Oldies and Goodies Diner, Boardman, Ohio

     My first restaurant feature is the new, "Oldies and Goodies Diner," at 1035 Boardman-Poland Road in Boardman, Ohio.  The diner takes the place of the old "Park Diner," that was brought to the Valley by the Eat N' Park restaurant chain, which closed on November 1st in 2009, and has sat vacant ever since.  Restauranteur's Tommy and Lucy, (Lucianne,) are the Owner and General Manager, and they found the location through a business broker that they had been working with.  They liked the property and location so much they moved from New Jersey to bring Tommy's love of diners to the Mahoning Valley.   Having owned and operated previously two diners in New York, and two in New Jersey, Tommy knew he could replicate his successes here in Northeast Ohio.

     The dining area was in pristine condition from the old owners, so virtually nothing needed to be changed or updated.  The kitchen was redone to Tommy's liking, and is still being renovated with equipment needed to bring Tommy's favorite baker from New Jersey to Ohio very soon.  "Oldies and Goodies Diner," officially opened on October 24, 2013.  Tommy oversees the kitchen and the menu and brought one of his best cooks with him to Ohio to open the diner.  Lucy is the General Manager greets the customers along with waiting tables as needed and brought the help of a trusted old employee to help her in the front of the house.  The rest of the staff is made up of people from and around the Mahoning Valley.

     The diner has a separate breakfast menu with several specials that include bottomless, hot coffee, and is served Monday thru Friday from 5:30am to 11:00am.  The 'All-Day' breakfast's are featured on their lunch/dinner menu, served 11:00am to close Monday thru Friday, and all day on the weekends.  On the weekday breakfast menu  I usually gravitate to the three egg breakfast special that includes a choice of breakfast meat, real fried potatoes, toast, and coffee for just 6.97 including tax!!  I have tried the Eggs Benedict that has perfectly poached eggs, and a very rich and creamy hollandais sauce.  the pancakes are light and fluffy and are served with a warm whipped butter that spreads easily over the cakes.  (Personal Pet Peeve:  I dislike restaurants that serve cold butter pats or margarine mini-tubs that are kept refrigerated until serving and tear your food all to heck as you try to spread it, rant over.)  The coffee is good, hot, and rarely makes it to the bottom of the mug, thanks to Lucy and her staff's attentiveness.

     From the All-Day breakfast's on the lunch/dinner menu, I am a sucker for a good country fried steak breakfast and this plate is a winner here.  Two perfectly breaded cutlets of steak are topped with a good gravy, (I asked for the sausage, but they make a good white gravy too,) and they are served with three eggs cooked to order, real pan fried potatoes, and toast.  I have also ordered the omelet made of five eggs and choice of over 17 toppings to add in as you like, and is served with the potatoes and toast.  I asked Tommy for his favorite or specialty and was torn between a greek omelet with spinach and feta, or the french toast napoleon that is stuffed with berries, banana's, whipped cream, and wet walnuts.  One of the best things I can say about "Oldies and Goodies Diner," si that they listen to their customers.  In the brief time it has been open, I have seen them change their sausage to a plumper, better tasting Dirusso sausage links, and their toast from thinly sliced to a hearty, thick sliced and better tasting bread, (especially the wheat.) 

     All in all, you will enjoy a great breakfast, with a clean and modern diner interior, served by an attentive staff and a warm welcome from Tommy and Lucy.  With "Oldies and Goodies Diner" being just a few blocks from my workplace, I know I will be here often.  Again they are located right on the corner of 224 and South Avenue, (hint:  it's easiest to get to the restaurant going in the Long John Silver's entrance on 224 and driving around to the back and in to the diner's parking lot,) and they are open 7 days a week.  They do have a Facebook page that Lucy says there is just no time to update at the moment.  They currently have no wifi at the diner.  I am definitely looking forward to their baker moving here soon for some fresh and homemade Cinnamon Rolls.  Do yourself a favor and check out "Oldies and Goodies Diner," in Boardman.