Barnside Diner 111

Elite '08

70

185

Jim B.

Washington, DC

This is a real diner. Not that fake bit that Johnny Rockets or Silver Diner tries to pull off. I mean a real late-night diner where the coffee only comes in two flavors - dark and bitter.

I was drawn in here one night by the promise of the $3.95 special they had posted on their sign. Two cakes, two eggs, two sausage. The previously mentioned cup of joe will run you a buck and change more.

Don't expect culinary miracles here, but the food was definitely solid and much appreciated at that hour. Feel free to sit and take your time, perhaps chatting up the regular at the other end of the bar, or just scanning the place and wondering what strange circumstances brought the other patrons to this place at this ungodly hour.

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Elite '08

11

117

reuben j.

Washington, DC

How in Blazes did I forget this place? Oh, diner gods, forgive the oversight.... It is, as Jim B. reports, a straight up diner. Grease reigns-and rightly so.... You know the food is doing to your arteries what traffic has done to nearby Route 1-but the simple bliss of a break from the pretentious, power-driven vibe of this area is its own culinary/metaphorical reward. Is the food out of this world? Well, no. But it is tasty enough-filling, and reliable...(Now there's a K Street law firm for ya!) Somewhere, Jack Kerouac is smiling. And gently reminding you to ask for another cup of Starbucks-free coffee.

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13

43

Kaya A.

Bowie, MD

I like hole-in-the wall establishments.  I like it even better when my significant other shares my enthusiasm in some of those places.  Barnside Diner is one of those place where it holds sentimental value for the both of us.

He introduced me to the place one late night.  I got annoyed that everyone and their mother wanted to talk to him during our tutoring session, so he suggested a quieter place.  He drove us from the College Park campus to this shady joint out of nowhere on Route 1.  The place was apparently open for 24 hours, and when we came in, the entire staff (1 cook and 2 servers) greeted him.  Apparently, he was a regular (and I soon discovered that it doesn't take much to be one).

The diner is built on the foundation of fast food, and while the staples are made fresh, don't expect them to make homemade ice cream or hot chocolate.  The low prices have to be compensated somewhere.  My regular order (usually done after a long night of studying or drinking) is the barnside burger, two eggs sunnyside up with toast and hot chocolate (I get really hungry), and it totals to $5.  My fiance -- then tutee -- eats enough for 3 people (and has great metabolism -- damn him) and pays only $10.

So if you're a Terp and looking for a place where you can find a quiet space to study and a late night snack, this is the place to be.

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