Avalon Diner

The Avalon Diner, attached to the Avalon Pharmacy, is known for excellent small-tread waffles at breakfast and some of the best lunch-counter cheeseburgers out there. The beef patties glisten with oil from the griddle and come fully dressed with tomato, lettuce, pickle, onion, mustard, and mayonnaise on a bun that has been butter-toasted crisp on the inside. Possible companions include French fries, chili fries, chili cheese fries, wet fries (topped with brown or cream gravy), and onion rings. While malts are excellent, the beverage of choice is lemonade — squeezed to order and served in a tall, ice-frosted tulip glass that quenches your thirst just to look at it.

*Included on Gourmet magazine's list of 20 Burgers to Eat Before It's Too Late (2009).