CULINARY DESTINATION PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMILY HENDERSON
EATS AND TREATS
From Mobile to Mainstay DARLIN’S DINER SLINGS GREAT PANCAKES, EGGS BENEDICT, AND DELECTABLE LUNCHES - WITH A SIDE OF HISTORY WRITTEN BY MICHELLE BANSE STOKES
Building on her experience of running a mobile food truck during her freshman year in College Station, Taylor Laney was quick to jump in on a permanent location when the old Darling Emporium building came up for sale in downtown Flatonia. She opened Darlin’s Diner in that location in September 2021, a popular foodie destination for both locals and travelers alike. “The food truck, Darlin’s Donuts, got big fast and it was a whole lot of fun,” said Laney. “We did concessions at Kyle Field, and events all over Texas; weddings, birthdays, sorority parties and stuff like that. After I graduated from A&M with a construction degree, my parents, who own the Harrison Room across the street, told me this building was for sale. I was living in hotels and traveling all over the place and now I live and work in the same spot. My dad and I renovated the upstairs into my home and then renovated the downstairs for Darlin’s Diner. We repurposed a lot of the building; the celling is original and so is the floor. The elevator in the back is the coolest feature of the entire building. It’s on an old pully system.”
Welcoming people into a place that is both home and business came naturally for Laney. “For me, my work is all about the people and creating an atmosphere,” shared Laney. “Darlin’s Diner is a place for people to come and feel like home, because this building is also my home. I want people to feel like they’re walking into someone’s home and feel welcomed. It’s a different experience than just walking into a restaurant.” And although sometimes it’s hard for a new restaurant to find its place in a small town, that wasn’t the case here. The community has been very welcoming to Darlin’s Diner since day one. “I was worried that on our opening day we weren’t going to have a lot of people because the word wasn’t really out yet,” added Laney. “I made a post on Instagram
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Darlin’s Diner owner Taylor Laney sips on her favorite drink outside of her establishment in dowtown Flatonia.
