Annadale Diner

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Visiting a Greek Restaurant

Annadale Diner

While studying ethnic foodways we discovered that food, in many cases tradition, is a big part of the way that communities stick together. People of the same nationality often stick together due to mutual similarities. This is often the case in reference to Staten Island's tightly knit Greek community. Most, if not all, of Staten Island's diners are Greek owned establishments; we visited the Greek owned Annadale Diner in Annadale.

The Menu

Penne Vodka-an incorporation of Italian food to a Greek establishment

Despite it’s inclusion of Greek like scenes, architecture, and items for luck the institution is clearly Americanized. The menu is completely in English, as typically most attendants of the diner are those who speak/read English. However the menu contains several dishes that are made “Greek style,” such as the roast chicken. It’s observalble that most dishes that feature the word Greek in them, such as the Greek Taco and the Greek Pasta, have feta cheese. The Diner also holds three important and common Greek foods: souvlaki, gyros, and tzatziki sauce. Tzatziki sauce, a creamy white looking sauce, is typically used with souvlaki and gyros. Souvlaki, typically meat with vegetables on a skewer, is a food that hails all the way back to Ancient Greek times. On the Annadale Diner it is known through its cultural and actual name of souvlaki, however in the United States its been “Americanized” to be known as shish kebab.

The Decor

Annadale Diner

Walking into the Annadale Diner one enters a small lobby area used for waiting, as the establishment is often quite crowded. Three glass panels are visible from this lobby, and each panel has an etching contained on it. One panel holds a large glass etching of a vase with flowers blooming out of it, while the other two hold designs of vines bordering around the glass with vines and what are obviously grapes used to make wine attached to them. Once past the lobby and into the main area of the establishment itself, customers are assaulted with a boisterous atmosphere.


Annadale Diner

The far right walls of the Diner are adorned with a long mural. The painting features a robust woman in a flowing, rose colored, strapless dress that is tied under the bust with a blue sash, matching the one that is woven into her hair. In the hand above her head is a basket of fruit, in the other is a bunch of purple grapes, freshly picked off the ground beneath her feet. Woven along and around the woman’s feet are vines littered with grapes. Trees surround her with a grassy pasture and mountains in the distance. Separated by a column that runs up along the wall is the female’s male counterpart. He too is sitting amongst the trees and is surrounded by grape vines. In his hand he holds a bunch of blue grapes, while pooled around his waste is a sarong. His sarong matches the female dress as well as the scarf wrapped around his head.

Annadale Diner


Mirrors surrounded in gilded gold borders adorn the back wall, while chandeliers hang from the ceiling casting off low glows of light. The designs of the chandeliers as well as lights that are attached to the walls, hint back to the outside architecture of the Ancient Greek God’s temples. While on the far left walls are paintings of cherubs with ancient texts at their feet; one is holding a harp while the other is looking down at the papers with the text. Above the bar is a horseshoe, in the upright position, placed on a circular wooden board symbolizing good luck. The upright position is to let luck in to the establishment instead of out. Underneath the horseshoe are the words KANH MAXH. Even the bathrooms contain items with ancient Greek feels, such as the vase that stands on the vanity, which is comparable to the designs of ancient Greek pottery.


From the mural on the walls and aspects of the architectural structure of the chandeliers as well as other objects in the restaurant it can be inferred that the times of Ancient Greece are held in high regard, whether it be by the owner of the Greek community itself. It is easy to see that grapes used to make wine are a key theme found in many aspects of the restaurant as well; as the grapes can be found in the mural, etched into the glass, and on large wine glasses above the bar/cash register area. These grapes may just be a tribute to the ancient Greek God Dionysus (known to the Romans as Bacchus) who was the God of wine.

Interesting Syncretisms

While proudly boasting the word diner in its name, the Annadale Diner is anything but a diner. It’s an ethnic institution that holds a certain portion no matter how big or small of the Greek community. It is also like no diner located on Staten Island, instead it’s atmosphere and food relate more to a restaurant, rather than to be associated with the term diner. The “Americanization” of the diner is obvious through the menu, which is like a melting pot of cultures. Not only does the establishment have Greek food, it has Italian, French, what people consider American, and many others. However it remains to be an “ethnic” institution via its décor, inclusion of Greek foods, and its lively Greek owner who is always around to check on his customers and have a chat.


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