Patrons at Flo-Anna’s Diner must know a good thing when they see it.
Or rather when they eat it.
While the Shoreline-based restaurant draws heavily from its neighboring communities, it also has a regular clientele that drives from as far east as Woodinville and as far south as Ballard to indulge in some good, old-fashioned home cooking.
“I guess they like the food,” said Sarandos Varelas, who along with his wife Florence has owned and operated the restaurant since 1993. “They keep coming all the time.”
It’s easy to see why, since practically every item on the extensive menu is homemade.
Sarandos Varelas, who is originally from Greece, inherited his passion for cooking from his mother, who worked in the restaurant trade.
When he arrived in America, Varelas and his wife could think of nothing more they wanted to do than open their own restaurant.
The Anna in Flo-Anna’s Diner was the name of a former partner, who left the business after the first year.
The breakfast menu encompasses just about every entree, combination or side order known to mankind.
Staples include eggs, pancakes, waffles, french toast, ham, bacon and sausage.
Twelve different omelettes are available with one of the more popular items being the Flo-Anna’s omelette, which also is known as “the kitchen sink.”
The huge omelette includes five eggs, ham, bacon, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, hashbrowns inside, cheese and sour cream.
The health-conscious also have the option of substituting egg beaters or selecting the vegetarian omelette. A seasonally fresh fruit bowl is available, as is oatmeal.
Breakfast is served all day, though oatmeal is available only until 11 a.m. and waffles are served through 3 p.m.
All of the soups, salads and dressings are homemade. The fresh-roasted turkey sandwich and the turkey clubhouse are popular among the lunch crowd.
Burger aficionados will have a tough time deciding on 10 different burgers including a garden version, Flo-Anna’s burger (hamburger, bacon, cheese, fried eggs, grilled onions and mushrooms) and a Greek burger (1/2-pound fresh ground beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onions, tzatziki sauce and feta cheese).
A full menu of steak, seafood and pasta dishes are available for dinner.
On the first Thursday of every month, Flo-Anna’s Diner features a specially prepared Greek dinner, in addition to its regular offerings. The menu varies from month to month but may feature such entrees as lamb or baked chicken. A different Greek dessert also is served and special music adds to the ambiance.
“It gets pretty crowded,” Varelas said of the Greek-themed nights. “Sometimes people make reservations.”
Be sure to leave room for some homemade dessert. The dessert menu located on the south side of the dining room details the day’s offerings. The delectable options include fruit pies (peach, apple, blackberry, cherry), cream pies and cheesecake.
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