Turning two: Cav Diner revamps decor, menu

A shout out to the Cavalier Diner on Emmet Street, which just celebrated its second birthday. Owner Aristea Vlavianos, daughter of venerable local restauranteurs Margarita and Nick Vlavianos, reports that the former Sam's Kitchen space has been totally remodeled.

"We put in seven booths; before it was only tables," says Vlavianos. "We also painted, it was a sickly baby blue before, now its cream and burgundy. The changes have really made the place more cozy and warm, and people love sitting here chit-chatting after they eat, or using our free wi-fi."

Aristea is the child of the couple that brought us the famed Expresso Italian Villa and who recently closed their Expresso Italian Restaurant & Pancake House on Pantops (due to some lingering health issues, says Aristea).

As far as the new Cavalier Diner menu, she says the team took off several slow sellers and added more Greek items (Aristea being Greek and all), a couple of new pasta dishes, and a few new salads, burgers, subs, and appetizers. There are vegetarian selections as well, and they've expanded their kids menu. Breakfast, though, has been the Cav Diner's bread and butter, which they serve all day– now with bloody marys and mimosas.