lunch counter
Diner seating area
A lunch counter is a long counter in a restaurant or store where quick, simple meals are served to customers seated on stools.
Common in American diners and five-and-dime stores through the mid-20th century, lunch counters became historically significant during the civil rights movement, when sit-ins at segregated lunch counters protested racial discrimination: the Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins.
Backless sitting furniture
- soda fountainBar dispensing carbonated drinks
- short orderRapidly prepared food
- griddleFlat metal cooking surface
- hash brownsFried shredded potatoes
blue plate · greasy spoon · waitress · booth · patty melt · club sandwich · home fries · meatloaf
Ready for quick departure
- takeoutRestaurant food for elsewhere
- self-serviceCustomer performs the task
- expressState or fast train
- queueOrdered waiting line
sandwiches · daily special · soup · salad · cafeteria · snack bar · tray · cash register
Reflective metal coating
- vinyl seatsPlastic upholstery surfaces
- jukeboxCoin-operated music player
- maltsSprouted brewing grains
- egg creamFizzy milk with syrup
milkshake · root beer float · sundae · Americana · soda jerk · drugstore · five-and-dime · Woolworth's
Protest by remaining seated
- GreensboroPiedmont Triad hub
- segregationForced separation by group
- integrationCombining into a whole
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
Woolworth's · demonstrators · nonviolent · desegregation · Jim Crow · 1960s · activists · courage
Habitual visitors
- localsArea's permanent inhabitants
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
camaraderie · chatter · hangout · community · neighborhood · familiar faces · chitchat · gossip
stool
Backless sitting furniture
- soda fountainBar dispensing carbonated drinks
- short orderRapidly prepared food
- griddleFlat metal cooking surface
hash browns · blue plate · greasy spoon · waitress · booth · patty melt · club sandwich · home fries · meatloaf · gravy
grab-and-go
Ready for quick departure
- takeoutRestaurant food for elsewhere
- self-serviceCustomer performs the task
- expressState or fast train
queue · sandwiches · daily special · soup · salad · cafeteria · snack bar · tray · cash register · menu board
chrome
Reflective metal coating
- vinyl seatsPlastic upholstery surfaces
- jukeboxCoin-operated music player
- maltsSprouted brewing grains
egg cream · milkshake · root beer float · sundae · Americana · soda jerk · drugstore · five-and-dime · Woolworth's · fountain drinks
sit-in
Protest by remaining seated
- GreensboroPiedmont Triad hub
- segregationForced separation by group
- integrationCombining into a whole
protest · Woolworth's · demonstrators · nonviolent · desegregation · Jim Crow · 1960s · activists · courage · landmark
regulars
Habitual visitors
- localsArea's permanent inhabitants
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
banter · camaraderie · chatter · hangout · community · neighborhood · familiar faces · chitchat · gossip · friendly
- eateriesrestaurant, diner, bistro, cafeteria, pizzeria
- lunchluncheon, midday meal, quick bite, brown bag, grab and go
- cafeteria termscafeteria, meal plan, hot food, snack bar, salad bar
- Quick Eatsfast food, drive-thru, food court, takeout, delivery
- countercounterbalance, counteract, counterattack, counterpart, countermeasure
- local eateriesdiner, bistro, pub, tavern, trattoria
lunch counterfine dining
Elegant restaurant experience
formal dining room · banquet hall · supper club · bistro · brasserie
lunch, counter, encounter, counting, recount, lunchroom, lunchbox, lunchtime, counters