![\"Dakota](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/C5IDO6MD6JF5NGHR56VVKLSXEQ.jpeg\")
The hours have changed over the course of 2025.(Advance\/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)<\/p>\nSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 Mike\u2019s New Dakota Diner served its final meals over the weekend, closing Sunday after more than four decades at 921 Richmond Ave. in Graniteville. <\/p>\n
The diner, recognized for its Roman arch windows, opened as The Dakota before becoming Four Bridges in the mid-1980s. Greek-born brothers Pantelis, John, and Panagiotis Pefanis revived the restaurant in 1987. After Pantelis Pefanis retired in May 2019, Mike Moudatsos, and his family took over and officially renamed the establishment Mike\u2019s New Dakota Diner.<\/p>\n
The Moudatsos family could not be reached for comment, and it remains unclear whether the building will continue operating as a restaurant under new ownership.<\/p>\n
The hours have changed over the course of 2025.(Advance\/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)<\/p>\n
Over the years, the menu spanned hundreds of items, from lox on bagels to prime rib, drawing loyal Sunday crowds and everyday breakfast regulars. During Lent, fish platters were a favorite, while Sunday mornings saw churchgoers flocking in for buttermilk pancakes and hearty burgers.<\/p>\n
The diner faced mounting challenges in recent years as competition intensified. During the Pefanis tenure, Miller\u2019s Ale House and Applebee\u2019s began to capture the late-night crowd, while IHOP, located in the adjacent parking lot, competed for breakfast customers. He also said that managing the extensive signature menu proved difficult. Pantelis Pefanis shared that the hundreds of items were a feat to manage, but he refused to remove anything out of loyalty to regular customers who came for specific favorites.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/3BEJ3D7KAVARXEBYKX3ALYW67U.jpeg\")
The landmark at 921 Richmond Ave., known for its Roman arch windows and deep roots in Staten Island\u2019s diner culture, served its final meals over the weekend. (Advance\/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)<\/p>\n
The Moudatsos family has deep roots in Staten Island\u2019s restaurant scene. Mike Moudatsos Sr., who emigrated from Greece, launched the first Mike\u2019s Place Diner on New Dorp Lane in 1973. Since then, the family has expanded across the borough, with the name \u201cMike\u201d serving as a signature on their establishments. Among them are Mike\u2019s Unicorn Diner<\/a> on Victory Boulevard\u2014a 24-hour spot blending Greek and American fare\u2014and Mike Jr.\u2019s Oakwood Diner, where Mike Jr. plays a hands-on role. The family acquired Mike\u2019s Unicorn Diner in 2010, and it continues to serve homemade sauces and desserts while blending traditional diner staples with Greek influences.<\/p>\n The closure adds Mike\u2019s New Dakota Diner to a list of Staten Island dining institutions that have shaped the borough\u2019s culture. <\/a>Other diners, including Andrew\u2019s Diner in Great Kills, Oakwood Diner, G&G American Grill, and Dove Diner, continue to appear in local dining guides and best-of lists.<\/a><\/p>\n Indeed, the borough\u2019s diner history runs deep. The Victory Diner, originally built in 1932<\/a> by the Kullman Dining Car Company<\/a>, was moved from Richmond Road to Father Capodanno Blvd.<\/a> It was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. <\/a><\/p>\n The Olympic Diner in Port Richmond appeared in the film Easy Money with Rodney Dangerfield. It was comically dubbed in the flick as the \u201c23-hour diner.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n The Colonnade Diner<\/a> on Hylan Boulevard has operated for more than 50 years, offering classic diner fare alongside expanded catering options for gatherings and events. <\/p>\n Staten Island Diner, located at 1877 Victory Blvd., has served breakfast and lunch since around 2007. The spot draws loyal regulars with creative menu items such as \u201cTheo Sloppy Breakfast\u201d and \u201cThe Ultimate Warrior\u201d<\/a> with sausage patties and scrambled eggs in a waffle sandwich.<\/p>\n![\"Pancakes\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CDHFGESGQJCQJLUP34EZ37CRTI.jpg\")
Pancakes and other breakfast and lunch items have been the mainstay of the neighborhood diner. Staff-Shot<\/p>\n