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The New Palmerton Diner serves food with a smile

Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, every meal is prepared with care and served with a smile.

That’s the kind of royal treatment customers can expect when they chow down at The New Palmerton Diner.

The family-owned business that serves classic comfort food, the diner at 695 Delaware Ave. opened on July 14.

Mario Colin-Rosales, manager, said the business is owned by his father, Mario Colin-Rojas, who has over 25 years of experience.

Colin-Rosales, whose family resides in Fullerton, said his father previously worked at the City View Diner in Whitehall for nearly 25 years, and later at the Whitehall Diner.

“A couple of months ago we were talking about starting our own thing,” Colin said. “We looked around at a couple of places, and liked the location in town.”

Enter The New Palmerton Diner, which Colin-Rosales said took about 3 1/2 months to remodel the kitchen to the front of the building. Colin-Rosales and his father did the work.

When customers walk through its doors, Colin-Rosales said they can expect to be treated like family by the eight employees who work there.

“Our workers are attentive,” he said. “We get a lot of positive reviews, they like to work and we love them.”

Colin-Rosales said most of their customers to date — including Anna, Carl, and Susan, their first customers — come from Palmerton, Lehighton, Tamaqua, and the Lehigh Valley.

“Our first week was so surreal,” he said. “I like being around customers, having conversations, the demographic here is very nice.”

From the Bomber Cake, to the Palmerton Omelet, to the Palmerton Burger, to the Palmerton Bomber Sandwich, Colin-Rosales said the diner is certain to have something that appeals to everyone’s tastes.

He said breakfast is served all day long, with chipped beef among the top sellers.

“People do seem to like the concept of all-day breakfast.”

Between lunch and dinner time, Colin-Rosales said Reuben sandwiches, chicken Parmesan, and veal cutlet have also been a big hit.

He said the burgers are handmade and very juicy, and also touted their masked potatoes and fresh, handmade shrimp and soups.

What’s more, Colin-Rosales said they have different specials each week, such as Texas meatloaf, goulash, and stuffed cabbage, and chicken quesadillas with bacon, to name a few.

“We’re trying to bring some of that Pennsylvania Dutch (cooking),” he said, adding that they are open to receive any types of ideas for food. “They like the freshness of the food, and the portions.”

Colin-Rosales said if customers want something made a certain way, to bring it in and his father will cook it to their liking.

“Accommodating customers is our main concern,” he said. “We’re here to provide the best hospitality that we can.”

The New Palmerton Diner is open Monday and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Colin-Rosales encouraged everyone to view their menu on their Facebook page, the New Palmerton Diner, and added they can order online, as the business accepts any type of payment.

Left: Mario Colin-Rojas, owner, shown making a cheese steak in the kitchen inside the New Palmerton Diner at 695 Delaware Ave. The business opened July 14.
Above: Employees of The New Palmerton Diner gather outside the business. Pictured, front row, from left, Barbara Flaherty, server, Mariana Rosales, owner, Sofia Colin-Rosales, Mario Colin-Rojas, owner/cook, back row, from left, Joamber Glasce (server), Mario Colin-Rosales, manager, Diego Colin-Rosales, cook, and Jose (chef). TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS