November 1940. "Lunchroom. Aberdeen, South Dakota." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.

New York circa 1908. "Cafe Martin, Fifth Avenue and 26th Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Huron County, Michigan, circa 1900. "Dining room at the Club, Pointe aux Barques." 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

February 10, 1948. Washington, D.C. "Potomac Electric Power Co. -- commercial kitchens, restaurants and lighting. Mayfair Restaurant dining room." You'll come for the food and stay for the flattering indirect illumination. 8x10 acetate negative by Theodor Horydczak. View full size.

Detroit circa 1912. "Edelweiss Cafe -- The Grill Room." There may be a slight wait. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Can it be that a mere 36 years ago it was still a world of neon signs, diners that offered "eats," public telephones and gigantic vinyl-roofed hardtops? It was on Water Street in Petaluma, California. Already those days were numbered. Beasley's, in the c.1850 Wickersham Building, had only 5 years to go before being replaced by a fancy Italian restaurant - at which I enjoyed many a zabaglione, it must be admitted. Water Street, formerly an access alley of tar, asphalt patches and plain old dirt, is now a cobbled promenade, though the now-unused railroad tracks are still there. The rest of the business district is populated by boutiques, wine shops, shabby-chic antique emporia, nail-, hair- and skin-care parlors and lots more upscale restaurants. Somehow it all makes me want to belly up to a counter for a burger and a shake. Car is a Ford LTD, film Kodacolor II, photographer me. View full size.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, circa 1905. "Oyster Bay Cafe." Continuing the bivalve theme. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Lake George, New York, circa 1908. "The cafe, Fort William Henry Hotel." Welcome to the Purgatory Room, with cocktails and dancing nightly in the Limbo Lounge. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size.

Lake George, New York, circa 1908. "Main dining room, Fort William Henry Hotel." Two for dinner? Excellent. But there's a wait. View full size.

Lake George, New York, circa 1908. "The Grotto, Fort William Henry Hotel." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

October 1914. "Table boy in a Montgomery. Alabama, drug store. Many of these boys work until midnight, and some are very young." Hey kid -- one peppermint caramel venti latte to go. Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.

Located in Santa Monica Canyon, California. Good food and for some reason one of their specials was frog legs. View full size.

New York circa 1910. "Pell Street, Chinatown." Mon Lay Won, a restaurant that billed itself as the "Chinese Delmonico," figured in the Tong Wars of the early 20th century. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

New Orleans circa 1906. "Old Absinthe House -- the bar." No obvious patrons except for a number of barflies. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size.

Circa 1900. "New York Central R.R. dining room." Full of high-class touches. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.