Mel's Drive-In050

Mel's aims to be a fun destination as well as a restaurant. As many diners can attest, the food is the second reason people come. Made famous as the backdrop for American Grafitti, the movie set in the 1950s, the diner celebrates the era in photos, decor, and fare. Breakfast is served all day, juke boxes grace every table, there's always a blue plate special, lemon meringue pies are in the dessert case, and kids' meals are served in cardboard '57 Chevys.

Kids love the many simple offerings on the menu (burgers, eggs, spaghetti, meat loaf, grilled cheese), not to mention the soda fountain. An assortment of salads and entree choices make adults reasonably happy, too, though the food has a mass-produced quality. Balloons are there for the asking so kids take home two souvenirs - one airborne, one they can park in a toy garage.

Parties: The festive atmosphere and theme setting makes this a fun place to hold a birthday party. Kids can dress in pedal pushers and jean jackets, order their milkshakes tall, and rely on the staff for a hearty rendition of the birthday song. No special preparations are necessary; while there can be a wait, the tables turn over quickly enough that even a group can count on being seated within 15 minutes or so of arriving.