Question for non-Stateside readers

[neadods]

I'm looking for the name of that type of restaurant that serves fast, homestyle local food; it probably has a dish described or named "Mama's" or "Grandma's."

In America, it's the diner.
In Britain, the pub.
In France, the bistro.
In Italy, the trattoria.

What is it called in your neck of the world?

Comments

[bewarethespork.livejournal.com]

Closest thing I can think of in Australia is the milk bar, which is like a fast food-ish equivalent of what you're describing.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

Um, actually, in Britain (or at least England) it would be called 'The Caff' (but spelt 'Cafe').

[wheresmycow.livejournal.com]

Here in the Philippines, it's carinderia or turo-turo (Tagalog, literally "point-point" where you basically point at whatever you want being cooked right in front of you and it's served up straightaway.)

(Interesting short history of the carinderia here.)

[nnwest.livejournal.com]

Central/Eastern Iowa - it's a mom-n-pop or a diner. Or a truck stop. Depends a little on the type of food and proximity to the interstate.

[tacnukesoul.livejournal.com]

Well, wherever I go it's called the "Chow Hall," though the new kids call it the D-FAC (short for Dining FACility).

Also, while they do have dishes named after Mama or Grandma, unless she's a male foreign national from South Asia, she probably doesn't work there.

[zinelady.livejournal.com]

In New Zealand, it is usually a Cafe. But if you really want true New Zealand local food, you'd go to the Takeaway. You don't eat it on the premises unless you are eating Fish n Chips on the bench out front. Occasionally, they will have a table or two inside or a picnic table outside.

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

Germans usually call it 'Bistro', too. We love foreign words ;)

There are a few more obscure German names, I just don't remember them right now.

[tebasile7.livejournal.com]

Hi,
delurking for hopefully helpful comment... ;-)
(mostly here for Whostuff)

I think a Bistro in Germany is rather something that does not want to be old-fashioned ;-) and has more international than local food (even if there is some on the menu).

Pub I would translate with "Kneipe" but it really is more for drink than food, but there a those where you can eat quite well.

The overall term I think is "Gaststätte" which means literally "place for guests", there are variations like "Gasthaus" , "Gasthof" or local terms usually to do with what is served or where the place is (one I like to go to when I'm home is called "zur Linde" and also has a small brewery that is called "Lindenbräu" after the tree in question.
The smaller ones also use the ending "-stube" which means one room whiole the others mean the whole house.

"Lokal" is another overall term that gets used mostly in terms like "Stammlokal" which menas it is the main place where a specific group of people usually go to eat and meet.


I hope this is not too confusing but it really depends on where you are , in a city most will call themselves "Bistro" while you will find fewer of those in rural areas and there are regional differences as well.