My Love Affair With The Red Arrow Diner

It's not every morning that I start my day, and eat, at a nationally recognized,
multi-award-winning diner. As the Big Breakfast's Five Cities In Five Days tour continued this morning, we rolled into Manchester, New Hampshire, in the middle of an enormous thunderstorm.

And to be honest, halfway there, I wondered if it was really worth it to risk life and limb at 4 a.m. just to do the show from this place.

Sure, I had heard a lot of tales about The Red Arrow Diner. How it's the epicenter of the city. How everyone in Manchester has a "late-night, had too much to drink, need food to sober up before I go home" story. How any politician hoping to capture even a single vote in New Hampshire has to go to the Red Arrow. And all of those stories about how hometown boy, now movie star, Adam Sandler loves the place.

Yet, I still wasn't convinced... that is until I walked into the place.

At the very moment my feet crossed the threshold, I instantly understood exactly why I drove an hour through the pouring rain to be there.

Neon lights lit up the entire place. The row of stools at the bar, and the tiny booths with nameplates engraved with the names of the famous, wanna-be famous, and the not-so famous who have dined there were there. And the walls were lined with the many awards won over the years. Photos of even more stars who have made the trek to sample the amazing food could be seen.

Yes, it was love at first sight! And for the next five hours I soaked up as much of this incredible dinner as I possibly could. I learned Manchester's love affair with The Red Arrow started in 1922. And like all true love, grew deeper and stronger over time.

That's exactly what has happened here.

While this was just my first encounter with the Red Arrow, I am certain it will not be my last. I love this place. And no matter if it's a thunderstorm, a snowstorm, or the sunniest day of the year, now I know it's always worth it to make the hour drive to the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester.