Fat Ted’s Diner owner Michael Doyle out front of its Washingtonville location. Doyle’s father Ted started the restaurant in 2022 and Michael is continuing the family tradition. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

WASHINGTONVILLE — What initially started out as a visit to his ailing father turned into a way of life for Michael Doyle, who now finds himself the operator of Fat Ted’s Diner on state Route 14.

A month after Doyle’s arrival back to his hometown from Salem, Virginia, his father Ted Doyle passed away. The diner had been Ted’s dream, and a place where Ted, a skilled home cook, could share his ice cream as well as culinary creations with the community.

The diner business wasn’t too far of a stretch for Michael, who had been involved in the automotive industry. The day before coming to Washingtonville, he had been pondering his own venture into the food industry — just not as a short order cook as he finds himself now.

Called Fat Ted’s in reference to the butterfat Red used to make ice cream and not anyone’s physical build, Doyle acknowledged that the restaurant only offers dinner service from a very limited menu between 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday nights.

For example, diners can enjoy a Reuben sandwich for under $10, choosing to add a helping of Irish potatoes for another $3 on the day before St. Patrick’s Day.

Although the menu saw some changes, Doyle acknowledged that he has tried to keep the prices affordable like his father used to.

For example, as many restaurants have had to pass along price hikes on eggs and chicken entrees, Doyle hasn’t.

Diners can enjoy most entrees with two sides under $12 and add a piece of their favorite pie or cobbler for another $3.50. The portions are more generous, meaning diners can usually get another meal out of their to-go boxes.

Fat Ted’s has no shame in its pancake game, putting out a hotcake that fills a 14-inch dinner plate.

No frozen French toast sticks here, as they make those homemade, too.

Past dinner specials have included chicken stuffed shells, barbecued ribs, pork tenderloin, chicken Parmesan — all with one side — or a mega burrito including chicken tortilla soup.

“Our prices today are cheaper than when it was back in 2021,” Doyle noted. “I try to keep it affordable and recipes low sodium, as many of my customers are older and on Social Security.”

Doyle does buy his meat locally, choosing to frequent Rob’s Horst Packing based out of Beaver Township for most of his meat products.

Doyle concurs with his father’s opinion, which was expressed in media coverage back in April 2022.

“If you put good ingredients in, then your get good food out,” explained Ted Doyle at that time.

His son continues to give away a free dessert to first-time diners to this day — just like his dad in the beginning.

Michael Doyle wasn’t surprised to learn about his father’s remarks in that initial article.

“Dad never skimmed on anything. When he bought vanilla beans for his homemade ice cream, he would buy them from Madagascar. He always went the extra mile,” he said.

Currently residing in Salem, Doyle is appreciative of his small but mighty staff that includes three servers, two dishwashers and two cooks.

Fat Ted Diner’s is located at 924 W. Main St. (state Route 14) in Washingtonville.

Regular hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and closed Sunday.

Takeout orders can be placed through private message at the restaurant’s Facebook page @https://www.facebook.com/fattedsdiner.