Diamand's: Still Great Food As Major Changes Unveiled

JOLIET, IL - Back in 1989, I was a lowly teenage bus boy at the Pizza Hut on Plainfield Road. Then, during my freshman year of college, I worked at the Herman's World of Sporting Goods store in the Louis Joliet Mall. Meanwhile, back in 1989, a hole was dug in the ground not far from the Pizza Hut and the mall. A new restaurant opened, Diamand's Family Restaurant.

Now 30 years later, my old Pizza Hut has been torn down and it's gone for good. Herman's went out of business years ago. But Diamand's is a different story. It's still going strong, but Joliet's popular family restaurant on Route 30 has made several drastic changes in recent days.

For years, Diamand's opened daily at 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. On June 23, the restaurant changed its daily hours to 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Several changes were made to the menu as well. But, don't be alarmed folks, many of Diamand's signature meals are still around.

Earlier this week, I visited Diamand's and ordered the Famous French Dip Sandwich, which came with fries and a cup of soup. Not counting tax, my meal cost $9.95.

With many of my food columns, I don't inform the staff that I'm considering their restaurant for a feature in the Joliet Patch. Reason being, I want to be treated to like everybody else and I want to observe the business in its natural, everyday environment.

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So I have to say this about Diamand's: I can't remember the last time that I visited a sit-down restaurant and my order came out this fast. It was under five minutes, that's for sure.

Not only was the restaurant service excellent and speedy, but the French Dip sandwich was delicious. If you decide to venture over to Diamand's in the near future and you're struggling to make a decision for your meal, don't fret, take my advice and go with the French Dip sandwich. You won't regret it.

Anyway, after I squared up my bill with the manager, Tasso Diamantopoulos, I introduced myself and explained that I wanted to learn more about the recent changes.

He was thrilled to sit down and chat, explaining that he's a loyal reader of the Joliet Patch.

Diamand's has been owned and operated by his family throughout its 30-year existence in Joliet. The key members of Diamand's Family Restaurant are Tasso, his father, Pete, and his uncles George and Jim.

So why the changes to the menu, I asked.

"We pretty much trimmed the fat," Tasso Diamantopoulos told me. "A majority of the menu is still pretty much the same."

Most of the popular selections including omelets, salads and several of the sandwiches remain fixtures. The new menu includes a Grecian corner, corned beef, the Reuben, several burgers and skillets.

However, the pork tenderloin, the catfish, the cod and Martha's vineyard salad were among the items that have been retired from the regular menu.

"You cater to your customers," Tasso Diamantopoulos explained. "We also hope to bring in more seasonal stuff. To be in the community for 30 years and stay as busy as we are, is a pretty amazing thing to see. The business is still strong."

Besides having its share of loyal local customers from around the Joliet and Plainfield area, Diamand's also draws from several of the hotels near the Louis Joliet Mall. The upcoming addition of the new Costco just up the road near the I-55 exit at Route 30 is bound to help business even more, the owners said.

"It's definitely a family restaurant, we've got something for everybody," Tasso Diamantopoulos remarked. "Our food is always fresh and our menu is always evolving."

At 3000 Plainfield Road, Diamand's is next to Pier 1 Imports and it's also close to the new Binny's Beverage Depot. If you want to learn more about the new menu selections, visit the website for Diamand's Restaurant.