Back in the '50s and '60s, when you wanted to hang with friends you'd head not to the local watering hole, but to a diner or soda shop. There you might enjoy a milkshake with a plate of fries or a delicious slice of pie.
But many of these small, locally owned diners have struggled to survive in a modern market that's increasingly crowded by national chain restaurants. That's where Ty Pennington and Amanda Freitag come in.
In their Food Network show, "American Diner Revival," Pennington and Freitag travel across the country to find small-town diners whose menu and design could use a little boost. The show's second season premieres Friday night.
"Diners are the quintessential small business," Freitag, who most recently served as the executive chef at Empire Diner in Manhattan, told Business Insider. "They're the hub of the community. They're usually family-owned and passed down from generation to generation."
Freitag, who is also a judge on "Chopped," shared her favorite American diners with Business Insider.
SEE ALSO: The best doughnut shop in every state
DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!
Pilgrim Diner — Cedar Grove, New Jersey
82 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
Freitag grew up in New Jersey, the diner capital of the US, and Pilgrim Diner is her hometown spot. It's a popular late-night joint that's known for its disco fries.
"We went there as kids, we went there as teens, we see senior citizens go there to get a cup of coffee and a slice of pie," Freitag said. "It's your typical, wonderful diner."
Silver Diner
Multiple locations in Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey
Silver Diner may look like an old-school chrome diner from the outside, but its chefs are actually approaching classic dishes, in a fresh, modern way.
"A lot of diners use frozen products because they're so busy and have so many customers," Freitag said. "But Silver Diner makes an effort to use fresh, local ingredients. It's a very good example of why diners are making a comeback."
Little Goat — Chicago, Illinois
820 West Randolph Street, Chicago
Little Goat is run by Chef Stephanie Izard, a close friend of Freitag. Izard puts a modern, playful twist on classic diner food — like a dish she calls a "kimchee & bacon & eggs & pancakes & Asian style breakfast tasty thing," for example.
"This is a great example of a chef-driven diner," Freitag said. "It's just a fun place to be — and the food is outstanding."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider