I first stumbled upon Lucky Platter's strange-yet-satisfying creations—gingered fruit and cinnamon-glazed bacon—more than two years ago. For the next 14 months I relentlessly tried to convince my skeptical friends to accompany me on a second visit. My roommate reluctantly agreed last month, and since then we've made up for lost time, frequenting the kitschy upscale diner for affordable breakfasts and lunches at least twice a week.

On our most recent midday trip, the waitress greeted us with our staple beverage: two homemade cream sodas, the perfect concoction of bubbling sweet cream and carbonation. Though the "diner deluxe" serves breakfast until 2 p.m., we opted to share a barbecue chicken salad (boneless barbecue chicken breast, mixed greens, cucumbers, roasted red peppers and blue cheese crumbles smothered with homemade soy-sesame vinaigrette) and a tuna melt with cheddar on signature toasted cornbread.

Other items not to be overlooked include Mexican corn on the cob with mayo, romano cheese and hot spice; build-your-own pizzas with surprising ingredients such as smoked turkey and apples; sourdough blueberry pancakes with homemade cider syrup; and dinner entrees like Tuscan roasted portabella with rosemary. Prices are diner-reasonable; brunch for two runs an easy $25, tip included, and the most expensive dinner entree (tilapia) costs $13.75. BYOB with $1.25 corkage fee.

Consider yourself warned: When you feast your eyes on the restaurant's crazy decor (foil spitballs glued to the ceiling, aluminum-pot chandeliers and imitation portraits plastered on any remaining wall space), you'll be curious. Once your taste buds follow, you too will be nothing short of addicted.

Centerstage Reviewer: Carly Schwartz