Brothers ‘keeping it simple’ with Deerfield diner

By CHRIS LARABEE

Staff Writer

Published: 02-16-2023 9:15 PM

DEERFIELD — Looking for a diner-style breakfast at a cheap price? Chris Dodge and Jim Dion have you covered.

The two brothers, who are both military veterans, have opened The 5&10 Breakfast Club in the Tibetan Plaza at 265 Greenfield Road, with the aim of serving diners filling, affordable meals. The new restaurant, which opened Jan. 21, is open every day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and serves breakfast and lunch.

Dodge and Dion said the restaurant is a passion project for them because the former was a U.S. Navy cook and the latter is a railroad worker with a culinary background. Combined, the brothers have more than 30 years in cooking and the restaurant industry.

“I’m not doing this to make a killing, I’m doing this because I enjoy it and my brother’s a chef,” said Dodge, who operated a cafe in Washington for several years. “I know the concept will work.”

“I’ll give it one more go before the bones give out. … It’s more of an expensive hobby,” Dion said.

The two men said their idea is to run the diner for a few hours a day, as they crank out breakfast and lunch at low prices, which they say is possible because their staff is made up of family members, meaning their main overhead costs are ingredients and rent. A three-egg special with home fries or a hash brown, toast and a drink is $11, while a burger is $10 and comes with a side and a drink.

“We’re keeping it simple,” Dodge said, with Dion adding there’s “nothing over the top.”

They said they also want to cultivate a diner feel, where regulars can come early in the morning, place their order and chat with Dodge while he cooks.

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“I want people to come in and sit and enjoy,” Dodge said. “Here’s how I look at it: We’re family-owned and everyone that wants to become regulars here are part of the family.”

The restaurant was cash only as of the start of the month as Dodge and Dion were waiting on their card machine to ship.

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