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• by:
• McKeon, Elizabeth and Everett, Linda

The story of the diner began more than 100 years ago when coffee and sandwiches were first served from the back of a horse-drawn lunch wagon in Providence, Rhode Island. Slowly these roadside treasures evolved into the stainless steel railroad cars that are now associated with diners. While their popularity declined in the 1960s as fast-food chains became popular, today they are gaining in favor as more people want the personal touch present in a homey environment.

The American Diner Cookbook contains more than 450 recipes for delicious foods that can be found on diner menus nationwide. Interviews with owners and others who have worked in diners and more than 100 black-and-white photographs appear throughout.