I've always called them "joints".. About 98% of the time we got eat out, its to a locally owned joint.. Greek last night - known the owners for years, Italian the night before - known them for years.. Couple of Mexican places where nobody speaks English - always the BEST Mexican food.. and several like you mention with lots of fried foods, gravy on everything and pies out the wazoo.. We also have several taco trucks in town with the BEST Mexican beach style street tacos - exactly like the ones we get on the beach in Mexico.. We have a hot dog truck, Cajun truck, Jamaican truck, and trucks of pretty much a truck for every style food..

We WILL occasionally go to a chain type place, but maybe only once a month, at best.. we prefer the local joints - that's where the good grub is... and if its not that great, they'll cover it in enough gravy so that it is.. lol

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Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..