ON THE NIGHT SHIFT
5 AM PROVIDENCE
Seaplane Diner
“ Are you having regular or decaf this morning?” Stacy Oliveira asks, sliding a set of utensils over to regular John DeSousa. Outside, Allens Avenue maintains an unnatural stillness, but inside the Seaplane Diner, nearly every seat is full. Camo patterns and safety orange sweatshirts are well represented at the diner sandwiched between Providence’ s Hospital District and its industrial waterfront, where most patrons start their day before the morning rush. DeSousa stops in daily between double shifts in construction and hauling snow.“ I’ ve been waitressing since I was sixteen,” Oliveira says.“ I went to school for physical therapy assistant, and it wasn’ t for me.”“ Yeah, but she sucks as a waitress,” DeSousa says with a laugh.“ She’ s the worst waitress in this place.” In the kitchen, Mynor“ Oscar” Recinos starts lining up potatoes on the griddle before the customers arrive. He works most days until 3 p. m., then runs a cleaning business with his wife.“ We used to be open late-night, too, but I had to do that in. I did it for fifteen years,” he says. Few Rhode Island establishments remain open twenty-four-seven anymore(“ COVID closed down a lot of nights,” says another waitress, Stacy Gaudiana), but those that open before sunrise still find themselves feeding a hungry crowd.“ We’ ve had the same customers for years,” Oliveira says.“ I’ ve waited on the same faces. You just get to know everybody.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Waitress Stacy Oliveira preps for the morning rush; regular John DeSousa cracks a joke as Oliveira and chef Mynor“ Oscar” Recinos look on; Recinos arrives at 4:15 a. m. daily; Stacy Gaudiana has worked at the diner for around fifteen years; Oliveira serves coffee to DeSousa.
92 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I APRIL 2026