At Dinky’s Blue Belle Diner, breakfast served with a side of community

By Evan Walsh
Contributing Writer

SHREWSBURY – “Dinky” isn’t usually a compliment. But it is here.

Back in 1992, when Shrewsbury native Bruce Trotto was searching for spots to open a restaurant, he came across a property located on the corner of Clinton Street and Holden Street. By Trotto’s own admission, the building wasn’t particularly impressive. It actually wasn’t much of anything at all. 

“My father walked in here and said, ‘This is a dinky little place,’” Trotto remembers. “And that just stuck with me.”

A Shrewsbury institution
As small as the space may have been, over the course of 33 years, Trotto turned it into a Shrewsbury institution. As decades have passed, the hole-in-the-wall restaurant has become a centripetal force for the area’s residents – a spot for the community to congregate and enjoy an excellent breakfast.

“It’s very satisfying. And that’s why I keep doing it: It’s so much fun. You’re never alone. If you want to be alone, get an office. But I’m a chatty guy. People have been coming since 1992, our regulars. Now, I’m watching families bringing in their kids, and they’re bringing in their kids,” said Trotto. “We have so much freakin’ fun here.”

Fun has been the name of the game since the start. An electrician by trade, Trotto fell into the food industry by accident – “mainly so I could eat,” he said. Dinky’s originally opened as “Dinky’s Dogs and Cones,” a glorified takeout window serving only quick bites. Months later, the spot started serving Trotto’s favorite meal: breakfast.

“I love breakfast. That’s my thing. When we’re on vacation, [I ask] ‘Is there a breakfast place nearby?’” he said.

And so his breakfast empire was born. A menu filled with morning time staples and specials – “mostly the stuff I like,” Trotto jokes – was created, and, because Trotto was involved, it also featured a fair amount of humor and sarcasm. Patrons can try the “Rocco’s Ham I Am Omelet,” named after a favorite customer. “Stephanie’s Panwich” is a pancake sandwich named after Trotto’s daughter, and Flavio’s Sausage, Egg, and Cheese is named after the cook.

There’s also a hot dog – topped with banana peppers and relish – named after Trotto’s 15-year-old canine, Alice’s Wild-Blueberry French Toast, and yes, Trotto said, “We’ll put just about anything in a pancake.” 

Success fueled expansion
After over 15 years operating out of the “dinky” 35-seat building, Trotto decided it was time to expand. He started drawing up plans for an addition when an idea crossed his mind: “A diner would be cool.” Soon, he found Worcester Lunch Co. Dining Car #814, otherwise known as the Blue Belle Diner. 

Built in 1947, the diner had operated on Chandler Street in Worcester, later moving to Ragsdale in Shrewsbury. It was used as a lawn ornament, put on eBay, and sold again and again before Trotto got his hands on it. After the diner was parked on Clinton Street, Trotto’s operation became slightly less dinky. With a new kitchen, new bathrooms, and a new building connecting the diner to the original, Dinky’s Blue Belle Diner was born.

“At first, I didn’t realize what I was doing. It just kind of happened. Next thing, people are regulars,” said Trotto.

And those regulars don’t just come for the food, they come for the atmosphere, which can best be described as eclectic. Dozens of license plates, toy cars, and souvenirs line the diner, and Dinky’s-branded merch is atop almost every shelf. In the lobby, there’s a massive, 20-foot-long acoustic guitar. What is that doing there?

It’s all by design: “It’s kind of organized chaos. That’s what I like. Everything is kind of mish-mash,” said Trotto.

Unique atmosphere
“It’s the food and the atmosphere. I think you need both. I’ve been to plenty of places with good food but a terrible atmosphere – and I just won’t go again. Then you have the places with meh food, but the atmosphere is awesome. I love places with something unique,” added Trotto. “I think that’s what you have here.”

Over the decades, the menu has grown, the building has changed, and generations of families have come and gone — but the heart of Dinky’s has stayed the same. It’s not the massive pancakes, the interesting decor, or the cleverly named sandwiches that make it worth it for Trotto.

“It’s the people. That’s the best thing about it,” he said.


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