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Greasy spoon restaurants serve simple, often fried or grilled food, and are found in middle-class neighborhoods and truck stops. The term dates back to the early 20th century and implies fatty food and potentially poor hygiene. Many chains specialize in this type of fare, and tipping is recommended for hardworking waitstaff.
Greasy spoon is a term used in both the UK and the US to refer to a type of restaurant that typically serves simple food, often grilled or fried. In the UK the greasy spoon would likely have served varieties of pub grub, such as sausages, fish and chips and baked beans, and would likely be located in lower middle class neighbourhoods. The food is not known for its quality, but more for its relatively cheap cost and large portion sizes. In the United States, the greasy spoon is a staple in much of the country and can be synonymous with the term truck stop, even if the truckers don’t frequent the restaurant.
The term oily spoon dates back to the early 20th century and has a couple of implications. First it implies that many greasy and fattening foods make up the majority of the menu. Secondly, it suggests that hygiene can be an issue and things like silverware can be washed improperly. This isn’t always the case, particularly with the advent of modern dishwashing equipment and laws governing food preparation and safety. The modern version of this type of restaurant can be very clean and pleasant, but they pride themselves on serving high-fat foods that are loved by many.
You might find a greasy spoon located at a truck stop, but more often you’ll find them scattered around middle-class neighborhoods in cities. Some are in the middle of town like the famous Mel’s Diner on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. They usually serve breakfast and lunch, and some, like Mel’s, also serve dinner.
Typical breakfast entrees include things like eggs, hash browns, sausage or bacon, and hash. Lunches offer a variety of grilled sandwiches, usually accompanied by a large portion of fries. When dinner is served, the emphasis is on typical American food such as meatloaf and chicken meatballs. An all day restaurant usually serves any type of food, breakfast, lunch or dinner, at any time of day. Some in big cities stay open at night to catch people who want to have a snack after partying at night.
Cooking in a greasy spoon can differ by region. In the American Southwest, you may find a variety of Mexican-inspired dishes. In the Deep South, you’re likely to find grits, biscuits, and gravy. Fat Hawaiian spoons just wouldn’t be the same without offering spam.
There are many chain restaurants that specialize in offering greasy spoon fare. Restaurants like Dennys, Lyons, and IHOP are chains that tend to serve familiar items prepared quickly. Many think they should tip the greasy spoons as the service is usually of lesser quality and the food may be too.
In fact, it makes sense if the service is decent to offer a tip. The waiters and waitresses in these restaurants usually handle the largest number of customers per hour and are some of the hardest workers in the restaurant industry. Customers often stiff them, and their tips, while generous, will be smaller amounts due to the price of the food. If you frequent a particular small restaurant, you may get better service if you are known as a generous tipper and are greeted with open arms by the waitstaff.
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