Profile

A Greek-American diner located in a concrete gulch of the financial district and across the street from two strip bars, George’s is a clean, comfortable, personality-free eatery that’s won a fond place in the hearts of downtown-dwellers and urban sentimentalists. When the restaurant was condemned after the September 11 attacks, owners George Koulmentas and his son Billy refused to close. Instead, they rebuilt, adding a second floor, and got back to work. Their vision included Pepto-pink tablecloths, a to-go counter for coffees and pastries, and a menu crammed with short-order staples: eggs, club sandwiches, burgers, souvlaki, salads, and wraps. Not much to recommend here, but basics are serviceable, and the Koulmentases deserve kudos for helping bring life back to a damaged neighborhood. Sometimes a diner’s more than just a place to eat. — Jon Steinberg