South Florida

718 Cafe & Grill Bringing New York Diner Style to Tequesta

Omelets, pancakes, burgers, and baklava pancakes highlight the New York–inspired menu blended with touches of the owners’ Greek heritage.

Image from 718 Cafe & Grill on Instagram

TEQUESTA, FL — 718 Cafe & Grill is preparing for a soft opening within the next 7 to 10 days at 716 U.S. Rte 1, Tequesta, FL 33469.

Owner Peter Stellatos told Business Debut the team expects to hold a grand opening roughly one week from the soft debut.

What to Expect

The restaurant brings a traditional New York diner format to Tequesta with a 221-seat dining room, booth and table seating, and a private event space for 50 to 60 guests. Stellatos and partner Jerry Damoulianos said the goal is to recreate the full-service diner style both men grew up around through their families’ New York restaurants.

An outdoor tiki lounge and bar will extend the concept into the evening with entertainment, including singing performances and planned nighttime programming. During the day, the team plans to emphasize breakfast, specialty coffee, and a quick pickup option alongside full-service dining.

“We grew up in diners in Queens and Brooklyn, and we wanted to bring that experience to Tequesta,” Stellatos told Business Debut.

The menu features core diner offerings such as omelets, pancakes, French toast, home fries, wraps, paninis, burgers, specialty burgers, milkshakes, and sandwiches including Reubens and Philly cheesesteaks.

Damoulianos said they are introducing signature variations. “We’re doing apple cinnamon French toast and baklava pancakes,” he told Business Debut. The dishes reflect the team’s Greek heritage and their goal of adding distinctive touches to familiar diner classics.

Stellatos noted the aim is to blend New York diner tradition with the expectations of the local community. “We’re trying to combine the best of New York with the best of Florida,” he said.

Ownership

718 Cafe & Grill is owned by Peter Stellatos and partner Jerry Damoulianos. Additional investors include Tony Katsianis, George Koufaras, John Damoulianos, and Dimitris Zizimatos.

The name 718 Cafe & Grill references the New York area code where the ownership team grew up, reflecting their intention to bring elements of their Queens and Brooklyn diner background to Florida.