News Elsewhere: Modern Diner in Pawtucket, RI, Is Up for Sale

An historic diner near the RI/MA border is on the market.

According to a source (Gary Goldblatt) Modern Diner in Pawtucket is for sale, with a Facebook post from the East Avenue spot saying the following:

After four decades serving our community, our family has made the bittersweet decision to put Modern Diner up for sale as we prepare for retirement. This diner is more than just a restaurant — it's been our home, our passion, and a gathering place for generations of friends, families, and neighbors....What's next? Nothing changes for now! The diner will continue to operate just as it always has — with the same familiar faces and menu you've come to love.

Modern Diner, which was the first diner in the United States to go on the National Register for Historic Places, has received much in the way of praise and accolades over the years, including the Food Network including them among the top 5 diners in the U.S. for its custard French toast.

The address for Modern Diner is 364 East Avenue, Pawtucket, RI, 02860.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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News Elsewhere: "Ballpark Dining" Introduced at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket

It appears possible that baseball could be finished at a beloved stadium just over the Massachusetts border, but even if it is, fans will still have the chance to return to the ballpark this spring and summer, and it will be for food, not sports.

According to a post from milb.com, the Pawtucket Red Sox have opened McCoy Stadium for "Ballpark Dining," while allows people to have dinner at picnic tables on the field or do curbside pickup out front, with the 20 tables being spaced at least 14 feet apart along the infield dirt--and if the weather is bad, the tables would be brought into the open-air (but covered) main concourse. Food and drink offerings at the stadium include burgers, hot dogs, fries, nachos, chicken tenders, veggie nuggets, and special dinners such as eggplant parmesan, pork and brisket with macaroni and cheese, bacon-wrapped hot dogs with pulled pork and macaroni and cheese, ice cream bars, beer, wine, water, and soft drinks.

Ballpark Dining debuted this past Friday at McCoy Stadium, with the next dates being Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6; additional dates will be announced soon. (Reservations and curbside pickup orders must be made in advance.)

As of now, it appears that the 2020 minor league season will likely be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and while the PawSox are slated to start playing in their new stadium in Worcester in 2021, it remains to be seen if the stadium will be ready to go there, so there may be a chance that the team could end up playing at least some games at McCoy Stadium next year.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Food Network's Top 5 Diner Dishes in America Include Items from Modern Diner, Agawam Diner at # 1 and 2

A popular food-based TV channel, magazine, and website has come out with its picks for the five best diner dishes in the United States, and items from a couple of New England diners have come out at the very top of the list.

According to the slideshow/article from the Food Network, the custard French toast from Modern Diner in Pawtucket, RI, and the chicken pot pie from Agawam Diner in Rowley are at #1 and #2, respectively, with items from diners in San Francisco, La Jolla, CA, and Austin also making the grade. Both of the New England spots have been visited by our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants), with the latter being featured in a review that can be found below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/AgawamDiner.html

Modern Diner can be found at 364 East Avenue in Pawtucket while Agawam Diner is at 166 Newburyport Turnpike (Route 1) in Rowley.

For a complete look at the picks from the Food Network, please go to the following link:

Top 5 Diner Dishes in America

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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