S&S Diner at Allen's

The original S&S, a horseshoe-countered Art Deco relic of a restaurant, is still dishing homespun fare in downtown Miami, but has expanded to a second, southern location in another landmark establishment - Allen's Drug Store. Grab a seat at the counter, or at a table on one of the two levels of seating, and be privy to one of the small pleasures of diner dining: Within seconds, a steaming-hot cuppa joe will be placed before you. Breakfast specials include two scrambled eggs with ham, home fries or grits, toast, and coffee ($3.40); same deal but with two discs of Canadian bacon and American cheese in place of ham ($4.50); and "two-two-two-two" ($6.95, but with coffee it adds up to $8.45), a pair each of eggs, bacon strips, sausage patties, and pleasurably puffy pancakes similar to those found at the original S&S (winner of New Times' first Flapjack Flip-Off, in 2001). A classic diner menu of lunch and early dinner options encompass salmon cakes, Salisbury steak, calves liver, burgers, pork chops, spaghetti with meat sauce, and cheeseburgers. Prices are low, service friendly, diner ambiance delightful.