That counter takes many forms, from a conference table for lawyers to a coloring table for kids, Edelman says. But the diner is not without its faithful, like Gordon Thompson and Tracy Nabstedt. Both Concord businessmen frequent the counter, drawn for reasons practical and otherwise. It's a matter of finding a place that's convenient. . . . If it happens to be kind of a neat place, then that's another thing altogether. . . .
Diners are in.
There's Louis Diner in Concord, where locals come to chew the fat, both literally and figuratively. A Concord landmark for more than 30 years, it retains many of its original fixtures, including some of the folks who frequent it. A few devotees travel 20 or 30 miles for its homemade fare. The Main Street Station in downtown Plymouth plays up the train theme and offers a more upscale version of the diner tradition, with dark oak furnishings and a menu accessorized with Italian, Mexican and Asian dishes. Together, they're a train that's going nowhere.