Once known as one of the roughest areas in Baltimore, Remington is experiencing a period of growth and revitalization that has energized its residents and businesses. And the Papermoon Diner is at the center of it all.
Eclectic art meets a scrumptious menu at the delicious diner
The restaurant is one of the most famous of the Remington businesses, attracting the creative person who wants to step outside of the traditional Baltimore culinary scene for something unforgettable.
And as the Baltimore food scene continues to evolve, the Remington neighborhood contributions are on full display with its gentrified restaurants, coffee shops, and of course, the Papermoon Diner.
Hanging sculptures and a cacophony of creative knick-knacks are a signature. [Sean O'Donnell/Artistic Fuel]
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Un Kim, the founder of the Papermoon Diner, remembers the Remington of days gone by in a recent interview with the Baltimore Sun. “Drugs and needles everywhere. I was the only one who turned the lights on in this neighborhood,” Kim says.
David Briskie, Kim's longtime friend and the designer behind the Papermoon aesthetic, adds, “You have to remember, Remington back then was tough.” But Kim and Briskie have done much more than just turn on the lights. They've taken a diner that has been through several iterations of burger-joint style and turned it into a Baltimore landmark.
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When visitors first visit the Papermoon Diner, they are met with a cacophony of art that, at first glance, feels disjointed and a bit overwhelming. Just outside, mannequins intermingle with a blue and purple bull on the flower-filled lawn.
Inside the diner, friendly service awaits a perplexing display of Pez dispensers, cartoon memorabilia, pop art, toy trains, hanging sculptures, and more. It's a jarring contrast to the plain yards and understated interiors of the residential neighborhood.
Baltimore Papermoon Diner [Sean O'Donnell/Artistic Fuel]
While the abstract nature of the Papermoon Diner aesthetic might appear disorganized at first glance, Briskie explains in a recent interview the intention behind each piece of decor that lives in the diner. “She (Kim) wanted a place that would be fun and very eclectic and very colorful, where people could hang out.”
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Deciding that the original building's drab, old-school diner food wouldn't serve Kim's mission, Briskie threw it all out. “Everything left, and the colors came first. Then, it was just a matter of layering stuff. I've been doing this as long as we've been open, so I kind of notice when something's missing,” he says.
The diner boasts an impressive collection of Pez dispensers. [Sean O'Donnell/Artistic Fuel]
Over the years, he has created a time capsule of pop culture to complement the huge, hearty comfort-food menu. Each item contributes to the cohesiveness of decor that shouldn't make sense, but does.
But is the quirky menu at Papermoon Diner in contrast to its infamous style? Not at all. There is a surprising range of menu options. From vegan nachos to a bacon milkshake, the menu offers something for everyone and little chance to get bored.
So grab a 1950s diner chair and head over to a true American diner any day except Tuesday for awesome food. Late night meals, breakfast food, and wonderfully bizarre milkshakes with friendly people.