Silver Diner Marks 20th Anniversary

As a thank you to its customers, and a throw back to the original diner days, Silver Diner will commemorate its 20th anniversary by offering cups of coffee for 20¢ on Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 7.  Proceeds from every cup sold will benefit Share our Strength, a non-profit organization that helps feed children in need.

On June 5, Silver Diner will also roll out its biggest menu ever.  Twenty new “Blueplates” will feature classic favorites and healthier, contemporary choices, all at modest prices.  With Breakfast Blueplates starting at $3.99, and Lunch and Dinner Blueplates at $5.99 and $7.99, Silver Diner’s menu will feature 95 items for under $10.

“From the boxcar to their current form, diners have always evolved to changing consumer needs and tastes,” said Robert Giamo, CEO and co-founder of Silver Diner. “In this economy, people are yearning for authentic comfort foods they know are a great value.  At the same time, they also want healthier options for an on-the-go lifestyle.  We are mixing the best of the old and new to ensure our brand remains timeless for a new generation of diners.”

The new, healthier menu selections include Grilled Wasabi Salmon and Aloha Veggie Sliders, Mega Life Salad with Hummus, Grilled Flounder, Cajun Mahi-Mahi and Asian Skewered Chicken.  Other new options offered are the Avocado Bacon Burger, Pesto Turkey Sliders and Bar Harbor Fish and Chips ― complementing Silver Diner’s popular selection of “Authentic American Classics” such as Big Bowl Chicken Pot Pie and “Major” Meatloaf.

“We spent a year traveling the country and examining emerging consumer and food trends ― like healthier comfort foods, lighter sauces, portion size options and fresher ingredients ― to create exciting new choices,” explains Ype Von Hengst, co-founder and Executive Chef.  “Our new menu meets the changing tastes of our current guests, and is designed to attract a new generation of diner-lovers.”

Silver Diner hasn’t forgotten its littlest customers either, adding six new healthy kids’ meals, including Teriyaki Grilled Chicken Strips, Grilled Salmon, Barbeque Turkey Sliders and Flatbread Pizza.  With 20 items, it will be one of the largest kids’ menus available at any restaurant.

Many other Silver Diner traditions have also been refreshed, including its famous shakes and floats.  There is the new Acai Pomegranate Shake – for the health conscious – and the Peanut Butter Heath Bar Shake for everyone else.

Silver Diner is also responding to the wishes of its customers for a more diverse music selection by updating its tabletop jukeboxes with the best sounds of the 70’s and 80’s.  The restaurant is giving all of its servers a mini-makeover as well, with new, retro-style uniforms.

The 20th anniversary comes on the heels of the opening of two new Silver Diner divisions and a successful Classic Diner opening in Richmond in November 2008. The Richmond location opened with record breaking sales serving ten thousand guests a week, surpassing any restaurant of  its size in the Hampton Roads region.  In November 2007, the company launched Silver Diner Airport at BWI Airport.  The concept “took off” and is on target to generate more than $5-million in annual sales.  Last month, Silver Diner opened the second of its METRO locations in Annapolis, Md.  METRO is the “Next Generation Diner,” a fast-casual concept for today’s healthier on-the-go lifestyles. The company is eyeing future expansion in the Hampton Roads area, including possibly a METRO location.

The Silver Diner family of 19 restaurants generates over $50-million in sales and employs more than 1,500.  For more information and a complete directory of locations, visit www.SilverDiner.com.