The Diner

Location

For my meal at The Diner, I sampled the breaded tenderloin along with my scrambled eggs. Owner Steve Eaton Jr. explained that, while the breaded tenderloin is a mainstay, the most popular item is the black skillet pan gravy, which is served as a separate dish. Eaton’s grandfather, Raymond Eaton, opened The Diner around 1968 in a nearby building. Raymond learned to cook while in the U.S. Navy and at the old Zinzendorf Hotel in downtown Winston-Salem. Later, he bought a small restaurant with nine stools and a counter for about $300. The business expanded, and in 1979, Raymond Eaton sold the business to his son, who sold it to Steve Eaton Jr. in 1996. Steve’s grandmother makes some of the desserts — banana pudding, homemade cobbler, and pies.

Hrs: Mon.-Fri., 5:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sat., 6 a.m.-noon.