The great American lunch menu

When did Americans forget about classic American dishes?

Somewhere between Chinese takeout, Lebanese restaurants, Pho and raw foodism, we forgot about America’s delicious range of comfort eats. This is where Blue Plate steps in.

At this causal and cozy soda bar and diner with ’50s overtones, you can order all your old-time favorites. These are the foods that never fail to delight, despite the arteries they may be inconveniently clogging. It will be difficult, but try to remember: Moderation is key.

The menu is simple, old school and satisfying. The lunch menu changes daily, but is always made up of American classics, from southern Cajun cuisine, to New York deli.

For example, on my visit to Blue Plate, the week’s lunch menu included: chicken with peppers and creole sauce, with a side of herbed grits; pot roast with whole potatoes and carrots; bacon mushroom macaroni and cheese; chicken friend steak; and mashed potatoes and a roast beef hoagie roll.

I sampled from the menu that is available every day. It includes grilled cheese, tomato soup, Northwest sliders (two small cheeseburgers with basil spread and a side of mashed potatoes) and BLT salad, as well as various side salads.

My samplings of grilled cheese, tomato soup and the Northwest sliders were delectable. The grilled cheese was rich, with thick whole grain bread that was toasted to perfection.

The tomato soup was light but chunky and full of flavor. The Northwest sliders were real burgers. The basil spread was tangy and added a little something to the generous slices of beef and cheese in between fluffy buns. All in all, a very filling and delicious lunch that certainly did not leave me hungry for dinner that night.

But if you do end up at Blue Plate, you absolutely cannot miss the soda bar. It’s the premise of the diner after all.

The concoctions made at the fountain are every bit as tasty as the menu items, and made from scratch. I had a Karl Marx–a mix of sparkling lemonade and iced tea. Sounds rather boring, but it was truly amazing. The soda Chai Bomb looks to be a fantastic mix of of cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, cloves and star anise.

Other sodas include Eastern Connection (a mix of orange, ginger, lemongrass and lime leaf) and Purple Haze (a mix of hibiscus, allspice and star anise).

While their sodas are delicious, Blue Plate also offers an ice cream float menu, a sundae menu (including a mean-looking banana split) and, like all respectable diners, a milkshake menu. Their milkshakes usually have three scoops, and the menu includes the normal favorites of vanilla and chocolate malt, but also offers some more avant-garde options.

My choice of milkshake was the Arctic Chai, a spectacular mix of chai syrup and green tea ice cream. Top it off with rich whipped cream and a maraschino cherry, and you have a perfect dessert.

While Blue Plate may not be a practical everyday kind of place (unless you boast a workout akin to Michael Phelps’ daily routine), it is definitely a diner you will want to check out for a weekly treat (or two). Remember, this is a lunch bar, so visit between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. for some comforting eats.

Blue Plate 308 S.W. Washington St.11 a.m. to 5 p.m., all daysDon’t miss: the Northwest slidersDamage: $12