As they awaited the ribbon-cutting ceremony that would officially mark the reopening of O'Rourke's Diner on Friday morning, local officials and members of the popular eatery's rebuilding committee jostled for space among hungry customers, who filled booths and counter seats and lined the sidewalk waiting to get in.

"I've been coming here since I was 5 years old. I love the steamed cheeseburgers. I love everything Brian [O'Rourke] makes," said Larry Marino, co-chairman of fundraising for the committee. "Last night, I came for dinner, and I had Chilean sea bass, not your standard diner fare, but you're not working with a standard chef."

In his puffy white chef's hat, O'Rourke continually bustled from behind the grill into the dining area, pausing to pat old friends on the shoulder or pass out samples of his signature home-baked bread. Above his head, the diner's new aluminum light fixtures cast a mellow glow over the room, which has been painted a bold yellow and decorated with funky artwork, photos and newspaper clippings.

"We missed you, Brian!" said longtime customer Robert Boulem, who grinned as he dug into his omelet. "We're happy to see O'Rourke's back in business. It's a great place to come with family and friends." As he paused from his work, O'Rourke admitted he is overwhelmed by the support he has received since a fire closed his business more than 17 months ago. The restaurant, which reopened for breakfast and lunch on Monday, has been serving a steady stream of eager customers all week.

"Words can't say it. It's amazing. There's a tremendous amount of people that have shared coffee with us and want to continue to share coffee with us," O'Rourke said. "We've got a new team, and everybody that we haven't seen in the last year and a half wants to see us this week. We've been extremely busy as far as customers, but give us a few weeks to settle down and things will be good."

Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, who was on hand to help cut the bright green ribbon that stretched across the 60-year-old building's entryway, received a watercolor print of the diner from O'Rourke as gratitude for his ongoing support.

"I'm glad to see it open. I told Brian, you can't miss two St. Patrick's Days in a row," said Giuliano, a lifelong customer. "Growing up, I used to watch everyone come out of St. John's [Church] and come here right after Mass for breakfast."

Throughout the morning, committee members and customers alike expressed their admiration for O'Rourke, whose civic outreach has stretched beyond the boundaries of his restaurant.

"Knowing Brian, we were pretty sure he would rebuild again," said Pat Nolan, who sat in a corner booth with her husband, Tom. "We think mostly it's because of Brian's goodness over the years. It's like payback. He's always been a good guy helping people who are down and out."

"It's a true melting pot for the city, there are judges, construction workers, people from all walks of life," said Wesleyan University Athletic Director John Biddiscombe, as he surveyed the busy scene over his own breakfast. "For Brian [O'Rourke], it's not just about the food, it's the people who come here. His impact on the community has been nothing but positive."

Originally published online here: http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-middiner0216.artfeb16,0,7850643.story