In Tarpon Springs, a longtime neighborhood gathering place that dates back to 1953 has been reborn. After closing in June for a head-to-toe makeover that took three months, Tarpon Diner is back in business at 217 S. Pinellas Ave. — with a menu of playful breakfast and lunch fare.
The goal of owner/chef John Koch was a simple one: Keep the local landmark alive. With its location in a vibrant downtown area, his decision to take over the place was an easy one.
"I wanted to take advantage of this trend of chef-driven diners," Koch told CL. "Here is a way I can bring some elevated food to Tarpon, but still have it be approachable and still be in this fun, whimsical setting."
While the headquarters of the historic diner may be the same, the space did go through an in-depth renovation. Many of the upgrades are invisible to guests — Koch completely transformed the kitchen and added new floors and appliances, for example. However, they'll likely notice the updated restrooms, upholstery and lighting.
"I left the structure intact. The bones of the restaurant are what they were before, but now it is brighter, cleaner, more modern, more operable," he said.
Koch has led culinary teams for some of the nation's largest chain restaurants — think Outback Steakhouse, Applebee's, Olive Garden and IHOP. His experience also extends internationally, as he's both trained and cooked all over the world, opportunities that he says have allowed him to create the flavors that patrons will find at the diner.
The original Tarpon Diner offered stalwarts like bacon, eggs and toast at value prices, but Koch wanted to elevate the eats by incorporating fresh, top-notch ingredients.
"I use fresh-squeezed orange juice and locally roasted coffee," he said. "We get our honey locally, we make our own sausages, and we cut our own bacon."
This new incarnation features an eclectic lineup of dishes like Greek yogurt pancakes and breakfast poutine, plus more familiar, traditional options. To further highlight the rich Greek heritage of the town it calls home, the diner also does the Greek Joe's special — a ground lamb scramble — among other items.
Despite the changes, Tarpon Diner — open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday — remains a place where people can congregate. It's still "a community gathering spot," according to Koch.
"The one comment that makes me the proudest is, 'Thank you. Tarpon really needed this,'" the chef-owner said.
