REVIEW: Lake Rock Diner

Lake Rock Diner in Lake Ronkonkoma is a mainstay in the Sachem community as a result of its customer satisfaction and ability to adapt. As manager Grace Ann will tell you, the regulars are passionate about their food, and the diner makes an effort to keep with the times.

Specials change by the week, and pricing is altered to reflect the current economy. The ever-changing menu appeals to families, the high school students who flock there after school activities, and the customers who have remained loyal throughout the years.

Immediately upon entering, guests are greeted and seated at one of the many tables and booths. If dining alone, patrons are able to sit at the old-fashioned, bar stool-filled dessert counter.

The staff is friendly, and familiar. As Grace Ann commented, there is not much staff turnover, as most of the employees choose to stay at Lake Rock. The menu offers a full selection of drinks, and the front counter is well adorned with a multitude of bottled beverage options. Soft drinks ($1.90) were generously offered, and the wait staff willingly flavored ordinary diet coke with cherry syrup, resulting in a new twist on the familiar.

The first dish ordered was an appetizer of Greek quesadilla ($7.85). The crispy flaky shell of the quesadilla served to wrap the arrangement of spinach and feta and mozzarella cheeses. Generous side cups of dipping sauce were offered to make the appetizer a near complete meal in and of itself.

The entrees ordered were a Grilled Veggie Wrap ($8.80) with a choice of French fries or potato salad, and a Grilled Veggie Pita ($8.95) with the same choice of side dishes. The wrap was partnered with a scoop of potato salad, while the pita was matched with French fries and a cup of cheese sauce ($1.10).

The Veggie Wrap was full of a variety of vegetables, wrapped with mozzarella cheese. The combination of vegetables was light, but filling, offering a mixture of tastes. Paired with the heaping portion of potato salad, which incorporated additional vegetables, leftovers were abundant.

The Veggie Pita offered the same assortment of vegetables with a very different look. Laid out flat like a pizza, the pita was topped with a great deal of cheese. The French fries and creamy side of cheese sauce were a great compliment.

The staff was eager to please, and did a good job of doing so. The waitress was very attentive and offered drink refills and desserts at various times during the meal. Though we were too full to try dessert, the elaborate dessert counter makes Lake Rock Diner a good place to go, if you are just looking for a dessert stop.

The full menu at Lake Rock Diner has something for everyone, and the staff is willing to accommodate a plethora of tastes. It is this commitment to perfection that has solidified Lake Rock's place in the Sachem district.