This previously ran in our April 2023 print issue. 

To truly understand this place of magic you have to take a step back, out onto the street in Kutztown. You won’t hear about Letterman’s diner from some ad on the internet or an obnoxious street sign – it’s only spoken of in whispered tones, as a secret known by a few too many people.

Once you’ve heard about it, you have to make the initial approach, past the thin blue line flag overhead.

Doug Letterman, the owner, is an upfront and honest man. If an employee isn’t doing their job, he’ll let them know right in front of the customers. If he wants to post a meme about gas stoves and drugs, or share news about the health of his family, you can bet the farm he’s already done so on his diner’s Facebook page.

It’s easy to overlook the minutiae of any restaurant, but it’s just as important as the food — they are the restaurant’s identity. The ambiance of a hidden gem is half of what makes it special.

Of course, we can’t gloss over the food. Once you’ve passed under the watchful Shrek figurine and the photoshopped dollar bill featuring Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky and sat down at one of 23 old-fashioned bar stools at the counter, you’re given a chance to see the menu. There’s a robust breakfast repertoire, containing all the diner classics, as well as a rotating list of specials, based on whatever Mr. Letterman can get his hands on.