All that great American style home cooking that PJ’s Diner became famous for over the years which was at the Kenai Airport, is now available in Soldotna at the former location of the iconic Sourdough Sal’s on the Sterling Highway across from Soldotna Trustworthy Hardware & Fishing. “When the opportunity became available we decided to make the big 11 mile trans-peninsula move. We’ve had customers that have been asking us to come here for years; so here we are with more space than ever to better serve them,” says Linda Petry who along with her husband Roger are the owners of PJ’s Diner. And just who is PJ then? “It’s the initials of our children Patrick and Jessica who worked with us when we first opened PJ’s but they both live in Seattle now,” explained Linda. “The best part of this business is the people; meeting a lot of new people that never came to Kenai; we’re meeting those folks for the first time it’s always nice to make new friends and people here have welcomed us warmly and are happy to have the restaurant here open again,” she said.
The Petry’s have made a lot of changes inside the former Sourdough Sal’s, one which all Green Bay Packer fans will be drawn to like a Seahawk to Seattle, “Yeah I had a little to do with the new Packer Room,” confesses Roger of the green and yellow banner laden Packer Room which allows for private parties or individual seating for fans during football season. “Our kids are in Seattle so Seahawk fans are allowed in as well,” laughed Linda. “It gives us a nice party room to serve groups or large families and give them the special attention they deserve,” she said.
PJ’s Diner has become known for their All American menu that features soul staples like biscuits and gravy and the specialty Avocado Benedict, “We actually have a special name for the Avocado Benedict on our menu, but you’ll have to come in and read it for yourself. We have a dinner menu now after 4:00pm that features steak and shrimp, steak and halibut but we’ll make your favorite breakfast anytime you’d like to eat it. We have a really good crew now to serve you. We’re lucky to have them; it makes the business a lot of fun and makes for very happy customers,” said Linda.
The new PJ’s Diner is open 7:00am – 9:00pm Monday – Saturday and Sunday 7:00am – 6:00pm. Take-out orders are available by calling 907-260-3700. Coming soon will be a 3,000sq ft. banquet room to accommodate holiday or special occasion parties at PJ’s Diner. Stop in and say a Soldotna hi to Linda and Roger, Dawn, Trish, Chris and Barbara, the champion potato salad maker.
