Mike Tanner, who produces the excellent L.A.-based blog Dinerwood with reviews of coffee shops (especially ones serving pie), and I met up for breakfast in Whittier. The site was Jack’s. Is this Jack’s connected with the one that used to be at 19th and Carnelian in Rancho Cucamonga? I suspect so, although I don’t know.

Mike and I had met up a couple of times before, once at Roady’s in San Dimas, the other time at LeRoy’s in Monrovia. He tossed out a couple of options for a third get-together and I picked Jack’s based primarily on its amazing out-of-the-past sign. Love the Erector-set pole too.

There’s a great, long counter inside with swivel seats in the classic style. We got a booth and hunkered down for what turned out to be an only average meal. The corned beef hash with my eggs was the best part and it was probably out of a can. The country potatoes were mushy, not crisp. Mike wasn’t blown away by his waffle. Service was inattentive. We skipped the pie.

Conversation was the highlight. Well, that and the sign.

Here’s Mike’s take, with lots of photos. He was no more inspired by Jack’s than I was.