Grand Stage diner

A new establishment has opened at the site of the late, lamented  Empress Diner.  Grand Stage is the creation of George and Nick Argyris, who previously managed the Stage Deli in NYC.  

The decor is sleek and modern.  there's a mural on the back wall, a salute to the restaurant's origins in the Theater district.  I found the mural oddly disturbing.  It portrays the waif from Les Miz in four other Broadway shows: Phantom, Hair, Wicked, and  Beauty and the Beast. the mural is backlit and hard to photograph, but I gave it a try:

But you don't go to a diner to look at weird murals.  The menu is a thick book with many choices.  

We stuck to the basics.  He got a bacon cheeseburger, and was delighted that he could add a fried egg on top.  He was thrilled to get tater tots instead of fries.

I ordered the "Rocky Balboa" (yes, some of the dishes are named after actors or characters) -- a Philly cheese steak topped with mushrooms, onions, peppers and barbecue sauce.  Hand cut fries were OK, but nothing spectacular.  Sandwich was large, and I wound up bringing half of it home.  

Service was friendly and mostly efficient, though it's obvious the staff is still learning their jobs.  

There are so many good diners in  the area. this one is a bit pricey, but the food is fresh and tasty. Overall a positive experience.