READERS' PICK: "It was a dame. It's always a dame. She had this really good-looking left eye. I should have known better. She dumped me because she found this journal she had written in high school in which she promised herself that she'd never marry anybody who was 5'101/2" in height. I didn't doubt her; who'd make up a story like that? So I staggered into the Grill on Congress, ordered a bowl of chili and told him to keep the crackers coming." When we stop writing for this rag and finally get around to that novel, it'll start exactly like that. OK, so maybe we'll be around here for a good long time. So too, we hope, will the Grill.
READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: 5 & Diner, 4520 E. Broadway Blvd.; 4520 N. Stone Ave. The secret to enjoying camp is to jump in with both feet and go right along with it. 5 & Diner is an absolutely shameless attempt to recreate a '50s-style diner, right down to the oldies-stocked jukebox outlets at each booth. The food is good, if simple: burgers, sandwiches, fries and shakes. All delicious, all inexpensive, and all great fun. They also serve a killer breakfast for $2.99. Bop on over!
