Opening a restaurant in January of 2020, just six weeks before the start of the pandemic, was certainly not the easiest time to start in the food service business. Many restaurants didn’t survive and went out of business. But if successfully surviving through such a difficult time was a sign that a restaurant has what it takes to succeed, The Governor Diner has proven itself worthy.
At the start of the pandemic, brothers Paul and Neil Barraco grew their newly born venture by garnering the support of locals and developing creative solutions like open-air dining in warmer months, installing plexiglass between booths, and offering walk-up service. As the months and years have passed and the threat of the pandemic has subsided, the restaurant has continued to thrive, growing in popularity and recognition. In August of 2023, The Governor was featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins & Dives!
The Barracos are from Milford and both have backgrounds in fine dining. The Governor is their version of an East Coast diner with a farm-to-table twist, and the result is delicious! They serve up diner classics like the Reuben using local sources and house-made ingredients (like their own pastrami made in house!) and focus on crafting new and interesting cocktails to complement their dishes.
When warmer weather comes around again, they have garage doors that open up so the whole restaurant is open air. Pair that with some of their specialty cocktail slushies and you will soon have a new local fave!
You can find out more about The Governor by visiting their website at governordiner.com. Their menu is available on their website and you can contact them by phone to order. Gift cards are also available for purchase.
A special thank you to Maggie Curtis and Stacy Rickert for providing inspiration and information for this blog.
