Cheerful diner serves up breakfast and lunch on West Main Street
Every neighborhood needs a diner where residents and workers can quickly grab a bite, and also where retirees, perhaps living on their own, can linger over coffee and have a chat.
The stretch of West Main Street that runs from downtown through the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood and into Bull's Head has had — and lost — a couple of places like this.
Critic's Restaurant, open for more than 100 years at West Main and Genesee streets, was torn down a decade ago, the result of a poorly executed demolition of an adjacent building by the city of Rochester. And downtown, the Busy Bee Restaurant shut its doors earlier this year after operating for more than 60 years.
Filling the gap between the two is the Better Stop Diner, which opened in April at 626 West Main St. The space that was formerly home to a fish market has been completely gutted and transformed into a space that's clean, bright and cheerful, with a combination of booth and table seating.
The owners are Lakew Delnesaw, who owns La Liquor in the same small plaza, and Cristal Starling, who has owned a hot dog cart and catering business in Rochester. The staff also includes Clarence Griffin, cook, and Victor Acosta, who washes dishes and does a little bit of everything.
But it's really the sociable Starling who sets the tone. She's the friendly face who greets you, chats with you and cashes you out, all the while keeping a close eye on the food cooked up in the open kitchen.
"When it goes out, it has to look like something I want to eat," she said. She picked up cooking in the kitchens of her mother and grandmother, while Griffin got his training at fast food places, followed by Red Robin, Longhorn Steakhouse and the University of Rochester.
The menu includes classic breakfast fare like eggs, omelets, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and chicken and waffles. Because Starling follows a pescatarian diet, she made sure there were plenty of fish options, including shrimp and grits, salmon patties and grits and fish and grits.
The lunch menu includes a cheeseburger, chicken wings, fish sandwich, grilled chicken salad and more. Breakfast and lunch can be ordered whenever the diner is open.
"We're just trying to provide a nice, comfortable place for people to come and eat," Starling said.
If you go
Better Stop Diner is at 626 W. Main St. in Rochester, a couple of blocks from the Susan B. Anthony House and Museum. It is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. It has free WiFi. It is wheelchair accessible, including the rest room. Call (585) 434-0136 to order by telephone.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Diner serves breakfast and lunch in Rochester NY near Susan B Anthony house
