By: Deborah Johnson Wood
When At The Diner opened 14 months ago, there were ten employees. Now there are 20, and plans to hire at least two more before year’s end.
Owner Melissa Towne, 28, and her husband “Chef Len,” 36, recently expanded the restaurant’s hours to include the dinner hour, introduced a new menu with dinner offerings, and hope to offer a full bar soon. With all the changes, Chef Len expects business to double in the next year.
“There were a lot of people in the area who wanted us to be open for dinner,” Chef Len said. “We’ve done real well so far. [The dinner hour] is busier than I expected.”
Chef Len attributes the diner’s success to many loyal customers—some couples come in four times a week—and good food made from scratch: desserts, soups, and several entrées, like, Chicken Cordon Bleu and Fish Tacos. Seafood dishes account for 25 percent of the menu.
“My crab cakes will smoke any crab cakes around,” Chef Len said with a laugh.
Prices average about $8 for lunch and $10 for dinner.
The eatery, located at 120 East Main Street, is an eclectic mix of old and new, with a California diner atmosphere, walls decorated with pictures of Hollywood actors from “the golden age” of movies, “oldies” music, cloth napkins, Wi-Fi, a banquet room equipped with PowerPoint capabilities, and a 52-inch plasma TV.
“It’s chic, but diner,” Chef Len said.
Source: Chef Len, At The Diner
Deborah Johnson Wood is Development News Editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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