Barbara Brewer La Mere
Ambrosia Diner opened in December at
518 Aviation Road in Queensbury, one of
four diners owned by the Pilarinos family.
All but one of the locations, Plaza Diner
in Hudson, are built to replicate the look
and feel of original railroad dining car
diners. Dennis and Anastasia Pilarinos
established the group of diners more than
40 years ago. Their son, Bobby, has been
officially in the diner business for 12 years,
though he admits that he was bussing tables
and washing dishes long before that time.
Bobby currently is the manager of Capital
City Diner on Western Avenue in Albany and
the Ambrosia Diner in Catskill, as well as
the other two locations.
He described Ambrosia as “your basic
Greek diner.” Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
are available. There is a bakery on site that
prepares all bread, rolls, pies, and cakes
sold on the premises.
Fresh soup is made daily. Pilarinos said all food sold at Ambrosia is home-cooked, not processed. Available Greek specialties include spanikopita, moussaka, gyros, souvlaki (wrap sandwiches with pork or chicken instead of the lamb that is in the gyros), and baklava. Salads, steaks, chops, and chicken dishes round out the menu. There is a full bar.
The local diner employs between 50 and 60 people. There is seating for 200. Pilarinos said he loves the restaurant business because it involves “meeting a variety of people from all walks of life.”
He enjoys things being different every day. Ambrosia Diner was constructed by De- Raffele Manufacturing Co. in New Rochelle, in 11 pieces that were shipped to Queensbury and put together to form the diner.
Ambrosia is open 24 hours. A copy of the menu can be found on the www.idine.com website. Orders for pick-up can be phoned in to 636-5486. Online ordering is not yet available, but is in the works.