Silver Diner Set To Open At West Alex Development

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Silver Diner will open its first Alexandria location on Wednesday, Aug. 12. It is located at 4630 King Street at the new mixed-use West Alex development.

Silver Diner is a locally-based chain offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night food, and a full bar. The menu, developed by co-founder and executive chef Ype Von Hengst, has healthy choices, including vegan, plant-based, gluten-free and low calorie options. Von Hengst, who won Food Network's "Chopped" competition in February 2017 and other television food competitions, has won national awards for his healthy menu. Many of the ingredients at Silver Diner come from local farms.

The restaurant chain has taken a number of precautions during the coronavirus pandemic. Indoor health protocols include an HVAC/UV light system that increases air flow and forces air over UV light coils. When the restaurant is closed at night, the interior is filled with UV light to help kill bacteria and germs on surfaces. The restaurants also have plexiglass protectors around booths and tables and table spacing to ensure six feet of physical distancing. Staff wipe down surfaces, undergo temperature checks, provide deep cleaning, and wear masks and gloves.

Along with ramping up takeout and delivery, Silver Diner has added outdoor seating at all its restaurants.

"We want our customers to feel safe," said Robert Giaimo, co-founder and CEO of Silver Diner. "We want them to think of our restaurants as their home away from home where they can come and feel comfortable and enjoy our food."

The Alexandria location is the 18th Silver Diner restaurant to open. The locally-owned chain dates back to 1989, when its first location opened Rockville, Maryland. The owners developed its latest expansion plan a few years ago and opened three restaurants over the past year.

The opening will promote Silver Diner's partnership with the nonprofit Real Food for Kids, which works with local schools to find ways to deliver healthy, nutritious food to students. The nonprofit's initiative during the pandemic, Chefs Feed Families, works with area restaurants to provide free meals for children and their families throughout the DC region. Silver Diner has worked with the Chefs Feed Families initiative since April 1 and has fed more than 45,000 meals to local families. The Alexandria Silver Diner will hold an online contest to support Real Food for Kids. Details on the contest will be available on Aug. 7 at www.silverdiner.com.

Hours at the Alexandria restaurant are 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday through Saturday. Takeout orders can be placed at 703-789-9251 or www.silverdiner.com.