Food Adventures in the Streets of America

Eating out often means some sort of sit-down meal, although it might not always mean high-end dining. In fact, depending on the age of the diners eating out, it may be something as quick and unimaginative as hitting the local fast food joint, but for Jane and Michael Stern eating out is always an adventure.

Delicious, Quirky Eateries
In the 1970s, the Sterns wrote their first edition of Roadfood, a guidebook pointing diners to delicious eateries, cafes and barbecue joints. Over the years, the two have crisscrossed the United States in search of dishes that satisfy and are likely to appeal to the masses.

Many have discovered that they too can enjoy a food adventure while on the road simply by referencing the Sterns’ latest book Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 700 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners and Much, Much More.

Stand Up, Sit Down, Fight, Fight, Fight
Some of the recommended eateries offer sit-down dining, but many simply offer the stand-up counters where the diner eats while standing. According to the Sterns this isn’t so bad and in some cases it may actually be ideal.

Certain menu items, like frankfurters with the works or gyros stuffed to the brim, force diners to fight to keep the spills from staining their shirts or dripping on their pants. In such cases a stand-up counter to eat at comes in pretty handy.

Roadside Diner Etiquette
Although many of the dining establishments featured in the Sterns’ guidebooks are informal affairs, there are certain rules of etiquette even among the casual, loyal diners.  For example, asking for a tofu dog at roadside burger joint is not recommended.  Nor is it considered polite to ask for condiments other than the ones placed in plain view when grabbing a bite at a roadside shack.

Tags: café, casual dining, diner, hole in the wall