What is the difference between a diner and a coffee shop

They have two distinct sections, one of which is the bar. At the center of the restaurant, the bar is where adults can go to buy alcoholic drinks and usually watch different sports games.

Surrounding the bar are various tables for families, who can order different foods that are made on a grill. These can include fajitas, pasta, seafood, and hamburgers. Steakhouses tend to be a mix between a bar and grill and a formal restaurant. As the name suggests, they often serve steak and other higher-end meats to both couples and families wanting to treat themselves. They are similar to bar and grills, as they often also serve alcohol and offer different types of grilled foods.

Bistros were originally introduced in Paris , and over time migrated throughout the world. They tend to be less common than other forms of restaurants and are just slightly different from cafes. Bistros serve full meals, so you could go to one for lunch or dinner and be satisfied. A bistro is typically known for its food and atmosphere , which can be busy and lively.

You might see couples on a casual date together or friends getting together to hang out. Historically, bistro menus held foods that were very simple to make and could be made in quantity, such as sandwiches and salads.

Owners served wine and coffee as drinks to complement the food, but unlike cafes, the food was the focus. Diners originated in the United States as small establishments run out of wagons. They did not have tables or many places to sit. Instead, the wagons had a counter that jutted out its side, allowing customers to walk up to it and place their order.

They were meant to serve blue-collar workers that needed a quick meal after work or during lunch, so they were not made for families to dine together. As a result, the atmosphere in traditional diners are very interactive and friendly as everyone sits on bar stools near the counter and talks to the waiters and each other while eating.

Modern diners can be family-friendly ; they might have booths that allow groups to sit together. While they may feature a counter, most people will be able to sit at a table. Now, diners have spread to Western Europe and all over North America. It is rare to see diners in other parts of the world. Many of the options are fried or grilled , and can be accompanied by options like limitless coffee and milkshakes for drinks. Another characteristic of diners is their flexible hours.

O'Shaughnessy When the usual pie lineup feels boring and uninspired for your dessert repertoire, you've got to make Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest tips, tricks, recipes and more, sent twice a week.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Newsletter Shop Help Center. Log In Sign Up. Want to stay up to date with this post? My description above is probably most fitting to rural establishments, while metropolitan areas will develop their own quirks as to meaning. The connotations are going to vary from region to region and person to person, so adding a great deal of detail is kind of pointless.

Here's the general gist, which would be accurate everywhere I've ever been in the US:. You go to a diner to eat a meal dine , which will probably involve a beverage, which could be coffee. That is the classic American diner. Funnily enough, in cities like New York, they are today almost all owned by Greeks or descendants of Greeks. They have traditional American breakfast, lunch and dinner foods. Nothing too fancy.

Caters to all income types and is typically not expensive. Traditionally, also diners were modelled on dining cars from trains. A cafe is associated with the idea of little tables sometimes placed outdoors where you can partake of slightly fancier fare or "cuisine" salads and omelettes and dishes cooked by a chef and is more European French, Italian etc in feeling.

Often, they also serve wine and beer. They are rather informal but the good is usually good. Layout and atmosphere is more sophisticated, usually, than a diner. You don't get truck drivers, for example, sipping white wine of a summer afternoon.

Food-wise, a cafe is more "sophisticated" than a diner. Diners are associated with typical American breakfasts, sandwiches for lunch and things like meatloaf for dinner. There is, of course, overlap. Most likely, they want to appeal to both the cafe crowd and the diner crowd.

They have pretty fancy sandwiches that go beyond typical diner fare Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top.

Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. What is the difference between a cafe and a diner? Ask Question. Asked 5 years, 5 months ago. Active 4 years, 2 months ago. Viewed 17k times. Improve this question. Mazura 8, 3 3 gold badges 24 24 silver badges 49 49 bronze badges. Rusty Tuba Rusty Tuba 5, 14 14 gold badges 34 34 silver badges 55 55 bronze badges.