Since the 1980s when an old diner was transplanted from Canton, OH, the corner of Sycamore and 12th Street has been the home of a restaurant that is something of a front porch to Over the Rhine. While the official name has changed with different owners, most people just refer to it as The Diner, a shortened version of its original name, The Diner on Sycamore.
Last summer, new owners stepped up to reopen the establishment and return it to the shining breakfast all day, grab something to chow on after the bars close at night place that people who frequent the area have loved for years.
Joe’s Diner has a ‘50s kitsch about it which is added to by the classic TV shows that stream through the monitors not showing sporting events. With an extensive menu of sandwiches and burgers as well as the aforementioned breakfast all day, there is something here for everyone. Add to that fast, friendly service and affordable prices and this really does give you the feel of an old style diner.
Burgers
I’d been pigging out at the restaurant at Sycamore and 12th since it originally opened as The Diner on Sycamore. When I heard last year that it had re-opened, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. My first trip in was actually a business lunch, working out details on a live to tape segment for an upcoming television show. That time I didn’t order up a burger but my associate and I were both pleased with our meals and my expense account didn’t take a hit either.
So when Josh and I were nearby we decided to drop in and have a burger for the blog. Now we had been here before, actually chowing down on burgers when we went to the Cavalcade of Customs last January so this wasn’t the first time for either of us. But it was an official visit for the blog.
We both ordered up a Joe’s Burger, a quarter pound of fresh beef. On the previous visit, a time when I was very hungry, I’d feasted on a Joe’s Double but both of us knew that we couldn’t handle one of those. There are a lot of other burgers from which to choose and they all look good but the purpose of this blog has always been to just try out the basic burger at each stop and use that as our benchmark.
The atmosphere at Joe’s Diner is exceptional with the feel of an actual 1950s diner. That’s accentuated when you get your drink served in a Mason jar. While these aren’t as huge of a glass as a lot of restaurants use these days, if you need a refill the servers always seem to be right there.
The food arrives quickly with the burger accompanied by a generous serving of fries. The fries are always prepared to order so are never sitting around. Of course they arrive to your table almost too hot to eat. But the outside is crispy and the inside is so soft it almost melts in your mouth. I learned one of the secrets to their fries on this trip, when they come out of the fryer they are topped with Grippo’s barbecue seasoning. This is the same stuff Grippo’s has been putting on their barbecue chips for decades. Because the seasoning isn’t applied too heavily there us just a hint of barbecue flavor and it doesn’t distract from the fries.
Served on a just right sized bun with a slice of American (their cheese selection is rather limited) and fresh garden (my tomato slice was exceptionally thick and juicy), each bite burst with flavor. But what added the largest hint of flavor was the onion that they mix in with the beef before they fry it up. Normally I’m not an onion guy because it tends to stay around with me long after the memory of the burger has faded, but the amount of onion mixed in didn’t overpower the flavor but it did stick around for a good long time. I wish they hadn’t included it but it wouldn’t stop me from ordering up a burger next time I’m in there.
It’s good to see the restaurant at Sycamore and 12th open again, this time as Joe’s Diner. With good food, fast and friendly service and prices that won’t break the bank, this is a great place to eat if you are downtown or in Over the Rhine.
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