iDiner: Delivering More Than Diner Fare

Successful diners are marvels, seemingly upending laws of physics and time. Vast menu choices — Belgian waffles, turkey clubs, eggplant parms — mysteriously arrive table side in minutes. iDiner, the newest entrant on the Port Washington diner scene, further subverts the time-space continuum, adding Japanese and Korean dishes to the American-Greek diner mix. It's Bibimbap meets bagels, all in a blink.

The décor is the first hint this diner is different. The space has a minimalist, uncluttered aesthetic. Nary a vinyl booth in sight. Rather, the rectangular restaurant is rimmed with a simple wooden bench, anchoring dozens of streamlined tables and slatted chairs. The chocolate brown walls set off grace notes: white orchids, bamboo plants and a fluid pearlescent flowering tree mural. Rice paper lanterns and dangling white lights complete the Zen vibe.

If the décor is understated, the menu is over-the-top. Breathtaking in breadth, diners can choose from more than 200 items, and that doesn't even include the daily dessert special.

Customers in search of Greek-American diner standards — egg dishes, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, burgers and salads — will not come up short. Ditto for diners looking for Japanese basics: edamame, udon, ramen, a selection of teriyakis and dozens of sushi and roll combinations.

But the real reason to visit iDiner is the Korean dishes. Standouts include Bibimbap — a mixed bowl of rice with spicy, sliced sirloin, greens, spinach, julianned carrots and cucumbers and bean sprouts, seasoned with chili paste and topped with a fried egg — for $10.95 and Kalbi, Korea's signature dish of barbecued short ribs served with rice, sweet pumpkin and miso soup, for $14.95.

Not into red meat? Get your fresh fish fill with Heodeopbab, a bowl of steamed rice mixed with raw fish, mixed greens, cucumbers, crab and fish roe, all tossed with chogochujang, a seasoned chili paste ($12.95). Zesty and refreshing.

Looking for an East-West fusion? Try the Bulgogi Pizza Club, a flatbread pizza crust topped with Bulgogi, mushrooms, dressed greens and melted cheese ($10.95). Or have some bun fun with a Bulgogi Burger, with grilled onions and peppers ($6.95) or a Tofu Burger dressed with teriyaki sauce ($5.95).

iDiner even tweaks its rice; serving a 10-grain rice combo rather than white rice. All rolls and rice dishes use the multi-grain rice, which offers a full, nutty flavor, high in fiber.

Cap off your meal with an extensive array of desserts, fresh fruit smoothies and specialty coffee and tea drinks. You can even create your own crepe combo ($3.95 and up). The waitstaff never hurries anyone out the door. So linger over your Carmel Macchiato ($4) or Green Tea ($1.50) and wonder how the compact, open kitchen conjures up such wonderful and disparate fare. A marvel indeed.