Business Profile: Pleasantville Diner, Pleasantville
For 75 years, the Pleasantville Diner has been a vital part of the village, a place where customers have returned time and time again to treat themselves to quality food and friendly service.
Jack Mourouzis and his wife, Pauline, have been running the establishment since 1980, providing a familiar face to the business that promises a “home away from home” experience for its patrons.
A 40-year veteran of the restaurant industry, Mourouzis came to the United States from Greece when he was 19. Soon after, he went to work at the Bedford Diner, embarking on a journey that many immigrants take when they arrive to this country, moving up the ranks from dishwasher to business owner.
At the Pleasantville Diner, patrons will find a variety of American food, Greek dishes and Italian fare, but it’s also the congenial atmosphere that draws customers back. Manager Jo Ann Ellis, who has worked for Mourouzis for 30 years, said she couldn’t imagine spending her days in any other work setting.
“This has been such a big part of my life,” said Ellis, who enjoys the camaraderie among the diner’s staff of 25.
Pleasantville Diner has attracted a steady stream of longtime customers, Ellis said. Some have even met their future spouses there, including Ellis. When the diner closed for six months in 2001 for a major renovation, she said the locals were anxious to see it re-open.
At the time that Mourouzis, a Cortlandt resident, purchased the diner, it seated about 60 people. The renovation, which included the addition of the back dining room, doubled its capacity.
In recent months, Mourouzis, who begins his days at 6 a.m., has updated the menu to reflect his customers’ changing tastes. They will find a wider choice of wraps, all served with French fries. There’s the broiled shrimp, broiled salmon and chicken burrito wraps. There is also the Golden Finger wrap, a combination of chicken fingers, lettuce and tomato, served with honey mustard sauce.
Mourouzis enhanced offerings for children and added a selection of gourmet dinner salads to the menu. Most feature a selection of chicken and seafood dishes combined with mesclun greens, dried and fresh fruits and cheeses, topped with a variety of delicious dressings.
Customer favorites include the Charcoal Chicken Breast Mango, the Pleasantville Chicken Breast, the Grilled Chicken Pesto and the Tropical Chicken Breast salad, to name a few. All gourmet salads are served with either bread, pita or crackers.
The desserts have a special homemade flavor to them, said Mourouzis, because they are freshly baked. Favorites include the bread and rice puddings.
“Our entire menu is very reasonable, with customers able to get everything from a hot dog to a steak,” Mourouzis said.
Along with the enhanced menu, Mourouzis is eager to provide his customers with meals that are delicious and moderately priced. About a year ago, he introduced a number of dinner specials aptly titled, “Jack’s Inflation Fighters.” The specials are priced at $9.99 and are available every day from 3 to 9 p.m. They include spaghetti and meatballs, baked ziti, fried sole, fried coconut shrimp and turkey meatloaf. All are served with a soup or salad and vegetables.
Customers can also choose from a selection of wines. Brands from the Pleasantville-based Prospero Winery are carried. A bottle of either red or white wine is $14.99 and a glass of either costs $4.99.
Pleasantville Diner is located at 10 Memorial Plaza and is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 914-769-8585. To view the menu in more detail, visit www.pleasantvillediner.com.
Colette Connolly is a copywriter and p.r. expert. She owns Connolly Communications, which is based in Bronxville, New York. Colette specializes in providing content-rich, SEO-optimized press releases, articles, newsletters, brochures, and customer success stories.
