The Scoop: Carondelet Diner reopens under new ownership

If you missed Carondelet Diner at 321 E. Davis St., before it closed in November 2013, you now have a second chance to try it out under new ownership. Sue Stewart, who co-owns the space with Tiffany Cotton, managed a KFC for 15 years and said she always wanted to open a diner where customers could have a service-oriented experience. “[I was] tired of going to restaurants where the people don’t care,” Stewart said.

After leasing the space earlier this year, Stewart kept the name emblazoned on the side of the building. Doors opened in April and business has grown steadily. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., the diner is focused on classic heartland dishes like burgers, sandwiches, steaks, chili, omelets and hearty breakfasts, as well as more unconventional fare like a stuffed macaroni-n-cheese burger. Carondelet seats 49 at a mix of tables, booths and a long dark wood bar.

Stewart said weekend specials—fresh fish Fridays, barbecue Saturdays and fried chicken Sundays—draw a crowd. Stewart recently tried a new concept with the help of her sister-in-law Philomena Arnowitz and friend Debby Wahby, created traditional Lebanese dishes like kibbe, meat pies, cabbage rolls, grape leaves and baklava. Stewart said the day was so successful, she hopes to host Lebanese-themed menus monthly.

This article appears in Readers’ Choice 2014.