What Would Jack Eat?

Today is Jack Kerouac’s B-Day. Lowell’s most famous native (sorry Ed McMahon) would be 87, put let’s not focus on that right now. Thanks to the wonder of sepia, the Beat writer will always be the strapping, rambling man who loaded up a rucksack and busted out of Centralville when such notions were deemed scary. To celebrate, I’m thinking of taking lunch at the Club Diner. It’s been a Dutton Street fixture long before Cobblestones with a menu that channels 1940. Check out the industrial coffee urn. It’s like a metal box of coffee nailed to the counter w/ two taps — decaf and reg. Bottomless cups (take that DD) seem to make anything here taste better. If you want to go full-on old-school order the open-face turkey dinner smothered w/ gravy on white bread. Jack would dig this Wonder wonder. The hamburger goes for about $4 and will settle your hash. Eggs are incredible here too, but the best thing about the Club is the service. Waitresses embody the warm diner etiquette w/o being cheesy, flip or bored. Since he loved Lowell, the Beat boy would surely tuck into a bowl of Cotes beans. Made every Saturday at the Salem Street grocer, this protein-packed meal (snack?) is quintessential road fuel. I'd even toss in a hot dog (sliced lengthwise). Add a shot of Tabasco and Denver here you come. Would JK pause at On The Road Cafe on Rogers Street? Somehow I think the smoothies and overall emphasis on health in this cafe would scare Ti Jean. It goes w/o saying that Ye Old Worthen makes the list. But you might want to save this famous watering hole for St. Paddy’s Day. What's your favorite Kerouac-inspired eatery or boho road fuel?