Riverhead diner reopens under new ownership with new look and new name

The iconic Peconic Bay Diner in Riverhead has reopened with a new look, new name and new food.

The eatery, now called the Peconic Diner, had a busy soft opening on Sunday after months of renovations. This week the diner is open for just breakfast and lunch, but next week will also be open for dinner, said owner Maryelis Nunez, 26.

While the restaurant’s menu is new, it’s very much a diner’s menu, with a flurry of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “There’s a little bit of everything,” Nunez said. She said she wants the diner’s menu to be affordable and change and evolve to fit “what the community wants.” 

“It’s a diner. I still want the same feel. I don’t want you to feel like you have to dress up to come here,” Nunez said. “It’s somewhere relaxed that looks nice. Good music. Good food. Free refills on coffee, if you want to stay here all day.” 

Nunez said she and her business partner, Amaury Tavaras, 26, bought the business from the Stavropoulos family, which owned and operated the diner for 32 years. Nunez has redesigned and renovated the building, putting in new furniture and a new kitchen.

The diner now has a bar for those who want an alcoholic or frozen drink, and large TVs strung about the place. Nunez said she wants the diner to be a brunch spot for Riverhead. The renovations to the diner also allow it to host private parties, Nunez said.

Paula and Glen Gati of Miller Place and Bill and Sandy Cardaci of Jamesport were having a meal together at the diner this morning. They said they enjoyed the food, service and coffee at the newly renovated restaurant. They were not regular customers of the diner under the previous ownership, but said they would come back to eat at Peconic Diner again.

Paula Gati, who runs the Facebook foodie group Born Again Italian, said she will recommend the diner to the group’s more than 58,000 members.

The diner, located at 871 Old Country Road in Riverhead, is open this week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., but will be open until 10 p.m. starting next week, Nunez said. Follow @PeconicDiner on Instagram for updates.