Shoot back in time with Conway diner

The charm of a retro 50s diner is what the Downtown Grill in Conway is all about.

Burgers and shakes accompany a hodgepodge of fun and colorful memorabilia that leave no doubt to the diner’s theme. It’s definitely the type of eatery that fits perfectly in a downtown area.

An Elvis in the window gestures to people on the sidewalk, and stepping through the door brings guests within the immediate vicinity of a tall Betty Boop statue, holding a plate of mints. The walls are filled with vintage posters, signs and pictures. Many surfaces hold an assortment of model cars, including a glass case filled with the collectibles.

Each morning this diner opens up to serve breakfast and coffee, with options like pancakes or biscuits to get the day started. The breakfast menu offers enough variety for guests to have their meal according to preference, such as with bacon or sausage, or having eggs a certain way.

There are also wraps, paninis, and bagels, and it all comes right off the grill, pretty promptly depending on how busy they are. This is useful for the customers in a morning rush, especially since the diner also allows takeaway (and even delivery in the downtown area). All the prices are in a very reasonable range, but breakfast is only available until around 10:30 in the morning.

Lunch is filled with hoagies, sandwiches, and burgers, as well as salads and soups. Guests who prefer toasty meals will enjoy the chicken parmesan, French dip, or Italian hoagies. Cold subs can be on different breads and have options like chicken salad or even seafood salad. Fries are a popular choice of side, but the diner offers coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni salad as well.

Downtown Grill also prepares daily specials that they list on their social media page. Many popular specials include their steak quesadilla and cheeseburger panini. Occasionally their cheddar bacon Jack Daniels burger makes the specials list too, a meal many fans are fond of.

Occasionally soup specials sneak in, like chicken noodle, tomato basil, or chili.

Wednesday nights are great for milkshake lovers, as the diner gives a free milkshake for every one bought. Other treats are available besides milkshakes, including regular scoops of ice cream, floats, and malts. Downtown Grill does try to regularly integrate other specials, such as around holidays or during community events.

No matter what, the prices remain fabulous, and all the simple diner food coupled with amicable service makes Downtown Grill a great spot for friends to hang out and families to have a casual meal. The diner does have a few television screens, reminding guests of what era we live in, but otherwise the experience is very much like swinging into a soda fountain from the 1950s.

This story was originally published October 10, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Shoot back in time with Conway diner."