Small Town Eats: Joan's Diner in Chadwicks Has Staying Power

While neighbors have come and gone, Joan's Diner in Chadwicks, NY has remained a fixture in the tiny community. One taste of their food, and you'll know why.

Joan's has occupied the corner of a small shopping plaza on Oneida Street since 1984 - and prior to that, the restaurant was known as Art's Diner. The diner is owned by Keith Cronin, and staffed and managed by his daughter, Kaylie Brown. It's a family affair. Kaylie says "I always said I'd never work for my father...but here I am." She went on to say that while they occasionally "bonk heads" she really enjoys working for her dad.

Joan's is the only remaining tenant - aside from a laundromat - in a plaza that once house multiple businesses, including a grocery store. Kaylie credits their persistence to the regular customers who "keep us going." She says in a small town like Chadwicks, "we're all here for each other." After Chadwicks suffered massive flooding in recent storms, Keith and Kaylie stepped up to offer food and a gathering spot for the beleaguered community. It's that commitment to their neighbors that has kept the doors open at Joan's for 34 years.

At Joan's, you won't find fancy food. Instead, you'll find the kind of familiar fare that is as comforting as it is delicious. Whether you sample a hearty soup, Keith's signature "Greens on the Grill" or stop in for their popular fish fry - you're sure to leave satisfied. Check them out on Oneida Street in Chadwicks - about a half a mile past Oxford Road.

Have a suggestion about where Beth and Dave should go next? Send Beth an email at beth@lite987.com