There’s something timeless about the glow of neon and chrome under a Midwestern sky. On our trip through Fargo, North Dakota, we stopped at one of the city’s local legends — Kroll’s Diner, a stainless-steel time capsule of postwar America that’s been serving comfort food since 1972.

Originally a modest drive-in, Kroll’s quickly became a Fargo landmark for its German-inspired diner classics — think knoephla soup, fleischkuekle, and old-fashioned malts — all served with a hearty “Sit down and eat!” Fargo spirit. The exterior, with its checkerboard tiles, retro signage, and red marquee, feels like stepping straight into a scene from a 1950s postcard.

Of course, no trip to Fargo is complete without a nod to the 1996 Coen Brothers film, Fargo. While much of the movie’s dark humor contrasts the region’s wholesome reputation, it captures something true about this landscape — the quiet resilience, the unassuming people, and the warmth tucked beneath the chill. Kroll’s feels like the other side of that story — the bright, beating heart of small-town America, where a good burger and fries remind you what simple joy tastes like.