Breakfast buzz back in Bayside

It’s been since nearly a year since eggs sizzled in pans, English muffins were toasted and coffee was brewed at the Bayside Diner, but with a new look and staff, the local institution opened its doors once again.
“We are trying to give it a retro/eclectic look that’s both traditional, yet modern,” said Antonia Katsishtis, who, along with owners Spiro and Elias Katsishtis, have remodeled the interior of the diner over the course of the past year. “We wanted a comfortable environment. We hope that’s what the people experience.”
From the chefs and in-house baker to the waiting and greeting staff, the owners have made a conscious effort to hire within the Queens community. Antonia hopes that patrons will look through what is considered “traditional diner food” and try some of the healthy alternatives that they have on their menu including low-calorie Greek yogurt, stir-fry hibachi and healthy fruit smoothies. Rest assured, diner classics like all-day breakfasts, steaks and thick milkshakes are also on order. One sated customer said he was “happy to have his diner back.”
“I got treated very well here,” said Anthony DeMarie of Bayside, who topped off his lunch with a piece of apple pie. “The food and the portions were great.”
Renovations to the diner included all new kitchen equipment, color scheme, new tiling and an overall polished look to their greeting area, bar and general dining room. The Katsishtis have 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry running both Silver Star in Manhattan and the Veranda across the street from the Bayside Diner.