A-1 Diner: Real Food, Recipes, & Recollections

In 1946 Worcester Diner #790 arrived by truck and was installed at 3 Bridge Street in Gardiner, Maine. Under the name of Heald's, it served employees of Gardiner's mills and factories with an emphasis on ample portions served quickly. The diner is still at 3 Bridge Street, still a marvel of efficiency and art moderne design, still a local gathering place, still serving the same warm, flaky biscuit.

But under the ownership of Mike Giberson and Neil Anderson since 1988, A1 Diner (as it it now called) draws customers (and restaurant reviews) from far and wide with its wonderfully eclectic menu, its emphasis on fresh, local food, and its upscale deli next door, A1 to Go. This is a small business success story, filled with characters from either side of the counter, packed with recipes and kitchen notes, and enjoyable down to the last bite.