A
diner is a
prefabricated fast food restaurant building characteristic of
American life, especially in
New Jersey,
Pennsylvania,
New York, and in other areas of the
Northeastern United States, as well as in the
Midwest, although examples can be found throughout the
United States,
Canada, and parts of
Western Europe. Diners are characterized by offering a wide range of foods, mostly
American, a distinct exterior structure, a casual atmosphere, a counter, and late operating hours. "Classic American Diners" are often characterized by an exterior layer of
stainless steel—a feature unique to diner architecture. Diners share culture with
drive-ins, and car culture with
hot rods and
muscle cars.