Hash browns are cubed, shredded potatoes are just shredded potatoes. ;)

In college, we had Merry Ann's, which is still around.
Merry-Ann's Diner – Open 24 Hours!

Problem was that it was a mile off campus, so it took some great effort to drag your hungover self out in the morning for breakfast, walking 15-20 minutes in whatever cold snowy weather we had.

Going there after drinking always seemed easier, the cold snowy walk never bothered us at 1am while lit up...

Later I lived on the East side of campus and we would wander over to the Elite Diner, which was one of those classic stainless steel art deco diners and made the best ever fluffy pancakes. I mean, they literally melted in yo mouth.

Miri's Dad: Whatever happened to...the Elite Diner?

There used to be this place in Charlottesville VA called The Tavern. Total breakfast only place that was only open until early afternoon. You could literally scrape the tar, nicotine, and grease off the walls. Unfortunately it closed a few years ago. Loss of a great institution.

A jersey classic

https://www.ticktockdiner.com/

my local which used to be small and cozy but has since gotten bigger and brighter and more expensive:(

https://www.betsyrossdiner.com/

Potato cubes are country potatoes.... And cola is pop, and pop is soda... And tomato is tomato :-)

then I prefer shredded potatos. cubed are good, but...

LOL! Good call!

The worst are 'dinner or steak fries'
Thick and mealy.

"shoestring" when well done are the best, but I've had some good big fries and even "wedges".

Whenever I order a hamburger in a B&G...if it comes with fries, I ask for the fries 'well fried'

Sometimes it works and they arrive great. Other times, the cook ignores the request.:)

And we're off!!!

:cool:

Two places I used to go to that still stand out. I lived in Coronado and we'd head down the strand to IP to Jalisco's Cafe for breakfast on Sunday's then surf (I kayaked) back up to Coronado. I checked and it is a little more upscale than in 1985:)

There was a waitress there in the day that was probably mid to late 30's, blond and a complete hammer; a brick house - and as acerbic and funny as could be. We all loved her. She tolerated us.

The other place was, I think the named has changed, My Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach.

I was stashed at an A-6 Squadron at Oceana and it was kayak the surf and then eat...1983. Wow.

I will say once more for the record, grits prepared the right way with sharp cheddar cheese sprinkled on top will make a grown man cry...fry then up together just a little bit and it is a food sermon.

Here are the rulez:

Hash browns are shredded .... you can get 'em nekkid or "smothered & covered" but cubed ain't happening. Don't believe me.... go to a Waffle House and argue with Flo ;).

Grits - Only a CA boy, corrupted "South of the Border" would put cheese on 'em .... and if ya do they'd better have shrimp in there too :).

Diner grits come swimmin' in butter, and then you cover 'em with black pepper and and equal amount of salt. And I'm not a big salter, but it belongs on grits and watermelon ... Or you "ain't from around here"!

There is no such thing as soda or pop .... they are all Coke .... even Pepsi!

Iced tea does contain sugar and not one bit of alcohol....

I may be back wif more rulez later, but that's a start :)....

In diners I always have what we call all day breakfast. And that's bacon and eggs with hash browns, sausage tomatoe, and more and more. You know, all those things that are good for you.

Bless your heart:D

Love this thread.

I had a talk with my dad this morning about the subject. Here's the skinny on shredded potatoes and hash browns.

Joe Rogers Sr., a former VP of the Toddle House, and founder of the Waffle House, brought over many of the Toddle House menu items, but hash browns was not one of them. WH decided to brown shredded potatoes. There you go.;)

Interestingly enough, through my conversation this morning, I now know how to make real hash browns from scratch.

If you go to youtube, there are dozens of 'the best hash browns'
Almost all of them involve too many steps for me.
I like these....
http://images.salsify.com/image/uplo...rk09hreu8y.png

That’s my favorite breakfast! We’ve got a great diner about 20 miles away that has the best chicken fried steak and pancakes as big as pizzas. Wifey and I always share because it’s just too much food.

If you can get chips and/or fries that have started to turn a darker brown (maillard) you get more flavor (and often more crunch).

I remember years ago, someone tried to come out with chips that were darker. Somehow it just wasn't the same as when you get a darker brown chip in a regular bag of fries.

^^^ lightly fried, limp fries are terrible. imo
I like them crunchy and brown....which are impossible to get in steak fries.

And also, ketchup doesn't work...must be mayo.

crunchy is the preferred. soggy/limp is bad (that's what she said).

ketchup, ranch, chipotle-mayo, miracle whip, mustard - all good.

Plain mayo, not my thing (ever, on anything).