thePULSEServing Up Great Food and Rich History
By Rachel Shuster
Dinky’s Blue Belle Diner, a family run business, has come a long way from its start in 1992. Owner Bruce Trotto says the joint, which began as Dinky’s Dogs and Cones, started serving hot dogs and ice cream. Named for its “modes” appearance when founded, Trotto says, “It was a little dinky place!” It then grew to Dinky’s Restaurant and Café, adding breakfast to the menu. Flash forward to the present, when Dinky’s joined delicious forces with the famous 1948 Worcester lunch car Blue Belle Diner to become Dinky’s Blue Belle Diner, located at 70 Clinton Street in Shrewsbury.
Dinky’s now serves breakfast and lunch, has an ice cream store, and even serves alcohol! “We will have a full bar in the next few weeks,” Trotto says. The menu includes everything from omelets, French toast, waffles and breakfast burritos to chowders, shepherd’s pie, meatloaf, sandwiches, hamburgers and pasta. Check out the homemade desserts including chocolate cake brownies! Dinky’s also has a white board special every weekday. Prices range from $6-$10.
Trotto describes Dinky’s as a “…very unique place. It has a lot of nostalgia and accents of my hobbies including motorcycles, antique cars and planes. Since we incorporated the diner, when you walk in, it’s almost like a street scene,” he says. “It’s a great place with fantastic people.”
Dinky’s is open Mon. – Fri., 6am – 1:30am, Sat., 6am – 12:30pm, and Sun. 7am – 12:30pm.
Call 508-856-0844 for more information.
Hello Rachel,
Thank you so much for the great write-up. I loved the “Dinky’s joined delicious forces”.. sentence. The facts were right on and the enlarged logo really caught my eye and I wanted to read more. It is a real treat to be recognized in a popular local magazine and of course who doesn’t love to see their name in print!?
If you’re ever in Shrewsbury, please stop by Dinky’s and introduce yourself, I would love to meet you and buy you breakfast or lunch.
Although our hours were stated as open until 1:30 am, we actually close at 1:30 pm, so don’t get there too late. We are serving a limited beer menu at lunch and when we do eventually open the bar, we will obviously be open later in the evening. I just started the renovation of the old section that will house more seating and the mahogany bar and will no doubt take a couple of months to finish. At that time I plan on getting in touch with David Simone to advertise the new digs.
Thanks again.
Bruce Trotto