Where American Diners Came From
The American diner grew out of the horse-drawn lunch wagons that sold food to late-night workers in the late 1800s, which later became small, often prefabricated restaurant buildings. By the middle of the 20th century, diners were a fixture of American towns and highways, known for counter service, booths and long opening hours. The 1950s is the decade most people picture: chrome, neon, rock 'n' roll on the jukebox and a milkshake on the counter.
The Look: Booths, Chrome and a Checkerboard Floor
Walk into a 50s diner and you know where you are straight away. At ours, that means:
- Red vinyl booths and chrome: booths and chrome tables and chairs, with room for the whole family.
- A checkerboard floor: black and white, wall to wall.
- A jukebox: glowing in the corner, with a rock 'n' roll soundtrack.
- The walls: Route 66 signs, vinyl records and rock 'n' roll memorabilia and collectables.
It's a look Lynda and Nick have built into a proper family restaurant, with rockabilly and classic cars in its blood.
The Food: Burgers, Hot Dogs and Loaded Fries
Diner food is quick, filling and made to order. Our burgers and hot dogs are named after American cities and 50s stars, and the full menu covers lunch and dinner. A few to start with:
- Burgers: more than a dozen, from beef classics to brisket, chicken, fish and vegetarian. Our burger guide helps you pick.
- Hot dogs: the New York, the Detroit with house-made mac and cheese, the Elvis Dog and the Hound Dog, made with a Dagwood dog. Here's the Dagwood dog vs corn dog story.
- Loaded fries: like the Chicago (gravy and cheese) or the Yankee (pulled pork and American cheese).
- Plates: schnitzels, fish and chips and steak sandwiches, for when you want a proper feed.
Shakes, Spiders and Sundaes
No 50s diner is complete without something sweet. Our thickshakes are thick enough to need a spoon (butterscotch is a favourite), our spiders float a scoop of ice cream in fizzy soft drink, and the ice creamery counter scoops Everest ice cream into cones and cups. Read thickshake vs milkshake, or see our ice cream and desserts guide for the sundaes.
The American Drinks Fridge and Retro Giftware
Part of the fun is what's on the shelves. The American drinks fridge has imported favourites like Dr Pepper, A&W, Fanta flavours and Coke varieties in bottles and cans, and there's a shelf of retro American giftware to browse on the way out. Both are in store only.
Diner, Cafe or Restaurant?
A diner sits somewhere in between. Like a cafe, it's casual and there's no booking: you order at the counter and grab a seat. Like a restaurant, it serves a full menu of hot meals for lunch and dinner. That makes it an easy stop when you've got kids in tow, a group that can't agree, or you just want a burger without dressing up.
A 50s Diner an Hour From Adelaide
You'll find us at Shop 3 / 119 Murray Street, in the middle of Tanunda's main street in the Barossa Valley, with street parking along Murray Street and nearby. We open from midday (11:30am on weekends) every day except Tuesday, and trade through to 8pm Thursday to Sunday. In South Australian school holidays we open 7 days. Hours can vary on public holidays, so call (08) 8563 2371 if you're making the trip.
Driving up from the city? Our Adelaide to the Barossa guide has drive times and routes, and the Visit page has directions and the latest hours.
