A new look and at least one new face at Manchester Diner

Leslie Kirkland with her wait staff team at the Manchester Diner

Leslie Kirkland is the "new" (as in a month and a half ago) owner of the Manchester Diner, following an interesting twist of the path in her journey as a chef.

"I had planned to start a food truck, and I actually had a truck, that was set up as a brunch truck," she says. "I originally came in here to talk about using the kitchen as a commissary."

After a series of setbacks, including a tree falling on the food truck in last summer's storms, Leslie might have been ready to give up ... but Craig and Raychael Lewis, who had owned the Diner for nearly two years, had a different idea.

"They said, 'We've got a plan we'd like to talk to you about,'" she relates.

It hadn't ever been their dream to own the diner, but they were determined to keep it open for the community. All through COVID they kept things going, and made it through with flying colors. And when Leslie came along, especially after the unfortunate chain of events with her food truck, they thought that making a "bequest" of the diner to her might be a win-win situation. And, eventually, it was. Maybe even "Divine Intervention."

For now, you'll be seeing the same menu, the same faces, but definitely a new look at Manchester Diner. Over Thanksgiving week and weekend, the crew worked hard with friends and family to do a total renovation that was completed by Dec. 1, much to the delight of customers. The new look is more reflective of Leslie's own personality and is designed to be simple to maintain, even down to the carpet being set down in squares that can be easily replaced if they become stained.

Soon to come is new artwork from local artist Mark Hanna, which will add some decor to the south walls of the diner.

"Overall, I'm keeping the same philosophy as Raychael and Craig had," Leslie says. "I want to provide good food to the community, and I'll do that whatever ways I can.

"That might include dinners, eventually; we're starting out with the Thursday nights during the holidays and we'll see how well that goes over. There are all kinds of possibilities," she adds.

Living here for a year and a half with her wife Christy, a nurse at Chelsea Hospital, Leslie has fallen in love with the Manchester community and now considers it home. "I've lived here for a relatively short time, and I've been a city girl most of my life, but something inside me was yearning for these open spaces and the small town atmosphere. We are renting now but we are looking to buy a house in the Manchester area," she says.

Stop in, see the familiar and friendly faces, eat a good breakfast, and meet Leslie at the Manchester Diner!

This corner display at the Manchester Diner will hold 4-H and other mementoes honoring Manchester's agricultural heritage.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.