After a fire destroyed the kitchen of the Peter Pan Diner in July 2024, partner Peter Lentzeres vowed to rebuild. Now he is poised to make good — make that great — on the promise.
Lentzeres and his brother, Nick, reopened Monday, ushering in a new era for the 71-year-old Bay Shore fixture. At a time when Long Island diners are dropping like flies, the Lentzeres family is doubling down. “We were doing well before the fire,” Peter said. “I believe in this concept, but you have to stay updated.”
When the damage had been assessed, the brothers’ insurance company agreed to replace the kitchen and pay for reconditioning the booths that had been damaged by smoke. But, Peter declared, “I wanted everything to be brand new.” The updated design has an organic feel, with wood floors, lots of greenery and wallpaper that suggests an enchanted jungle. The exterior has gotten a face-lift too — it now features a double-height foyer, a vaguely space-age roofline and a greenery wall suitable for snapping pictures.
The brothers say they found it difficult to prune the menu, but updated it with smash burgers, avocado toasts and bowls.
“To survive,” Peter said, “we have to attract younger people.” For the same reason, he is also bolstering the diner’s beverage program. “We expanded the bar,” he said, “and, for the first time, we hired a bartender.” Never one to overthink the background music, he installed a Sonos system and was considering the Sonos “Mellow Morning” playlist to set the right mood.
Almost two years after they lost their jobs, many of the diner’s workers are returning. The servers will be working differently, however: For the first time, the dining room will use dedicated runners to deliver food to customers. “That means the servers no longer have to listen for the bell,” Peter explained. “The idea is that they will be able to focus more on the tables — and customers don’t have to hear that constant ding.’ “
The Peter Pan Diner in Bay Shore has an updated exterior and sign. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
When it opened in 1955, the diner took its name from Disney’s blockbuster “Peter Pan,” which had been released two years earlier. Peter and Nick’s father and their uncles bought it in 1960 but changed neither the name nor the sign, which featured the film’s titular character. The new sign still features the flying manchild, but his face is based on that of Peter’s grandchild.
Peter Pan Diner, 999 Sunrise Hwy., Bay Shore, 631-665-1788, peterpandiner.com.
Erica Marcus, a passionate but skeptical omnivore, has been reporting and opining on the Long Island food scene since 1998.