Diners

(“The Olympia Restaurant”)⁵

This scene from season 3 episode 10 of NBC’s Saturday Night Live is an iconic skit that serves as a parody of the Greek diner business. The three men working behind the counter of the diner seem to only be capable of talking about their lack of tuna, eggs, and coke, and the exclusive presence of cheeseburgers, chips, and Pepsi on their menu for the day. Though this sketch was widely accepted as a funny interpretation of Greeks working in a diner, it does contain some truth.

History of Greek Diners

Greek diners are often a fast-paced environment where orders are flying around the kitchen and customers are ready for the gigantic plate of food that will soon grace their palettes. The clip also mentions that the workers behind the counter are all related to each other. According to Dena Kleiman in her article, “Greek Diners, Where Anything is Possible,” this was and still is the case in many diners on the east coast in general because when they emigrated from Greece to the U.S., it was easy to get a job in the food industry. These immigrants would learn the rules of the job, make enough money to support their families, and they would ultimately open diners and restaurants of their own (Kleiman)⁶. When one person or family would move to the United States to find opportunities, they would let the rest of their family and friends know when they found a job and a place to live so that they could all work and live together in America. This is called chain migration, and it explains a lot about the way that Greek diners came about.

The movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding also depicts the importance of the Greek diner. The Portokalos’ diner, Dancing Zorba’s, is extremely important to the family and Toula, the main character of the film, even mentions that if she didn’t get married at a certain age she would work for the family business.

Diners in Astoria

Some of the most well-known diners in Astoria, Queens include Neptune Diner, Bel Aire diner, Mike’s Diner, Tasty’s Diner, and Igloo Café. All of these diners have somewhat of an online presence and from what is online it can be concluded that each diner has very loyal customers. In many of the famous review sites online most people were saying good things about each establishment, but some people were still recommending other diners and critiquing their meals. On our trip to Astoria we saw Mike’s Diner, Tasty’s Diner, and Igloo Café. From observations made that day, a Friday afternoon, it can be concluded that no matter how much competition there is, diners are so inherently trustworthy and inviting that all three of these places were busy for lunch. People have favorite spots and neighborhood landmarks that they cling to, but no matter where they go out of the five diners mentioned, it seems like they will have a lot of Greek and non-Greek authentic food available to them.

The amazing thing about diners is that they offer so many different foods from so many different places. The foods that all of these diners do have in common, though, are Greek foods. On each of their menus a special spot is reserved for “Greek Specialties,” and it is obvious that these diners are not only trying to please everyone who walks into their establishment but that they are also trying to preserve their culture by showcasing their signature dishes.

Each diner tries to emphasize to the public that they are there to serve the community and to create a comfortable place for their customers to eat.

The Ever-Changing Diner

Technology has advanced to a point where anyone with a smartphone can see hundreds of reviews about a restaurant or diner within seconds, and so the competition is becoming fiercer as time goes on. Growing up in this technological age has caused many of the children and grandchildren of diner owners to go out into the world to seek work elsewhere. According to, “Diners in Changing Hands; Greek Ownership on the Wane,” by Joseph Berger, the Greeks that immigrated in the 1950s are retiring now and since their children and grandchildren are finding work outside of the diner business, Greek ownership of diners may be on a decline (Berger)⁷. Each of these diners has a loyal customer base, though, that will continue to keep the tradition of diners alive by spreading the word both off and online.

No matter who is working behind the counters, people will still continue to enjoy the wide variety of food that is offered to them. Even though diner culture is always changing, they will always be associated with comfort food and great conversation.

-Amy Marino