New Ideal Diner

George Englesson: 11th Jun 2006 - 15:08 GMT

I am the current owner operator of the New Ideal Diner and it is located in Aberdeen
Maryland on Route 40 and we are in our 54th year anniversary for this dining car.
It was built by the Jerry O'Mahoney Dining Company in 1952 and delivered in 4 sections in the middle of april of that year. We are specializing in crab cakes ,
soft shell crabs, and an array of steaks and chops from our on premisses butcher
shop.

EvilGentleman: 21st Jun 2006 - 23:59 GMT

I just now noticed your comment, Mr. Englesson. Thank you very much for your information. My family and I very much enjoyed eating at your restaurant in August 1999, when this picture was taken. May you stay in business forever. Some pieces of America need to be preserved, and your restaurant is one of them.

Thank You.

Michael Morrison: 23rd Jun 2006 - 17:56 GMT

This wonderful diner was a part of my childhood in Aberdeen. I have never tasted spaghetti and meatballs that could rival the dish there, my favorite - and that was 45 years ago!!! I never forgot it, and I've been to the swankiest Italian restaurants in the world - but there was something about the seasoning of the meat sauce and meatballs!!!

EvilGentleman: 23rd Jun 2006 - 18:56 GMT

If only I had known. I think I opted for the club sandwich. I guess I'll have to go back and order the spaghetti this time. Lemme see, on the weekend, that should be an 8-hour drive from here...

Susan: 4th Aug 2006 - 03:28 GMT

This picture sure brings back memories of my childhood, 30-35 yrs ago. Every summer I stayed in Havre de Grace with my grandparents, and we would eat at The Diner twice a week. I always got the same thing, crab cakes. I now live in Arizona, and crab cakes are a thing of my past. But I am going to Virginia to visit my son in a couple of weeks, and we will be going to Havre de Grace and definitely eating at The Diner. Glad to hear it's still there!

EvilGentleman: 10th May 2007 - 04:11 GMT

If I am right, it is at the corner of Philadelphia and Custis here:

maps.google.ca/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=&om=1&t=k&ll=39.508014,-76.164951&spn=0.001008,0.001808&z=19

Doug Burdette: 6th Nov 2007 - 12:29 GMT

Although I have traveled the world several times I still live in Aberdeen. The Ideal diner is probably the one place in town that constantly reminds me of my youth and of a great era in America, namely the 1960's. The movie American Grafitti could have been filmed right here in Aberdeen. As teenagers with automoblies the Ideal Diner was one of our favorite late evening hangouts. The current owner, George Englesson, was the manager at the time and he had his hands full making us behave sometimes, but it was a peaceful time in our lives and there was never any trouble. The town police frequented the diner and, like George, they knew every kid in town. If you grew up here back in those days and you meet up with George on the street today, he will still remember you.

This place should be placed on some kind of historic registry.

Jerry: 14th Dec 2007 - 15:55 GMT

Since 1960 when I first went to college I have been driving down I95 as it was being built and of course stopped at the Maryland House since it was the only thing available, that I knew of. My a quirk of fate in 1978 I had to get off I-95 and discovered the New Ideal Diner, what a waste of 18 years. Now anytime I'm on I-95 there is the manditory stop at the New Ideal, clam chowder, crab cake sandwich and a pulled pork sandwich to go. I have spread the word to all my friends that they too must stop.

anon (cache-dtc-ad08.proxy.aol.com): 29th Jan 2008 - 01:15 GMT

My husband & I have eaten @ the diner for years, & now that it is under NEW OWNERSHIP it is not the same as it was with George & Mrs. Engelsson. yes they do have alot of OUR favorites THANKEFULLY the CRAB SOUP IS THE BEST AROUND!!! But they have so many new things on the menu that are just not like it used to be. Some change is GOOD, But SOME IS NOT, & I think THEY WENT OVERBOARD OND THE CHANGES. GEORGE WE MISS YOU !!!!!!!!

wouldnt you like to know: 23rd Feb 2008 - 18:13 GMT

i worked there a few years ago... and while i loved a few people i worked with (while a few others were horrible) the food was just awful.

David: 20th May 2008 - 01:42 GMT

I remember the New Ideal Diner from the mid 1960's when my family were en route for vacation in Atlantic City. Being around 9 years of age I still remember my favorite item on the menu back than was a hot turkey sandwich with FF over gravy.

Arch: 22nd Jun 2008 - 02:29 GMT

I was in Aberdeen to visit the museum while the rest of the family was in NYC. I was looking for a Mom & Pop place for a great breakfast.I found this place. Best of all Scrapple was on the menu!!!

Jamie: 22nd Jun 2008 - 22:29 GMT

Scrapple sounds almost as delicious as black pudding

eliza: 24th Jul 2008 - 21:02 GMT

been visiting since the 1960's.......a step back in time. A fond memory is a day where we began the morning with breakfast at new ideal diner, followed by lunch at the Big M, down the road. The afternoon continued with a vintage car show held at the Big M drive-in (circa 1952, as is the diner). We walked across the street to play miniature golf (from the same era) and followed with delicious ice cream from the Artic Circle, next door. By the evening, we were ready to attend an outdoor movie, at the Big M drive-in. A memorable day that can only now be 1/2 recreated.

paul green: 11th May 2009 - 13:39 GMT

Luckily they are less than a mile from me and I am going to order a scrapple platter now

Christi: 21st Aug 2009 - 01:09 GMT

I worked there for a few months back in 06. Jeanette Englesson was one of the best and sweetest people I've ever worked for. And the cook, Jim, also my landlord, was a great friend to me when I really needed someone... Those two people, I'll remember forever, however some of the other people I worked with, I wish I could forget!
Oh yeah the food was good too ;)

wilma: 25th Dec 2009 - 15:11 GMT

I worked at the aberdeen diner back in 1960 as a waitress, i made 11cents an hr. plus tips. i was 18 yrs. old and those were some of the best years of my life. met my husband in aberdeen moved to phoenix,az great life

Kemishdo: 29th Dec 2009 - 16:53 GMT

My sister just sent me an email about finding this little place in vermont that served Lobster Bisque, and her comment to me was "it wasn't as good as when we used to go to the Ideal Diner for lunch for lobster bisque and french fries with gravy" We lived in Havre de Grace and worked at Aberdeen Proving Ground for many years, and we frequented the diner weekly for the same lunch over and over, we never tired of that bisque, I wish I had some now, hope it is still on the menu after all these years! I now live in Arizona, can't get good seafood here!

Jim : 26th Jan 2010 - 16:23 GMT

The New Ideal Diner was the place in the 50's to stopover with a date for a meal or shakes and whenever there you always ran into friends. . .this diner and a place on the north end of town called "The Little Pig" were favorite eating spots. Best burgers at The Little Pig, a forerunner of fast food places.

Brittney: 17th Feb 2010 - 22:15 GMT

I love this diner. when my boyfriend was going to tech school at the base I would come down from MA to visit and one day we decided to stop at this diner and we loved the food and the people that worked there so much that we kept coming back.