Sort of. They're just on the other side of a waist high divider. They aren't cooking for show, but you can see what they're doing.

Depends on where you sit. They have booths and like a bar seating area. The griddle is behind the counter of the latter. Only been to a couple myself as there also aren't any near me, but if you're ever shit-housed at 2 am and you're South of the Mason Dixon line, give it a go. I was thoroughly disappointed with the last one I attempted to go to though. Apparently some locations since Covid are takeout only after midnight. That was literally the only time I've ever gone. It's not the same taking it to go.

The dividing line I have found is if the diner does really good biscuits. If the biscuits are good, they're generally better than Waffle House. But most diner type places near me are awful. They cater toward the 75+ crowd. Weak coffee and bland, nasty food. It's either mush, or dry as hell.