greasy

the greasy pole used to refer to the difficult route to the top of someone's profession.

☞ The original literal greasy pole was a pole covered with an oily substance to make it more difficult to climb or walk along, used especially as a form of entertainment.

greasy spoon a cheap, run-down restaurant or cafe serving fried foods.

1968Len DeightonOnly When I Larf Bob said he was hungry and wanted to pull up at every greasy spoon we passed.