NYCs Theater District provides ideal home for new Diner 24 featuring singing waitstaff

Diner 24 is getting an encore of sorts, opening new digs in New York City’s Theater District where customers will be serenaded by singing waiters while chowing down on classic eats, Side Dish has learned.The new two-story space is slated to open late next month at 1674 Broadway, a landmarked building run by the Emmes Group.Think “Zorba the Greek,” “Mamma Mia,” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” said proprietor Stratis Morfogen.“That’s not a Broadway show, but it is theatrical and great entertainment.There will be lots of fun stuff,” he said.Still, customers will be able to get an authentic experience while they eat – five of about 16 singing waiters hired so far have Broadway and off-Broadway experience, according to the restaurateur.“They don’t have steady work, and that’s why they want to do this now,” Morfogen explained.The original Diner 24 in Gramercy was famed for its “church ladies” — grandmas known as yia yias in Greek — who came out of retirement to create homemade Greek dessert specialties with their own recipes.It has grown so fast in the past two years, with sales jumping from $2.5 million to $6 million a year, that the two “yia yias” in their 70s and 80s now work for John Nikolopoulos, or “papou” —  which means grandfather in Greek — out of his Brooklyn commissary and bakery. Nikolopoulos just celebrated his 90th birthday.

He has been baking American, French and Greek desserts for the past 75 years. “I feel very good.I’m strong,” Nikolopoulos told Side Dish, scoffing at the thought of retiring.

He is known for making delicious cheesecake and baklava, as well as bagels, breads, red velvet cakes and apple pies.While the sweet treats will be served in both diners, only Diner 24 in the Theater District comes with singing waiters.Theater, Morfogen says, is part of his DNA.Actors in the family include his late uncle, stage and screen veteran George Morfogen, who appeared in the series, “Oz.” “T...