Renee's Diner Visited by 'America's Best Restaurants'
Theo Williams of 'America's Best Restaurants' tries three menu items at Renee's Diner on Thursday morning.
"The place was packed with a lot of excited people and I think it's great for our community to put us on the map," owner, Renee Tessier, said.
Tessier and crew have been burnishing the Massachusetts Avenue diner this week in preparation for its debut on the video program. The national media and marketing company spotlights independent eateries around the country.
The host tries three meals with the owner and on Thursday, Theo Williams enjoyed the hash in the kitchen and then dug into an order breakfast tacos and the popular turkey club.
He was enjoying the hash so much he couldn't stop eating it.
He's been with the "America’s Best Restaurants" for two years now and was warm and welcoming to the diner's customers.
Williams explained that Renee's Diner was noticed by a fan, who submitted the diner to the show to try. After the team did some research, they contacted Tessier for a visit.
Williams said he likes the city of North Adams and loved to see the community here.
"It's beautiful out here in North Adams," he said. "It's a beautiful area and you can tell this is an area where people really come together. This is a community that always has each other's back."
The diner's patrons came to enjoy breakfast and celebrate the accomplishment.
Sue Downey and Maggy Button sat at a booth and enjoyed their favorite meals: apple cinnamon french toast and the Mexican omelet.
"It's very worthy for her [Renee], we've been coming here since she opened up," Downey said. "I am so happy for her because she really deserves that.
"I mean there are other people around here who deserve it, too, but she really deserves it."
Another longtime customer, Pete Milesi, was enjoying a meal of over medium eggs, bacon sausage, and rye bread. He said also the loves the eggs Benedict and breakfast burritos. Milesi says he feels very welcome every time he comes.
"I really love the cook. He is great, he really caters to the customer and gets to know the people which is nice because not a lot of restaurants do that, and the waitresses here are phenomenal," he said. "They are very friendly and very welcoming."
Waitress Stacy Pettengill has worked at the diner for 15 years, ever since it opened, and likes to see the customers happy and the employees' hard work be recognized.
"To watch us grow from the beginning from where we started to where we are today, I guess I could say it's mind blowing and flattering and it's an honor for Renee to receive this opportunity because she worked so hard," she said. "When you say blood, sweat, and tears go into things that statement couldn't be more true. A lot goes into trying to be successful and keep people happy and it's hard to keep people happy nowadays.
"So people come here happy and they leave here happy and that's just what makes me happy."
Renee’s husband, Michael Tessier, was excited to see and proud of his wife, the diner and the cooks' hard work.
"It's nerve wracking to be in the spotlight but you do the hard work and I'm happy that the staff is being recognized for what they do," he said.
Williams says to keep checking the show's social media pages to know when the Renee's Diner episode will air.
Tags: food show, restaurants,
