Inside, through a small foyer that includes a pay phone, of all things, the space looks at first glance like a convenience store cubbyhole, a place to grab a lotto ticket and run. But a few extra steps and the space unfolds into a faded, lime green dive bar paradise across bar, diner counter, low tables and what looks to be a very “miscellaneous” back room. The bar just inside the front door runs for only a handful of stools, supported by what looks to be a very old wooden, mirrored cabinet displaying a limited liquor selection. While there are no tap beers at Lisska, the can & bottle selection runs the gamut of usual suspects, always paired with the suggestion of a cold glass as accompaniment.
Beyond the bar, a long, low diner counter dominates the rest of Lisska’s footprint, the kind of counter you’re envisioning by that description alone, the quintessential location where a tuna salad sandwich or a grilled cheese might be served (Lisska offers both). Accentuating the diner feel is the lighted pie cabinet just next to the bar featuring a rotating dessert selection. It is easy to feel the weight of Lisska’s 1930’s-era history through the look and feel of the diner area alone.
A flattop sits under an old school plastic-lettered menu board with prices so low it is a fair question whether the sign is an active menu or a vintage homage to the past. When numbers are thrown around like “Meatloaf $3.15” and “Egg Sandwich $2.20,” the question is certainly a fair one. Happily, this is an active diner and though it’s sometimes unclear where all of these ingredients are even stored in the limited space available, orders spring to life as they trickle in.
