Food for Thought, 24/7

In a city of virtually 8 million foodies, there are no small meals. In this town, a diner needs to be just as competitive as any other eatery. And on the Upper East Side, Three Stars Diner sits at the top of the food chain. The Kiriakakis family's John, Jimmy and Laura's opened the restaurant 20 years ago on East 76th Street and Lexington Avenue. After the building was sold, the diner relocated in 1997 and has held court at the northeast corner of East 76th Street and First Avenue ever since. Three Stars is a classic diner with a twist: sleek exterior with elegant marble countertops and stainless steel on the inside, giving the place the look and feel of a more traditional restaurant. Open 24 hours, with a full service bar, the eatery is more than just a diner. It welcomes everyone from fashionistas to families toting toddlers and high school seniors in search of a place to settle in and create a home away from home. It"s a place where busy New Yorkers can catch their breath and find some solace as well as a bite to eat. And in a town where restaurants come and go in the blink of a reviewer"s eye, that"s an accomplishment every New Yorker can respect. Three Stars" menu is as diverse as the population it feeds. Hungry diners will find everything from grilled and teriyaki chicken to fresh fish, classic spanakopita and vegetarian fare. â??I come here for the broccoli with garlic and oil and their ice coffee, said Leslie Blaine, a college professor and one of the diner"s biggest fans. â??John and his family are the best. They"re like my second family, she added. â??They make everyone feel welcome, from families to high school kids. â??My brother and sister and I work to keep the prices low, said John Kiriakakis. His food service license, issued back in 1977, is proudly displayed on a shelf near the cash register. The siblings immigrated to the United States from Chios, Greece, in 1974 and have worked as a team ever since, managing the diner in shifts around the clock. â??This is a family-run business in front and behind the scenes, Laura Kiriakakis said. In fact, many of the family"s nieces and nephews work in the diner today, as did other generations, on their way to becoming lawyers and other professionals. While siblings around the globe battle it out over everything from the TV remote to the family estate, this trio is a different breed. â??We always worked well together. We love our jobs, John Kiriakakis said with a soft smile.ˆ