Legendary sweet rolls propel Birmingham institution to title of 'Alabama's Best Diner'

Bogue' s Restuarant (Photo: Terry McCombs) — Bogue’ s Restuarant (Photo: Terry McCombs)

Business Insider (BI) recently set out to find every state’s best diner.

“The wait staff knows your name and order by heart. The coffee tastes like dirt some days, but you and your friends never seem to mind. And when your family comes into town for the holidays, you get excited to bring them to ‘your spot.,’” wrote BI’s Melia Robinson and Lauren Browning. “Diners are an American tradition, and everyone thinks his or her hometown’s greasy spoon is the best.”

In order to track down the best of the best from all over the country, the BI team relied on a non-scientific combination of Internet reviews, awards, word-of-mouth, and more.

“For this list, we scoured Yelp reviews, local newspapers, and culinary awards to find the most popular and beloved diner in every state,” they explained. “We defined diner as a restaurant whose primary purpose is serving breakfast, and awarded bonus points to dives open 24-7.”

After finishing their process, one diner in Birmingham, Ala., stood out above all of the others in the Yellowhammer State — Bogue’s.

Here’s what they had to say about Bogue’s:

Named after owners Pat and Mildred Bogue, Bogue’s Diner opened in 1938. Mildred’s sweet roll recipe made the Birmingham diner famous. When plans to bulldoze the diner and build a chain drug store in its place took shape, the neighborhood and Bogue’s regulars rallied to save it.

Bogue’s description on its website gives even more detail about why it’s widely considered to be a “Birmingham institution.”

Since opening in 1938, it’s been the go-to spot for locals seeking a heaping helping of stick-to-your-ribs down-home cooking, friendly folks, and old-fashioned Southern hospitality.

Founded by Pat and Mildred Bogue, the namesake diner spent its first decade dishing up vegetable plates and Mildred’s soon-to-be legendary sweet rolls to the downtown business community. In 1946, with a move south to Clairmont Avenue, Bogue’s become a popular destination for families, too, launching weekly traditions that continue to this day.

The Bogues retired in 1968, entrusting their legacy to Andy Straynar, who would own their restaurant longer than they had, for 32 years. While the menu remained essentially the same, Strayner made cosmetic changes, including the addition of orange vinyl booths. Straynar’s son, Greg, helmed the counter until 2006, when guardianship of the Bogue’s legacy passed to current owner Daryl Whitfield, a local restaurant entrepreneur and longtime Bogue’s customer.

In 2010, a controversy was ignited by the property owner’s plans to demolish Bogue’s and the neighboring historic Fire Station 22 to make room for a national drugstore chain. Neighborhood activists rallied to save these two Birmingham landmarks, resulting in the renovation of the Fire Station to become Bogue’s new home in 2012.