Riverhead Diner & Grill is making changes in 2015. And considering owner Liz Strebel plans to sell the business the following year, you better get it while you can.
The downtown Riverhead eatery is now serving beer and wine beverages to enjoy with its eats, something that hasn’t been offered at that location since 1999.
So, what motivated the ramped up menu?
“I thought that this could be my last hoorah,” said Strebel. “I’ll hopefully sell the diner in the beginning of next year. But this year I want to give it my all.”
Strebel, who has owned the diner since 1973, put the building on the market about a year ago. Unable to find a suitable buyer, she recently unlisted the 92-seat restaurant.
“People did offer me money for the diner, but it wasn’t enough and they wanted to change it,” she said. “I hope to find a new owner that wants to keep it the same. People love it as a dinner, I want to see it stay that way.”
Now celebrating 82 years in business the Riverhead Grill & Diner is an institution in the downtown area serving up home-style meals like pot roast and corned beef and cabbage.
Rich in both history and delicious eats, Newsday‘s ExploreLI recently named it one of Long Island’s 12 best traditional diners. Family Circle Magazine previously featured the restaurant’s old-fashioned Lemon Meringue Pie recipe.
Strebel said more change is in store for the menu in 2015.
The diner will also roll out new menu items in coming weeks, although Strebel hasn’t made a final decision on what those dishes will be just yet.
Riverhead Diner & Grill is located at 85 E. Main Street in downtown Riverhead.
