Deja vu. It’s an odd sensation and one that I’ve experienced a lot lately. But when I sat down in a diner in Hillsboro, Ohio last month, I momentarily thought I was losing my mind because the feeling of deja vu was so strong.

I had never been to 62 Classics’ Diner and yet everything looked like something I knew.

And then it hit me.

This diner is almost identical to the one I had visited in Fairmont, West Virginia just six days earlier.

That’s right. I’ve been to so many diners, repetition is beginning to occur.

The Fairmont diner is called DJs 50’s and 60’s Diner and it’s larger. It came in four sections whereas the Hillsboro diner was in two. Both are silver sided with oval and round windows. Both have punched tin ceilings, black and white tile floors, red and white upholstery, counters with stools and a white board above. The restrooms, counters and kitchens are in the same locations and there are mirrors in the same places in the dining area. They even use the same cups.

What’s really funny is that when I walked into the Fairmont diner, I turned left and chose a booth near the back. After ordering, I took a selfie in the mirror behind me. In Hillsboro, I turned left again, chose a seat near the back and took a selfie in the mirror behind me.

Incidentally, this was the moment I recognized the parallels. It was also the moment I realized what a creature of habit I am because the booth I chose in Hillsboro was just one away from the booth I sat in down south. It was a fabulous moment for this road tripping diner nerd.

There are some differences – one diner has backs on the stools. One has oval windows on the front and round ones on the sides while it’s reversed in the other diner. One has a door on the front of the entryway while the other has a door on each side of that same entryway.

West Virginia:

Ohio in the same corner:

The differences are minor enough to make me think I was losing my mind.

In case you’re wondering, my Fairmont meal was better. They had a couple of vegeterian friendly dishes on the menu, including the veggie burger I ordered. It was quite good. In Hillsboro, they offer breakfast all day but it was all meat heavy. It’s hard to screw up a grilled cheese and fries but they were just ok. However, other diners seemed to be really enjoying their meals and I was thrilled because the atmosphere was great!

Want to know more about that diner in Fairmont? I wrote about it last month. Click here to read about it.

Have you had a moment of deja vu? Comment and tell your story!