Sure it's brand new, possibly a Diner-Mite, built on the
site of what used to be some old rundown, 1950s resort
hotel, and sits in the shadow of a beachfront Holiday Inn.
But a "diner experience" is sorely what this area needed --
what with the elder diner of the gulf beaches, the Pelican,
falling into decline. The Starlite offers all of the glitz
the younger generation expects of a diner: plenty of neon,
a booming jukebox (albeit with contemporary artists loaded
onto it), and lots of reminders of the post-war days:
plenty of Chevy Bel-Airs, Elvises, and James Deans adorn
the walls. But the desserts are surprisingly large, and,
luckily, the coffee flows freely in the expected thick
white diner mugs. Standard diner fare abounds: burgers,
fries, and melts; but you can get chicken parmesan and
"exotic" eats like a gyro. Go on a weekend night, and
expect to either wait in line to get in, or wait for your
food. You can order an appetizer to quench the pangs til
your main dish arrives; but that may not leave room for
dessert. Afterwards, it's a few steps to the beach, where
you can walk off the effects of extra fries and hot fudge.
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