Lunch Like A Local: Depot Diner In Beverly

BEVERLY, MA -- Maybe its because I'm a news junkie, but I like any place that offers to bring a newspaper after you've ordered. Okay, so I only know about one, and that's the Depot Diner in Beverly. But in this world where the instinct is to stare at your smartphone after you place your order, its nice to reconnect with dead-tree journalism every once in awhile.

But not as nice as the food at Depot Diner. The place has been a Beverly staple for 15 years and is located -- you guessed it -- next to the North Beverly Commuter Rail Stop at 23 Enon Street. The menu has all the typical diner favorites, but what really got us hooked was the quality. Items like pancakes made from scratched, home-cooked lunch entrees and never-frozen Black Angus burgers pepper the menu.

I did breakfast for lunch when I visited and had the hash omelette. Can't remember having had better hash anywhere, and this is coming from a guy whose wife had incredible hash cravings that took us all around New England throughout her pregnancy.

So what makes Depot Diner special? After all, the North Shore has at least one diner in every town, or so it seems, and they either have great food and great service or they go out of business. What I like is the little touches: the newspaper was a nice touch, but a choice between Frank's and Tabasco when I asked for hot sauce is the kind of thing that makes Depot Diner a must stop for me.

Lunch Like A Local is an occasional series exploring unique, one-of-a-kind and locally-owned eateries. To nominate a restaurant, email dave.copeland@patch.com.

Photo by Dave Copeland/Patch.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).