Mt. Hope Diner:
A Place Lost in Time
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Monday-Saturday: 6AM-9PM
Sunday: 6AM-4PM
1511 Mt Hope Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
For over 50 years the Mt. Hope Diner has stood in its place on Mt. Hope Avenue, serving its community with the restaurant’s trademark kind and cordial atmosphere. Operated since its inception in 1966 by the Mihalitsas family, the diner has worked to stay true to itself as a family owned and operated diner in a rapidly developing neighborhood and an industry which seems to have traded genuine business-client relationships for higher efficiency and profit margins.
History
For over 50 years the Mt. Hope Diner has stood in its place on Mt. Hope Avenue, serving its community with the restaurant’s trademark kind and cordial atmosphere. Operated since its inception in 1966 by the Mihalitsas family, the diner has seen its fair share of ups and downs as it has worked to stay true to itself as a family owned and operated diner in a rapidly developing neighborhood and an industry which seems to have traded genuine business-client relationships for higher efficiency and profit margins.
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Pat Mihalitsas was born in Flampouro, Greece, and immigrated to the United States in 1954. After meeting his wife, Sandy, the two of them opened Jerry’s Luncheonette, which was located in the building next to the current location of the Mt. Hope Diner. Jerry’s was popular among University of Rochester students, who would wait in line for the restaurant’s signature lasagna. In 1966 they bought the diner’s current building from another restaurant, Iana’s, and the two of them established Pat and Sandy’s.
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While the diner has not changed locations since its inception, Pat and Sandy’s would not be recognizable as the current Mt. Hope Diner. The size of the restaurant was far smaller, and the diner’s current parking lot was inhabited by a Dairy Queen. One thing which it still had was its sense of family, with Pat, Sandy, and their young son Mike working the diner, chatting it up with the regulars and developing relationships with the new clientele.
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Pat and Sandy’s found great success and allowed the Mihalitsas to begin growing their family’s real estate portfolio. One of their ventures was opening up another Rochester diner in 1974, the Country Club Diner on East Avenue. Pat and Sandy turned their attention away from their original diner and began exploring other opportunities, leading to a period of decline for the restaurant.
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In 1989 the Mihalitsas were on the verge of closing Pat and Sandy’s and renting out the property. Pat and Sandy’s son, Mike Mihalitsas, stepped in and convinced his parents to entrust him with running the diner, which he has continued to run to this day. Mike’s first move was to re-brand Pat and Sandy’s to its new name, the Mt. Hope Family Diner.
“Originally I was only gonna to run it for a few months while we found someone to rent out the building,” said current owner Mike Mihalitsas when asked about why he rebranded and distanced the diner from the Pat and Sandy’s brand. “But then we started to find some success and so I stuck with it.”
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Mike began returning the restaurant to its former glory by going back to the
establishment’s roots, “Good food, good service, good prices.” A sign with this
motto sat outside the newly branded Mt.Hope Family Diner. However, this
motto was missing one item which is undoubtedly the diner’s most powerful
attribute, good people.
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“Treat people like people. People aren’t used to personality anymore,” said current owner,
Mike Mihalitsas, when asked about the diner’s secret to success. “I know how I want to be
treated, and that’s how we’re gonna treat them [customers].”
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As the name, Mt. Hope Family Diner, suggests, the diner is now run and staffed by Mike and his
girlfriend, Lisa, along with each of their children. “It’s awesome, no problem working with family, we work very well
together,” said Lisa. “It’s not always perfect, that’s just how families are, but we love each other and make it work very well.”
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The recent development of College Town just up the road from the Mt. Hope Diner initially seemed like a big threat to the mom and pop businesses of the area. “It definitely hurt us a lot during the road construction period. We were hurting for a good year and a half after that,” said Mike. “But once the dust settled, we’re back on fire again.” While College Town has been plagued by businesses closing down and “for rent” signs being displayed in windows, the diner has continued to find success by providing what the big chains in College Town can’t, genuine relationships and pride in the experience they provide.
Mt. Hope Diner Experience
About The Owner
When visiting the Mt. Hope Diner there are many things you can always count on: Good food, affordable prices, and a comforting atmosphere to greet you no matter the time or day. You can also bank on seeing the owner, Mike Mihalistas, at the front register cashing customers out or doing whatever the diner needs of him at any moment. He’s the diner’s backbone, the person who keeps everything running smoothly even amid the hectic weekend breakfast hours. Mihalistas makes everything click, and he is doing it with family by his side.
Mihalistas, a resident of Penfield who will celebrate his 57th birthday in June, got his start in the restaurant business, almost fittingly, at a very young age. His father, Pat Mihalitsas, an immigrant from Flampouro, Greece, came to the Rochester area in 1954 and found his niche in the restaurant business. Together with Sandy, Mike’s mother and a Rochester native, they opened and ran Jerry’s Luncheonette and later Pat and Sandy’s, which would eventually become the Mt. Hope Diner.
As far back as Mihalistas can remember, he was always around the family restaurants.
“I was 10 years old taking cash, standing on the stool with these big old mechanical registers,” says Mihalitsas. “My father did a lot to discourage me from being in this business, but it never worked.”
Mihalistas continued to stay involved with the family restaurants in various ways throughout the years, but when Pat and Sandy’s fell on hard times in 1989, he convinced his father to let him take over the diner and get it back on its feet. Mihalistas initially thought he would only be involved for six months and then move on, but after discovering a newfound respect for the family business, he decided to stay on board and continue running the diner.
Since then, Mihalistas has been able to establish the diner into a favorite among locals and college students in the area. He operates the restaurant with a “good food, good prices, good people” motto, which has always kept customers coming back for more.
You can always see Mihalistas expertly maneuvering around the diner helping to plate orders, taking cash and cards at the register, chatting with customers, or doing just about anything else that is needed of him. He is always working in rhythm, moving with efficiency to run things as smoothly as possible. Mihalistas’s get-it-done attitude paired with the friendliness he shows to everyone has largely contributed to the overall success of the diner.
“He knows how to handle the business side of things very well too,” says Christina, a waitress who also attributes much of the success to Mihalistas’s business acumen.
Even with all the hard work and countless hours that Mihalistas puts in to make the
diner successful, he has also been able to pursue his passion of boxing and is currently
on the management team of heavyweight fighter Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller.
Known in boxing circles as “Mike the Greek,” he has long been involved in the boxing
industry. “I wanted to manage fighters,” says Mihalistas. “That’s what I really wanted
to do.”
Although he has been able to enjoy a strong career with successful fighters, the family
element of the diner has always kept it closest to his heart. “The diner is so close to
home,” says Mike’s daughter Dina Mihalistas, a relator and part-time waitress at the
diner. “That’s why he really cares about it.”
Meet the Regulars
"It's like Cheers, everybody knows your name and they know our orders by heart." -Terborg Family | Customers for over 11 years
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Favorite Dish: Bacon and Cheese Omelette
"We all love coming here after our practices. The pancakes are bomb and they treat us like family." -University of Rochester baseball team
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Favorite Dish: Chocolate Chip Pancakes
"My daughter's favorite restaurant ... [we] always feel comfortable and have been coming for around 14 years." -Martin Family
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Favorite Dish: The Bomber
The Neighborhood
In an industry with ever increasing corporate influence, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a restaurant or a place to eat that still manages to make you feel right at home. Mount Hope Diner does just that. The diner is located in a unique location that can accommodate the residents of Mount Hope, as well as the massive medical center, and the University of Rochester student and faculty. As an establishment that has been serving the Mount Hope community for 57 years, this diner is not showing any signs of slowing down. In recent years the neighborhood has changed significantly with the introduction of Collegetown. Collegetown is a stretch of stores and restaurants designed to serve the needs of both the University of Rochester students, and the overall Rochester community. Since the opening of Collegetown dozens of stores have come and gone for various reasons. High rent prices, inability to attract college students, or just struggling to succeed were just some of the reasons for these changes. With a dozen new restaurants in Collegetown most would think that the Mount Hope Diner would begin to struggle. However, due to the loyalty of their clientele the business has stayed steady if not flourishing.
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It cannot be the loyal clientele alone that has allowed this diner to thrive, and when you really start to learn about the diner and the people who work there you begin to understand what it really is. It is a family owned business that treats its customer with the utmost respect and integrity. People enjoy coming to Mount Hope Diner specifically because there is nothing corporate about it. You can get to know the waiters, as well as the always enthusiastic Mike, the owner. On top of all of this the diner offers some exceptional price to quality. The food always tastes great and is never overpriced. This attracts a range of people with different backgrounds and fills every seat in the diner on mornings. These are the very reasons Mount Hope Diner is able to succeed in an environment and neighborhood with increasing corporate influence. As long as the diner stays true to their business model of a family experience, they will surely have a place in the Mount Hope culinary community for years to come.
MENU
Breakfast Served Anytime
Breakfast Favorites
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Two Eggs:
-with home fries, buttered toast and jelly: $4.25
-with ham, bacon or sausage, home fries,
buttered toast and jelly: $5.55
-with two strips of bacon or two sausage
links and two pancakes or two French toast: $5.35
-with two strips of bacon and two sausage links and two pancakes or two French toast: $5.95
Three Pancakes or French Toast: $5.75
-includes two eggs, buttered toast and jelly
Eggs Benedict: $7.45
-two poached eggs with Canadian bacon on a muffin topped with Hollandaise sauce.
From the Griddle
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Pancakes: $4.80
French Toast: $4.80
Waffle: $5.65
Fresh Blueberry Pancakes: $6.00
Chocolate Chip Pancakes: $5.95
Two Pancakes or French Toast: $4.00
Eggs
Served with buttered toast and jelly. Add home fries for $1.60
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Single Egg Any Style: $2.95
with ham, bacon or sausage: $5.05
Two Eggs Any Style: $3.80
with ham, bacon or sausage: $5.25
Omelettes
Served with buttered toast and jelly. Add home fries for $1.60
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Cheese Omelette: $5.95
Ham and Cheese Omelette: $7.35
Bacon and Cheese Omelette: $7.65
Mushrooms and Cheese Omelette: $7.55
Western Omelette: $7.55
Spanish Omelette: $7.65
-Sauteed peppers and onions in crushed tomatoes topped with cheese
Italian Sausage and Cheese Omelette:
-Three eggs with ground Italian sausage topped with cheese: $7.95
-With peppers and onions: $8.25
Broccoli and Cheese Omelette:
-Three eggs filled with broccoli stuffed with cheese: $7.55
Combination Omelette:
-Three eggs with ham, cheese and mushrooms: $7.55
Side Orders
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Toast and Jelly: $1.45
-with cinnamon: $1.55
Grilled Hard Roll: $2.15
Grilled Sweet Roll: $2.85
English Muffin: $1.85
Bagel: $1.95
-with cream cheese: $2.95
Cereal: $2.90
Blueberry Muffin: $2.50
Sourdough: $1.75
Grits with Butter (until 1 PM): $2.55
Corned Beef Hash: $4.20
Fried Egg Sandwich: $3.20
Fried Ham and Egg w/ Cheese: $4.65
Hot Oatmeal: $3.10
Home Fries: $2.95
Ham, Bacon or Sausage: $2.95
Raisin Toast: $1.85
Country Toast: $1.75
Beverages
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Coffee/Tea: $1.80
Soft Drinks: $1.90
Juice - Tomato, Orange, Apple: $2.00
Milk: $1.80
Hot Chocolate: $1.90
Milk Chocolate: $4.00
Lunch and Dinner
Best Sellers
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Burger Special: $7.35
-1/3 lb. charbroiled burger w/ lettuce, tomato, mayo, thin sliced onion, French fries and large soft drinks
The Bomber: $7.95
-1/4 lb. shaved steak w/ cheese, fried onion, on a grilled roll, French fries and a large soft drink
Fried Chicken Sandwich: $8.25
-Boneless fried chicken breast on a roll, w/ lettuce, mayo, French fries and a large soft drink
Dad's Favorite: $7.35
-Two cheeseburgers on French bread, w/ thin slice of onion, lettuce, tomato and mayo
The Swam: $8.35
-A charbroiled chicken breast topped with melted Swiss cheese and bacon, served with soup or French fries
Charbroiled Marinated Chicken: $8.15
-Broiled marinated chicken served on a dressed hard roll with soup and French fries
Chicken Quesadillas: $8.35
-In a tortilla wrap w/ a blend of Monterey Jack, cheddar, onion, bacon and tomato w/ soup or fries
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Wraps and Melts
Served with Soup or Fries
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Broccoli Chicken Cheddar Wrap: $8.25
-with shredded cheddar wrapped in a tortilla
Steak Wrap: $8.35
-with shaved steak, mozzarella cheese, peppers and onions wrapped in a tortilla
Buffalo Melt: $8.40
-with chicken fingers in buffalo sauce and melted mozzarella cheese on grilled sourdough
Ribeye Melt: $8.35
-with shaved ribeye, jalapenos and melted cheddar cheese on grilled sourdough
Turkey Melt: $8.35
-with sliced turkey, bacon and melted Swiss cheese on grilled sourdough
Salads
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Julienne Salad: $8.65
-includes ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, hard boiled egg and tomato
Health Nut: $7.90
-includes cottage cheese, peach halves, tomato and pineapple
Greek Salad: $8.75
-with feta chese, olives, onion, tomato, cucumbers, peppers and pita bread
Broiled Chicken Breast: $8.85
-served with cottage cheese and peaches
Quiche: $7.95
-with soup or salad
Hot Sandwiches
Served with choice of Potato
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Hot Turkey: $7.85
Hot Roast Beef: $7.85
Hot Beef Barbecue: $7.95
Hot Meatloaf: $7.85
Hot Hamburger: $7.65
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Add a Dinner Salad to any hot sandwich for $2.45
Sandwich Selection
Served with Pickle and Chips
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The Cuban: $6.95
-roasted pork, shaved ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and Cuban sauce on a ciabatta roll
Sliced Turkey: $5.95
Roast Beef: $5.95
Tuna Salad: $5.95
Corned Beef on Rye: $6.45
Baked Ham: $6.25
Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato: $5.15
Chicken Salad: $5.75
Hamburger 1/3 lb: $4.35
Cheeseburger 1/3 lb: $4.75
Hot Dog: $3.75
Egg Salad: $5.00
Reuben: $6.95
Western: $5.65
Veggie Burger: $6.75
Grilled Ham and Cheese: $6.35
Grilled Cheese and Tuna: $6.65
Grilled Cheese: $4.50
Pattie Melt on Rye: $6.65
Broiled Chicken: $6.85
Fish Fillet: $6.95
Turkey Reuben: $6.95
Clubs
Club Sandwiches served with Pickle and Chips
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Sliced Turkey, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato: $7.75
Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato: $7.45
Chicken Salad, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato: $7.75
Tuna Salad, Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato: $7.85
Ham and Swiss Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato: $7.85
Roast Beef, Lettuce and Tomato: $7.75
Cheeseburger, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato: $5.95
Where to Find Us
Authors
Zach Lawlor
“Diners are a place where you feel comfortable, an extension of your house.” This Richard Greenberg quote seems to perfectly sum up my connection to diners and the very reasons why I still seem to visit them so frequently to this day.
I practically grew up in the Webster, NY diner scene. At least once a week my family would round up and head to either Maa’s Diner on Empire Boulevard (Formerly M.T. Bellies), The Atlantic across from Webster Schroeder, or the Nutcracker about a half-mile south of Maa’s on Empire Boulevard. Whether it was a weekend breakfast or impromptu mid-week dinner, I always found myself at a diner at some point during the week growing up.
Although the diner of choice would change week-to-week, being in the presence of family at them never did. For me, eating at diners was always just an extension of family time. Being together with loved ones complemented by the familiar faces of waitresses and the same comfort food regardless of time or day all interacted to produce an atmosphere that paralleled my own home. I always knew that diners would provide an atmosphere, people, and food that were familiar to me. As a young child coming of age, this familiarity was immensely comforting.
The comfort that I feel at diners and nostalgia of the past that I get when inside are why I cannot seem to keep myself away. The food, smells, and most importantly people find a way to uniquely mesh inside every diner, and the atmosphere always brings me right back to those weekday dinners and weekend breakfasts surrounded by my family in those three Webster mainstays.
The Mt. Hope Diner reminds me of the same Webster diners that I grew up with, and I have enjoyed my visits there getting to know Mike and the staff.
Dylan DiBello
Lasha Alkhazishvili
To me the Mount Hope Diner is much more than a class project. Over my last four years here at the University of Rochester I have been served at the diner almost two dozen times. This is the place me and my roommates would frequently visit after a fun night out and discuss what had transpired on the night before. We would be talking for an hour, only taking momentary breaks to actually consume the delicious food we came in for. At other times we would have the whole soccer team visit the diner for team meals. These were especially exciting since we spanned over several tables and frequently lacked the ability to keep our voices down. Despite this, the owner of the restaurant Mike who I have gotten to know so well during the length of this project, never complained but rather embraced us. This kind of service is what kept us coming back. The faces of the waiters and waitresses were always familiar, and never they never served food without a smile on their faces. The many TV sets surrounding the diner were especially helpful when we needed to watch a much-anticipated soccer game or keep up with the local news.
The diner’s proximity to our school also made it ideal. We would take five-minute carpool rides away from campus and be seated within a matter of minutes. This was a short journey for a great meal. Although our breakfast meals tend to be repetitive, the various preparation for eggs and toast never created an obstacle to diversify your meal. I most frequently ordered the Rueben, which for me is one of the best I have ever had, especially when it is still hot and dipped into the delicious mayo chipotle sauce. In conclusion, during my four years here at the University of Rochester Mount Hope Diner has been a unique and delicious part of my cuisine choices as a student.
Alec Hay
I fell in love with the Mt Hope Family Diner when I first went there three years ago. It was a poor college student’s dream: cheap and tasty food, located close to campus. No other diner was so close and so affordable.
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When I first walked into the diner that Saturday morning, I immediately noticed the unique atmosphere. I saw a booth of college students next to a booth of nurses next to a booth of family members. I was amazed how this family-run dinner could attract such a wide variety of people.
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I was quickly greeted by Mike Mihalitsas, who I later found out was the owner, who was snappy, energetic and could talk a mile a minute. He directed my friends and me to an open booth. It was at this time that I noticed the old-timey wall décor. The walls were filled with pictures of famous athletes (mostly boxers) and celebrities, who allegedly had either been to the diner or had some connection to it.
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After we sat down, a waitress came over to take our drink order. “How’s it going honey? Whatcha drinkin’?” she said. She had a sassy and slightly rough demeanor, as stereotypical diner waitresses do. I later discovered that she was Mike’s daughter, Dina, and that she had been working at her father’s diner for quite some time.
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The menu was simple—for breakfast it was just variations of eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, pancakes, and homefries, each for around $5. I went with the scrambled eggs with bacon, toast and homefries. I was amazed at the quality and amount of food for such a cheap price.
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As I was eating I noticed a good number of regulars coming in. Mike seemed to know all their names and would chat with them at their table. It reminded me of the old TV show “Cheers;” an old-fashioned place where everyone knows your name!
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After I finished the meal I went to cash out and my bill came to an astonishing $7.50, with tip. I thanked Mike and Dina and said I would be back again.
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Sure enough, I’ve been back more times than I can count. It is our favorite place to go for brunch on a Saturday or Sunday morning. We have since gotten to know Mike and Dina, and are greeted warmly when we eat there. I will miss the place when I graduate in May.
