History Main / GreasySpoon

* The Mexican equivalent is called a "fondita" (yes, with a diminutive), in which the archetypical "Doña Pelos" (the restaurant's handler, if not owner) offers food served in "tres tiempos" [[note]] Mexican pasta soup, rice or pasta, and a "guiso" (dish) usually involving meat, which can range from "milanesas de pollo/res" to enchiladas, chicken mole, and several kinds of bone-in-meat covered in green or red sauces, with nopales, potatoes or "calabacitas" as the vegetable component. All served alongside plentiful of warm corn tortillas. Sometimes a small dessert, like a jello cup or a palanqueta will be offered as courtesy.[[/note]]. Classic Mexican "antojitos" like gorditas, quesadillas and the ever-present tacos are also available. The archetypical customers are the blue-collar workers that flood the restaurant at lunch time, between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. differ from specialized street food stands, like "taquerías" and "torterías" in that they're almost always family-managed, handled by women, the presence of mostly homemade food and a permanent location inside a building or market. As such, they will only be open at daytime and almost never offer alcoholic beverages (instead, you will be offered "aguas frescas" and soda), befitting their "family-friendly" status.

* The Mexican equivalent is called a "fondita" (yes, with a diminutive), in which the archetypical "Doña Pelos" (the restaurant's handler, if not owner) offers food served in "tres tiempos" - mexican pasta soup, rice or pasta, and a "guiso" (dish) usually involving meat, which can range from "milanesas de pollo/res" to enchiladas, chicken mole, and several kinds of meat covered in green or red sauces, with nopales, potatoes or "calabacitas" as the vegetable component. Classic Mexican "antojitos" like gorditas, quesadillas and the ever-present tacos are also available. These places differ from specialized street food stands, like "taquerías" and "torterías" in that they're almost always managed by women, and the presence of mostly homemade food. As such, these places will only be open at daytime and almost never offer alcoholic beverages (instead, you will be offered "aguas frescas" and soda), befitting their "family-friendly" status.

* There is one of these opposite the Games Pit in ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable''. The players will occasionally adjourn there for a meal (although it is not as popular as Tic Tac Taco). Apparently the chili is
good: anything else is a bit of a gamble.

* ''Film/NextOfKin'': On her way to her mother's old nursing home, [[TheProtagonist Linda]] stops in one of these. The owner reveals that Linda and her mother used to frequent the restaurant, and that her mom would stare out the window when they sat in their booth.

* There is one of these opposite the Games Pit in ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable''. The players will occasionally adjourn there for a meal (although it is not as popular as Tic Tac Taco). Apparently the chili is good: anything else is a bit of a gamble.

* Steph Turner's restaurant where the Spook Duo set shop in the David Weber and Eric Flint's ''[[Literature/HonorHarrington Torch of Freedom]]''. Lamphshaded when Anton ''calls'' it a "greasy spoon," which prompted [[RantInducingSlight Steph's angry outburst]] that sanitary violations are about [[EvenEvilHasStandards the only things]] that authorities ''are'' serious about. Given that the diner in question is definitely on the WrongSideOfTheTracks, that's something.

* ''Series/HeeHaw'': Lulu's Truck Stop, a recurring skit featuring gospel singer/comedienne Lulu Roman-Smith as the proprieter and comedian/artist Gailard Sartain as the cook. The restaurant was guilty of every health violation imaginable and the food horrible, both being common butts of the corn-spun one-liners from the regulars. Each skit opened with a pair of long air-horn blasts.

* There's an old, well-worn 50s-style diner called Scram's Diner in the Widow's Creek neighborhood of Gotham where Tim and Steph go to have comfort food and discuss her feelings regarding her father's death in ''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}} #111''.

The British equivalent is basically similar in most respects, but will offer ASpotOfTea (the strong, "builder's tea" variant[[note]]Wiki/TheOtherWiki used to say "weak, tepid, milky tea (or, in transport cafés, tea thick enough to float a lorry wheelnut, served just below the melting point of the mug)" and was 100% correct on both counts[[/note]]) as well as coffee. The decor usually involves Formica tables and chairs rather than booths, sometimes bolted to the floor. Usually offer an "all-day breakfast" of some sort that follows the same basic principle as the breakfasts in the American version, lots of carbs and protein but not a lot of other micronutrients, but most offer some sort of vaguely healthy option; "Meat and two veg" was the traditional lunchtime option, but nowadays the menu usually extends to things like lasagne or chilli con carne, and maybe a Sunday roast. Trying to order [[SeparatedByACommonLanguage biscuits and gravy]] will get you some very funny looks.

* In the UK version of ''Series/TheApprentice'', the losing team are sent to one of these to contemplate what went wrong for them while the winners enjoy their reward. The real examples used for filming (the Bridge Cafe in West Acton, and less commonly La Cabaña 2 in Park Royal) have both experienced a TouristBump thanks to the show.

* The little cafe to which the losing team is sent by [[FanNickname Suralan]] each week in ''Series/TheApprentice UK''.

The British equivalent is basically similar in most respects, but will offer ASpotOfTea (the strong, "builder's tea" variant) as well as coffee. The decor usually involves Formica tables and chairs rather than booths, sometimes bolted to the floor. Usually offer an "all-day breakfast" of some sort that follows the same basic principle as the breakfasts in the American version, lots of carbs and protein but not a lot of other micronutrients, but most offer some sort of vaguely healthy option; "Meat and two veg" was the traditional lunchtime option, but nowadays the menu usually extends to things like lasagne or chilli con carne, and maybe a Sunday roast. Trying to order [[SeparatedByACommonLanguage biscuits and gravy]] will get you some very funny looks.

** Which was reused in ''Series/StargateSG1'' as a manifestation of a higher plane of existence. The meals were themed around enlightenment and ascension-related names.

* The Cantonese equivalent is the "茶餐廳", usually transcribed ''chachaanteng'' and literally meaning "tea restaurant", originating from UsefulNotes/HongKong. They are popular on urban streets though. The food is generally a delicious mashup of Cantonese and Western (especially British), featuring such delicacies as deep-fried HK-style French toast, spam-and-egg macaroni soup,[[note]]Which usually includes a bit of Campbell's cream of chicken soup added to the traditional Cantonese pork-bone broth[[/note]] pepper steak,[[note]]Both as a Western-style steak with black pepper and as a Cantonese-ish stir-fry with a Western-inspired black pepper sauce (black pepper is coded as "Western" in China because traditional Chinese cuisine uses white pepper, but the sauce usually also includes ''douchi'', black fermented soybeans)[[/note]] "Swiss wings",[[note]]Chicken wings braised in a sweet soy-sauce-based sauce that [[NonIndicativeName have absolutely nothing to do with Switzerland[[/note]] and cheesy seafood fried rice gratin, all served at a good value. The places do have a reputation for being somewhat hygienically challenged, however--though for some that just adds to the charm.

* The Cantonese equivalent is the "茶餐廳", usually transcribed ''chachaanteng'' and literally meaning "tea restaurant", originating from UsefulNotes/HongKong. They are popular on urban streets though. The food is generally a delicious mashup of Cantonese and Western (especially British), featuring such delicacies as deep-fried HK-style French toast, spam-and-egg macaroni soup,[[note]]Which usually includes a bit of Campbell's cream of chicken soup added to the traditional Cantonese pork-bone broth[[/note]] pepper steak,[[note]]Both as a Western-style steak with black pepper and as a Cantonese-ish stir-fry with a Western-inspired black pepper sauce (black pepper is coded as "Western" in China because traditional Chinese cuisine uses white pepper, plus the sauce often/usually includes Worcestershire sauce[[/note]] "Swiss wings",[[note]]Chicken wings braised in a sweet soy-sauce-based sauce that [[NonIndicativeName have absolutely nothing to do with Switzerland[[/note]] and cheesy seafood fried rice gratin, all served at a good value. The places do have a reputation for being somewhat hygienically challenged, however--though for some that just adds to the charm.

* The Cantonese equivalent is the "茶餐廳", usually transcribed ''chachaanteng'' and literally meaning "tea restaurant", originating from UsefulNotes/HongKong. They are popular on urban streets though. The food is generally a delicious mashup of Cantonese and Western (especially British), featuring such delicacies as deep-fried HK-style French toast, spam-and-egg macaroni soup,[[note]]Which usually includes a bit of Campbell's cream of chicken soup added to the traditional Cantonese pork-bone broth[[/note]] pepper steak,[[note]]Both as a Western-style steak with black pepper and as a Cantonese-ish stir-fry with a Western-inspired black pepper sauce (the Chinese usually go for white pepper, plus the sauce often/usually includes Worcestershire sauce[[/note]] "Swiss wings",[[note]]Chicken wings braised in a sweet soy-sauce-based sauce that [[NonIndicativeName have absolutely nothing to do with Switzerland[[/note]] and cheesy seafood fried rice gratin, all served at a good value. The places do have a reputation for being somewhat hygienically challenged, however--though for some that just adds to the charm.

* The Cantonese equivalent is the "茶餐廳", usually transcribed ''chachaanteng'' and literally meaning "tea restaurant", originating from UsefulNotes/HongKong. They are popular on urban streets though. The food is generally a delicious mashup of Cantonese and Western (especially British), featuring such delicacies as deep-fried HK-style French toast, spam-and-egg macaroni soup, pepper steak, "Swiss wings",[[note]]Chicken wings braised in a sweet soy-sauce-based sauce that [[NonIndicativeName have absolutely nothing to do with Switzerland[[/note]] and cheesy seafood fried rice gratin, all served at a good value. The places do have a reputation for being somewhat hygienically challenged, however--though for some that just adds to the charm.

* The Cantonese equivalent is the "茶餐廳", usually transcribed ''chachaanteng'' and literally meaning "tea restaurant", originating from UsefulNotes/HongKong. They are popular on urban streets though. The food is generally a delicious mashup of Cantonese and Western (especially British), featuring such delicacies as deep-fried HK-style French toast, spam and macaroni soup, pepper steak, "Swiss wings",[[note]]Chicken wings braised in a sweet soy-sauce-based sauce that [[NonIndicativeName have absolutely nothing to do with Switzerland[[/note]] and cheesy seafood fried rice gratin, all served at a good value. The places do have a reputation for being somewhat hygienically challenged, however--though for some that just adds to the charm.