Pepper’s Diner, the New Adel’s, Set to Open June 3

Update on the Pepper’s restaurant about to open next to the Best Western Dry Creek Inn — aka, the second coming of Adel’s diner. Restaurant manager Ali Haidar was rushing around all week in an effort to open today, but now he says he had to push the opening date to Monday, June 3. (Day after tomorrow.) The restaurant’s new owner, a guy named Steve Attalah who runs another Pepper’s location a few hours north in Fortuna, has repainted and renovated the Adel’s building a bit to give it a modern feel — but other than that, it doesn’t seem like it’ll be too different from the original, in terms of menu and vibe. Attalah’s family actually used to own Adel’s a couple of decades ago, and he worked there for a while during that time. Attalah has also hired back some of the former Adel’s staffers who were laid off when the iconic old Healdsburg diner closed last November — like Ashley Olsen, a longtime staple at Adel’s. Olsen tells me: “I really hope this is the turnaround this spot needs. I love all my regulars and we need a local dinner in this community.” The Best Western Dry Creek Inn, which owns the diner space, also stands to benefit, now that the restaurant will be staying open longer — until 9pm instead of 3pm, so hotel guests can eat dinner there — and will be serving breakfast to guests via room service. From the hotel’s website: “This brand new traditional American diner is located just across our parking lot, making it easily accessible for all our guests. … They will serve delicious food in a casual, family-friendly dining room and have a large selection of local wines and beer.” I haven’t seen the restaurant’s menu yet, but the Pepper’s in Fortuna is known for its cheeseburgers, chicken strips and milkshakes — and one sign outside the Healdsburg location, along Dry Creek Road, advertises steaks, pasta and salads. Will Pepper’s become Healdsburg’s new “Meeting Place,” as Adel’s used to call itself? Guess we’ll see! (Source: Healdsburg Tribune & Best Western Dry Creek Inn & Restaurant Realty Company)