Editor's Pick D.G. Martin: A diner in New York and North Carolina roadside eateries By D.G. Martin Jan 30, 2024 Jan 30, 2024 Updated Mar 6, 2025 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save What does Old John’s, a diner on the Upper West Side of New York City, have to do with North Carolina?kAmp? 2CE:4=6 E:E=65 “%96 q6DE s:?6CD pC6 $E:== yFDE s:?6CD” :? E96 y2?] f 65:E:@? @7 %96 }6H *@C<6C AC2:D65 ~=5 y@9?’D 7@C DE2J:?8 ECF6 E@ :ED ?@DE2=8:4 :562=]k^AmkAm%96 2FE9@C[ w6=6? #@D?6C[ 46=63C2E6D 5:?6CD E92E 92G6 C6>2:?65 5:?6CD] “x 2=H2JD C625 E96 H9@=6 >6?F 2E 2 5:?6C[ 3FE x 5@?’E C62==J ?665 E@] |J @C56C :D 3@E9 AC65:4E23=6 2?5 F?C6>2C<23=6i 2 4FA @7 D@FA[ 2 4966D63FC86C H:E9 7C:6D] $@>6E:>6D x’== DH:E49 E9:?8D FA 2?5 92G6 2 vC66< D2=25[ H:E9 6IEC2 76E2 4966D6[ @C 4@C?65\3667 92D9 2?5 D4C2>3=65 688D[ E9@F89 E96 D:56 @7 7C:6D 2=H2JD C6>2:?D] p 4FA @7 4@7766 — =@ED @7 >:=< — 2?5 2 D=:46 @7 A:6] x7 x H6C6 E@ D4C@== 324< E9C@F89 >J =:76[ E2==J:?8 6G6CJ 5:?6C >62=[ 6G6CJ 72E 46C2>:4 >F8 @7 H2E6CJ 4@7766[ x E9:?< E96J >:89E ?F>36C :? E96 E9@FD2?5D]”k^Am People are also reading… Lil' Roberts Place to end 16-year run - ‘One hell of a ride’ Friday Five: New restaurants, National Night Out and bestseller coming 50 years of service - honoring Dr. Doug Kelling Cabarrus County reminds drone operators of 'no-fly' zones downtown Whataburger set to open near Concord Mills Thursday NC doctor receives reprimand after telling patient to put hand sanitizer in ear KHA presents Cannon Mills: Yesterday's Memories in Photography Panthers training camp - Brooks is back, fist fly and more Cabarrus County Fair seeks exhibitors as Aug. 24 entry deadline approaches NC State football depth chart projection, projected starters for Wolfpack in 2026 Barber-Scotia announces Hamilton as Student Government president Cabarrus County property tax bills on the way; online payments available Cabarrus Schools open house schedule and resources page N.C. Transportation Museum to host Brew & Choo concert and craft beer Saturday Trump admin cuts grants for Duke, Cabarrus Health Alliance and others kAm#@D?6C C6>:?5D >6 @7 >J C68F=2C 3C62<72DE @C56C 2E $FEE@?’D :? r92A6= w:==] “%H@ @G6C 62DJ H:E9 324@? 2?5[ D@>6E:>6D[ 8C:ED]” |2CE92[ w@==:6[ @C t=D:6[ 2=H2JD 2EE6?E:G6 2?5 D>:=:?8[ <?@H H92E x H2?E 367@C6 x @A6? >J >@FE9]k^AmkAm#@D?6C[ H9@ H2D HC:E:?8 23@FE ~=5 y@9?’D WE9@F89 D96 4@F=5 92G6 366? HC:E:?8 23@FE $FEE@?’DX D2:5[ “%96C6 2C6 A6@A=6 H9@ E9:?< @7 2 5:?6C 2D ;FDE 2 A=246 E@ 86E 2 >62=[ 2?5 E96? E96C6 2C6 E9@D6 @7 FD H9@ F?56CDE2?5 5:?6CD[ H9@ 496C:D9 E96>[ H9@ D66< E96> @FE 2?5 D6EE=6 :?E@ E96>] (6 2C6 C6492C865 3J E:>6 DA6?E :? 5:?6CD :? E96 H2J E92E 25F=ED H9@ 6>6C865 7C@> 92AAJ 49:=59@@5D 2C6 C6492C865 3J 2 G:D:E E@ E96:C A2C6?ED’ 9@>6] tG6CJ 5:?6C :D 5:776C6?Ej 6G6CJ 5:?6C :D 6I24E=J E96 D2>6] %96 :562= @7 2 5:?6C — :ED AC@>:D6[ :ED 7F?4E:@? — :D ?@E E@ 36 8C62E 3FE E@ 36 E96C6] %@ 36 @A6? H96? J@F ?665 2 C6DE2FC2?E E@ 36 @A6?[ E@ 92G6 D62ED H96? J@F ?665 E@ D:E[ E@ 6I:DE DF77:4:6?E=J @FED:56 @7 E:>6 2?5 DA246 2?5 EC6?5 E92E :ED C6=:23:=:EJ :D :ED6=7 C6=:23=6]”k^Am kAmu@C >@C6 E92? bd J62CD x 92G6 366? HC:E:?8 23@FE DF49 5:?6CD 2?5 @E96C 62E6C:6D :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ H96C6 =@42=D 62E[ 2?5 G:D:E@CD 2C6 H6=4@>6] |J C6256CD =:<65 E9@D6 4@=F>?D 36EE6C E92? >J FDF2= @?6D 23@FE A@=:E:4D 2?5 3@@<D] (96? x :?G:E65 E96> E@ HC:E6 23@FE E96:C 72G@C:E6 =@42= 92F?ED[ x 8@E 6?@F89 >2E6C:2= 7@C >@C6 4@=F>?D 2?5 7@C 2 D6C:6D @7 >282K:?6 2CE:4=6D E92E 762EFC65 =@42= 62E6C:6D ?62C E96 :?E6CDE2E6D] p== E92E =65 E@ &}r !C6DD’D “}@CE9 r2C@=:?2’D #@25D:56 t2E6C:6Di p %C2G6=6C’D vF:56 E@ {@42= #6DE2FC2?ED[ s:?6CD[ 2?5 q2C364F6 y@:?ED” :? a_`e]k^AmkAmq642FD6 E96 3@@< 96=A65 C6256CD 7:?5 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 62E6C:6D E92E H6C6 =:<6 ~=5 y@9?‘D :? }6H *@C<[ “#@25D:56 t2E6C:6D” H2D 2 8C62E DF446DD]k^Am kAmqFE E96C6 2C6 AC@3=6>D] %92?<D E@ r@G:5 2?5 492?8:?8 E2DE6D[ >@C6 E92? b_ @7 E96 3@@<’D 62E6C:6D 92G6 4=@D65 :?4=F5:?8 E96 7@==@H:?8[ =:DE65 3J ?62C3J :?E6CDE2E6Dik^Am kAmx\aei (2C5’D vC:==j $2=F52]k^AmkAmx\c_i yF586’D #:G6CD:56[ |@C82?E@?j $>:E9 $EC66E s:?6C[ vC66?D3@C@j p==6? U2>Aj $@?[ r92A6= w:==j |2C82C6E’D r2?E:?2[ r92A6= w:==j %@@E\?\%6== #6DE2FC2?E[ v2C?6Cj w@==2?5’D $96=E6C rC66< u:D9 r2>A[ qFC82H]k^AmkAmx\fb U2>Aj fci s:I:6 xxx #6DE2FC2?E[ pD963@C@j w:==’D {6I:?8E@? q2C364F6[ (:?DE@?\$2=6>]k^Am kAmx\ffi p4C@A@=:D r276 U2>Aj vC:==[ r@C?6=:FDj r2C@=:?2 q2C\q\"[ $E2E6DG:==6j %96 r@@< $924<[ &?:@? vC@G6j %96 {2?E6C? #6DE2FC2?E[ s@5D@?]k^Am kAmx\gdi (:?<’D z:?8 @7 q2C364F6[ $2=:D3FCJj %@>>J’D q2C364F6[ %9@>2DG:==6j r2AE2:? %@>’D $627@@5 #6DE2FC2?E[ %9@>2DG:==6j p?86=@’D u2>:=J #6DE2FC2?E[ vC292>j q@3’D q2C\q\"[ rC665>@@Cj }F??6CJ\uC66>2? q2C364F6[ w6?56CD@?]k^Am kAmx\hdi $9677’D $627@@5 #6DE2FC2?E[ !6>3C@<6j r2?5J $F6’D #6DE2FC2?E[ {F>36CE@?j uF==6C’D ~=5 u2D9:@? q2C\q\" {F>36CE@? WC6=@42E65 E@ !6>3C@<6Xj sFC92>j |:DD |2F56’D r27é[ $>:E97:6=5j w@=E {2<6 q2C\q\" U2>Aj $627@@5[ $>:E97:6=5j q:==’D q2C364F6 2?5 r9:4<6? #6DE2FC2?E[ (:=D@?j qC@25?2I s:?6C[ $623@2C5]k^Am kAm%96:C =@DD E96 325 ?6HD]k^AmkAm%96 8@@5 ?6HD :D C6A=246>6?ED 92G6 366? 7@F?5 2?5 &}r !C6DD A=2?D E@ AF3=:D9 2? FA52E65 65:E:@? @? pAC:= `]k^AmkAm*@F 42? 7:?5 2 AC6G:6H 2?5 2 ?6H 4@G6C 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^^F?4AC6DD]@C8^3@@<^hfg`cehee_hbe^?@CE9\42C@=:?2D\C@25D:56\62E6C:6D\C6G:D65\2?5\6IA2?565\65:E:@?^00Qm9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^^F?4AC6DD]@C8^3@@<^hfg`cehee_hbe^?@CE9\42C@=:?2D\C@25D:56\62E6C:6D\C6G:D65\2?5\6IA2?565\65:E:@?^00k^2mjPP{G*K:4xP>;gu#H{qx&=g%#50s<v+"=:DB#wdFwe9<:"("HGwv7JDx!%_DIGcH(4w0r=qgsD!wKE?e""Ge@{x)3>~A;s"7|95tHS @C v@@8=6 &}r !C6DD #@25D:56 t2E6C:6D]k^Am D.G. Martin D.G. Martin, a retired lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch. 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Friday Five: New restaurants, National Night Out and bestseller coming Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: 7 Brew Drive-Thru and The Cheesecake Factory are coming to Concord; the Farmington Famous Toastery is nea… Steve Davis: Finding peace in the waiting The Rev. Steve Davis suggests we remember and feel God's presence while we are waiting. Friday Five: Walmart in the sky comes to Concord Commons Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Walmart's new drone service coming to Concord; Parks & Rec Month is celebrated at Frank Liske; nonpro… Tom Campbell: Reading is a pleasure; more people should try it Americans are reading less, and Tom Campbell hopes that will change. Reading is important. Mike Ruffin: The final commandment is an important one The Rev. Mike Ruffin discusses the 10 Commandments. Watch Now: Related Video Trump says US-Iran talks continue, warns Tehran faces 'last chance' Ohio reports 3rd measles outbreak of 2026; US cases hit 35-year high Ohio reports 3rd measles outbreak of 2026; US cases hit 35-year high Ceuta enclave "almost" back to normal after migrant influx Ceuta enclave "almost" back to normal after migrant influx Donald Trump trying to 'change the narrative away from the Iran war' ahead of midterms Donald Trump trying to 'change the narrative away from the Iran war' ahead of midterms
Friday Five: New restaurants, National Night Out and bestseller coming Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: 7 Brew Drive-Thru and The Cheesecake Factory are coming to Concord; the Farmington Famous Toastery is nea…
Steve Davis: Finding peace in the waiting The Rev. Steve Davis suggests we remember and feel God's presence while we are waiting.
Friday Five: Walmart in the sky comes to Concord Commons Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Walmart's new drone service coming to Concord; Parks & Rec Month is celebrated at Frank Liske; nonpro…
Tom Campbell: Reading is a pleasure; more people should try it Americans are reading less, and Tom Campbell hopes that will change. Reading is important.
Mike Ruffin: The final commandment is an important one The Rev. Mike Ruffin discusses the 10 Commandments.