In the U.S., [diner]s were originally diner cars on [train]s, or even horse-drawn roofed carts in the city streets. They served a standard array of fairly bland foods; [eggs], [coffee], hamburgers, steak, ham.

The [waiter]s developed an amusing [slang] to yell orders back to the cook; this [diner code] varies in different regions, and some of it made its way into the English language. The exact origin of the more popular terms, like "86-ed", is hotly debated.

Part of the point of diner slang is to make up new and clever ways to refer to the food. A cook who has to ask what it means loses a [cool point].

Diner slang

Eggs:
[Adam and Eve] on a raft = [poached egg]s on toast
deadeye = poached egg
wreck 'em = scrambled eggs

Meat:
[first lady] = spare ribs (another [Adam and Eve] reference)
[Pittsburgh] = meat cooked rare but charred on the outside
on the hoof = meat cooked rare
[Noah]'s boy = ham ([Ham] was Noah's second son)
groundhog, bow wow, [Coney Island] = [hot dog]
burn one, clean up the kitchen = [hamburger]
two cows, make 'em cry = two burgers with onions
take a chance = hash
bowl of red = [chili]
radio = tuna (like saying "tuna" or "turn it down")
Bossy in a bowl = beef stew

Drinks
city, city juice, 81, dog soup = water
moo juice, cow, 5 = milk
[java], joe, draw one = [coffee]
pair of drawers = two coffees
blonde and sweet = coffee with milk and sugar
sinkers and suds, life preservers = doughnuts and coffee
fifty-five = [root beer]
51 = hot chocolate
41 = lemonade
squeeze one = orange juice

Desserts
[A design flaw in goldfish|fish eyes] = tapioca pudding
bucket of mud = bowl of chocolate ice cream
houseboat = [banana split]
nervous = [Jello]
[Eve] with the lid on = [apple pie]

Other
sand, yum-yum = sugar
twins, Mike and Ike = [salt and pepper]
burn the British = [English muffin], toasted
birdseed = bowl of cereal
shingle with a shimmy = toast with jelly
pin a rose on it, corsage = with onions
cut the grass = no relish (on a hot dog or hamburger)
paint it red = with ketchup
in the alley = serve it on the side
high and dry = serve it plain, with no [ketchup] or mayo
on wheels, take it for a walk = an order [to go]
[86] = the kitchen is out of it, or, cancel the order