Back in "the days" of "Lunch Counter Lingo" how would the watress order a cup of coffee with sugar only?

Question

Back in "the days" of "Lunch Counter Lingo" how would the watress order a cup of coffee with sugar only?

Answer 1

A cup of mud with sand!

Answer 2

They wouldn't.  They bring you the coffee black and the cream and sugar is sitting on the counter for you to add.  I know what you are getting at, how about these:

• Adam and Eve on a raft: Two poached eggs on toast.

• baby, moo juice, Sweet Alice or cow juice: Milk.

• crowd: Three of anything (possibly from the old saying, "Two's company, three's a crowd").

• draw one: Coffee.

• fifty-five: A glass of root beer.

• gentleman will take a chance: Hash.

• groundhog: Hot dog.

• houseboat: A banana split, made with ice cream and sliced bananas.

• in the alley: Serve as a side dish.

• Mike and Ike or the twins: Salt and pepper shakers.

• Murphy: Potatoes, so called because of their association with the Irish diet of potatoes, Murphy being a common Irish name.

• Noah's boy: A slice of ham, because Ham was Noah's second son.

• wreck 'em: Scramble the eggs.

Answer 3

i want you to butter my muffin.

Answer 4

I don't think they would.

Back in the days of lunch counters (and I was there at Walgreens and HL Green's and Woolworth's and the like) you got your coffee black and added you own sugar - NOT from little pink and blue packets but from the large communal sugar dispenser on the counter.

Even if they did make your coffee for you, it would be the waitress herself who did it - not the cook.

But if I had to come up with something (like for a script) I guess I'd say "Jo - two sugars" or such as that.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

You would say "Draw one with yum-yum"!

nfd♥

Answer 6

cup of joe and a lump of sugar

Answer 7

you would say ASUCAR! lol it means sugar in spanish.

Answer 8

she would say "HEY BLACK PEOPLE, FIX ME THIS COFFEE NOW *****"

Answer 9

The waitress draws the coffee so it's not likely she'd call out anything unless she's really, really bored.  On any lunch counter there is creme (or substitute) and sugar and now-a-days artificial sweeteners.

They used to have names for the various orders of food though - but there wasn't a formal list that all diners used.  A diner would esptablish a short memory jogger for the cook and that could be anything that worked.

Here's a list for you:

This is our first cut at a full dictionary of Diner Talk. Everyone is invited to submit entries that we either forgot or didn't know about.

Adam and Eve on a Raft: Two poached eggs on toast (and Wreck 'em: = Scrambled eggs)

Adam and Eve on a log: Two poached eggs with link sausage [Thanks to George Nikas of Atlanta]

Adam's Ale: Water

All Day: altogether [Thanks to DR]

All Hot: Baked potato

Angels on Horseback: oysters rolled in bacon and served on toast

Atlanta [Special]: Coca Cola

Axle Grease: Butter [Thanks to Boudewijn]

Baled Hay: Shredded wheat

Balloon Juice: Seltzer water

B and B: Bread and butter

Beef Stick: A bone

Belch Water: Seltzer or Soda Water [Thanks to Boudewijn]

Biddy Board: French toast

Bird: Chicken [Thanks to Mark Nechoda]

Black and Blue: Meat served VERY rare -- so raw it's almost blue on the inside and charred black outside. [Thanks to JACK]

Black and White: Chocolate soda with vanilla ice cream

Black Cow: (a) chocolate milk or (b) chocolate soda with chocolate ice cream

Blindfolded: Basted Eggs [Thanks to Barry Holbrecht]

Blowout Patches: Pancakes

Boiled Leaves: Tea

Bowl of Red Chili -- thanks to Ethan Minovitz

Bossy in a Bowl: Beef Stew [Thanks to Boudewijn

Break it and Shake it: Add egg to a drink

Bun Pup: Hot Dog [Thanks to Boudewijn]

c-board: Prepared to take out (in cardboard) [Thanks to Sandra Wapner]

Cackleberries Eggs (Thanks to Jim Gaglione)

Cackle Fruit Eggs Mark NechodaJohn Ross)

Checkerboard - a Waffle [Thanks to Julian Rodriguez]

Chicago: Pineapple sundae

Chokies: Artichokes

C.J. White: Cream cheese and jelly on white bread

COFFEE

Coffee Regular - coffee with a cream and twosugars

Cowboy coffee - made with all chicory

Frosty Joe - Ice Coffee Thanks, RSM

Hi-test - Coffee with caffeine (is there really any other?)

Java: Coffee

Joe Coffee -- thanks to Ethan Minovitz

Joe O'Malley - An Irish Coffee (often served in some hotel/diners back then) Thanks, RSM

Suthun coffee - made from Half regular beans, half chicory - best with molasses. ( My favorite is "do y'all want Nothun coffee er Suthun coffee?")

50/50 Joe - Coffee with half-and-half Thanks, RSM

Cowboy with Spurs: Western omelet with French fries

Cow Paste: Butter

Cremate It: Toast the bread

Deadeye - a Poached Egg (We love the imagery in this) [Thanks to Julian Rodriguez]

Double Black Cow - A Double Thick Shake (Triple Black Cow also) Thanks, RSM

Dough Well Done With Cow to Cover: Buttered toast

Drag One Through Georgia: Pepsi with chocolate syrup

Drag Through the Garden: Put all the vegetables on it. (e.g. Burger - Drag it through the garden)

Drag Through Wisconsin: Serve with Cheese (e.g. "Cheeseburger" = Burger - Drag it through Wisconsin)

Draw: To dispense a beverage on tap..."Draw" refers specifically to coffee. [Thanks to: Paul Bogrow [e-mail]]

Drop two - two poached eggs [Thanks to Kevyn Arthur]

Drown the Kids - Boiled Eggs Thanks, RSM

Dry Stack: Pancakes no butter [Thanks to George Nikas of Atlanta]

Eighty-Six (86): Stop taking orders for this item, we are out of it.

Eve with a Moldy Lid - apple pie with a slice of cheese [Thanks to Julian Rodriguez]

Firehouse It - Add Chili Sauce to an item (or chili, as in a chili-dog or chili-burger) Thanks, RSM

First Ladies - Ribs [This is one of our favorites] (Thanks to: Tony Bishop)

Flop Two: Two fried eggs, over easy

Foreign Entanglements: Spaghetti [Thanks to Helen Bowers]

Fry Two, Let the Sun Shine: Fry two eggs with yolks unbroken

Georgia Pie: Peach pie

Groundhog: Hot Dog [Thanks to Boudewijn

Guess Water: Soup

Hatching It - An Egg in a Nest (fried egg nestled in toasted bread which has had a hole cut out of it. Thanks, RSM

Hen Fruit: Eggs

Hen Nuts - Eggs [Thanks to Kevyn Arthur]

Hoboken Special: Pineapple soda with chocolate ice cream

Hold the Grass: Sandwich without lettuce

Hope: Oatmeal

Hot Balls - Matzoh ball soup (Thanks to: Tony Bishop)

Hot blonde in sand - cup of coffee with cream and sugar (Thanks to: JoDee4300)

Hot One: Bowl of chili

Hot Top: Hot chocolate

Hounds on an Island: Frankfurters and beans

Houseboat: Banana split

Hug One: Orange juice

Idaho Cakes - Hashbrown Patties Thanks, RSM

Ice on Rice: Rice pudding with ice cream

Life Preservers: Doughnuts

Lighthouse: Bottle of ketchup

Limeaid - Bubble-Up, a Soda similar to 7-Up so I guess they called it this to keep from confusing them. Thanks, RSM

Loaded: a full dinner e.g. "One bird, loaded" is a chicken dinner [Thanks to Mark Nechoda]

Log Roll - Extra Link Sausage Thanks, RSM

Mama on a Raft: Marmalade on toast

Melting Snow - Melted Swiss Cheese on an item Thanks, RSM

Mickey Rooney: With Mustard and Relish e.g. "Two dogs, Mickey Rooney" (Thanks, Jim)

Mike and Ike: Salt and pepper shakers

Million on a Platter: Baked beans

Mississippi Mud: Mustard

Moo juice - milk [Thanks to Kevyn Arthur]

Motor Oil - Syrup [Thanks to Julian Rodriguez]

Mystery in the Alley - a side of Hash [Thanks to Julian Rodriguez]

Nervous Pudding: Jello

One from the Alps: Swiss cheese sandwich

On the Hoof: Meat done rare [Thanks to Boudewijn

On Wheels - To go (Thanks to: Tony Bishop)

Pigs - bacon [Thanks to Kevyn Arthur]

Pink Stick: Strawberry ice cream

PITA ("Pain In The A**"): a difficult customer [Thanks to George Nikas of Atlanta, this may be a localized term]

Popeye: Spinach

Pull: to dispense a soft drink

Put a Hat on It: add ice cream

put legs on it: prepare the food for take-out or "to go." [Thanks to Mark Nechoda]

Put Out the Lights and Cry: Liver and onions

Rabbit Food: Lettuce

Ralph: a large empty plastic jar used for storage, usually a mayo jar. Also a term for 1 gallon because of the size of the jar. [Thanks to George Nikas of Atlanta, this may be a localized term]

Roller Link sausage (Thanks to d**k Wilhelm)

Scrape two - two scrambled eggs [Thanks to Kevyn Arthur]

Scrod (or schrod) is a young (2-lb or less) cod or haddock, split and deboned. A staple in many Boston area seafood restaurants, but rarely heard outside New England. Scrod is not actually a type of fish, but rather a generic term believed to mean "catch of the day," referring to any white, edible fish. Scrod could have come from the acronym "Small Cod or Haddock Remaining On Dock." The term was coined by the Parker House Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts after 1855. Old Joke: "So a guy lands at Logan and gets in a cab and says to the driver, 'Take me somewhere I can get scrod!" And the driver says, "I've never heard anyone use the pluperfect subjunctive before!"

Seventy-Seven - A Seven-Up with Vanilla Ice Cream Thanks, RSM

Shake one in the Hay: Strawberry milkshake

Shivering Eve: Apple jelly

Side Arms: Salt and Pepper [Thanks to Laura]

Sinkers: Doughnuts

Skid Grease: Butter [Thanks to Boudewijn]

Slider Patty sausage (Thanks to d**k Wilhelm)

Sneeze: Pepper

Splash of Red Noise: Bowl of tomato soup

Splash out of the Garden: Bowl of vegetable soup

Squeeze: Orange Jiuce [Thanks to DR]

Still Mooing: Meat Served Rare [Thanks to Carla Martin]

St. Pats - Corned Beef and Cabbage Thanks, RSM

Steaming Idaho - Boiled Potatos Thanks, RSM

Sunny Sundae - A Sundae served with Pinapple Chunks Thanks, RSM

Sweep the Kitchen: Plate of hash

"Stretch" refers to Coca-Cola: e.g., "Stretch one!". A small Coke is a "short stretch" [Thanks to: Paul Bogrow [e-mail]]

Stretch One and Paint it Red Coca-Cola with a cherry -- thanks to Ethan Minovitz

Mark Nechoda writes and says that in New York, "Stretch" means a large size ( "pull 2" were 2 regular cokes. Stretch 2 were 2 large cokes.)

Sunny Brook Sunnyside up with bacon [Thanks to George Nikas of Atlanta]

TOAST

Down: Mark Nechoda writes that "down" is the generic term for "toast", leading to the following:

Whiskey Down: Rye Toast (i.e. Rye Whiskey..) Thanx to:Adrian from the Malibu Diner, 23rd st and 7th Ave NYC

Brown Down: was wheat toast. (also Wheat Down)

White Bread is the default; as: "BT down!" (bacon [lettuce] and tomato on [white] toast). [Thanks to: Paul Bogrow [e-mail]]

Throw it in the mud: Add chocolate syrup

The Twins: Salt and Pepper Shakers [Thanks to Boudewijn

Tip Toe Through Wisconsin: Sprinkle with Cheese, variant of "drag through Wisconsin" (Thanks, Jim)

Twist It, Choke It, Make it Cackle: Chocolate malted milkshake with egg

Vermont: Maple syrup

Wart: an Olive

Wax: American cheese

with legs; put legs on it - to go (e.g. "Adam and Eve on a raft with legs.") [Thanks to Kevyn Arthur]

Wimpy: Hamburger

Winter - Whipped Cream on any item Thanks, RSM

With the Horns Still On: Meat Served Rare [Thanks to Carla Martin]

Wreck: Scramble

Wrecked and Crying - Scrambled Eggs with Onions Thanks, RSM

Yellow Paint: Mustard

Yum Yum: Sugar

From: Swing Kid

Burn the British - english muffin

An M.D. - Dr. Pepper

Frog sticks - french fries

Noah's boy on bread - Ham sandwich

Paint a bow-wow red - Hot dog with kethcup

From: Darin Jensen

Henberries - Eggs

Broken Henberries - scrambled eggs (or Busted)

Make it Moo - rare steak

Swamp water - soda made of all flavors available

Zeppelins in a Fog: Sausages in mashed potatoes [Thanks to Boudewijn

Z: Mushrooms, (because all the other things starting with M were taken and Z was easily identifiable on a ticket. [Thanks to George Nikas of Atlanta, this may be a localized term]

Mark Nechoda notes that: "You put the table number on the end of the order… "draw two on six" = 2 cups of coffee table six "

AND... we are very grateful to our friend Robert Santa Maria (RSM) for these Mexican Restaurant Terms. He writes:

"...Growing up in Arizona we went to many diners along Route 66. I remember my Dad and Mom ordering stuff and then laughing when I heard the waitress call out some pretty interesting terms. The Mexican food terms were told to me by my Aunt who worked as a waitress in many of the Mexican Restaurants in Tucson, AZ. Grandma was usually in the kitchen of those restaurants since she worked as a cook ..."

Cluck and Wrap - Chicken Enchiladas

Con Lumbre' - With Fire, add hot sauce.

Dirty Water - Coffee

Friday's Choice - A Fish Dinner

Moo and Wrap - Beef Enchiladas

Red and White It - Top With Both Sour Cream and Salsa

Sour It - Add Lemon to a dish

Saddle It - Well-Done Steak

Stampede Blanket - A Bean and Beef Extrra Large Burro

Tie It Down - A Burro with Melted Cheese Topping

Top It With White - Top the Dish with Sour Cream

Top It With Red - Top the Dish with Salsa