ig in at Duke’s DinerD

from North Country Foodie - February 2020

by Press-Republican

e Essential Ingredient is LoveTh

Dig in at Visit the Plattsburgh mainstay for a classic diner breakfast or lunch. Plattsburgh

Duke’s

By Ben Watson Photos by Rob Fountain

For Plattsburgh native Chris “Chefy” Duquette, serving locals breakfast and lunch has become a way of life.

Duke’s Diner, named after Duquette’s previous nickname, is currently in its 22nd year in business and 13th at its current location on Tom Miller Road.

‘THAT WAS ENTERTAINING’

Duquette, 44, who said he’s been in the food service industry in some capacity since he was 13, decided to open the original Duke’s Diner in downtown Plattsburgh in

Chris “Chefy” Duquette pours some chicken soup.

North Country Foodie • February 2020 October of 1998, about a year and a half after he graduated from a four-year culinary program at Johnson Wales University in Providence, R.I.

“That’s when the college (business) was really roaring,” Duquette said. “We used to do the late night kegs to eggs after the bars closed on Friday and Saturday nights. That was entertaining, to say the least.”

A SECOND WIND

And Duquette catered to the downtown crowd of college students, as well as many lawyers and judges with offices near the Clinton Street location, for about 10 years before he thought it might be time to move on.

“Honestly, I was done; I was getting out of Dodge,” Duquette said. “Downtown just had no traffic; it was a oneway street.”

That was when the owner of the current Duke’s location got in contact with Duquette saying the space was opening up.

“I kind of got a second wind,” Duquette said. “My business tripled the second I moved here, so I’ve been here ever since.”

SECOND GENERATION

The move hasn’t dissuaded those who frequented the Clinton Street location, though.

“I’ve had the same regulars from downtown even,” Duquette said. “I got a lot of lawyers and judges when I was downtown, and they’ve kind of migrated here. The nice thing about being here is you gotta drive down here, it’s not like downtown where you get a lot of characters. We had some interesting Saturday nights on Clinton Street, I won’t lie.”

And he’s now even seeing some second-generation regulars.

“I see their kids growing up, and now they’re coming in here, and graduating high school and starting college,” Duquette said. “It makes me realize I’ve been doing it for a while.”

TAKING THE CHALLENGE several “challenge” dishes to test your appetite.

At breakfast, you can order “Chefy’s Breakfast Challenge” to get two pancakes, four eggs, sausage, bacon, ham, home fries and toast. At lunch, the Bypass, Double If You Go If you would like to visit Duke’s Diner, it is located at 8 Tom Miller Road.

The cozy one-room diner, open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends, does most of its business in its classic breakfast offerings, though the large selection of burgers has grown popular, Duquette said.

For diners who come to Duke’s hungry, there are also

The diner is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends.

North Country Foodie • February 2020 Bypass, and Double Duke burgers will all do their best to fi ll your stomach.

“Sometimes I’ll make 30 in a week or I’ll make none; it depends on who’s rolling through,” Duquette said. “A lot of the college kids try it.” GANIENKEH WHOLISTIC TREATMENT CENTER AN ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE CENTER

BY THE SHORE

Business has been a little slow to start the New Year, Duquette said, but he expects it to pick up once the SUNY Plattsburgh spring semester begins.

“Once the kids are back there’ll defi nitely be some more business, and once St. Patrick’s Day rolls around and the weather perks up,” Duquette said.

When asked if he ever plans to leave the food business, Duquette said he wasn’t sure, but he is planning to expand business this summer.

Starting in May, Duke’s fans will be able to stop by “Chefy’s by the Shore,” opening as a seasonal restaurant at the Treadwell Bay Marina north of Cumberland Head.

For now, fans of an old-fashioned diner breakfast or lunch can stop by Duke’s at 8 Tom Miller Road.

“(Come for) the big portions and the warm atmosphere; we try to be friendly,” Duquette said with a laugh. “Th ere are a lot of regulars, so it’s pretty small-town.”

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