It was a brisk fall morning in 1998 when Cherry Valentine showed up at Dizzy’s in Park Slope, Brooklyn. She was dressed only in a housecoat and according to owners Ben Hoen and Matheo Pisciotta, looked quite confused. They sat her down, gave her some food and a hot drink. She handed them a piece of paper and told them she didn’t know what it meant. Turns out it was an eviction notice. Upon further investigation, Ben and Matheo learned that at the age of 83, this one time Cotton Club dancer not only had a serious case of dementia, but she was also a victim of elder abuse.

Apparently the people who were supposed to be taking care of Cherry, weren’t. They were taking her money and leaving her to fend for herself. Ben and Matheo decided to take charge of the situation as best they could, and contacted the city’s Adult Protective Services, spoke to her landlord, and helped Cherry get her life back under control.

For five years, Dizzy’s effectively became her surrogate family/parent. Every day she came in and was fed, talked to and nurtured. If she didn’t show up—even for a day—someone from Dizzy’s would go to her apartment to make sure everything was okay.

In the fall of 2003, Cherry passed away. Dizzy’s was praised at her memorial service for coming to her rescue. A picture of Cherry hangs proudly on their wall. That’s Dizzy’s in a nutshell—a neighborhood restaurant where you’ll leave with much more than a full stomach. It’s a place where everyone knows your name and one that truly serves the community of Park Slope.

When Ben and Matheo opened it up in April 1998, they wanted to create "a finer diner" that would feel like home. The food is certainly finer than most diners. Incredible breakfasts served all day long, homemade Mac and Cheese topped with Rice Krispies, wonderful salads & sandwiches, and delicious dinner entrees. In fact, on most weekends there’s a wait to get in for brunch. Many in the neighborhood claim their coffee is the best around. Ditto that for their Brooklyn Egg Creams.

On the menu they have pictures of the prominent people in Park Slope. There’s Joey Ups—the UPS guy, Tommy Bones—the local chiropractor, and Ronny the mailman, to name a few. You’ll regularly see Father Bob Lawsine, who calls himself the "Chaplin of Dizzy’s" enjoying coffee and talking to the local rabbi about issues in the neighborhood. You’ll even see some of the regulars helping themselves to coffee as if it were their own home. And, for many people, it is a home away from home. It certainly was for Cherry Valentine. Just one of many who found a hot meal served up with a lot of heart and soul.