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A first look at The Shiny Diner owner’s new modern-age diner in Smoky Hollow.
Black-and-white-checkered floors. Glossy booths. Greasy cheeseburgers and bacon and pancakes. Consider these features the blueprint for your classic American diner. Now, bringing the time-honored eatery into the modern age is Tucker Street Diner, now open in Smoky Hollow.
From the same team behind Raleigh’s The Shiny Diner and Peak City Diner in Apex, the classy-meets-casual eatery offers a modern respite for those who have felt the hole made from the closure of former proximal—albeit more traditional—greasy spoons Finch’s Family Restaurant and Rainbow Luncheonette. Only this establishment will cater to a new and diverse clientele who live, work and play in Smoky Hollow—an MO you’ll appreciate from first entry onto the black-and-white floors, complemented by Tiffany blue booths and walls.
And nodding to those Rainbow Luncheonette vibes, alcohol will be on offer all day—but don’t expect to grab a 2am nightcap and fries here as “nothing good happens after midnight,” maintains co-owner James Park, who, along with his wife/co-owner Michelle, will also supply the Hollow’s caffeine fix with houseroasted coffee and espresso bevs crafted in collab with local roasters.
True to its roots, though, the traditional—yet elevated—daylong diner food you know and love will still star, such as burgers and sandwiches feat. roasted-in-house meats; all-day breakfast items like classic bacon, egg, pancake/waffle combos; plus ice cream, milkshakes, cakes and pies. And appealing to younger generations less familiar with the nostalgia of the greasy spoon experience of Finch’s, Tucker Street Diner will also serve up health-forward low-carb selects like avocado toast and omelets.
Those looking for that feel-good Americana vibe can find it bellied up for evening blue plate specials—and heaping dishes like the ultimate Smoky Hollow Burrito made up of a tortilla, sausage patties, American cheese, eggs, bacon, a pancake and maple syrup all rolled together (!). Plus, fueling the hustle are to-go breakfast sandwiches and pastries from local bakeries.
In essence, “It’s Raleigh’s diner,” emphasizes Park. “We’re not complicated, we’re not trying to make you uncomfortable—we want every menu item to be recognizable.” As such, he hopes the diner’s approachability will entice people to dine there multiple times a week—whether over coffee and dessert after dinner at Madre, during weekend brunch (“accessible enough, but not so simple that it’s like a Waffle House and not as fancy as First Watch,” notes Park), or just for a quick latte on your way to work. So, a breeding ground for regulars a la your standard diner.
“We’re excited to be a part of the community—and it’s only growing,” says Park. “The opportunity was there and we wanted to bring an upscale big-city diner to Raleigh. … And there’s plenty of hungry mouths to feed.” tuckerstreetdiner.com
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