Don't expect haute cuisine from a diner. Diners are best at providing good, wholesome food at a decent price. While they may vary in quality, you can generally get an acceptable meal for ten dollars or less, including coffee and a slice of pie.

The term "diner" originally derived from "dining car," and that's most original diners look like they belong on the railroad. However, these days the styling doesn't matter so much -- it's the atmosphere, the food, and the prices that make an eatery a diner.

Tipping in a diner should follow the standard rules of from 15-20 percent, assuming you got good service. While you don't have to tip a waitress with a Porsche, as one man in Sweden did, diner personnel tend to deserve good tips, because they tend to work harder to please.