When I was growing up in New Jersey, breakfasts at the Hibernia Diner were a regular part of the New Jersey experience. Diners were seemingly everywhere in the state and the food was always good, hearty and the portions were huge.
I left New Jersey almost 30 years ago, and I miss the diners... the friendly wait staff that has been there forever and the food. Lunches and dinners were a part of that experience, but for me, breakfast at the diner was special.
In Dallas there are a few "diner-esque" experiences. Some capture more of the atmosphere, while others have more of the food experience nailed down. One of the choices that offers a great combination of both is Lucky's Café. Located at 3531 Oak Lawn Avenue, Lucky's has a great breakfast menu featuring Eggs, Omelets, Pancakes, Waffles and more regional Tex Mex style dishes. Their weekend brunch is inexpensive, hearty and the place is full for hours.
My favorites are the Black Bean Burrito (scrambled eggs, onions, tomatoes, serrano, monterey jack & cheddar folded in a flour tortilla with black bean chili and salsa on top) or the Pecan French Toast (Texas toast dipped in a cinnamon, egg & vanilla batter sprinkled with powdered sugar). Recently, on the specials board they have been featuring a Chicken and Waffle special that is also fantastic.
Lucky's lunches and dinners are also quite good. Definitely a more limited menu than a northern diner, but similar food choices with a southern flair. All the lunch and dinner choices (don't miss the meatloaf) are served with biscuits and corn bread.
So if a hearty breakfast in a casual setting is what you are looking for, Lucky's will satisfy that craving... and then some!
Everyone is blogging about food. I just came from Helpful Hannah's blog about hot dogs and now this. It is past my bedtime and you guys have made me really hungry! Lucky's sounds really good!
YUM!
You should start a Restaurant Review Group - unless you already have ! Your food descriptives are positively luscious!
Hi Shirley... Sorry. I'd take it all back, but it is all true!
Hi Greg... YUP!
Hi Liz... I would love to be a food critic for a newspaper or magazine!
Steve - it's a fact that the diners of the northeast are unparallelled and often imitated. I know I certainly miss the old diners of New England.
Lucky's sounds like a really great place to address those 'hankerings' for a good old greasy spoon breakfast. If I ever make it to Dallas I hope you'll point me toward this place!
Steve,
Thanks for the recommendation. Another one to add to our list. You should be writing for the DMN guide section.
Hi Carol... C'mon down. I'll buy you breakfast.
Hi Richard... You're welcome. Like I mentioned in my reply to Liz, I would love to be a restaurant critic!
A black bean burrito sounds good!! WE don't have any Lucky's here....@ first I read it as Luby's!
Hi Kristin... Lucky's is definitely better than Luby's... by a big margin. And you don't have to "queue up" for your food!
Hi Steve - I guess if I ever move away from NY the one thing I will miss is the diners. The one thing I won't miss is paying high taxes.