Living in a rural area, those small hometown style cafes are jewels. Others have already stated the signs to finding them if you just pulled into town for the first time.
Nothing like stopping in a small town dinner like that, having a good meal and being on your way. Usually the waitresses are friendly, tolerant of old men (but mind your manners) and you don't mind leaving a little extra added to the tip.
It's when you're passing back through a year later, walk in the door and get greeted with 'Hello, stranger! Where ya' been so long?". Now that's what I'm talking about.
For those that like a good chuckle and don't mind a little language. There's a video on Youtube (I don't post links here) from the move Hell or High Water with a waitress and 2 Texas Rangers in it. Worth every bit of the less than 2 minutes it takes to watch it. Search for, What Don't You Want? Waitress | Hell or High Water (2016)
Murphy