Greasy spoon/ Cafe

Greasy spoon is a colloquial or slang term used in Britain, Ireland and North America for small, especially cheap, archetypal working class restaurants or diners. The name "greasy spoon" is used to imply a less-than-rigorous approach to hygiene and dishwashing, and appears to date from 1925.

nited Kingdom

A dish with baked beans, black pudding, sliced sausage and toast

In the United Kingdom, greasy spoons are generally called cafes, which in England is often colloquially referred to as a "caff". Not all cafés are greasy spoons, however.

The typical greasy spoon serves mainly fried or grilled food, such as fried eggs, bacon, black pudding, bubble and squeak,burgers, sausages, mushrooms and chips. These are often accompanied by baked beans, cooked tomatoes, and fried bread. Hot and cold sandwiches are also often available, the bacon or sausage butty being particularly popular. The main drink in British greasy spoons is usually tea; often the only coffee available will be instant, though this has slowly changed with the proliferation of coffee drinking in the culture. British greasy spoons will sometimes also offer bread and butter pudding, apple crumble and rhubarb crumble.

The greasy spoon was also the mainstay of British truck drivers who travelled the major trunk roads such as the A1 and theA6 prior to the opening of the motorways. These cafes were not only stops where the driver could eat but also made convenient meeting places where the trade unions could talk to their members. ^[1] In 2001, a story broke in the UK press about how the European Union were making an attempt to ban the greasy spoon cafes. This turned out to be a hoax based on an EU report about eating habits of long distance drivers and their health. ^[2]

In the United Kingdom, the traditional greasy spoon has been in decline due to the rise of fast food chains. However, they remain numerous all over the UK,^[3]especially in certain parts of London, Manchester, and many seaside towns.

[edit]United States

Small diner in Brooklyn

Many typical American greasy spoons focus on fried or grilled food, such as fried eggs, bacon, burgers, hot dogs, hash browns, waffles, pancakes, omelettes, deep fried chicken and sausages. These are often accompanied by baked beans,french fries, cole slaw, or toast. Soups and chili con carne are generally available. A full meal may be available for a special price, often called a "blue-plate special". A typical "blue plate special" might include a slice of meatloaf, mashed potatoeswith gravy, a cooked green vegetable, and a dinner roll. Regional fare is often served. Coffee, iced tea and soft drinks are the typical beverages, and pie and ice cream are popular desserts.