CUISINE AND ATMOSPHERE: S & L is a diner through and through, offering counter dining along with tables and license plates adorning the walls of the two-room restaurant. It has its many regulars, something that comes with being in business 38 years and offering enough food to fill any appetite. The waitresses act like family, and know the names — and orders — of many frequent customers.
WHAT’S BEST: S & L is known for its burgers, and they don’t disappoint. The Cheeseburger comes fully loaded, filling up the bun and your stomach. I didn’t specify how to cook it (I wasn’t asked), so it came well done — no pink inside — as many restaurants do these days. But it did not taste dry — only flavorful. If you order it with fries, prepare to share — S & L is not stingy with its offering of large, crinkled-cut fries. Two other highlights: Sticking with burgers, don’t pass up the Patty Melt on rye bread. The burger was covered with cheese and caramelized onions, then served on freshly toasted rye bread. Moving to turkey, be adventurous and try the Turkey Melt, an amazing sandwich that includes a mound of turkey covered with cheese. This sandwich might just prompt me to return again and again.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: They say there’s a reason you don’t order steak in a seafood restaurant and vice versa. So the same could be said here: Skip the chicken tenders. There is nothing wrong with them — they were hot and good. But order the burgers in a burger joint.
FYI: Leave your credit cards at home; this restaurant takes cash only. And if you’re a morning person, try having breakfast there. From a past review, I know it’s just as good as lunch.
PRICE RANGE: $6.25 is the most you’ll pay for a sandwich and fries; $7.30 for a salad. For breakfast, specials start at $2.70; the highest-price item is $6.55 for a chicken omelet.