When loyal customers who missed Daphne’s Diner asked Robbinsville resident Daphne Wilczynski to reopen her restaurant after six years out of operation, she was pleased to go for it.
Wilczynski had originally opened her diner in the Foxmoor Shopping Center in 1995, but in 2003, after a Friendly’s opened there, Daphne’s moved to the corner of Route 130 and Route 33. It was closed two years later when Wilczynski decided to focus more on her catering business.
Despite her concerns about the economy, Wilczynski reopened Daphne’s in the same building on Route 130 as a full-service diner in late October. The economy hadn’t negatively affected her catering business, she said, and since reopening Wilczynski has been happily rewarded with a steady stream of customers.
“People still love to go out and eat,” she said.
Given that Daphne’s is the only diner in Robbinsville, it was a welcome addition for township residents. The restaurant offers an old-fashioned diner experience with its shiny, stainless steel facade and high countertop with stools.
Wilczynski has doubled her staff since opening—there are 15 employees—and said there is a line out the door every night despite recently completed road construction that does not allow a direct entrance to the restaurant. Customers must take a jughandle from Route 33 to park at the diner. Wilczynski said that customers are getting used to it.
“It’s much busier than I anticipated; we have a following,” Wilczynski said, adding that news of the restaurant’s opening had mainly circulated by word of mouth.
Fernando’s Grille, which moved into the building after Daphne’s closed in 2005, has since relocated to Hightstown.
Before reopening, the diner was renovated; the flooring, lighting and countertops were all revamped. Wilczynski has continued her catering business—which she has been running since 1981—while running the restaurant. She owns and operates kitchens all over the state, in towns including Lawrenceville and Belmar.
Wilczynski is thinking about expanding the diner due to its success. But she waved off the idea for now.
Daphne’s diner serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. All meals are homemade and ingredients are purchased fresh almost every day. In addition to serving standard fare—including meatloaf, steaks and sautéed dishes—Daphne’s offers seasonal specials like crepes and pumpkin French toast. The coffee is 100 percent Colombian.
Wilczynski said she works to keep consistency and she greets every customer.
“I have to be here constantly,” she said.
Bob George, a retired East Windsor resident, was eating at Daphne’s in early November for the first time since its reopening. He said he used to eat at Daphne’s before it closed and was pleased with his meal.
“The breakfast is nice,” George said. “The bacon is nice and tasty—it’s very satisfying.”
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