For Javier and Jeannie Alvarez, growing up on Long Island, New York, meant stopping by their local diner, whether at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m., was about as routine as climbing out of bed in the morning.
These neighborhood havens, though nothing elaborate, are the unpretentious hubs of daily life that, in a pre-COVID world, often served as a 24-hour stage for friends' and families' most precious, yet unassuming memories.
Their tattered booths and chrome walls soaked in stories from late-night partiers, cross-country travelers and Sunday morning regulars — a place for pie, pancakes and milkshakes, sometimes all in one sitting.
Now, the Alvarez family hopes to bring a taste of these Northeastern cornerstones about a thousand miles south to Angelina’s Diner in Ormond Beach.
The couple, parents of four young children, tell me they named the modern, yet inviting eatery after their 10-year-old daughter, Angelina, and pulled inspiration for its neutral and teal décor from the colors of her school uniform and the coastal charm of Ormond's beachside.
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“It was a no brainer for us,” Jeannie said. “We wanted something very family, something that meant something to us, and he was just like — Angelina’s.”
“The name, it stands out. And everybody knows her, too, in town” Javier, a 30-year restaurant veteran, said of his daughter, a young athlete and student at St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic School in Ormond Beach.
After roughly a year and a half in the making, Angelina’s Diner has tentative plans to soft open by early September at 190 S. Atlantic Ave., where the Alvarez family hopes to capture the easy-going spirit of Long Island spots they’ve long loved, while introducing an elevated take on classic diner fare.
“We grew up going to diners all the time, you know?” Jeannie said. “We were like, if we’re going to do something, it’s got to be a diner — with breakfast, lunch and dinner — because that’s what we know, and that’s what we like.”
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In true diner fashion, breakfast will be served all day at Angelina’s with a lengthy selection of three-egg omelets, breakfast sandwiches and any-style “eggcetera” plates, served with customers’ choice of New York-style home fries, golden hash brown potatoes or country grits and toast.
“People in New York, they love their bacon and eggs, you know? And home fries," Javier said. "You have to have that (New York) style of home fries. (It’s) just different compared to what they do over here in other diners.”
Those with a sweet tooth can look forward to Belgian waffles, banana pancakes, Key lime pie and Angelina’s French toast — thick-cut, custard-dipped Texas toast with whipped butter, powdered cinnamon sugar and a warm mixed-berry compote.
The children’s menu, curated to reflect the preferences of their own, will feature plates with heart-shaped pancakes, among other playful touches and personalized names like the “Daddy’s Little Girl" plate.
Main menu options range from the Greek salad with homemade dressing and handhelds — like the Southern chicken sandwich, half-pound patty melt and fish sandwich — to specialties like the old-fashion meatloaf, baked salmon, fried chicken and New York sirloin steak, cut in-house.
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“Almost everything is going to be made from scratch,” with local chef Tyler Dees' own touch added throughout, Javier noted.
Coffee, tea, Coke products and, of course, milkshakes will be available at the diner, while there’s hope for a liquor bar, alongside beer and wine during its grand opening, tentatively by December.
“We’re really passionate about our business, you know? If you spend (time) looking around here, it’s not just, 'Oh we slapped something together and want to open,'” Jeannie said.
“Everything was really taken into consideration — our style; how we want people to feel when they come in the restaurant. And even with the food, it was really hard, like he said, because we really want to get it right … I want good food and want to be able to want to eat there every day, just like other people when they come in.”
A condensed version of the diner’s full menu will be available during the soft opening, the pair noted, and they hope to evolve its offerings overtime with input from customers.
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With over a half-dozen beachfront resorts and inns planted just across the street, the Alvarezes knew the former IHOP was a prime location for their diner — one they say will provide the no-fuss dining convenience beach vacationers crave during peak season, with the presentation and flavor that locals appreciate from a mom-and-pop shop.
“Over here, you’ve got a little bit of both; you’ve got the locals and you’ve got the tourism, and that will help us stay afloat,” Javier said.
“It’s a balance,” Jeannie continued. “We’re right by the beach and then, you know, great food, great service, a nice ambiance where people feel comfortable and relaxed. Hopefully that will keep us afloat for many years.”
Though they hoped to be in business by mid-July, the couple said several factors forced them to hit the brakes, including city approvals, vendor selection and finding the right staff to align with their vision. Now, they feel more than ready for their September opening — a delay they say was nothing short of God’s plan for Angelina’s.
“I think it's good timing, because it gives us a good chance to practice what we’re doing,” Javier said.
“And I think God does things for a reason,” Jeannie noted. “We wanted to open … but it’s like, no, things have to happen, and everything has been put in place for a reason."
Angelina's Diner is located at 190 S. Atlantic Ave. in Ormond Beach and plans to soft open by early September from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. during its first two weeks in business. Following its soft opening, the diner plans to open from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday - Thursday and 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with extended hours available for special events. For information, visit facebook.com .
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Restaurant news: Local family to open New York-style diner in Ormond Beach
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