Ed Fuentes

Food Network host Guy Fieri was the inspiration for this mannequin head, one of several in the front window of the Nickel Diner.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Not that Monica May and Kristen Trattner have been lacking in press coverage for their Nickel Diner, but the Main Street eatery will make a national cable appearance this evening, October 19, at 10pm on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."

A sign that has been taped to the Nickel's front door invites Downtowners to join May and Trattner in watching the show at Cole's "since none of us own TV sets."

The show, hosted by Guy Fieri, is a road trip that seeks out classic cafes that are long time regional favorites. A mannequin featuring a meringue version of Fieri's coiffed hair has been in the diner's front window since filming earlier in the year.

The episode is titled "Blast From The Past" and the log line reads: "In Los Angeles, a 1940s diner brought back to life by a chef doing mac and cheese, fried catfish, and donuts."

While the spin is that the place is an upgrade of what was once there, the Nickel Diner, like the donuts, was created from scratch. It speaks well of the authenticity May and Trattner have put into their joint that it would be one of the few new cafes featured on the show.