DARLIN’S DINER

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

Darlin’s Diner owner Taylor Laney sips on her favorite drink outside of her establishment in dowtown Flatonia.

on Sunday because we were opening on the next day, Monday. I don’t want to say that was the biggest mistake, but it was! We had a line wrapped around the building at 6:30 a.m. and it didn’t stop for the rest of the day! When I saw that, I was so excited and, fortunately, I had help. I could not do anything I do without my amazing staff. This is such a good environment.”

Darlin’s Diner is open every day for breakfast and lunch, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features a variety of homestyle classics that will fill any rumbling tummy that walks in the door.

“The biscuits and gravy are my favorite,” shared Laney. “Many come in for the eggs benedict, but I love the homemade gravy we make every day with bacon juice, like I like to call it. It’s good! Or people get the Darlin’s breakfast, which is where you get everything. It’s massive and I don’t see a ton of people finish it. At lunch, I like the cheese-bacon-avocado-ranch burger. It’s the most ordered thing on the menu.”

More than just a diner, Laney stays on top of her game, planning events that serve to not only draw people to her diner, but to the benefit of the rest of the community.

“I’ve already set the date for Muffins & Mufflers 2022,” said Laney. “It’s our classic car show that we put on - Saturday, May 14. We had a huge turnout the first year, so we’re excited to go bigger and better this year. We want to bring people from outside of Flatonia to town to see all of the amazing stuff that we have going on; keep people revisiting and coming back to discover this great town and amazing community.”

Darlin’s Diner is located at 114 East South Main in downtown Flatonia and online at www.darlinsdiner.com. I’ve already set the date for Mufflers & Muffins 2022!