Diners

    Some of the best meals I've ever eaten have taken place in dingy, hole-in-the-wall diners. I've dined in five star restaurants that serve the finest Italian cuisine and fancy steakhouses with famous chefs. I've eaten in multiple countries and have tried a variety of foods. Still, nothing seems to beat a diner.
    Last Saturday night, my friend and I opted to skip the college festivities and instead went to Palace Diner. While most girls were carefully applying their mascara and lipstick, and most guys were... well, doing whatever guys do...we were pouring over a seemingly endless menu at a shabby diner in Poughkeepsie. Most of the time I'll experience regret and apprehension when I decide not to go out on a weekend night, but on this particular night, I couldn't have been more content with my choice.
   Diners. I don't know. There's just something about them. They might not be known for serving five star meals, but they have just about everything else going for them.
    Fast service? Check.
    Comfy booths? Check.
    Variety of food? Double check.
   Finding a restaurant that all your friends will enjoy can be quite the challenge. Amanda might be in the mood for burgers, but Kate has been craving an omelette all day. And Cynthia? She's in the mood for a panini. Not many places could offer you all of these entrées, but at a diner, anything is possible.
    Diners are kind of like a little piece of home to me. I don't think I've ever shown up to one in anything but sweats (which is perfectly acceptable) and it feels like I'm eating a meal in my very own dining room. You could never feel like that at a fancy French restaurant. I mean, who eats their dinners at home in suits and dresses?
   Going to the diner on Saturday made me so genuinely happy. I ordered a grilled chicken salad, but honestly that's beside the point. They probably could've given me pig feet and I would've been just as content. Going to the diner isn't about the food; it's about the experience.