Boston Diner Inc   

No one would mistake Boston for a city that never sleeps, and its options for after-hours dining are limited at best. This paucity of options explains the flock of night owls to be found at the South Street Diner, a 24-hour oasis formerly known as "Boston's Original Diner." Dwarfed by the soaring developments that have sprouted around it on the waterfront, this 1920s holdover has retained its reputation amid the ebb and flow of urban gentrification. From chrome and pink accents to a jukebox stocked with oldies, the atmosphere is retro without an ounce of irony -- and convincing enough that even the life-sized cutout of James Dean seems at home.Complimenting the 'Happy Days' decor is the kind of all-American cuisine favored by the Fonz, with special emphasis on breakfast specialties (served all day) such as banana French toast, blueberry pancakes and cheese omelets. Strong coffee and a compelling pie selection cater to the Dale Coopers in the crowd, while cramming students and travel-worn arrivals from South Station appreciate the sugar rush distilled in the diner's delicious soda fountain drinks, among them lime rickeys, root beer floats and frappes so thick they can scarcely be sipped through a straw.