Yellow Diner in Vienna, open since April 1, has been sold to family and friends. It will reopen as Carnegie Diner & Cafe, featuring expanded hours and a larger menu. It will have a soft opening on May 24 and a grand opening on June 1.
- Yellow Diner, which opened in April, has been sold and will be relaunched as Carnegie Diner & Cafe.
- The new diner will have longer hours, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
- Carnegie Diner & Cafe will feature classic diner foods and an expanded menu.
Yellow Diner Transitions to Carnegie Diner & Cafe
The Yellow Diner, a newcomer to Vienna’s restaurant scene, has announced its closure less than two months after its grand opening on April 1.
This family-owned establishment, known for its brunch and dinner offerings, has been sold to family friends. It will soon reopen as Carnegie Diner & Cafe, a New York-based diner chain.
“We spoke to a lot of customers and they said, ‘We want a more traditional diner, open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and that’s something we couldn’t offer as a family,” explained owner Emanuel Pagonis.
“We couldn’t put that much time into the restaurant with having another restaurant as well. … It just didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.”
A Fresh Start at Vienna’s Iconic Spot
Carnegie Diner & Cafe, which has locations in Times Square and Central Park in New York City and Secaucus, New Jersey, will take over the Yellow Diner’s location.
The menu will include diner classics such as egg dishes, pancakes, burgers, and deli sandwiches.
The soft opening is scheduled for May 24, followed by a grand opening on June 1.
“We have a team of 10 people coming from New York to train the crew here,” said owner Stathis Antonakopoulos.
“We rehired all staff from Yellow Diner plus 15 extra people since we will open more hours and more days.”
Broader Menu and Longer Hours
The new diner will operate seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., providing a broader menu and longer hours to meet community demand.
As announced, the Carnegie Diner & Cafe will offer organic omelets, burgers, signature steaks, and a famous pastrami and corned beef sandwich.
Yellow Diner Acknowledges Local Support
The Yellow Diner’s transition was shared with the Vienna Foodies Facebook group. “We want to thank you dearly for your support and patience as we’ve incubated this new project,” the Yellow Diner team wrote. “Your enthusiasm has been very appreciated and a blessing!”
Emanuel Pagonis believes the change is beneficial for everyone.
“They know what they’re doing with traditional diners. They have more hours, a larger menu. I think they are more what people are looking for. It’s going to be better for everyone, including us, so I think we’ll stick to Greek restaurants—fine dining—and we’ll give the diner to people who know what they are doing.”
Carnegie Diner & Cafe: Elevating Vienna’s Culinary Scene
Carnegie Diner & Cafe aims to bring an all-day breakfast featuring dishes like lobster-topped eggs, Benedict, avocado toast, and a dozen types of pancakes.
The menu includes rib-eye steak, burgers, Atlantic salmon, and decadent desserts like a 24-layer chocolate cake.
Vienna’s Yellow Diner may have had a brief run, but its legacy will continue with the arrival of Carnegie Diner & Cafe, promising an enhanced dining experience for the local community.
