A 50's Diner named Nutcracker?

Doesn't seem right but it's true. There's a 50's diner with really cool interior décor...shiny red and white plastic booths, neon décor, mock models of a 57 chevy (your writer drove a black one home from the navy) and parked outside an absolutely pristine 1951 ford two door coupe that had been lowered with a frenched am radio antenna. The staff...all in black and white with our waitress a gum snapping, fast talking take-no-crap 'Flo' type who kept our cups filled, water glasses replenished and repulsed our 'sophisticated repartee' with sardonic wit....like "Don't let the door hit you in the ass or the good Lord split you in two!" How elegantly said.

Today Steve and I visited this diner in the far east; the far east side of Columbus know as Pataskala...located at the southwest corner of East Broad Street and State Route 310 this joint looks like any other typical small town eatery. But not when you walk inside. It's retro! As for the food...good, good portions but nothing really special, except the corned beef hash is prepared on-site and then combined with shredded potatoes and then grilled. Excellent and the grill grease actually made it taste better than last week's homemade hash...see The Skillet. Steve had eggs, meat (that's so Ohio,) potatoes and blacken-toast all for 6.99. I followed along with Corned Beef...Out the door with coffee was less than $20. The menu was certainly diner food; Blue Plate Specials, and All You Can Eat Special on Tuesday thru Friday. Also the glass pie case features numerous homemade pies. Jersey Boy kept talking about the large, rotating glass dessert cases of his hometown!

So if you're in the mood to take a drive in the country (this place is located south of Lynd's Fruit Farm) head on out. The place was clean, the portions good size and the food was wholesome...The waitresses are another story and that's a good attribute in a diner. Try this place....but, they should change the name from The Nutcracker to something more 'diner-ish' like Crackers, Skips, Jerry's, Dan's, Jersey-boy was going on and on about the diners of his youth! What a dray!

The Nutcracker

Nancy and Steve Butcher, Owners

63 E. Broad Street, Pataskala, OH 43062

www.nutcrackerpataskala.com

 

We award The Nutcracker 3 Bellies