What style of restaurant does this town need?

I agree that this town has fairly poor Mexican food all the way around. There's a place in Sedona, AZ called the Elote Cafe that has some of the best Mexican food I've ever tasted. We need that type of Mexican food here - now. Jewish deli - ditto.

http://www.elotecafe.com/sedona-restaurant.html

Mark,

We went there right after we got engaged in Sedona. Wonderful food and wonderful memories.

Deb

I think people who are advocating Diners are thinking some hipster version of the traditional diner. I've eaten at quite a few of them up north and most are mediocre at the best, and have ten page menus where you know that the quality is questionable with such a variety of cuisines to attempt. Same with the bakery section of most large diners... shiny, bright, pastries with little or no taste. These are not chef driven diners, but large all night affairs with a little something for everyone.

Twig and leaf is pretty diner-ish

My wife and I just returned from living in Santa Fe for almost a year. Louisville would go crazy for really authentic New Mexican. The Shedd, LaChoza and Epazote are great dining choices if you get a chance to visit.

I wish we'd got some input from you before visiting Santa Fe recently. We loved the Santa Cafe, but it's more along the general bistro fare, with some excellent nods toward New Mexican chile cuisine.

We tried these places for NewMexMex, Maria's New Mexican Kitchen and the more touristy place off the square, Blue Corn Cafe. Maria's seemed like the well worn local joint. The food was excellent. We went back it was so good. Blue Corn is a brew pub with good renditions of NewMexMex.

I wish we could get something along these line here!

Steve
Wish I would of known. We love Maria's.I think they have 100 different kinds of tequilas and a $75 margarita. Never got to Blue Corn but it has a good reputation. I hope you were out there in the fall to catch all of the markets roasting green chiles. The whole city smells wonderful.

Tell me what food an "honest to goodness diner" would serve. Honestly curious, because I don't think I've ever been to one, assuming that they'd be meat-centric.

Here's the menu from one we used to enjoy going to in South Carolina: Stax Original

What I'm about to say is not intended as snarky; it represents genuine confusion on my part.

I looked at the Stax menu. How is it any different from the bill of fare at two dozen extant chains ... or is it more a question of atmosphere? Mind you, I'd rather spend the money at a local diner ...

Tell me what food an "honest to goodness diner" would serve. Honestly curious, because I don't think I've ever been to one, assuming that they'd be meat-centric.

Here's the menu from one we used to enjoy going to in South Carolina: Stax Original

What I'm about to say is not intended as snarky; it represents genuine confusion on my part.

I looked at the Stax menu. How is it any different from the bill of fare at two dozen extant chains ... or is it more a question of atmosphere? Mind you, I'd rather spend the money at a local diner ...

[Robin Garr]

I think people who are advocating Diners are thinking some hipster version of the traditional diner. I've eaten at quite a few of them up north and most are mediocre at the best, and have ten page menus where you know that the quality is questionable with such a variety of cuisines to attempt. Same with the bakery section of most large diners... shiny, bright, pastries with little or no taste. These are not chef driven diners, but large all night affairs with a little something for everyone.

Word. We lived in NYC from 1990-94 and enjoyed a lot of diners. The mood is nostalgic and makes you feel good, but the food? Meh. When we lived in Astoria, in Queens, The Neptune Diner was widely reputed as "the diner so good that all the other diner owners eat there on their day off." It was meh. Greasy, heavy food. Where's the appeal? Beats the hell out of me. Gimme Shady Lane any day and twice on Sundays.

I think people who are advocating Diners are thinking some hipster version of the traditional diner. I've eaten at quite a few of them up north and most are mediocre at the best, and have ten page menus where you know that the quality is questionable with such a variety of cuisines to attempt. Same with the bakery section of most large diners... shiny, bright, pastries with little or no taste. These are not chef driven diners, but large all night affairs with a little something for everyone.

Word. We lived in NYC from 1990-94 and enjoyed a lot of diners. The mood is nostalgic and makes you feel good, but the food? Meh. When we lived in Astoria, in Queens, The Neptune Diner was widely reputed as "the diner so good that all the other diner owners eat there on their day off." It was meh. Greasy, heavy food. Where's the appeal? Beats the hell out of me. Gimme Shady Lane any day and twice on Sundays.

I've eaten at some lame diners too, but there are good ones.

Personally, If it were my diner, it would be a hybrid of Waffle House, Cracker Barell and a drugstore soda fountain, with scratch made foods of better quality. It certainly doesn't have to be hipster, highbrow or frou frou.
Sadly, sometimes the simplest and most comforting foods are the hardest to execute well. Particularly when it becomes an issue of expense. Let's face it, you can easily replace good, scratch made food prepared by expensive, qualified labor with less costly premade items that are average at best and a lot of places do that. I guess that's why I gush about Shapiero's in Indianapolis so much. Sure it's a little more expensive to eat there, but EVERYTHING is scratch made. It takes a small army of expensive labor to churn out good quality stuff like that day in and day out.
That's why I would have to win the lottery to bring my vison of a diner to life!

OK, I'm glad I asked about diners. Would you guys consider Wagner's a diner menu, but not diner decor? It seems that maybe decor adds a required element. After reading the menu, I , too thought immediately of Twig and Leaf. And Dan, I agree. The temptation to replace simple comfort foods with scoop and heat Sysco is great.

I'm still wishing for real Greek.

"Cook good. Serve generously. Price modestly. People will come." Louis Shapiro's motto

That came off of Shapiro's Deli website. What a wonderful motto! I want a deli like that here.

the Twig is close and I think that D Nalley's on 3rd and Kentucky is as close to a true diner as we have here in the Ville......
But some important things that define a diner in my mind are:
Lots of shiney stainless steel and neon decor with either/or counter or booth seating.
Open 24 hrs is a must.
Breakfast anytime!!!!!!!
Homeade soups and chili
A great burger (like Shady Lane's )
Salad Plates(for example, Stuffed tomatoes featuring Chicken, Tuna, Egg or Shrimp salad)
Comforting Meat and Three specials
Some sort of Casserole Specialty (Chicken and Noodles, Shepherd's Pie, Ham & Potato Gratin, etc.)
Homeade Pie
Milkshakes
Buffalo china
an awesome jukebox
and a certain amount of grease.........

I'd support a good Deli...

Deli, Jewish, whitefish.

I think people who are advocating Diners are thinking some hipster version of the traditional diner. I've eaten at quite a few of them up north and most are mediocre at the best, and have ten page menus where you know that the quality is questionable with such a variety of cuisines to attempt. Same with the bakery section of most large diners... shiny, bright, pastries with little or no taste. These are not chef driven diners, but large all night affairs with a little something for everyone.

Word. We lived in NYC from 1990-94 and enjoyed a lot of diners. The mood is nostalgic and makes you feel good, but the food? Meh. When we lived in Astoria, in Queens, The Neptune Diner was widely reputed as "the diner so good that all the other diner owners eat there on their day off." It was meh. Greasy, heavy food. Where's the appeal? Beats the hell out of me. Gimme Shady Lane any day and twice on Sundays.

^^^ The most amazing thing about this topic, Robin's usage of "word" as a sentence/statement ........Robin you sir are a true OG. Word to that!

[Robin Garr]

[........Robin you sir are a true OG.

Okay, I'll bite. Odd Gent? Old Geezer? Oriental Ginger? Old Gangsta? Naw, couldn't be that ...