Welcome Diner

Welcome Diner 2.0, now situated at that hot Garfield District intersection at Pierce and 10th streets, doesn't have the same snug charm as its original location a block away. What it does have is a crisp, retro look, marrying its neon pink-and-blue sign with the diner's seating options — which is to say, booths, a wraparound lunch counter, a bar with liquor bottles crawling up the wall, and a massive, usually busy, porch-style patio. Gulf Coast-inspired dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and seafood etouffee are big here, as are the classic cocktails. But it's the biscuits people talk about: they're big, pillowy, and have excellent biscuit names like the Bumble Bee and Big Jim. New Normal: Seating is limited inside, but that famous patio is quite nice.