¶ … Mike's Place Some of the best experiences I have ever had occur in a small diner downtown called Mike's Place. The diner is old and tiny but because it is what we call a hole in the wall, it is rarely busy. It sits between two other businesses on the street and, upon first glance, looks like nothing special and nowhere inviting. The words "Mike's Place" are painted in red and white letters on the glass above the door and they are very easy to miss. Mike's serves food items that many small downtown restaurants serve, including burgers, spicy fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cheese fries, huge rolls bathed in butter, and the best biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Mike's keeps short hours, meaning it is open for breakfast and lunch. Mike's is one of the most inspirational places I frequent because it has style and character.

My favorite thing to eat at Mike's is the biscuits and gravy. I know it must be one of the most fattening things I can have but nothing beats a plate of biscuits smothered in gravy. This is somehow better on days when I do not have to go to work. I can enjoy the food at a slow pace and with a glass of juice, I feel like all is right with the world....

On the slow days, Mike does the cooking and the serving. Sometimes he sits at my table and tells me stories from his past. Some of the best ones involve past customers. He tells me Bill Clinton sat at my favorite table and ate a hamburger and fries one day before he was elected president. He even said that James Brown came in once and had some of his fried chicken. Mike is about 65 years old and his smile lights up the entire diner. His laughter is contagious and when he sings in the kitchen, it is one of the best things in the world to hear, even though the man cannot sing.
My favorite table at Mike's is at the front window. The window space is small and there is enough room for a table and a shelf of odd knickknacks. These knickknacks are not for sale and sometimes Mike changes them. They include pictures of his grandkids. Homemade globs of play dough made by his children, under which he has a piece of paper stating, Chrissy's dog or Jeffrey's lizard. These creatures are crusty and cracked but, nevertheless, works of art in Mike's eyes. Mike also rotates items customers leave behind, such as knit caps, gloves and a gold hoop earring. The view from the table is ideal for people…