A Classic Revival
Have a seat at your grandmother’s table
Madison didn’t need to tell me to shush, the look she gave me was clear enough.
“I’m tired and I’m hungry,” she grumbles in response to me asking how this diner makes her feel.
Not exactly the inspiration I was going for, but…fair. It’s the morning after a night in Vegas and everyone is just a little sleepy.
I’ll have to rely on my own emotions, which at the moment are elated and hopeful.
I knew from the moment we rounded the parking lot in this downtown strip mall and saw the orange and olive Winnie & Ethel’s sign that we picked the right place.
My excitement grows as we slide into a brown leather booth. It smells of fresh coffee and maple syrup - hope and charm baked right into the table.
My eyes pinball from the patterned silverware to the lace window curtains to the mismatched pendant lights. The Americana essence drips from the ceiling.
Our waitress arrives with bright eyes and a hair bow. She greets us with a slight southern accent and smiles as she highlights the drink menu.
“…and all of our coffee is sourced from local, women-owned businesses,” she beams.
Obviously, I order a coffee. (Decaf, I’m on a break from caffeine.)
My cup of josephine arrives in a Minnie Mouse mug with a mini pitcher of cream. I’m convinced that’s why it tastes even better than expected.
Our waitress takes the time to talk about the menu and tells us the daily specials.
“…and we use malted pancake batter,” she explains.
Obviously, Madison orders a pancake.
Megan and I can’t decide on one dish, so we order à la carte.
The plates arrive and my cheekbones lift. I’m staring at a table full of classics, dressed in their Sunday best (even though we are in our Thursday travel clothes).
The sausage patties have that crinkly edge, a sign they are hand-made rather than factory spun.
The eggs are fluffy, a vibrant yellow.
Cane butter syrup accompanies the malted pancake. (Madison is team butter, not team syrup, so I add the syrup to my sausage patties)
The home fries - flawless.
I could write an entire opinion piece about potatoes. Nothing is more disappointing than an under-seasoned, improperly-textured potato. These potatoes, though, are everything.
Crispy. Hot. Salty. Satisfying.
Different shapes and sizes too, so you know they weren’t lying about hand cutting those taters.
This is the kind of meal I obsess over, when passion and skill are evident not only on the plate but in the soul of the restaurant.
I love seeing people in their element. I love being surrounded by people who are incredible at what they do.
And I love eating good breakfast food.
As it comes time to leave, I take a coffee to go - bringing a little taste of joy with me on the road.
What surprises me most about Winnie and Ethel’s is it opened in 2021.
I did some research on the owners and they are a husband and wife team - one a chef, the other with a background in design. They won a million dollar contest - part of an initiative to revitalize a historic neighborhood - that allowed them to create this diner.
I’m so impressed with how they executed their vision. They could have chased the newest trends or purchased the shiniest espresso machine, but they didn’t.
They made the best version of a classic diner.
Money can make dreams possible, but personality is what brings them to life.
I’m curious to see if contests like this will pop up in the future and what dreams people will bring to the table.