At the American City Diner blue plate specials like Salisbury steak rotate weekly. At this throwback diner, specials are served alongside a classic Hollywood film, which screens nightly on the diner’s deck at 8:30 p.m.

The staple blue plate special at the appropriately named Blue 44 is the fried chicken dinner, and it has a cult following. The dish is served every Monday night and comes with a starter salad and dessert for $19.

The blue plate special on Firefly’s brunch menu is a hearty offering: scrambled eggs, a blueberry muffin, banana and home fries, with a coffee or juice for $15.

The original Silver Diner opened in Rockville in 1989, since then, the restaurant franchise has expanded to more than a dozen DC locations. What hasn’t changed are the blue plate specials. There are breakfast, lunch and early bird plates; the menu rotates daily with about a half-dozen items, such as the Paradise French Toast with fresh strawberries, cinnamon and caramel sauce.

If you’re in Maryland, probably the first diner that comes to mind is Tastee Diner. It’s a 24-hour, seven days a week operation that’s been open for more than 75 years. Each of the three locations, in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Laurel, serve blue plate specials. Check the website for the daily blue plate. And, mark the calendar for meatloaf night.

Tonic gets creative with naming their weekly specials. This week’s specials include the Berry Delicious Salad, Jeremy's World Famous Tuna Melt and the Steve Martin's Jerk Burger.

Rockland’s is the place for blue plate barbeque specials like "trailer park bbq" or applewood smoked bacon BLT. Call ahead or check Twitter to find out the daily deal, which varies at each of the four locations, in Alexandria, Arlington, Rockville and Glover Park.