STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Mike’s New Dakota Diner served its final meals over the weekend, closing Sunday after more than four decades at 921 Richmond Ave. in Graniteville.
The diner, recognized for its Roman arch windows, opened as The Dakota before becoming Four Bridges in the mid-1980s. Greek-born brothers Pantelis, John, and Panagiotis Pefanis revived the restaurant in 1987. After Pantelis Pefanis retired in May 2019, Mike Moudatsos, and his family took over and officially renamed the establishment Mike’s New Dakota Diner.
The Moudatsos family could not be reached for comment, and it remains unclear whether the building will continue operating as a restaurant under new ownership.
Over the years, the menu spanned hundreds of items, from lox on bagels to prime rib, drawing loyal Sunday crowds and everyday breakfast regulars. During Lent, fish platters were a favorite, while Sunday mornings saw churchgoers flocking in for buttermilk pancakes and hearty burgers…