HENRY'S DINER

Burlington, Vermont

When I first walked past this diner in a little free-standing house, I thought it looked rather shabby, but I’m happy I dared to venture inside. I was greeted by friendly and efficient staff, and walked past their range of cups, t-shirts and other Henry’s Diner souvenirs. A classic 50s interior with yellow stalls and bar stools, along with little flowery curtains in the windows makes you feel like you’ve travelled back in time. With a long menu, including a slightly random Greek section, they serve more or less anything you could want from a diner. I had a craving for hot dogs, so I ordered one classic beef hotdog and two of their Michigan Dogs with minced meat and chili on top. Each hot dog is split along its length, so it’s double fried in that sense. There is even more grease in the amazing bread, a toasted bun with lots of butter on the outside. The hot dogs were served with perfect pickles and crisps or fries. This is definitely not the place to go for a light or healthy meal, but ideal for a proper American diner experience. The clientele was mixed, with young hipsters and middle-aged truckers dining alongside each other. I loved the atmosphere and the food, which is why I came back already the next day for some grilled cheese.

155 Bank Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA

THE APPLE PAN

Los Angeles, USA

The Apple Pan in Culver City, LA is an old-school diner established in 1947 with most of its original fittings intact. It’s a small, pitched roof house with counter seating only, arranged around the food preparation area. When we arrived there were about 10 people waiting to be seated, but it only took 5 min to get a spot. We came straight from a taco food truck, so I was already quite full. Therefore we shared a bit of everything, starting with the steak burger and fries. The burger is quite small, which I think is a plus, as there is more room for sides and desserts. The meat and vegetables were very tasty, but I thought the sauce was a bit distracting, and took away from the simple flavours of the rest of the burger. Coke was served in a little paper cone placed in a metal stand. Authentic details like these really make the Apple Pan a truly American experience. Disappointingly, they were out of their famous Apple Pie when I was there, so we opted for a slice of Pecan Pie and Banana Pie with cream. Both of these were an amazing ending to our meal, with rich and classic flavours. Even though I didn’t love the burger (due to the aforementioned sauce) I would certainly return to the Apple Pan because of its amazing and genuine diner feel. 

West Los Angeles, 10801 W Pico Boulevard, LA, CA 90064