Sullivan Diner - Sundae Dinner

Sullivan Diner located at 169 Sullivan is not your usual diner. It serves food resembling diner food, but with s fine food twist to it (you'll find things like meatloaf and porc chops). The restaurant inhabits the first floor of a house. There is a large front porch with a bench and wicker chairs, with candles and on Sunday, a chillier day than the usual scorchers we've been used to in NYC, the place had a nice warmth to it.

The owner (former chef) Richard Galcik was friendly and generous. I sat at a 4 top near the back and Maria, the waitress, was also really forthcoming as she explained various items on the menu.

My first item, a glass of red wine which i really needed at that point. Maria brought me a glass of Montelpulciano - a wine i am not familiar with. But i've read it contains flavours of black plums, black cherry, herbs, black olives.

She started with "The burgers are good here." But when i said I've had enough burgers, other items became the talk.
"Everything is homemade. The chicken is free rabge. The meatloaf is very good. There's beef and turkey meatloaf and it comes with 2 sides. The lamb is made well, marinated, tender. We have salmon, trout."

I asked about the fish and chips.
"The fish is tilapia and the fish is beer battered."

Feeling like a fall night, i went with the chicken pot pie ( 14 $ ) and the carrot ginger soup to start.

The bread was sweet and silky and Maria noted it was brioche bread.

The soup was hot and comforting.

The chicken pot pie boasted of veggies like carrots, peas and potatoes and was very creamy. The puff pastry was nice and flaky.

Maria described the desserts with equal professionalism.

"We have dutch pancakes. Like french, but crispy. You can have with apples...nutella. There is a chocolate macadamia fourless tart (which i really like) served with pistachio ice cream; warm banana bread pudding with chocolate sauce; the dessert of the day is apple pie. "

It was a tie between the pecan brownie sundae wiht hot fudge sauce and the tart. I ordered the tart. I was happy.

When done, I spoke with Richard. He told me this is the first time in 25 years he has not been in the kitchen. Now he designs the menu and trains his cooking team. He grew up in the Bronx and left when he was 17 and moved to Manhattan where he worked as a waiter and bartender. He studied at the French culinary institute in Manhattan and worked with Julia Child. He owned the Park Bistro. He often brings fresh produce for the diner from his house in Montauk. He Lives in Queens and does fundraisers for the Jackson Heights beautification group; plant trees for neighborhood.

I asked about Julia Child.
"It was a fundraiser cooking segment. She got a little bit drunk and I had to do it solo. It was her last public appearance," he said.

He mentionned a few famous people who have eaten at Sullivan's. Anna Wintour came in before a taping for Dave Letterman. She was wearing the same thing she wore on show...Whoopi Goldberg... They taped an episode of a reality show called Bank on Mom and Dad about college kids in debt. It will air September 30. They have to get a job and i hired a woman to work as a waitress. They were here 6 hours for a 20 minute segment," he said.

Thank you Sullivan Diner!

Sullivan's serves all day breakfast.
Available for private parties.
212-228-6091
www.sullivandiner.com