Just read the current e-Newsletter and have to comment on the Jucy Lucy phenomenon.  Several of us at work (law school faculty and administrative staff) periodically do the Great Jucy Lucy hunt.  Matt’s is always the winner.  Can’t beat the atmosphere or the napalm burgers or the fries.  Or the grilled cheese on rye, for that matter.  The 5.8 Club is always last, for qualilty, ambience and if you dine outside the plastic ware, paper plates and service.  The current second-best is the Nook (Randolph and Hamline) in St. Paul.  Excellent food, a bit more “up scale” than Matt’s.  But I ask you: if you’re lookin’ for a “lucy,” are ya lookin’ for upscale?
 
I commute during July between Minnesota and Hartford and several nights a week stay at a B&B in Manchester, CT.  Convenient to Shady Glen.  (By the way, the current cheese is good, but I thought a bit “thick” and heavy rather than crispy where it overlaps the grill – signs all over the place about developing the Shady Glen formula with another company.)   It’s also convenient to Sonic Omelet, a truly excellent place to eat.  Endless coffee, fantastic omelets of normal and weird descriptions (including a hot dog omelet and a corned beef hash omelet).  The food is well prepared and surprisingly non-greasy, with significant portions.  And the staff couldn’t be nicer.  Open every day for breakfast.  Lots of regulars or all ages and lifestyles.  At the light at Hartford Road at Exit 2 off of 384.