50s style restaurants

[Robin Garr]

What ethnicity is Mr. Z, btw? Not that it matters but I'm convinced that part of the lack of diners in Louisville probably stems from not having many fantastic Greeks here. In the Northeast, Greeks have the diner biz on lockdown (as you probably know from living in Astoria, Robin).

Mr. Z (Zelko, I think), is Bosnian, as is his family. They also own the Cottage Inn now, and in my opinion, it's improved. Or brightened up and given a good scrubdown at least.

Too right about Greek diners in Astoria, Joel! You probably know that the Neptune Diner is reputed to be the Greek diner that the other Greek diner operators eat at when they're not eating at their own place.

It's not a diner per se, but has anyone been to the Smokey Valley Truck Stop in Olive Hill, which was on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives?" I have to admit that show is a guilty pleasure, and the few places I've been to that have been featured on it have been fantastic (esp. the Joint in New Orleans).

I like that show as well, even though I find him very annoying at times.

I've never tried the SVTS in Olive Hill (and missed that D, D-I, and D episode), even though I pass through Olive Hill 5 or 6 times a year to visit family in Ashland. I will definitely stop next time - wish I had known while I was in that area during the holidays!

If it is still there - Ranch House on Charlestown Road in New Albany.

Is that their new location....I recall when they opened in that strip mall off US 150, up in the Knobs....I believe a Cuban restaurant took that space, then they had a fire and closed....

Haven't eaten there is a while, but try the Nalley House Restaurant on 3rd street just north of Kentucky. It at least used to be a "real" diner, with blue plate lunches, home-made pies for dessert (great pies!), old-time waitresses, et al. When I went it had a different name (maybe "Yale"?), but I think it's the same place.

Checked, and the Preston St location of Nalley House may not look like a diner from the outside, but the menu et al sure seem like one to me! Check out http://www.nalleyhouse.com, and just look at the sandwiches and specials! While it's not the New England type of "gourmet" restaurant in an aluminum shell, it reminds me of the more typical diner in the East. And, they DO have homemade pies for dessert!

(check the photo at http://nalleyhouse.tripod.com/customer15.html and tell me that doesn't look like a typical diner to you, just the Preston St doesn't have an aluminum building!)

If it is still there - Ranch House on Charlestown Road in New Albany.

Hey, Rich! Unfortunately, Wesley's has been kaput for a long time. So has the the version that opened up near the Hungry Pelican (now the Cape Codder).

I drove past Juke Box yesterday, and the sign was down, and it looked closed, but not cleaned out.

The only "true" diner that I can think of is the "Little Chef" in Downtown New Albany...
I haven't eaten there in years but I know that it's still there....

If it is still there - Ranch House on Charlestown Road in New Albany.

Is that their new location....I recall when they opened in that strip mall off US 150, up in the Knobs....I believe a Cuban restaurant took that space, then they had a fire and closed....

This is a mix here. There were two Ranch Houses, the second was at Highlander Point off Hwy 150 in Floyds Knobs. The latter changed hands and with little change became Jukebox, which an earlier post sadly noted closed. Not sure the status of the old Charlestown Rd. Ranch House. Cuba Libre never reopened after a fire in the summer of 2008. Cuba Libre took over the building formerly occupied by a Tumbleweed, which moved to new, larger quarters at Highlander Point about a hundred yards away.