon sugar. Regardless, they are HEAVENLY. Their food is cheap and
delicious, with the main highlight being their breakfast food. However, their
burgers and fries (try with the BBQ seasoning) are good too. They are known for
their pies here as well, but if you’re going to pick a dessert from here, try
the cinnamon rolls first. Johnny’s is open from 6am-3pm Mon-Thurs, 6am-8pm on
Friday, and 6am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday.
4. The Roost (Fishers)
The Roost is one of those
restaurants that looks unassuming from the outside but has a lot of wonderful
food to offer. What really stood out to me on my trip there was the chorizo omelet
that I got. People typically come here for the breakfast food, though they do
serve lunch options as well. Apart from the many omelets offered, reviewers
recommend trying the corn casserole and the coffee cake. The Roost’s hours are
Mon-Sat from 6:30am-3pm and Sunday from 7:30am-3pm.
5. Spyro’s (Fort Wayne)
Spyro’s is touted as THE place to
go get breakfast in Fort Wayne, and I can see why after just one trip there.
There is usually a crowd there if you go at regular breakfast/lunch hours, but
the wait is worth it. The portion sizes here are huge, so I’d advise sharing
with someone unless you really brought an appetite. The omelets and pancakes
take up the whole plate as taste great, and many people highly recommend their
skillet dishes. Spyro’s is open Mon-Sat from 6am-3pm, and Sunday from 7am-3pm.
6. J&L (Marion)
J&L is another place that has
quite a unique interior. Their directions have always seemed a little haphazard
to me, and it is a very dark place due to the wallpaper and lighting. However,
the food here is pretty good. My small group likes to try and come here after
church for lunch, but we often find ourselves having to wait because of how
packed this place gets on weekends. One of the main highlights here are the
peanut butter chocolate chip pancakes, which are a good size and taste
delicious. The bacon is done just the way I like it here as well, which is a
big plus. Their hours are Wed-Sat from 5am-3pm and Sunday from 5am-2pm.
7. The Lemon Drop (Anderson)
This restaurant fits the classic
description of a diner. They are best known for their burgers, fries, and quick
service. The building itself has quite a bit of character, from the bright
yellow exterior to the toy locomotive that circles the restaurant on a track
above everyone’s head. It is a small building, so there really isn’t a lot of
room to sit. However, that doesn’t stop droves of people from coming here and
enjoying their food. The two most talked about items are the onion burger and
the tenderloin, which isn’t a surprise from an Americana place like this. The
one complaint people have is that the food can be pretty greasy at times. They
are open Mon-Sat from 10:30am-9pm.
8. Three Sisters Café (Indianapolis-Broad Ripple)
The Three Sisters Café is one of
the more popular brunch locations in Indy, and the reviews for it can’t help
but talk up their unique fare and as well several classics. People like to rave
about the beer biscuit sandwiches and lemon corn cakes, as well as several
vegan options. Classic options like French toast and waffles get a lot of
attention here as well. Many reviewers on Yelp and TripAdvisor also like the
quirky, quaint vibe that the place has, and the comments about the service are
almost all positive. While I have only mentioned breakfast so far, they do
serve lunch as well. They are open daily from 8am-4pm
9. Rosie’s Place (Noblesville)
Located right in the downtown
square of Noblesville, Rosie’s claims the #1 spot to eat in town according to
TripAdvisor. It probably helps that this restaurant also sells baked goods that
people can’t stop talking about (especially butter cookies). As far as meal
options go, reviewers talk a lot about their Eggs Benedict and seasonal
specials. Portion sizes are talked up here, as is the ambiance of the place. It
has exposed brick walls and old wood floors, which combined is often described
as cozy and comfortable. Their Sunday brunch tends to draw quite a crowd, though
many people are content waiting for the food (I take this as a good sign). Their
hours are Mon-Fri from 7am-3pm and Sat-Sun from 8am-2pm.
10. Triple XXX Family Restaurant (Lafayette)
I imagine the word “Family” in the
name was crucial to them gaining as much popularity as they have…but all jokes
aside, this place has made quite a name for itself. For one, their root beer is
bottled at stores nationwide, and it is a solid root beer. As far as the food
goes, the burgers and fries reign supreme here. Many people talk highly of the
Purvis burger, which has peanut butter on it, and the Drew Brees Special. The
interior has the typical diner feel to it, but the outside of the building
really stands out. While the food here is not as cheap as other diners that don’t
have as big of a name for themselves, it really it a cheap dining option. Their
hours are 5:30am-11pm (10pm on Sunday).
