From Plainview Diner To Cherry Amber: New Asian Fusion Spot Welcomed By Community

PLAINVIEW, NY — Cherry Amber has been open for three months, taking over the space formerly occupied by the Plainview Diner, which served the community for 50 years.

Patch spoke with the manager and several customers on their experience – all of them overwhelmingly positive.

Jessica Unterlack of Plainview said she was impressed with both the ambience and the food.

"The way they renovated the inside was amazing; it looks the same, but completely modernized," she said, adding that it was packed when she was there. "I think an Asian fusion spot is the perfect addition to this neighborhood."

Manager Sunandan Kumar acknowledged that the Plainview Diner was a local staple and said the team wanted to respect that history.

" Our goal with Cherry Amber is to honor that sense of community while offering something fresh — an elevated Asian fusion dining experience with sushi, Thai, and Chinese dishes in a welcoming setting," he said.

Kumar said the restaurant experienced some initial delays, as many new businesses do, and that they are grateful for the support they received throughout the process.

"We chose Plainview because of its strong community feel and diverse dining scene," he said. "We’ve already felt very welcomed and enjoy being part of the neighborhood. We’ve had a warm welcome from local residents and are steadily building a loyal customer base."

Kumar's ownership group currently operates four restaurants – three on Long Island and one in upstate Connecticut. Cherry Amber owner Joyce Li owns all four restaurants and lives locally in Plainview.

One Melville resident, who grew up in Plainview, said the Plainview Diner was a nostalgic place for him, and he was saddened to hear about its closure in 2022.

"I went every Friday for years," he said. "The owners were 'friends.'"

Although he said he misses the diner, he was relieved the space did not become another bank. He decided to give Cherry Amber a try and visited for dinner with his wife.

"It was weird walking into the place and it being something other than the diner," he said. "It was the diner all my life."

On the new Cherry Amber, he said the staff and manager were all very kind, and although there were minor kinks, he "will be back."

"My wife and I loved all of the food," he said.

Hicksville resident Andrea Rosenstein said she did not have the same attachment to the former diner and had been searching for a new favorite Asian spot.

"Several Asian restaurants have gone downhill in the area, in my opinion," she said, adding that so far, that isn't the case at Cherry Amber. "The food was great. The price fix menu was great. The service was fast. The location, handicapped access, and parking were great."