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<\/p>\nPhiladelphia is known as \u201cThe City of Brotherly Love.\u201d<\/p>\n
John and Paul Hazakis have brought their own brand of brotherly love \u2014 honed in diners across Philadelphia and Pennsylvania \u2014 to Hot Spot Diner at 4045 Tyrone Blvd.<\/p>\n
Hot Spot opened in February, replacing First Watch. Having worked with their father at diners that were open around the clock, John and Paul are equally comfortable serving breakfast dishes at lunchtime and lunch fare for breakfast. They may soon earn a reputation for comfort cuisine.<\/p>\n
Hot Spot Diner is open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
While Paul, a former restaurant owner, has lived in the St. Petersburg area for 11 years, John, the current owner, recently moved here after running eight diners over the past 40 years, mainly in Pennsylvania cities such as Nazareth, Pottsville, Bloomsburg, Reading, Springfield and West Newtown, just outside Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy brother lives here,\u201d John said. \u201cAnd he came to me and said, \u2018If you open a restaurant here, I\u2019ll be your chef.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
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The brothers moved with their family from Greece to the United States 47 years ago, but their menu goes well beyond Greek food. In a matter of minutes, they served a Philly cheesesteak sandwich with fries and coleslaw; a chef salad with a generous portion of ham; a double catch of two pieces of fried fish and shrimp; and chicken, cheese and onion in a toasted wrap.<\/p>\n
Specials included a BLT with one egg and a side, and a garden scrambler with eggs, spinach, tomato, onion, mushroom, cheddar cheese and toast. Soup of the day: lemon chicken orzo.<\/p>\n
A kids\u2019 breakfast menu includes a one- or two-egg plate, a Mickey Mouse pancake and French toast.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was in Pennsylvania, a lot of Greeks did family restaurants,\u201d Paul said. \u201cWe learned and did what we know best.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Paul knows a thing or two about running a restaurant on his own. He took over a Denny\u2019s on 34th Street and turned it into Skyway Diner, running it for five years before selling the business.<\/p>\n
The key to a good operation, he said, is knowing every aspect of the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf somebody leaves, if somebody can\u2019t cook that day, you can jump right in,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just a brother-run business \u2014 it\u2019s a family one. Paul\u2019s wife, Diane, and daughter Ava help out, and John\u2019s wife, Angie, and daughters Gianna and Alexa will \u201ceventually move here.\u201d<\/p>\n
John said if things go well, he\u2019ll expand hours and build out the Greek menu, which now includes omelets, gyros and spinach pie.<\/p>\n
Hot Spot Diner<\/p>\n
Where: 4045 Tyrone Blvd., St. Petersburg<\/p>\n
Hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Owners: John and Paul Hazakis<\/p>\n