Lovable joints

From What Do You Say to That?” by Walt Bodine
Westport Publishers, 1988

Exactly what is a lovable joint?

In general, a lovable joint is a one-of-a-kind place, often a mom-and-pop operation. But it must be more than that. A lot of places might fit that description and still not put out much that is worth talking about.

It must be a place that has at least one or two items that sell big and draw trade from beyond the immediate neighborhood. More picturesquely, I like to think of a lovable joint as a comfortable place where I don't have to dress up, and where there is no such thing as a maitre d'. In such a place, if I speak of the ambience, someone will ask who's sick.
(Page 71)