Morning Coffee and So Much More

One of our favorite things to do is eat. We do it everyday. Generally, we eat at home. There are various reasons for that, but the result is the same. When we do eat out, we try to go some place that serves something that we like, but I can’t fix very well, or some place that is special or unique. On our way to Watkins Glen yesterday, we went by way of Penn Yen. Gene wanted to go there just because the name was so different. It was a small village and after we walked around a bit we wanted coffee. We had about given up when I happened to notice a diner sign down a side street. Diners usually have pretty good coffee and that was all we really wanted.

When we got close we realized this little diner was the real McCoy. You could clearly see, once inside, the shape of a rail car. A small dining area with restrooms had been added to the side and a larger kitchen added to the back. We were more interested in the original diner. In that space was a short order griddle and counter seating complete with chrome bar stools. On the “front” wall was a row of windows and between each window was a coat hook. When our waitress brought our coffee and bagel, we had a chance to talk with her about the diner. She said it had been moved to its present location by rail in 1926 and she thought it still had its wheels underneath. The owner (who was cooking pancakes at the griddle) said that the exterior of the building was wood; it had never been metal like many other diners we’ve seen. I’m no expert on diners, but it is my understanding that the true vintage diners were built during the 20s and 30s in factories. The common design was the long, sleek shape of railroad cars.

Gene wanted to order pie, but it was 10 AM and I dissuaded him from that. Instead, we shared a bagel to give our arteries a fighting chance. However, this may have been the place for the perfect piece of pie. Another couple who were obviously regulars came in shortly after we arrived. They ordered pie along with their breakfast and ate the pie first. Another gentleman (again a local) brought an out-of-town guest in with him just to “try the pie”. The one day I didn’t have my picnic cooler with me. Oh, well.

What a special place and one we just stumbled upon by accident.