Diner Review: Neighbors Cafe - McPherson, KS
Heartland Culture
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Contact: gregloving@protonmail.com
It’s tough to do a write-up on Neighbors Café because it will inevitably fall short of doing the place justice. I’ve lived in six states, frequented diners in each, and explored others during travels across the Great American Continent. All are measured against Neighbors, and none equal it in terms of atmosphere, service, and food. Located on Main Street near the renovated opera house (built in 1888 when McPherson made a bid to be the state capital), Neighbors occupies an unassuming, squat storefront on the west side of the street. I used to visit Neighbors on Fridays before high school in the 2000s, and today, the interior and even some staff remain identical (though a bit older). You can sit on a stool at the long counter and marvel as cooks prepare food on an industrial-scale grill or settle into a classic diner booth. Everything on the menu is good, but I always go for the Hungry Neighbor Special (two eggs over easy, bacon, toast) with “fancy” browns—hash browns loaded with cheese, peppers, and meat. Their pancakes are world-renowned and massive (my pro-football-bound friend once managed to eat three before evacuating them in their restroom). The cinnamon rolls are legendary and equally oversized. The coffee is on unlimited refill, and the diligent staff will keep your cup from going below 75% full. If you’re not careful, you can induce a caffeine buzz so intense that signing your check becomes difficult. Everything is reasonably priced, and you’ll find factory workers and business executives sitting shoulder to shoulder. If I have one complaint, it’s that the food is so good I tend to overeat and end up in a food coma. I hope that Neighbors Café, founded in 1997, is around for at least another quarter century.
