I enjoyed the anecdotes and historical connections in this book. The author does a wonderful job interweaving many different narratives together. I learned a lot about queer history and as someone who is from NYC and once went to Lucky Cheng's, it was fun to hear about it's storied background.

We get a neat book about various LGBTQIA+ bars throughout the United States, including a few in places I would not have expected (a trans bar in Green Bay that's still open today!). A few of these places went under between writing it and publication, but this is still a pretty great read, and has given me a few places to look up when I'm in these cities.

A deliciously queer exploration of food, identity, and memory, Dining Out serves up essays with heart, wit, and unapologetic honesty. Piepenburg invites us to his table with stories that are as much about coming out and queer longing as they are about diners, buffets, and the complicated comfort of shared meals. It’s tender, funny, and full of flavor—like the best kind of chosen-family dinner.

"Dining Out" by Erik Piepenburg is a romantic and introspective novel. Without more information on the plot, it's hard to say more. The book likely explores themes of relationships, identity, and human connection. If you enjoy character-driven stories or romance, "Dining Out" might be worth checking out. Piepenburg's writing style and ability to craft relatable characters would make this a compelling read. If you're looking for a story that combines food, love, and self-discovery, look into this book further.I really enjoyed reading this book.

aw man I loved this one so so much. I love most writings about food and also most writings about historical LGBTQIA events, locations, general experiences, so the two themes brought together in this book really intrigued me -- and did not disappoint!! I loved all the personal anecdotes and feel like I was genuinely educated on a realm of queer history that doesn't get a lot of attention. this book felt really unique and I'm really glad to have read it.

This book is fascinating, as it looks at the history and impact of LGBTQ+ restaurants in America! I was taken on a journey through iconic eateries, from early 20th-century cafeterias to modern drag brunches. It’s a mix of nostalgia, activism, and personal stories that show how food and community always go together.

This was such a great book! It started off with a trip down memory lane. The author talked about The Melrose restaurant, a place that I loved and spent many nights at, enjoying waffles and scrambled eggs.

I loved how this was written, it covered history but not in a heavy way. The AIDS years are naturally included and it’s both hard to read and comforting to read about the restaurants that gave sustenance to the bodies and the souls.

I loved this and will be recommending it to a lot of people I know.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.