Situated in a charming little spot in Cohoes, The Tiny Diney is continuing the legacy of their new space at 300 ½ Ontario St as a diner which has been the case now for 100 years! I sat down with Robilee, who is as colorful as the decor to discuss her entrepreneurial and creative drive. New episode of Bite Me is below.
How long have you owned the Tiny Diney?
Since December but I opened on Valentine’s Day.
What made you pick this adorable spot here in Cohoes?
My friend and I had come over to look at some spaces on Remsen. St. and there was an Eat On The Street event going on. We couldn’t park on Remsen St so we parked out in front of Uncle Jon’s Diner which was for sale. We pulled up and went “Ahhhhh what is this? Look how cuuuute!” The next day I said to my friend “What do you think about the space?” And she said “All I can think about is slinging eggs.” So I said “Ahhh me too!” Now we’re slinging eggs.
Did you have to do a lot of work to get it up to speed and have it to your liking?
The primary work was the ceiling and I spent probably 100 hours on it.
Have you always been entrepreneurial?
I’d say so?? I wouldn’t say I’m a business person but imaginative. Creativity is my super power. The business side is well, you know. Luckily there are people that handle that kind of stuff so I don’t have to know every single thing there is.
What do you serve at the Tiny Diney?
We have homemade breakfast food. We hand make our sausage gravy and corned beef hash. I also use a jumbo, brown organic egg. I’m making everything from scratch and I’ll have specials some days. Today I’ve got mini pizzas and occasionally I’ll pull out a pastry or two, muffin or a cake and it’s usually boozy. Right now I’ve got a cinnamon RumChata muffin that’s soaked in cinnamon schnapps and has a RumChata glaze. We have found that a boozy dessert has been everyones favorite. It’s sometimes an appetizer. I will cut it in fours and cook it up on the griddle top with some maple syrup.
We’re having a great time. Our goal was to stay friends, we want to have fun and serve great food. If we make a little money and keep the thing open, that that would be great.
The Tiny Diney is located at 300 1/2 Ontario St Cohoes, NY.
Hours are Thursday-Sunday 7AM-1PM
