The Diner was opened on December 31st, 1998 by friends Mark Firth and Andrew Tarlow. After years of living on the South Side and having nowhere to eat, drink, or hang out nearby, they decided to open their own little place, and took over the lease of the 1920’s Kullman Diner car one block away from their home. They spent 6 months in construction, stripping away multiple bad renovations, and inches of fryer grease. Miraculously, through the recommendation of a mutual friend, they met and had dinner with Caroline Fidanza. She talked about a menu comprised of seasonal, simple ingredients, and hearty stews, and they agreed on the spot that she should be the Chef. Months of sheetrocking, painting, and tiling went by, and they never got to try her food. Opening night they threw a huge dinner for all of the friends and family who had helped them open up, with Caroline cooking.

She made Cassoulet, with a small simple watercress salad, followed by a hard sheep cheese and Quince paste, and finally a chocolate rum cake. It was the best meal that they had ever had, and in a state of disbelief that she was to be the Chef of their little Diner, they opened up the next day. They started with a small menu of Goat Cheese Salad, Beet Salad, Green Salad, Soup, Burger, Skirt Steak, and Roast Chicken, and the three of them have been serving a variation of that same menu with a long list of Specials ever since.