Do the time warp down Ruffin Road and feast your eyes on the neon-lighted Studio Diner. It's an authentic trip back to the '40s -- in the middle of the Kearny Mesa Business District. Wrapped in chrome, the diner is a welcome roadside stop. And, fittingly, it's set on the lot of a working movie and TV studio, Stu Segall Productions. (Remember "Silk Stalkings" and "Renegade"? Currently filming "Mythological X".)

Decorated with "behind-the-scenes" movie-making equipment and serving comfort food with an upscale vibe, Studio Diner is fun for the senses. Try our Grip Burger, a half-pound cheeseburger you might have a hard time finishing. (Low-carb dieters will appreciate being able to order their burgers "protein style," substituting buns for leaves of lettuce.) We feature from the east coast the Lobster Roll and whole belly Ipswich Clams served as an appetizer.

You'll find all the basics like grilled cheese and Reuben sandwiches, chicken pot pies and plenty for the kids, plus the diner also caters to a more discriminating taste, thank you very much, with a full range of salads and local favorites like fish tacos with house-made fire-roasted salsa.

Breakfast is just as you imagine; pancakes, eggs any style with choice of meats, seriously good eggs benedict and treats like lox and cream cheese omelets for foodies.

Don't leave without slurping a creamy, whipped cream-topped chocolate malt made using a jade-green, old-fashioned shake machine. And who knows? Maybe you'll spot a star taking a break from filming next door.