From humble beginnings to realizing his American dream, Audy Garcia worked his way up from a dishwasher to a chef, until he had an opportunity to run his own place. His first restaurant was Chaparro’s Family Restaurant, located at 123 West Street in Danbury, which he still owns.

On February 6, 2020, Audy opened the Danbury Family Diner (DFD) at the Danbury Fair Mall. Both restaurants offer a variety of Guatemalan, Mexican, Brazilian, and American dishes for all tastes but with special twists from Chef Audy’s culinary secrets. 

“Both restaurants have ‘Family’ in their names because every customer who visits my restaurants is treated like a family,” explained Audy.

DFD's current hours are Monday to Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant has an independent entrance on the back side of the mall, in front of the lower parking garage that you can access even after mall hours. They are open on holidays, too.

Winter calls for some comfort and warm food. If there is one thing DFD is known for, it’s the freshly homemade soups prepared by Chef Audy himself. 

“We prepare our soup fresh every day. We don’t use canned products. You can choose from our classic onion soup to our creamy New York clam chowder, or just ask for our ‘Sopa del Dia’,” he explained.

There is also the Audy’s Special Sauce, which, according to Abner Castañeda, DFD’s General Manager, is an all-time favorite.

“Customers love it. It is a creamy, tangy sauce that blends fresh cilantro, jalapeño, avocado, mayo, and of course, Audy’s secret ingredient,” he shared. 

Audy has over 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He respectfully credits his expertise to Ray Fernández, a friend and mentor, who owns four diners in the New York state area, where Audy worked for many years. 

“More than a legacy, I want DFD to be an inspiration to others… I want to see Abner and other members of my staff also have an opportunity to follow this path if they desire”.

Audy’s daughter Jennifer has also joined the DFD team. “She has been a fundamental part of my life. She is an inspiration to me, and I want to be a role model for her. I can’t tell her to follow the same industry because it is hard, but I want to provide her with a business foundation,” said Audy. 

Your Birthday is on DFD

On your birthday, Chef Audy and DFD’s team invite you to come and let them celebrate with you. You must bring a guest, and with a $25 minimum purchase, you receive one complimentary entrée, one dessert, and a beverage.

Meryl Markham and her oldest daughter Mikayla of Ridgefield, CT, found out about the special when they stopped by DFD for a quick meal. 

“We've been to so many diners in Danbury. [We were] pleasantly surprised,” said Mikayla Markham. “Today is my birthday. We were skeptical when we sat down, but the food was just fantastic,” said Meryl.  

The menu has a wide variety of traditional and bountiful dishes for all tastes and flavors. To explore over 300 varieties of fresh food, visit the Danbury Family Diner at 7 Backus Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810. Take-out or delivery is available. 

For more information, visit https://www.flowcode.com/page/danburyfamilydiner, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DanburyDiner, or call (475) 348-7001.