They don’t make diners like Sam And Charlie’s White Hut anymore.
This breakfast Mecca is a throwback to a time where you could get a half pound steak, a couple of eggs, hash browns and toast for under 15 bucks, as is the case with the Hungry
Man Breakfast.
Once upon a time there were several White Hut restaurants in Toledo but the ravages of time and capitalism has whittled the chain down to one location on Central Ave. Founded by brothers Sam and Charlie Fine, White Huts were well known as the place to go for good food and good times.
But according to White Hut owner Richard White, who has ran the one remaining White Hut since 1995, reminders of the once thriving culinary empires still remain scattered throughout Toledo.
“When you drive around town and you see all these buildings with our roof, that was a White Hut. On Laskey, that pool and spa place? That was a White Hut. You know that car lot on Woodville Road? That was a White Hut. They had ‘em all over the place. The McDonalds on Sylvania Avenue? A White Hut,” said White, who is the nephew of the late Sam and Charlie.
Old time feel
Everything about the White Hut is retro without any tongue-in-cheekiness or irony. The cocoa brown coffee cups are heavy duty ceramic, the kind of drinking vessels that one only sees in old school dining establishments like the White Hut. At 7 am server Machelle (yes, it’s spelled with an ‘A’) is already busy pouring coffee refills, never letting a diner’s cup get below the halfway mark.
Then there’s the food, which ranks among the best breakfast in the city.
The aforementioned Hungry Man Breakfast is the perfect way to greet a busy day, with a perfectly grilled steak that takes up an entire plate. The White Hut is especially known for their waffles, and rightly so. The banana nut waffle is big, fluffy and thick, served with sides of hot maple syrup. You can get their waffles with whipped cream, with fruit, even with ice cream, and once you’ve eaten the last syrup soaked crumb, you’re good to go until lunch.
The White Hut is like Mel’s Diner from the old ‘70s show “Alice” or the famous Double R Diner from “Twin Peaks.” All that’s missing is cherry pie, although the White Hut serves freshly baked hot apples as a side dish, which are sweet and crispy, and served straight from the oven.
Older Toledoans will recall dining at the White Hut with fond nostalgia, while younger Toledoans will enjoy the vintage vibe.
Behind the counter are framed relics of the White Hut’s delicious history. There are framed pictures of the late great Sam Fine and Charlie Fine hanging on the wall behind the cash register, as well as original clippings of White Hut newspaper ads.
White Hut celebrates its history and commitment to great food and fine service. And those never go out of style.
Sam and Charlie’s White Hut Diner
2344 W. Central Ave.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
419-474-7979.
Samandcharliestoledo.com.
