SILVER DINER INC /DE/
10-K, 1999-04-05
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<PAGE>
 
                    U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   Form 10-K

                 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
                    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                   For the fiscal year ended January 3, 1999
                        Commission file number 0-24982

                              SILVER DINER, INC.
          (Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)

                                   DELAWARE
        (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                  04-3234411
                     (I.R.S. employer identification no.)

                             11806 ROCKVILLE PIKE
                           ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20852
                                 301-770-0333
(Address and telephone number of the registrant's principal executive offices)

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     Title of each class               Name of each exchange on which registered
     -------------------               -----------------------------------------
            None                                            None

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                        Common Stock, $.00074 Par Value

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [_]

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form     10-K. [X]

     At March 15, 1999, the registrant had 11,809,146 shares of common stock
(the "Common Stock") outstanding, and the aggregate market value of the Common
Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $8,669,061.
The aggregate market value was determined based on the closing price of the
Common Stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market(SM) on March 15, 1999.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
     Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of
Shareholders in 1999 are incorporated by reference into Part III.
<PAGE>
 
PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

GENERAL

     Silver Diner, Inc. (the "Company" or "Silver Diner") was incorporated in
Delaware in April 1994 under the name Food Trends Acquisition Corporation
("FTAC"). In March 1996, a subsidiary of the Company merged with Silver Diner
Development, Inc., a Virginia corporation ("SDDI"). Silver Diner Limited
Partnership ("SDLP"), of which the Company was the general partner, operated the
first three Silver Diner restaurants. In June 1996, the Company acquired all of
the limited partner interests in SDLP for a purchase price of $2.472 million and
84,000 warrants to purchase shares of the Common Stock at $8.00 per share and,
subsequently, liquidated SDLP into SDDI. The warrants were exercisable at any
time on or before the earlier of January 31, 1998 or 30 days following the first
public offering of Common Stock on or after June 30, 1997. Unless the context
otherwise requires, references to the Company or Silver Diner also include FTAC,
SDDI and their wholly owned subsidiaries.

     The Company's executive offices are located at 11806 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, Maryland 20852 and its telephone number is (301) 770-0333. The
Company's Common Stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market/SM/ under the symbol
"SLVR."

BUSINESS

     The Company currently operates 11 Silver Diner restaurants, 10 in the
Washington/Baltimore Metropolitan Area and one in Cherry Hill, New Jersey,
serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night meals. The Company targets the
growing number of customers tired of traditional fast food whose need for a
quick, high-quality, reasonably priced meal is not being adequately served by
existing family or casual theme restaurants; the Company capitalizes on the
timeless diner theme to uniquely address this need. By attracting a broad range
of customer segments, and maintaining extended operating hours, a diverse menu
and convenient locations, the Company is able to compete effectively in the fast
food, family and casual dining segments of the restaurant industry, contributing
to the significant sales volumes of its units. The Company also offers Silver
Diner To Go, which features a range of carry out/delivery options targeting the
growing "home meal replacement" market, as well as specialty coffee drinks and
expanded bakery selections.

     The restaurants typically are open for business from 7:00 a.m. to midnight
on weekdays and from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. on weekends.  The Silver Diner menu
strategy is to serve generous portions of made-from-scratch cooking at prices
competitive with traditional family dining restaurants.  The average check per
customer is approximately $7.50 and the average dining time is approximately 40
minutes.  For the last fiscal year the Silver Diner restaurants had sales
ranging from $2.0 million to $4.1 million with average unit sales of $2.6
million on an average of 222 seats.  Management attributes the significant sales
volumes of its units to its ability to attract a broad range of customer
segments, extended operating hours, diverse menu and convenient locations.
Management believes it has established a strong company mission and culture by
emphasizing a sense of ownership and entrepreneurship in its employees and by
providing frequent training, recognition and development of its management.

     Diners have been indigenous to the United States for more than 100 years.
Since opening the first Silver Diner restaurant in 1989, the Company has
capitalized on the diner restaurant theme to uniquely address the customers'
need of where to go for quick, high quality meals at reasonable prices.  Key
elements that differentiate Silver Diner restaurants from other restaurants
include:

     .  BROAD AND DIVERSE  MENU  COMBINING "TRADITIONAL  DINER" ITEMS WITH
CONTEMPORARY REGIONAL SPECIALTIES - The menu includes a broad range of made-
from-scratch meal choices featuring traditional home-style diner fare and all-
day breakfast, as well as more contemporary "heart healthy" selections and
regional specialty items. Each Silver Diner restaurant bakes all of its cakes on
the premises and features a carryout section offering its full menu.

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
     .  CLASSIC, READILY RECOGNIZABLE DINER EXTERIOR, IN COMBINATION WITH A
COMFORTABLE DINER INTERIOR DECOR AND ATMOSPHERE - The visually striking exterior
of the Silver Diner restaurants is both familiar and distinctive, combining
polished stainless steel, glass block and neon lighting traditional to old-style
diners with more contemporary tile, accent colors and a 25-foot clock tower.
Similarly, the Silver Diner restaurants' interior combines traditional diner
motifs such as a counter area with seating, booths and tabletop old style juke
boxes with a contemporary open kitchen and ambient dining room lighting.  The
result of these contrasting elements produces a high energy, fun, nostalgic
atmosphere which is also comfortable.

     .  EXTENDED OPERATING  HOURS WITH FOUR MEAL  PERIODS - Silver  Diner's
breadth of entree selection, its beer and wine service and night time ambiance
allow it to generate close to 50%  of its business at dinner and late night, the
most profitable meal periods. Additionally, the Silver Diner's extended hours
and diverse menu affords it two extra meal periods - breakfast and late night.
Together, these four meal periods provide the Silver Diner the opportunity to
generate significantly greater customer counts per facility than traditional
two- or three-meal period full-service restaurants.

     .  RAPID MEAL SERVICE RESULTING IN A TABLE TURNOVER RATE SIGNIFICANTLY
ABOVE INDUSTRY AVERAGES FOR FULL SERVICE RESTAURANTS - Silver Diner's menu, food
preparation techniques and kitchen engineering account for its rapid meal
service. The Silver Diner's physical plant and kitchen layout allow it to serve
the majority of meals in approximately 10 minutes, providing quick turnover and
further improving productivity.  The Silver Diner employs a food preparation and
storage process which incorporates a type of "sous vide" production technique
enabling it to efficiently make a wide range of scratch-cooking recipes with
reduced labor hours, kitchen preparation and raw ingredient storage area. As a
result, Silver Diner restaurants are able to achieve high quality, consistency
and excellent productivity despite the broad menu.

     .  GENEROUS PORTIONS AND MODERATE PRICES WITH ENTREES FROM $5.99 AND UP -
Management believes the Silver Diner delivers outstanding value by providing
generous portions of fresh, high quality food at affordable prices. Appetizers
range from $3.99 to $6.99, entrees range from $5.99 to $12.99, and full meals
are available at moderate prices including a 10% senior citizen discount and
"blue plate specials" at $5.99 to $7.99.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
RESTAURANTS.   The following sets forth certain information regarding the
Company's existing restaurants.


                                                                 APPROXIMATE  
                                               APPROXIMATE         NUMBER     
OPERATING LOCATIONS           DATE OPENED      SQUARE FEET        OF SEATS    
- -------------------           -----------      -----------        --------    
Rockville, Maryland          February 1989         5,500             256  

Laurel, Maryland             September 1990        4,680             153  

Potomac Mills, Virginia       October 1991         4,675             164  

Towson, Maryland             September 1992        5,250             194  

Fair Oaks, Virginia            April 1995          5,675             240  

Tysons Corner, Virginia      December 1995         5,675             240  

Clarendon, Virginia          December 1996         5,675             240  

Merrifield, Virginia         February 1997         5,675             240  

Springfield, Virginia          April 1997          5,675             240  

Reston, Virginia               June 1997           5,675             240  

Cherry Hill, New Jersey      November 1997         5,675             240   

     The Company leases its corporate offices at 11806 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, Maryland, which is the location of the original Silver Diner
restaurant, as well as the majority of its operating units. The Company owns the
Reston, Virginia location.

     Management believes the greater Washington/Baltimore area can support
twelve to fifteen Silver Diner restaurants and it will continue to penetrate
this market area while avoiding market overlap in order to take advantage of
increased name recognition and economies of scale in advertising, management and
overhead.  Management believes that there are numerous other major metropolitan
areas throughout the United States that can support a similar concentration of
Silver Diner restaurants and intends to pursue expansion in these markets in a
manner similar to Washington/Baltimore.  The Company opened its first restaurant
in a new geographical market, specifically the Philadelphia-Southern New Jersey
area in November 1997.  The Company is anticipating opening the first of its
latest generation of prototype restaurants in late 1999 and expects that the
Silver Diner restaurants opened in the next two years will continue to be
company-owned; however, expansion into any markets outside of the Mid-Atlantic
region may include area joint-ventures or franchises. There is no assurance that
the Company's expansion plans will be realized or that future Silver Diner
restaurants will be favorably received.

     MARKETING.  Management focuses on providing its customers with superior
food quality, service and perceived value in a distinctive atmosphere and has
relied primarily on its eye-catching appearance, customer satisfaction and word
of mouth to obtain repeat customers as well as to attract new clientele. Since
1998, the Company has focused its marketing efforts on direct marketing, which
allows the Company to target customers and create a relationship in the
neighborhoods surrounding each restaurant.  The Company's penetration in its
core Washington Metro market has generated economies of scale and shown
significant results as measured by increased comparable store sales.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     MENU.   The Silver Diner menu includes a broad range of dining alternatives
featuring traditional diner fare, including soups, sandwiches, hamburgers, "blue
plate specials" as well as more contemporary "heart healthy" items, salads,
grilled chicken, seafood, pasta and regional specialties.  Silver Diner's full
breakfast menu, including omelets, pancakes and waffles, is available throughout
the day and night.  The menu includes numerous entrees that rotate on a seasonal
basis, as well as signature homemade pies and cakes baked on premises. High-
quality ingredients are used for all menu items, including Silver Diner's own
unique gravies, sauces and dressings.  Silver Diner's recipes are prepared for
the way management believes people eat today with an emphasis on fresh
ingredients, low salt and cholesterol-free oil.  In addition, Silver Diner's
"heart healthy" menu features A DOZEN low-fat popular items formulated to exceed
USDA "heart healthy" dietary guidelines.  Silver Diner restaurants also serve
beer and wine in all locations except Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and non-alcoholic
specialty beverages.  The Company is currently test marketing frozen alcoholic
specialty beverages.

     PURCHASING. The Company purchases items on a centralized basis and
negotiates directly with suppliers for food and beverage products to ensure
consistent quality and freshness of products as well as to obtain competitive
prices. Food and supplies are shipped directly to the Silver Diner restaurants.
All shipments are inspected for quality and freshness by a kitchen manager or
supervisor upon receipt. The Company does not maintain a central product
warehouse or commissary. The Company's food and supplies are available from a
wide number of suppliers. Therefore, Silver Diner is not dependent on any
particular source of supplies.

     CUSTOMER SATISFACTION/QUALITY CONTROL.  The Company has a variety of
programs to measure its customer satisfaction, including comment cards, a
mystery shopper program, exit interviews, and frequent visits by supervisory
management.  Through the use of these techniques, senior management receives
valuable feedback from customers and through prompt action, demonstrates a
continued interest in meeting customer needs and desires.  In addition, Silver
Diner staff perform a variety of quality checks and are authorized to not serve
any products which do not meet Silver Diner's quality standards.

COMPETITION

     The restaurant industry is intensely competitive with respect to price,
service, location and food quality. With respect to quality and cost of food,
size of food portions, decor and quality service, Silver Diner restaurants
compete with fast food and family style restaurants with ready to cook food and
take-out.  Silver Diner restaurants are located in areas of high concentration
of such restaurants.  There are many well-established food service competitors
with substantially greater financial and other resources than the Company and
with substantially longer operating histories. These competitors will also
compete with the Company in obtaining premium locations for restaurants (e.g.,
shopping malls and strip shopping centers) and in attracting and retaining
employees.  In addition, one or more national food service chains or other
companies could introduce a multi-unit chain of food service establishments that
use one or more food service concepts which resemble one or more of the food
service concepts used by the Company.

     The restaurant business is also affected by changes in consumer tastes and
eating patterns of the general public; national, regional or local economic
conditions; demographic trends; traffic patterns; as well as the type, number
and location of competitors.  In addition, factors such as inflation, increased
food, labor and benefit costs and a lack of experienced management and hourly
employees may adversely affect the restaurant industry in general and the
Company in particular.

     The Company believes that its distinctive diner concept, attractive price-
value relationship and quality of food and service enable it to differentiate
itself from its competitors. While the Company believes that its restaurants are
distinctive in design and operating concept, it is aware of restaurants that
operate with similar concepts.  The Company believes that its ability to compete
effectively will continue to depend upon its ability to offer high-quality,
moderately priced food in a full-service distinctive dining environment.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
EMPLOYEES

     As of January 3, 1999, the Company had 775 employees, 12 of whom are
corporate personnel, 55 of whom are restaurant management personnel (including 8
managers-in-training), and the remainder of whom are hourly restaurant
personnel. None of the Company's employees are covered by a collective
bargaining agreement.  The Company considers its employee relations to be good.

     The management staff of a typical Silver Diner restaurant consists of one
Operating Partner (general manager) and four assistant managers, including a
kitchen manager and a service manager.  Each Silver Diner restaurant also
employs approximately 65 associates on a part-time and full-time basis.

     RESTAURANT PERSONNEL.  The Company has established a strong company mission
focusing on culture and values and emphasizing a sense of ownership and
entrepreneurship that empowers its people to achieve professional and personal
excellence.  Management believes that its people are its most valuable asset and
has a variety of programs to provide training, recognition and development of
its management and associates to their full potential. Non-management employees'
performance is tracked daily through productivity measurements that are
established as an integral part of a system of frequent incentive awards.

     RESTAURANT OPERATING PARTNER PROGRAM.  To attract and retain talented
management, the Company's compensation program is very competitive.  Management
believes that a key component for long-term success is for each restaurant to be
led by a general manager who lives in the community and has a long-term
commitment to that restaurant's success.  Accordingly, management has
established a Restaurant Operating Partner Program.  Under the Program, the
Operating Partner receives an annual salary and a periodic, profit based, cash
bonus award which equals a percentage of the restaurant's operating income.  In
addition, each general manager is required to purchase 8,000 shares of Common
Stock at market value and can potentially receive an annual award up to $10,000
of Common Stock, dependent upon achievement of performance criteria as
established and evaluated by the Board.  This Program is the successor to the
Restaurant Owner Operator Plan and contains similar plan elements.  Also, all
assistant managers received an annual grant of 500 Common Stock options with a
market exercise price at the grant date.  The stock awards under these plans are
awarded at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors.

     SELECTION, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION.  Management has developed specific
profiles and protocols used to interview and select its management and associate
staff.  Management personnel are required to participate in an 8- to 12-week
training program emphasizing the Company's operating procedures as well as
management development programs. Each associate also participates in a
standardized training program ranging from two to five days (depending on
position) which utilizes testing results to ensure all associates achieve a
specified standard of performance.

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

     The Company is subject to numerous federal, state and local laws affecting
health, sanitation and safety standards as well as to state and local licensing
regulation of the sale of alcoholic beverages.  The Company has appropriate
licenses from regulatory authorities allowing it to sell beer and wine (except
in Cherry Hill, New Jersey where the Company does not sell beer or wine), and
has food service licenses from local health authorities.  The Company's licenses
to sell alcoholic beverages must be renewed annually and may be suspended or
revoked at any time for cause, including violation by the Company or its
employees of any law or regulation pertaining to alcoholic beverage control,
such as those regulating the minimum age of patrons or employees, advertising,
wholesale purchasing and inventory control. The Company's failure to obtain or
retain liquor or food service licenses would have a material adverse effect on
its operation.  To reduce this risk, each restaurant is operated with procedures
in accordance with complete compliance with applicable code and regulations.
There can be no assurance, however, that such approvals and licenses for new
restaurants will be obtained and, if obtained, will be renewed or not revoked.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     The Company is subject in certain states to "dram-shop" statutes, which
generally provide a person injured by an intoxicated person the right to recover
damages from an establishment that wrongfully served alcoholic beverages to the
intoxicated person.  The Company carries liquor liability coverage as part of
its existing comprehensive general liability insurance.  The Company has never
been named as a defendant in a lawsuit involving "dram-shop" statutes.

     The development and construction of additional restaurants will be subject
to compliance with applicable zoning, land use and environmental regulations.
The Company's operations are also subject to federal and state minimum wage laws
governing such matters as working conditions, overtime and tip credits and other
employee matters.

     Management believes it is in compliance with all current applicable
regulations relating to restaurant accommodations for the disabled including the
Federal Americans With Disabilities Act of 1992.

TRADEMARKS

     Management believes that its trademarks and servicemarks are valuable to
the marketing of its restaurants and that it has substantial rights in such
trademarks and servicemarks for the Silver Diner name, based upon the Company's
actual usage and constructive usage derived from its U.S. trademark. The Company
intends to aggressively protect its marks from infringement and competing
claims.  However, there can be no assurance that the Company's marks, even as,
and if, registered do not or will not violate the proprietary rights of others,
that the marks will be upheld if challenged, or that the Company will not be
prevented from using the marks, any of which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company. Management's policy is to pursue registration of its
marks whenever possible and to oppose vigorously any infringements of its marks,
the success of which cannot be assured.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

     The name, age, period of service and position held of each of the executive
officers of the Company are as follows:

Name               Age   Served Since/(1)/   Position(s) Held
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert T. Giaimo    47        1987           Chairman of the Board,
                                             President and Chief Executive
                                             Officer 
Ype Hengst          48        1987           Director, Vice President, Executive
                                             Chef and Corporate Secretary
Patrick Meskell     45        1996           Senior Vice President, Human
                                             Resources
Craig Kendall       47        1998           Vice President, Finance
Timothy Cusick      33        1996           Area Director of Operations


/(1)/ Includes service with SDDI.

     All of the officers have had the principal occupation indicated under
"Position(s) Held" for the previous five years except as follows: Mr. Meskell
was an independent consultant to financial institutions, specializing in the
areas of risk management systems design and implementation from 1988 to 1992 and
Director of Organizational Development & Management & Operations Training for
the Student Loan Marketing Association from 1992 to 1995; and Mr. Kendall who
joined the Silver Diner management team in November of 1998.  Previously, from
1988 to 1998, Mr. Kendall was corporate controller for Team Washington, Inc.,
one of the largest Domino Pizza franchises, which operates in the Washington,
D.C. metropolitan, area with annual sales exceeding $40 million.  Mr. Cusick was
a general manager for the Company from 1994 to 1996.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 2. PROPERTY.

     Information concerning the registrant's property is set forth under
"Restaurants" in Item 1 of Part I.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

     On May 20, 1996, the Company was named as a defendant in a proceeding
instituted in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland captioned
Laura Reese v. Roger Richardson and Silver Diner Development, Inc.  The
plaintiff alleges that she was sexually assaulted by Roger Richardson, who was
the general manager of the Laurel Silver Diner restaurant.  Mr. Richardson was
terminated promptly following the occurrence of the event in November 1994.
Plaintiff sought recovery of $500,000 for each count.  It was not clear if the
counts were in the alternative or cumulative.  The Company's insurance carrier
was defending the claim with reservation of rights.  The Company is insured up
to $1,000,000 with respect to the above mentioned claims.  In September 1998 the
court granted summary judgement in favor of the Company as to all claims brought
against them in this case.  No final judgement can be entered at this time due
to a Suggestion of Bankruptcy filed by Mr. Richardson, the co-defendant in the
case, prior to the decision of the court to grant summary judgement on behalf of
the Company.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY-HOLDERS.

     Not Applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

     MARKET INFORMATION.  Since March 27, 1996, the Common Stock has been listed
on The NASDAQ Stock Market/SM/ under the symbol SLVR.  Before that date, the
Common Stock was quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol FDTR.  The
following table sets forth the high and low closing prices for the Common Stock
for the periods indicated:

 
                    QUARTER                  HIGH           LOW
                    -------                  ----           ---

1997                First                    $4-7/8         $3-1/4
                    Second                   $3-19/32       $2-7/8
                    Third                    $3-1/8         $2
                    Fourth                   $2-5/16        $1
 
1998                First                    $2-9/16        $1-1/8
                    Second                   $1-15/32       $1
                    Third                    $1-7/8         $7/8
                    Fourth                   $1-1/16        $5/8
 
     DIVIDENDS. Since the Company's inception, no dividends have been paid on
the Common Stock.

     HOLDERS.  As of January 3, 1999, there were approximately 489 record
holders of the Common Stock.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Fiscal Years Ended/(I)/
                                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                January 3,       December 28,     December 29,       December 31,     January 1, 
                                                  1999              1997              1996              1995            1995
<S>                                        <C>                   <C>              <C>                <C>              <C> 
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net sales                                  $   28,561,422        $ 24,259,156      $ 16,550,468      $ 13,350,255     $ 10,896,682
 
Restaurant costs and expenses:
   Cost of sales                                7,920,808           6,929,221         4,526,286         3,655,254        3,036,995
   Labor                                        9,449,685           7,999,812         5,464,896         4,452,134        3,525,472
   Operating                                    5,211,704           4,037,198         2,536,609         2,015,668        1,642,039
   Occupancy                                    2,777,932           2,534,210         1,931,866         1,588,527        1,293,842
   Depreciation and amortization                1,648,134           1,499,125           882,843           715,426          382,082
                                           --------------        ------------      ------------      ------------     ------------
 
     Total restaurant costs and expenses       27,008,263          22,999,566        15,342,500        12,427,009        9,880,430
                                           --------------        ------------      ------------      ------------     ------------
 
     Restaurant operating income                1,553,159           1,259,590         1,207,968           923,246        1,016,252
 
General and administrative expenses             2,921,299           3,065,436         2,705,940         2,077,735        1,877,774
Depreciation and amortization                     267,171             263,484           183,928            97,351           61,042
Write off of abandoned site costs                  32,455             172,618                 -                 -           98,637
                                           --------------        ------------      ------------      ------------     ------------
 
   Operating loss                              (1,667,766)         (2,241,948)       (1,681,900)       (1,251,840)      (1,021,201)
                                           --------------        ------------      ------------      ------------     ------------
 
Interest expense                                   40,639              10,702           180,293           334,086          254,810
Investment income, net                           (151,967)           (294,231)         (432,721)          (83,021)           3,599
                                           --------------        ------------      ------------      ------------     ------------
 
   Net loss before minority interest and       
    cumulative effect of a change in
    accounting principle                       (1,556,438)         (1,958,419)       (1,429,472)       (1,502,905)      (1,279,610) 

Minority interest in net loss of SDLP                   -                   -                 -           180,175          332,977
                                           --------------        ------------      ------------      ------------     ------------
 
   Net loss before cumulative effect of a      
    change in accounting principle             (1,556,438)         (1,958,419)       (1,429,472)       (1,322,730)        (946,633) 

Cumulative effect of a change in                 
 accounting principle                            (326,868)                  -                 -                 -                - 
                                           --------------        ------------      ------------      ------------     ------------ 
 
   NET LOSS                                $   (1,883,306)       $ (1,958,419)     $ (1,429,472)     $ (1,322,730)    $   (946,633)
                                           ==============        ============      ============      ============     ============
 
Basic and diluted net loss per common      
 share before cumulative effect of a
 change in accounting principle            $        (0.13)       $      (0.17)     $      (0.15)     $      (0.26)    $      (0.19)
 
Cumulative effect of a change in                         
 accounting principle                               (0.03)                  -                 -                 -                - 
                                           --------------        ------------      ------------      ------------     ------------
 
Net loss per common share                  $        (0.16)       $      (0.17)     $      (0.15)     $      (0.26)    $      (0.19)
                                           ==============        ============      ============      ============     ============
 
Weighted average common shares 
 outstanding                                   11,591,822          11,609,400         9,545,681         5,013,319        4,982,414
                                           ==============        ============      ============      ============     ============
</TABLE>

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 As of/(I)/
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             January 3,       December 28,      December 29,      December 31,      January 1, 1995
                                                1999              1997              1996              1995          
<S>                                   <C>                     <C>               <C>               <C>               <C> 
BALANCE SHEET DATA:                                           
Working capital (deficiency)             $        625,043     $   1,332,141     $   6,669,761     $  (4,961,352)    $     (560,972)
Total assets                                   21,638,497        23,646,765        25,864,375        10,794,469          7,078,679
Current liabilities                             2,227,222         2,207,891         3,174,262         6,975,363          2,580,329
Long-term liabilities                           1,173,280         1,317,667           749,396         2,584,832          2,205,695
Stockholders' equity                           18,237,995        20,121,207        21,940,717         1,234,274          2,112,480
</TABLE>
                                                                                
/(I)/  Selected financial data as of and for the years ended January 3, 1999,
       December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996 were obtained from the Company's
       audited financial statements. Selected financial data as of and for the
       years ended December 31, 1995 and January 1, 1995 were obtained from the
       Company's financial statements audited by another accounting firm whose
       opinion was unqualified.


          ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
          AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

          FORWARD LOOKING DISCLOSURE

               Certain information included herein contains statements that are
          forward-looking, such as statements relating to plans for future
          expansion and other business development activities as well as
          operating costs, capital spending, financial sources and the effects
          of competition. Such forward-looking information is subject to changes
          and variations which are not reasonably predictable and which could
          significantly affect future results. Accordingly, such results may
          differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by
          or on behalf of the Company. These changes and variations which could
          significantly affect future results include, but are not limited to,
          those relating to development and construction activities, including
          delays in opening new diners, acceptance of the Silver Diner concept,
          increased competition in the restaurant industry, weather conditions,
          the quality of the Company's restaurant operations, the adequacy of
          operating and management controls, dependence on discretionary
          consumer spending, dependence on existing management, inflation and
          general economic conditions, and changes in federal or state laws or
          regulations.

          GENERAL

               The following discussion includes comments and data relating to
          the Company's financial condition and results of operations for the
          three-year period ended January 3, 1999. As of this date, the Company
          operates 11 diners, 10 in the Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area
          and one in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Currently, there are no additional
          Silver Diners under construction. The Company is pursuing additional
          locations in the Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey market and
          throughout the Mid-Atlantic region for restaurant openings commencing
          in late 1999. Longer term, the Company plans to expand the Silver
          Diner chain nationwide through additional openings of Company-owned
          restaurants and possibly through the development of franchise or joint
          venture relationships. The following table reflects the growth in
          number of restaurants over the three-year period.

 
               RESTAURANTS                              1996    1997    1998
               -----------                              ----    ----    ----
               In operation, beginning of year            6       7      11
               Newly opened                               1       4       0
                                                        ----    ----    ----
               In operation, end of year                  7      11      11
                                                        ====    ====    ====
               Under construction, end of year            3       0       0
                                                        ====    ====    ====

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     On March 27, 1996, FTAC Transition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary
of FTAC, merged with and into Silver Diner Development, Inc., a Virginia
Corporation, with SDDI surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of FTAC. In
connection with the Merger, FTAC changed its name to Silver Diner Development,
Inc., then subsequently to Silver Diner, Inc. Pursuant to the merger agreement,
each outstanding share of SDDI common stock converted into 33.339 shares of the
common stock of FTAC. Upon consummation of the Merger, the stockholders of SDDI
became the owners in the aggregate of approximately 57% of the outstanding
common stock of FTAC and the directors and officers of SDDI became directors and
officers of FTAC.

     For accounting and financial reporting purposes, the Merger was treated as
a recapitalization of SDDI and as an issuance of SDDI common shares for monetary
assets and liabilities.  The Company has reflected in its consolidated financial
statements the assets, liabilities and equity of SDDI and its subsidiary Silver
Diner Limited Partnership at their historical book values.  Accordingly, the
consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company for
periods and dates prior to the Merger are the consolidated historical results of
operations and financial position of SDDI and SDLP for such periods and dates.

     All historical shares of common stock and per share amounts for periods
prior to the Merger have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the FTAC shares
issued to the SDDI shareholders at the time of the Merger.

     In connection with the Merger, on April 2, 1996, notes payable to related
parties totaling $1,236,811 were repaid by the offset of amounts due from
affiliates of $355,023 and the net outstanding balance was paid in full by the
Company.  On April 1, 1996, the Company terminated its capital lease obligation
with a related party by purchasing the leased equipment at the remaining lease
obligation balance of approximately $148,000.  In addition, the Company repaid
certain bank notes of SDDI in the approximate amount of $904,000 on April 4,
1996.

     On June 13, 1996, the Company completed its purchase of the minority
interest in SDLP from the original investors for $2,472,000 in cash and 84,000
warrants to purchase common stock exercisable at $8.00 per share until the
earlier of 30 days following a public offering or January 31, 1998.  The offer
was accepted by 100% of the limited partners.  Because SDLP's financial
statements are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company,
acquisition of the minority interest will not result in any change in the
Company's future reported net sales, restaurant costs and expenses or restaurant
operating income.  The acquisition has been accounted for under the purchase
method and the entire cost of the transaction, totaling $2.8 million, has been
recorded as goodwill and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 15
years.

     On July 11, 1996, the Company completed a $8,250,000 private placement of
common stock through the sale of 1.5 million shares at $5.50 per share.  Of the
$7.6 million net proceeds of the sale, $2.5 million was used to replace the
funds used for the acquisition of the minority interests in SDLP, approximately
$400,000 was used to repay the bank debt of SDLP and the remainder was available
to fund expansion.  On August 7, 1996, the Company registered the shares with
the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a Form S-3 Registration
Statement filed under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended.

     Effective January 1, 1994, the Company adopted a 52 or 53-week fiscal year
that ends on the Sunday nearest December 31. Fiscal quarters consist of
accounting periods of 16, 12, 12 and 12 or 13 weeks, respectively. Fiscal years
1998, 1997 and 1996 were comprised of 53, 52 and 52 weeks, respectively and
ended on January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, respectively.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of
items included in the consolidated statements of operations for the periods
indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Fiscal Years Ended
                                                        ---------------------------------------------
                                                        January 3,       December 28,    December 29,
                                                          1999              1997            1996
                                                        ----------       ------------    ------------ 
<S>                                                     <C>              <C>             <C>
Net sales                                                100.0%             100.0%           100.0%
                                                                                             
Restaurant costs and expenses:                                                               
 Cost of sales                                            27.7%              28.6%            27.4%
 Labor                                                    33.1%              33.0%            33.0%
 Operating                                                18.3%              16.6%            15.3%
                                                        ----------       ------------    ----------- 
                                                                                             
   Restaurant operating margin                            20.9%              21.8%            24.3%
                                                                                             
 Occupancy                                                 9.7%              10.4%            11.7%
 Depreciation and amortization                             5.8%               6.2%             5.3%
                                                        ----------       ------------    ----------- 
                                                                                             
   Restaurant operating income                             5.4%               5.2%             7.3%
                                                                                             
General and administrative expenses                       10.2%              12.6%            16.3%
Depreciation and amortization                              0.9%               1.1%             1.1%
Write off of abandoned site costs                          0.1%               0.7%             0.0%
                                                        ----------       ------------    -----------  
                                                                                             
   Operating loss                                         (5.8%)             (9.2%)          (10.1%)
                                                                                             
Interest expense                                           0.0%               0.0%             1.1%
Investment income, net                                    (0.5%)             (1.1%)           (2.6%)
                                                        ----------       ------------    ----------- 
                                                                                             
 Net loss before cumulative effect of a change in         
  accounting principle                                    (5.3%)             (8.1%)           (8.6%)  
                                                                                             
 Cumulative effect of a change in accounting              
  principle                                               (1.2%)                -                -    
                                                        ----------       ------------    ----------- 
                                                                                             
 Net loss                                                 (6.5%)             (8.1%)           (8.6%)
                                                        ==========       ============    =========== 
</TABLE>

YEAR ENDED JANUARY 3, 1999 COMPARED TO THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1997

     Net sales for the fiscal year ended January 3, 1999 ("Fiscal 1998") of
$28,561,422 increased $4.3 million compared to the fiscal year ended December
28, 1997. Silver Diners opened during Fiscal 1997 in Northern Virginia and
Cherry Hill, New Jersey contributed significantly to the incremental sales.
Additionally, Fiscal 1998 included 53 weeks, adding approximately $591,000 to
net sales.

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
     Comparable Company sales (sales for Silver Diner restaurants open
throughout both periods being compared, excluding the initial six months of
operations during which sales are typically higher than normal) increased 3.6%
(1.5% exclusive of the 53rd week sales). Same store customer counts were up
1.4%, while average guest check increased 2.0%. The Company believes the
increase in same store sales was generated through continued focus and
improvement in operational excellence as measured by exit interviews with
customers, which have improved by approximately 50% from year-end 1997 to year-
end 1998.  The vehicle to achieve this was the development, implementation and
continued focus on the Company's 110% guarantee program. The 110% guarantee
initiative provides for a 10% discount on the customer's current meal and a
coupon for a free entree if not completely satisfied with the dining experience.
Additionally, a direct mail campaign increased customer traffic.

     Average unit sales, measured on an effective restaurants open basis,
decreased 3.9% from $2,651,274 in fiscal 1997 to $2,547,852 in Fiscal 1998;
primarily as the result of the "honeymoon sales period" of four new unit
openings throughout Fiscal 1997 and increased penetration of the Northern
Virginia market reducing the trade area of existing diners.

     Cost of Sales, consisting primarily of food and beverage costs, decreased
from 28.6% of net sales in Fiscal 1997 to 27.7% of net sales in Fiscal 1998 due
primarily to operational improvements, purchasing efficiencies on high cost,
high turnover items and a significant menu re-engineering, that included recipe
reformulation as well as basic menu redesign and layout. The maturation of new
units also contributed favorably to improved cost of sales performance.

     Labor, which consists of restaurant management and hourly employee wages
and bonuses, payroll taxes, workers' compensation insurance, group health
insurance and other benefits increased 0.1% to 33.1% of net sales for Fiscal
1998, resulting from a decrease in average unit volume.  An analysis of this
dollar cost element indicates an overall per unit dollar expenditure decrease in
effective unit direct labor of 3.6%, driven by a 5.6% decrease in hourly wages,
a 26.2% reduction in training labor and partially offset by modest increases in
unit management compensation and escalating benefit costs.

     Operating expenses, which consists of all restaurant operating costs other
than cost of sales, labor, occupancy and depreciation, including supplies,
utilities repairs and maintenance and advertising increased 1.6% to 18.3% of net
sales for Fiscal 1998, compared to 16.6% for Fiscal 1997. All but .2% of the
increase was attributable to the higher marketing costs associated with the 110%
guarantee program and the related direct mail campaign. Fiscal 1998 expenditures
for these initiatives totaled $410,000. The remainder of the margin variance
resulted from increased supply and maintenance costs reflecting management's
commitment under the 110% guarantee to ensure a quality dining experience to its
customers.

     Occupancy, which is composed primarily of rent, property taxes and property
insurance, increased $243,722 for Fiscal 1998 compared to Fiscal 1997,
principally due to a full year of expense recognition on units opened in Fiscal
1997. As a percentage of net sales occupancy expenses decreased 0.7% in Fiscal
1998 to 9.7% compared to 10.4% in Fiscal 1997. Additionally, the Company owns
the Reston, Virginia site and consequently does not absorb any rent expense on
this location.

     Restaurant depreciation and amortization increased $149,009 to $1,648,134
for Fiscal 1998. The increase was the result of depreciation associated with the
new unit openings throughout Fiscal 1997 totaling $112,000, plus $372,734 in
depreciation and amortization incurred in connection with an evaluation of unit
operational processes, menu engineering, and a comprehensive unit equipment
assessment resulting in the Company writing off equipment in the fourth quarter
of 1998. This increase in restaurant depreciation and amortization was offset by
a $326,886 reduction for the expensing of all preopening costs capitalized as of
December 28, 1997 and recording of a cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principle in the first quarter of 1998.  During the First Quarter of 1998, the
company elected early adoption of SOP No. 98-5, "Reporting on the Costs of
Start-Up Activities." SOP No. 98-5 requires that costs associated with start-up
activities, such as opening a new restaurant, be expensed as incurred. Prior to
the First Quarter 1998, the Company had capitalized all preopening expenses and
amortized these costs over a 12-month period.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
     General and administrative expenses include the cost of corporate
administrative personnel and functions, multi-unit management and restaurant
management recruitment and initial training. Such expenses were $2,921,299 for
Fiscal 1998, a decrease of $144,137, or 4.7%, compared to Fiscal 1997.  As a
percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses decreased to 10.2%
for Fiscal 1998 from 12.6% for Fiscal 1997.  The decrease was a direct result of
management's efforts to reduce overhead and leverage increased sales to improve
overall margin performance. The Company's administrative overhead as a
percentage of net sales remains above the industry average primarily due to the
cost of the corporate management team required to support the Company's
intermediate and long-term growth plans.

     Write off of abandoned site costs decreased from $172,618 in Fiscal 1997 to
$32,455 in Fiscal 1998. The Fiscal 1998 write off related to a suburban Maryland
site, which was abandoned during the fourth quarter.

     The Company earned $151,967 in investment income for Fiscal 1998, compared
to investment income of $294,231 for Fiscal 1997. The decrease is a direct
result of cash being used to construct and open four Silver Diners since Fiscal
1996. Interest expense was $40,639 for Fiscal 1998 and $10,702 for Fiscal 1997.
The issuance of debt in the second quarter of 1997 and interest charges on non-
financing transactions caused interest expense to increase to $40,639 from
$10,702 in the prior year.

     Net loss for Fiscal 1998 was $1,883,306 or $0.16 per share, compared to a
loss of $1,958,419 or $0.17 per share in Fiscal 1997. Weighted average shares
outstanding remained substantially unchanged at 11,591,822 in 1998 versus
11,609,400 at December 28, 1997. Management expects that the Company will
continue to incur quarterly losses until such time as revenue generation from
increased market penetration is sufficient to absorb new unit start-up costs and
the increased general and administrative infrastructure costs currently in place
to support the Company's growth plans.

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1997 COMPARED TO THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 29, 1996.

     Net sales for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1997 ("Fiscal 1997")
increased $7.7 million to $24,259,156 compared to $16,550,468 for the fiscal
year ended December 29, 1996  ("Fiscal 1996").  Silver Diner restaurants opened
during Fiscal 1996 and Fiscal 1997 in Arlington, Merrifield, Springfield, and
Reston, Virginia and Cherry Hill, New Jersey added $8.4 million to net sales.

     Comparable Company sales  (sales for Silver Diner restaurants open
throughout both periods being compared, excluding the initial six months of
operations during which sales are typically higher than normal) decreased 2.1%.
Same store customer counts were down 4.3% for Fiscal 1997, but price increases
in mid-June 1997 helped raise average sales per customer and offset a portion of
that decline.  Average net sales for the seven restaurants open throughout
Fiscal 1997 was $2.6 million compared to $2.7 million for the six restaurants
open throughout 1996.

     Cost of sales, primarily food and beverage cost, was 28.6% of net sales for
Fiscal 1997, an increase of 1.2% from 27.4% in Fiscal 1996. The increase was
primarily the result of the Company's adoption of a new menu in 1997.
Additionally, cost of sales was unfavorably impacted by stores opened in late
1996 and throughout 1997, which incurred anticipated higher cost of goods as
well as labor and operating expenses in their initial months of operation.

     Labor, which consists of restaurant management and hourly employee wages
and bonuses, payroll taxes, workers' compensation insurance, group health
insurance and other benefits, was unchanged at 33.0% of net sales for Fiscal
1997 compared to Fiscal 1996.  Increases in hourly employee wages as a result of
increased minimum wage and higher labor expenses in new stores was offset by
lower workers' compensation costs in all stores and lower health and vacation
benefit costs in the Company's new stores where most hourly employees have not
worked for the Company long enough to qualify for these benefits.

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
     Operating expenses, which consist of all restaurant operating costs other
than cost of sales, labor, occupancy, and depreciation, including supplies,
utilities, repairs and maintenance and advertising, increased to 16.6% of net
sales for Fiscal 1997, compared to 15.3% for Fiscal 1996.  Higher marketing
costs primarily related to the Company's summer radio advertising campaign and
coupon mailings to prospective customers accounted for 0.9% of the increase in
operating expenses.  The remainder of the increase as a percentage of sales was
caused by higher administrative expenses driven by lower comparable store sales,
combined with slightly above average operating expenses in new stores.

     Restaurant operating margin, which consists of net sales minus cost of
sales, labor and operating expenses exclusive of occupancy, decreased to 21.8%
of net sales for Fiscal 1997 from 24.3% for Fiscal 1996. Management believes
restaurant operating margin is the most consistent measure of store level
operating results because it focuses on unit level performance. Restaurant
operating margin was unfavorably impacted by the five stores opened between
December 1996 and November 1997, which incurred anticipated higher cost of
sales, labor and operating expenses in their initial months of operation. As
these stores mature, management expects their restaurant operating margin to be
similar to the Company's comparable stores. The table below illustrates the
components of restaurant operating margin as a percentage of sales (New stores
include all stores that are not comparable stores as defined above):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              NEW           COMPARABLE         TOTAL
                                              ---           ----------         -----
                                             STORES           STORES          COMPANY
                                             ------           ------          -------
       <S>                              <C>               <C>               <C>
       Sales                                  100%              100%             100%
 
       Cost of sales                         29.1%             28.1%            28.6%
       Labor                                 34.2%             32.0%            33.0%
       Operating Expenses                    16.8%             16.4%            16.6%
                                        ---------------   ---------------   ---------------        

       Restaurant Operating Margin           19.9%             23.5%            21.8%
                                        ===============   ===============   ===============    
</TABLE>

     Additionally, the decrease in restaurant operating margin was driven by an
approximately 0.7% increase in food cost related to the Company's new menu
platform and a 0.9% increase in marketing expenses.

     Occupancy, which is composed primarily of rent, property taxes and property
insurance, increased  $602,344 for Fiscal 1997 compared to Fiscal 1996, due
primarily to the opening of new restaurants during 1996 and 1997. As a
percentage of sales, occupancy expenses decreased from 11.7% in Fiscal 1996 to
10.4% in Fiscal 1997 due to lower rent expense in the new stores.  Also, the
Company owns the property for the Reston store that opened in June 1997.

     Restaurant depreciation and amortization increased $616,282 from $882,843
for fiscal 1996 to $1,499,125 for Fiscal 1997, primarily due to new restaurant
openings.  Fiscal 1997 and Fiscal 1996 include approximately $461,000 and
$240,000, respectively, of preopening amortization.  Preopening costs are
amortized on a straight-line basis over twelve months from the date of each new
restaurant opening.

     General and administrative expenses include the cost of corporate
administrative personnel and functions, multi-unit management and restaurant
management recruitment and initial training. Such expenses were $3,065,436 for
Fiscal 1997; an increase of $359,496 compared to Fiscal 1996. As a percentage of
net sales, general and administrative expenses decreased to 12.6% in Fiscal 1997
from 16.3% in Fiscal 1996.  Increased corporate salary costs and higher
restaurant management and recruitment costs accounted for approximately $140,000
of the increase.  Also, higher professional fees during the first two quarters
of 1997 related to preparation of the Company's first annual report, 10-K and
annual proxy statement plus costs of implementing various compensation and
benefit plans added approximately $160,000.  In addition, the Company is paying
premiums for three life insurance policies owned respectively by two officers.
In 1996, the Company recorded notes receivable from the two officers which were
payable in full upon demand, were collateralized by the life insurance policies
and were equal to the amount of premiums paid by the Company on such life
insurance policies. The notes receivable were non-interest

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
bearing. During 1997, the Company terminated these note receivable agreements
and recorded the full amount of premiums paid in 1996 and 1997, less the cash
surrender value of the policies, as expense. As such, the Company recorded
$123,000 of expense for these insurance policies for the year ended December 28,
1997. The Company's administrative overhead as a percentage of net sales remains
above the industry average primarily due to the cost of the corporate management
team and infrastructure necessary to support the Company's intermediate and 
long-term growth plans. As revenues increase in 1998, general and administrative
expenses are expected to decrease in absolute dollars and as a percentage of net
sales.

     The increase in depreciation and amortization of approximately $80,000 for
Fiscal 1997 is a result of additional goodwill amortization related to the
acquisition of the SDLP minority interest in June 1996.  Total goodwill
amortization related to this transaction in Fiscal 1996 was approximately
$100,000 and in Fiscal 1997 was approximately $184,000.

     Write off of abandoned site costs increased from zero in Fiscal 1996 to
$172,618 in Fiscal 1997.  These costs relate to deferred site costs including
legal, design and development costs for potential restaurant sites that the
Company is no longer pursuing due to unanticipated non-fulfillment of landlord
contingencies and sites that did not meet the Company's unit economic criteria.

     The decrease in interest expense from $180,293 in 1996 to $10,702 in 1997
is nearly entirely the result of the consummation of the Merger with FTAC in
March 1996 at which time the majority of the outstanding debt of the Company was
either repaid or converted to equity.  The bank debt of SDLP was subsequently
repaid in late July 1996 following acquisition of the SDLP minority interest.
Interest expense and amortization of deferred loan costs were eliminated for the
remainder of Fiscal 1996 due to the repayment of debt. The interest expense
incurred in Fiscal 1997 relates to debt incurred by the Company in the purchase
of a piece of property adjacent to the Potomac Mills Silver Diner from a related
party.  Interest income decreased significantly in Fiscal 1997 due to use of the
proceeds of the Merger and private placement proceeds to fund operating losses
and construct new Silver Diners.

     Net loss for Fiscal 1997 was $1,958,419, or $0.17 per share, compared to
the net loss of $1,429,472, or $0.15 per share, for Fiscal 1996.  Average shares
outstanding increased from 9,545,681 for Fiscal 1996 to 11,609,400 for Fiscal
1997.  The increase in shares resulted from the Merger and the private placement
in Fiscal 1996.  Management expects that the Company will continue incurring
quarterly losses until sufficient revenue is generated from new units to absorb
start-up expenses and the increased overhead put in place to support the
Company's growth plans.

     INCOME TAXES.  No current or deferred income tax benefit has been provided
in the Company's consolidated financial statements due to the Company's history
of net operating losses for income tax purposes.  At January 3, 1999, the
Company has a net operating loss carryforward of approximately $6 million for
income tax purposes that expires in 2008 through 2013, which may be used to
reduce future income tax expense and tax liabilities.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS.

     In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income," and SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information," and in February 1998, FASB issued SFAS No. 132,
"Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits -- an
amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, and 106."  SFAS No. 130 establishes
standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components
(revenues, expenses, gains and losses) in a full set of general-purpose
financial statements.  SFAS No. 131 establishes standards for the way public
business enterprises report information about operating segments and the related
disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers.
SFAS No. 132 revises employers' disclosures about pension and other
postretirement benefit plans. These standards are effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997.  Adoption
of SFAS Nos. 130, 131 and 132 did not have a material impact on the Company's
financial statement presentation or disclosures.

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
     On April 3, 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
(AICPA) issued Statement of Position (SOP) No. 98-5, "Reporting on the Cost of
Start-Up Activities."  SOP No. 98-5 requires that costs associated with start-up
activities, such as opening a new facility, be expensed as incurred.  This SOP
is effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December
15, 1998; however, early application is encouraged.

     Prior to 1998, the Company capitalized preopening costs, including payroll,
employee recruitment and advertising, incurred in the restaurant start-up and
training period prior to the opening of each restaurant, and amortized these
costs over 12 months from the date of opening. The Company elected early
application of SOP 98-5 during the first quarter of 1998.  As a result of the
early application, all preopening costs capitalized as of December 28, 1997 were
expensed and recorded as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
in the first quarter of 1998.

     In June, 1998 the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and
reporting standards for derivative instruments. It requires that an entity
recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of
financial position and measure those instruments at fair value. This statement
is effective for all fiscal quarters of fiscal years beginning after June 15,
1999.  The Company has not yet determined the impact of adopting SFAS No. 133 on
its financial statement presentations or disclosures.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

     At January 3, 1999, cash and cash equivalents were $1.6 million, short-term
investments were $.7 million, working capital was $.6 million, the Company had
no long-term debt and stockholders' equity was $18.2 million. Short-term
investments decreased $.5 million during Fiscal 1998, due primarily to cash used
to finance the Fiscal 1998 purchases of property and equipment, including
construction payables associated with the Cherry Hill diner which opened in late
November 1997 and the purchase of computer systems.

     The Company's principal future capital requirement is expected to be the
development of restaurants. The Company is anticipating opening one to three
Company-owned restaurants in 1999; however, the location of these sites has not
been determined. Currently, the typical building, equipment (including
smallwares) and site development cost of a new Silver Diner prototype is
expected to be approximately $1.3 to $1.5 million. However, due to above average
site costs and architectural and design costs, the five Silver Diner locations
opened since December 1995 have averaged approximately $1.8 million for
building, equipment and site costs.  The Company is currently endeavoring to
decrease the cost of the Silver Diner prototype for the next restaurant.  There
is no assurance that the Company's prototype redesign plans will produce
significant savings in the prototype costs.  Land generally will be leased. When
land is purchased, management may pursue a sale-leaseback or debt financing
strategy following the restaurant's opening.

     At January 3, 1999, the Company did not have any restaurants under
construction.  The Company has been pursuing locations in a new geographical
market, specifically in the Mid-Atlantic area from Richmond to Southern New
Jersey. To that end, the Company opened a new store in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
in November 1997, and is aggressively pursuing several locations in that market
for new store openings beginning in late 1999.  Management is continuing to
negotiate to obtain other sites throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

     Management believes that the Company's current capital resources and
expected 1999 cash flow will be adequate to construct up to two units in 1999.
Additional financing will be required to finance growth in 2000 beyond the next
two diners.  The Company has entered into a loan commitment with its lead bank
to extend a $3.0 million line of credit that, if obtained, would be sufficient
to fund at least two additional diners. Should the Company be unable to close on
the financing commitment, management may be forced to limit unit growth in 2000.

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
SEASONALITY AND QUARTERLY RESULTS

     Although the Company's limited operating history, geographic concentration
and small number of existing Silver Diners make future trends difficult to
predict, Silver Diner restaurants have generally experienced higher average
weekly net sales in the second and third quarters. The timing of new Silver
Diner restaurant openings and extreme weather, especially during the winter
months, may also affect sales and quarterly results.  Accordingly, quarter-to-
quarter comparisons of the Company's results of operations may not be
meaningful, and results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the
results that may be achieved for a full fiscal year. The first fiscal quarter
includes 16 weeks of operations as compared to 12, 12 and 12 or 13 weeks for
each of the subsequent three-quarters, respectively. As a result, despite higher
average weekly sales, net sales from comparable Silver Diners can be expected to
be lower in the second quarter as compared to the first quarter of each year.

YEAR 2000 ISSUE AND COMPLIANCE

     The Year 2000 issue is the result of software programs being written using
two digits rather than four to define the applicable year, and some computers
(and other date-sensitive equipment including credit card processing machines)
may incorrectly recognize a date using "00" as the year 1900 rather than the
year 2000. This could result in a system failure or miscalculations causing
disruptions of operations, including, among other things, a temporary inability
to process transactions or engage in similar business activities both at the
restaurant and corporate level.

     The Company is continually evaluating its risk and the related costs of
updating its computer hardware and software to properly process Year 2000 and
later dates. Included in this process is the upgrade of its point of sale
systems mentioned above which has been assessed by the vendor as being Year 2000
compliant. The Company has identified the other areas which may be potentially
affected by the Year 2000 issue: credit card processing machines, and the Year
2000 compliance of those entities on which the Company relies for goods and
services, such as its suppliers and bank. The Company expects the cost related
to the Year 2000 issue to be between $10,000 and $50,000.

     In the event that the Company's systems fail as a result of the Year 2000
issue, management believes that the Company's restaurants will remain operating
on a manual basis.  The risks associated with this contingency plan involve the
decreased level of operational controls and the inability to process credit card
transactions.  The Company cannot currently estimate the potential cost of this
contingency plan, but does not anticipate a material impact on its business
activities.

IMPACT OF INFLATION

     Management does not believe that inflation has materially affected the
Company's operating results. Substantial increases in costs and expenses,
particularly food, supplies, labor and operating expenses, could have a
significant impact on the Company's operating results to the extent that such
increases cannot be passed along to customers.

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

     Not applicable.

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SILVER DINER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Page
<S>                                                                               <C>
 
Report of Independent Auditors                                                    19
 
Consolidated Financial Statements:
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
January 3, 1999 and December 28, 1997.                                            20
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
Fiscal Years Ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996.      21
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the
Fiscal Years Ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996.      22
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
Fiscal Years Ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996.      23

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                                       25
</TABLE> 

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

To the Stockholders of Silver Diner, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Silver Diner,
Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of January 3, 1999 and December 28,
1997, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'
equity, and cash flows for years ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and
December 29, 1996.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Silver Diner, Inc. and subsidiaries
as of January 3, 1999 and December 28, 1997, and the results of their operations
and their cash flows for the years ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and
December 29, 1996 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company changed its
method of accounting for preopening costs during the year ended January 3, 1999
to conform with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement
of Position No. 98-5.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Washington, DC
March 8, 1999

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
                      SILVER DINER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            January 3,               December 28,
                                                                               1999                      1997
                                                                      ---------------------     --------------------
<S>                                                                   <C>                       <C>  
        ASSETS
 
Current assets:
 Cash and cash equivalents                                                $   1,611,757           $   1,597,430
 Marketable securities available for sale                                       746,597               1,222,083
 Inventory                                                                      139,039                 196,443
 Prepaid rent                                                                   182,796                       -
 Incentive rebates                                                               61,410                  79,033
 Prepaid and other current assets                                               110,666                 118,175
 Preopening costs, net                                                                -                 326,868
                                                                      ---------------------     --------------------
     Total current assets                                                     2,852,265               3,540,032
 
Property, equipment and improvements, net                                    16,117,417              17,384,019
 
Due from related parties                                                        126,516                  10,600
Goodwill, net                                                                 2,299,082               2,482,833
Deposits and other                                                              243,217                 229,281
                                                                      ---------------------     -------------------- 
 
     Total assets                                                         $  21,638,497           $  23,646,765
                                                                      =====================     ====================
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Current liabilities:
 Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                    $   1,960,222           $   2,207,891
 Note payable, current maturity                                                 267,000                       -
                                                                      ---------------------     -------------------- 
                                                                              2,227,222               2,207,891
Long term liabilities:
 Note payable                                                                         -                 267,000
 Deferred rent liability                                                      1,173,280               1,050,667
                                                                      ---------------------     -------------------- 
     Total liabilities                                                        3,400,502               3,525,558
 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)                                               -                       -
 
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, none
   issued                                                                             -                       -
  Common stock, $.00074 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; at
   January 3, 1999, 11,585,510 shares issued and outstanding; at
   December 28, 1997, 11,602,403 shares issued and outstanding                    8,558                   8,586
  Additional paid-in capital                                                 30,688,714              31,604,937
  Unearned compensation                                                        (252,453)             (1,168,798)
  Accumulated deficit                                                       (12,206,824)            (10,323,518)
                                                                      ---------------------     ---------------------
     Total stockholders' equity                                              18,237,995              20,121,207
                                                                      ---------------------     ---------------------
 
     Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                           $  21,638,497           $  23,646,765
                                                                      =====================     =====================
</TABLE>


Accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
                      SILVER DINER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    Fiscal Years Ended
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              January 3,                December 28,             December 29,  
                                                                 1999                      1997                    1996     
                                                       ----------------------     ---------------------    ---------------------
<S>                                                    <C>                        <C>                      <C>    
Net sales                                                   $      28,561,422         $      24,259,156        $      16,550,468
                                                       ======================      ====================    =====================
Restaurant costs and expenses:
 Cost of sales                                                      7,920,808                 6,929,221                4,526,286
 Labor                                                              9,449,685                 7,999,812                5,464,896
 Operating                                                          5,211,704                 4,037,198                2,536,609
 Occupancy                                                          2,777,932                 2,534,210                1,931,866
 Depreciation and amortization                                      1,648,134                 1,499,125                  882,843
                                                       ----------------------     ---------------------    ---------------------
 
   Total restaurant costs and expenses                             27,008,263                22,999,566               15,342,500
                                                       ----------------------     ---------------------    ---------------------
 
   Restaurant operating income                                      1,553,159                 1,259,590                1,207,968
 
General and administrative expenses                                 2,921,299                 3,065,436                2,705,940
Depreciation and amortization                                         267,171                   263,484                  183,928
Write off of abandoned site costs                                      32,455                   172,618                        -
                                                       ----------------------     ---------------------    ---------------------
 
 Operating loss                                                    (1,667,766)               (2,241,948)              (1,681,900)
 
Interest expense                                                       40,639                    10,702                  180,293
Investment income, net                                               (151,967)                 (294,231)                (432,721)
                                                       ----------------------     ---------------------    ---------------------
 
 Net loss before cumulative effect of a change in                  (1,556,438)               (1,958,419)              (1,429,472)
  accounting principle
 
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle                (326,868)                        -                        -
                                                       ----------------------     ---------------------    ---------------------
 
 NET LOSS                                                   $      (1,883,306)        $      (1,958,419)       $      (1,429,472)
                                                       ======================     =====================    =====================
 
Basic and diluted net loss per common share
 Loss per common share before cumulative effect of a        $           (0.13)        $           (0.17)       $           (0.15)
  change in accounting principle
 Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle                  (0.03)                        -                        -
                                                       ----------------------     ---------------------    ---------------------
 
 Net loss per common share                                  $           (0.16)        $           (0.17)       $           (0.15)
                                                       ======================     =====================    =====================
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding                         11,591,822                11,609,400                9,545,681
                                                       ======================     =====================    =====================
</TABLE>


Accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
                       SILVER DINER, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Fiscal Years Ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996
                                        
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Common Stock        Additional      
                                                   ------------
                                                                         Paid-in        Unearned       Accumulated                
                                               Shares       Amount       Capital      Compensation       Deficit          Total     
                                           ------------------------   --------------  ------------    --------------   -----------  
<S>                                        <C>            <C>         <C>             <C>             <C>              <C> 
Balance at January 1, 1996                    150,947     $  15,095   $    8,351,243  $  (196,437)    $  (6,935,627)   $ 1,234,274 

Issuance of common stock in connection                                                                                            
 with Food Trends merger                    9,227,857        (8,155)      11,739,775            -                 -              
Debenture conversion                          625,000           463        2,654,140            -                 -      2,654,603 
Common stock offering                       1,500,000         1,111        7,555,427            -                 -      7,556,538 
Payments on stockholders' notes receivable          -             -           41,669            -                 -         41,669 
Stock options exercised                        16,669            12               38            -                 -             50 
Repurchase of outstanding options                   -             -          (60,691)      30,343                 -        (30,348)
Amortization of unearned compensation               -             -                -       39,823                 -         39,823 
Warrants issued                                     -             -          141,960            -                 -        141,960 
Net loss                                            -             -                -            -        (1,429,472)    (1,429,472)
                                           ----------    ----------   --------------  ------------    --------------   -----------
Balance at December 29, 1996               11,520,473         8,526       30,423,561     (126,271)       (8,365,099)    21,940,717 
                                                                                                                                
Issuance of common stock                      130,117            96          467,404     (315,000)                -        152,500 
Issuance of stock awards                            -             -          920,000     (920,000)                -              - 
Common stock purchased                        (83,606)          (62)        (186,938)      52,500                 -       (134,500)
Stock options exercised                        35,419            26               15            -                 -             41 
Stock options issued                                -             -           61,865            -                 -         61,865 
Repurchase of outstanding options                   -             -          (40,500)      20,250                 -        (20,250)
Cancellation of outstanding options                 -             -          (40,470)      40,470                 -              - 
Amortization of unearned compensation               -             -                -       79,253                 -         79,253 
Net loss                                            -             -                -            -        (1,958,419)    (1,958,419)
                                           ----------    ----------   --------------  ------------    --------------   -----------
Balance at December 28, 1997               11,602,403         8,586       31,604,937   (1,168,798)      (10,323,518)    20,121,207 
                                                                                                                                  
Issuance of common stock                       17,392            13           24,987      (12,500)                -         12,500 
Issuance of stock awards                            -             -          206,250     (206,250)                -              - 
Common stock purchased                        (42,746)          (47)         (93,801)      43,753                 -        (50,095)
Stock options exercised                         8,461             6               79            -                 -             85 
Cancellation of outstanding options                 -             -       (1,053,738)   1,026,757                 -        (26,981)
Amortization of unearned compensation               -             -                -       64,585                 -         64,585 
Net loss                                            -             -                -            -        (1,883,306)    (1,883,306)
                                           ----------    ----------   --------------  ------------    --------------   -----------
Balance at January 3, 1999                 11,585,510     $   8,558   $   30,688,714  $  (252,453)    $ (12,206,824)   $18,237,995 
                                           ==========    ==========   ==============  ============    ==============   ===========
</TABLE>


Accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
                      SILVER DINER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                        
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Fiscal Years  Ended
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      January 3,            December 28,           December 29,
                                                                         1999                  1997                   1996
                                                                 --------------------     ------------------     -----------------
<S>                                                              <C>                      <C>                    <C>  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss                                                            $     (1,883,306)     $      (1,958,419)     $      (1,429,472)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used
 in) operating activities
  Depreciation and amortization                                            1,915,305              1,762,609              1,066,771
  Development and abandoned site costs                                        32,455                172,618                      -
  Compensation expense - stock options and deferred                                 
         compensation                                                         37,604                141,118                 81,489
  Termination of note receivable                                                   -                123,329                      -
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities
     Inventory                                                                57,404                (48,462)               (30,588)
     Prepaid rent                                                           (182,796)                     -                      -
     Incentive rebates                                                        17,623                      -                      -
     Prepaid expenses and other assets                                         7,509                  4,873                (73,972)
     Preopening expenses                                                     326,868               (660,325)              (128,287)
     Deposits and other                                                      (13,936)               100,585                (78,696)
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                  (247,669)              (262,323)              (284,195)
     Deferred rent liability                                                 122,613                301,271                174,575
     Advances to officer and employees                                      (115,916)                     -                      -
                                                                    ----------------      -----------------      -----------------
 
  Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities                         73,758               (323,126)              (702,375)
                                                                    ----------------      -----------------      -----------------
 
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment                                         (497,407)            (6,421,329)            (5,729,378)
Maturities of short-term investments                                       2,900,000              4,030,907                      -
Purchase of short term investments                                        (2,424,514)            (4,171,974)            (1,081,015)
Advances to affiliates                                                             -                (67,372)               (55,957)
                                                                    ----------------      -----------------      -----------------
                                                                      
  Net cash used in investing activities                                      (21,921)            (6,629,768)            (6,866,350)
                                                                    ----------------      -----------------      -----------------
</TABLE>
                                                                               
                                  (continued)

Accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
                      SILVER DINER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
                                        
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Fiscal Years  Ended
                                                                  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       January 3,            December 28,           December 29,
                                                                          1999                 1997                     1996
                                                                  --------------------    ------------------       --------------
<S>                                                               <C>                     <C>                      <C> 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net proceeds from merger                                                            -                     -            11,916,868
Net proceeds from sale of stock                                                12,500               152,500             7,556,538
Exercise of options                                                                85                    41                    50
Acquisition of outstanding interest in Silver Diner Limited                                                
  Partnership                                                                       -                     -            (2,625,453)
Purchase of common stock                                                      (50,095)             (134,500)                    -
Proceeds from notes payable                                                         -               267,000                     -
Payments of principal - notes payable                                               -                     -            (1,666,325)
Payments of principal - notes payable - related party                               -                     -              (881,788)
Repurchase of employee stock options                                                -               (20,250)              (30,348)
                                                                  --------------------    ------------------       --------------
 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                           (37,510)              264,791            14,269,542
                                                                  --------------------    ------------------       --------------
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                           14,327            (6,688,103)            6,700,817
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year                          1,597,430             8,285,533             1,584,716
                                                                  --------------------    ------------------       --------------
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year                         $      1,611,757      $      1,597,430         $   8,285,533
                                                                  ====================    ==================       ==============
                                                                                                                    
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:                                                                   
     Interest paid                                                   $         25,523      $         10,702         $     137,300
                                                                  ====================    ==================       ==============
Noncash investing and financing activities:                                                                         
     Construction payables included in accounts payable                                                             
       and accrued expenses                                          $              -      $        350,604         $   1,054,652
                                                                  ====================    ==================       ============== 
                                                                                                                    
     Repayment of  notes payable - related party by offset                                                          
       of amounts due from affiliates                                $              -      $              -         $     355,023
                                                                  ====================    ==================       ============== 
                                                                                                                    
     Conversion of senior subordinated convertible promissory                                                       
       notes to 625,000 shares of common stock                       $              -      $              -         $   2,500,000
                                                                   ===================     =================       ==============
                                                                                                                    
     Issuance of 84,000 warrants in conjunction with SDLP                                                           
       purchase                                                      $              -      $              -         $     141,960
                                                                  ====================    ==================       ==============
</TABLE>

                                  (concluded)

Accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
SILVER DINER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

JANUARY 3, 1999


1.   ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     Silver Diner, Inc., (the Company) and its subsidiaries develop and operate
     the Silver Diner restaurant chain. At January 3, 1999, the Company owned
     and operated ten diners in the Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area and
     one in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

     Basis of Presentation

     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations
     of the Company and its subsidiaries, Silver Diner Development, Inc. (SDDI)
     and Silver Diner Limited Partnership (SDLP). All significant intercompany
     balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

     During 1996, the Company acquired the minority interest in SDLP (see Note
     3), liquidated SDLP into SDDI and began presenting results on a
     consolidated basis. Because SDLP's financial statements were previously
     combined with the Company's, the change to a consolidated basis did not
     have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

     Fiscal Year

     The Company operates on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday
     nearest December 31. The fiscal quarters for the Company consist of
     accounting periods of 16, 12, 12 and 12 or 13 weeks, respectively. Fiscal
     years 1998, 1997 and 1996 were comprised of 53, 52 and 52 weeks,
     respectively and ended on January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December
     29, 1996, respectively.

     Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

     All short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale. Those
     investments that are part of the Company's cash management portfolio with a
     remaining maturity of three months or less when purchased are reported as
     cash equivalents. The balance of the short-term investments are classified
     as marketable securities. At January 3, 1999, marketable securities
     consists of investment grade commercial paper. Cash and cash equivalents
     and marketable securities are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which
     approximates fair value.

     Inventory

     Inventory consists of food and supplies and is valued at the lower of cost
     (first-in, first-out) or market.

     Property, Equipment and Improvements

     Property, equipment and improvements are stated at cost. Buildings and
     leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated
     useful lives of the assets or the respective anticipated lease period
     including renewal options, ranging from 20 to 35 years, with a provision
     for salvage value for the Rockville building. Furniture and equipment are
     depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, ranging
     from 2 to 10 years. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line
     method.

     Change in Accounting Principle

     On April 3, 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
     (AICPA) issued Statement of Position (SOP) No. 98-5, "Reporting on the Cost
     of Start-Up Activities." SOP No. 98-5 requires that costs associated with
     start-up activities, such as opening a new facility, be expensed as
     incurred. This SOP is effective for financial statements for fiscal years
     beginning after December 15, 1998, however, early application is
     encouraged.

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
     Prior to 1998, the Company capitalized preopening costs, including payroll,
     employee recruitment and advertising, incurred in the restaurant start-up
     and training period prior to the opening of each restaurant, and amortized
     these costs over twelve months from the date of opening. The Company
     elected early application of SOP 98-5 during the first quarter of 1998. As
     a result of the early application, all preopening costs capitalized as of
     December 28, 1997 were expensed and recorded as a cumulative effect of a
     change in accounting principle in the first quarter of 1998. Had preopening
     costs been accounted for in accordance with SOP No. 98-5 in prior fiscal
     years, the Company's net loss and net loss per share would have been the
     proforma amounts indicated below:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                      Fiscal Years Ended
                                          ------------------------------------------------
                                              December 28,                December 29,
                                                  1997                        1996
                                          --------------------       ---------------------
<S>                                       <C>                        <C>             
Net loss:
    As reported                              $    (1,958,419)           $    (1,429,472)   
    Pro forma                                $    (2,157,873)           $    (1,556,885)   
                                                                                           
Net loss per common share:                                                                 
    As reported                              $         (0.17)           $         (0.15)   
    Pro forma                                $         (0.19)           $         (0.16)    
</TABLE>

  Goodwill

  Cost in excess of fair value of net assets acquired related to the acquisition
  of the minority interest in SDLP (see Note 3) is being amortized on a
  straight-line basis over 15 years.

  Deferred Rent

  Deferred rent is recorded and amortized to the extent the total minimum rental
  payments allocated to the current period on a straight-line basis exceed or
  are less than the cash payments required.

  Income Taxes

  The provision for income taxes is based on earnings reported in the financial
  statements.  Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences
  between financial assets and liabilities and those reported for income tax
  purposes.  Taxable losses reported by SDLP passed through to, and were
  reportable by, its partners.

  Net Loss Per Common Share

  Net loss per common share is computed based upon the weighted average number
  of common shares outstanding during the period. The Company implemented
  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128 which requires
  presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share amounts and a
  reconciliation of the respective calculations. The Company incurred a net loss
  for the years ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996;
  therefore, all potential common shares are anitdilutive and not included in
  the calculation of diluted net loss per share.

  Evaluation of Long-Lived Assets

  The Company evaluates the potential impairment of long-lived assets, including
  goodwill, based upon projections of undiscounted cash flows whenever events or
  changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not
  be fully recoverable.  During 1998 and 1997, the Company wrote off $32,455 and
  $172,618, respectively, of deferred site costs including legal, design and
  development costs for potential restaurant sites that the Company is no longer
  pursuing or that the Company believes the probability of the site being
  procured is unlikely.  During the fourth quarter of 1998, in connection with
  an evaluation of unit operational processes, menu engineering, and a
  comprehensive unit equipment assessment, the Company wrote off equipment with
  a net book value of $372,734, which is included in depreciation and
  amortization within the Fiscal Year 1998 Statement of Operations.  Management
  believes no additional material impairment of these assets exists at January
  3, 1999.  The write-off resulted from the elimination of the operational
  usefulness for certain equipment and the identification of obsolete or no
  longer in service equipment.

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
    Stock-Based Compensation

    Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for
    Stock-Based Compensation, requires expanded disclosures of stock-based
    compensation arrangements with employees and encourages (but does not
    require) compensation cost to be measured based on fair value of the equity
    instrument awarded (see Note 12). The Company has chosen to continue to
    account for employee stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value
    method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting
    for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations. Accordingly,
    compensation costs for stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of
    the quoted market price of the Company's stock at the date of the grant over
    the amount the employee must pay to acquire the stock.

    Reclassification

    Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the 1998
    presentation.

    Use of Estimates

    Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions
    relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of
    contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in
    conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results
    could differ from those estimates.

    New Accounting Pronouncements

    In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS
    No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," and SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures
    about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," and in February
    1998, FASB issued SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and
    Other Postretirement Benefits -- an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88,
    and 106." SFAS No. 130 establishes standards for reporting and display of
    comprehensive income and its components (revenues, expenses, gains and
    losses) in a full set of general-purpose financial statements. SFAS No. 131
    establishes standards for the way public business enterprises report
    information about operating segments and the related disclosures about
    products and services, geographic areas and major customers. SFAS No. 132
    revises employers' disclosures about pension and other postretirement
    benefit plans. These standards are effective for financial statements issued
    for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. Adoption of SFAS Nos.
    130, 131 and 132 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial
    statement presentation or disclosures.

    In June, 1998 the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
    Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and
    reporting standards for derivative instruments. It requires that an entity
    recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement
    of financial position and measure those instruments at fair value. This
    statement is effective for all fiscal quarters of fiscal years beginning
    after June 15, 1999. The Company has not yet determined the impact of
    adopting SFAS No. 133 on its financial statement presentations or
    disclosures.

2.  MERGER

    On March 27, 1996, FTAC Transition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of
    Food Trends Acquisition Corporation (FTAC) merged (the Merger) with and into
    SDDI with SDDI surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of FTAC. In connection
    with the Merger, FTAC changed its name to Silver Diner Development, Inc.,
    and in June 1996, to Silver Diner, Inc. Pursuant to the Merger agreement,
    each outstanding share of SDDI common stock converted into 33.339 shares of
    the common stock of FTAC. Upon consummation of the Merger, the stockholders
    of SDDI became the owners in the aggregate of approximately 57% of the
    outstanding common stock of FTAC and the directors and officers of SDDI
    became directors and officers of FTAC. Prior to the Merger, FTAC had no
    operating activities.

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
    For accounting and financial reporting purposes, the Merger was treated as a
    recapitalization of SDDI and as an issuance of SDDI common shares for
    monetary assets and liabilities. The transaction was in essence a reverse
    acquisition with SDDI retaining the majority voting interest in the merged
    entity. The reverse acquisition is a business combination accounted for by
    the purchase method in which the continuing entity is not assumed to be the
    acquirer. The substance of the reverse acquisition is that of an initial
    public offering and the acquisition costs incurred by the Company have
    therefore been treated as a reduction in paid-in capital. The Company has
    reflected in its consolidated financial statements the assets, liabilities
    and equity of SDDI at their historical book values. Accordingly, the
    consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company for
    periods and dates prior to the Merger are the consolidated historical
    results of operations and financial position of SDDI for such periods and
    dates. All historical shares of common stock and per share amounts for
    periods prior to the Merger have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the
    FTAC shares issued to the SDDI shareholders at the time of the Merger.

3.  ACQUISITION OF MINORITY INTEREST IN SILVER DINER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

    On June 13, 1996, the Company completed its purchase of all of the limited
    partnership interests in SDLP from the original investors for $2,472,000 in
    cash and 84,000 warrants (New Warrants) to purchase common stock exercisable
    at $8.00 per share. The New Warrants were exercisable until the earlier of
    30 days following a public offering of common stock or January 31, 1998. The
    offer was unanimously accepted by all of the limited partners. The
    acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method and the entire cost
    of the transaction, totaling $2.8 million, has been allocated to goodwill
    based on the Company's estimate that the fair value of the tangible assets
    acquired approximates book value. The goodwill is being amortized on a
    straight-line basis over 15 years and as a result, amortization expense
    related to goodwill totaled $183,751, $184,977 and $99,603 in fiscal years
    1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

4.  PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS

    The major components of property, equipment and improvements are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            January 3, 1999           December 28, 1997 
                                                         ------------------         ------------------
    <S>                                                  <C>                        <C>             
    Land                                                        $ 1,737,655                $ 1,647,655
    Buildings and leasehold improvements                         12,645,160                 12,605,754
    Furniture, fixtures and equipment                             5,918,067                  6,465,211
    Deferred lease costs                                            607,107                    572,549
    Construction in progress                                              -                    101,916
                                                         ------------------         ------------------
                                                                 20,907,989                 21,393,085
    Less accumulated depreciation and amortization               (4,790,572)                (4,009,066)
                                                         ------------------         ------------------
                                                                $16,117,417                $17,384,019
                                                         ==================         ================== 
</TABLE>

    Deferred lease costs represent brokerage commissions, legal fees and zoning
    related costs primarily related to leases on the land upon which the Company
    constructed its restaurants.

5.  ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

    Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             January 3,                December 28,  
                                                                1999                       1997      
                                                         ------------------        ------------------
    <S>                                                  <C>                       <C>               
    Trade payables                                               $1,381,805                $1,442,913
    Payroll and related taxes                                       443,623                   622,013
    Sales and use taxes                                             134,794                   142,965
                                                         ------------------        ------------------
                                                                 $1,960,222                $2,207,891
                                                         ==================        ================== 
</TABLE>

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
6.   LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

     In June, 1997 the Company was issued a $267,000 note payable to a bank to
     purchase a parcel of land from the Company's president (see Note 9). The
     principal of the note is due in June, 1999, and interest is paid monthly at
     an annual rate of 9.25%. The note is collateralized by the land purchased.
     The Company incurred $25,523 and $10,702 in interest expense related to the
     note for the years ended January 3, 1999 and December 28, 1997,
     respectively.

7.   NOTES RECEIVABLE

     During 1997, the Company issued notes receivable totaling $132,000 to an
     outside party which owns and maintains the jukeboxes in four Silver Diner
     units. The Company receives principal and interest payments on these notes
     on a monthly basis. The outstanding balance, classified as deposits and
     other, was $113,729 for 1998 and $123,035 for 1997. Interest is calculated
     at an annual rate of 9% and the principal payments are based on the amount
     of monthly cash flow generated by the jukeboxes. For the years ended
     January 3, 1999 and December 28, 1997, the Company has received $9,300 and
     $9,000 in principal payments, respectively and $11,000 and $6,000 in
     interest income, respectively.

8.   PRIVATE PLACEMENT

     On July 11, 1996, the Company completed a $8,250,000 private placement of
     common stock through the sale of 1.5 million shares at $5.50 per share.
     Approximately $2.5 million of the approximately $7.6 million net proceeds
     of the sale were used to replace the funds used for the acquisition of the
     minority interests in SDLP, and the remainder was available to fund
     expansion. In connection with the sale, the Company registered the shares
     with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

9.   RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     Robert Giaimo Development, Inc.
     -------------------------------
     On June 17, 1997, the Company purchased from Robert Giaimo Development,
     Inc., a corporation wholly-owned by the president of the Company, an
     undivided parcel of land representing a parking lot adjacent to the Silver
     Diner restaurant in Potomac Mills, Virginia. The total cost of the land was
     $408,000. The Company received a loan from a bank in the amount of $267,000
     to purchase the property. The note, bearing interest of 9.25% annually, is
     fully collateralized by the land and is due in June, 1999.

     Silver Diner Potomac Mills, Inc.
     --------------------------------
     The Company leases the diner at Potomac Mills pursuant to two lease
     agreements with Silver Diner Potomac Mills, Inc., a corporation wholly-
     owned by the president of the Company. The leases expire October 14, 2011
     and include annual CPI adjustments to base rent and percentage rent based
     on gross receipts. The amount of property leased was reduced in 1997 by the
     land purchase described above. For the years ending January 3, 1999,
     December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, occupancy costs include $355,000,
     $350,000 and $389,000, respectively, in rent and related pass through costs
     associated with the leases.

     Keyman Life Insurance
     ---------------------
     The Company is paying premiums for three life insurance policies owned
     respectively by two officers. In 1996, the Company recorded notes
     receivable from the two officers which were payable in full upon demand,
     were collateralized by the life insurance policies and were equal to the
     amount of premiums paid by the Company on such life insurance policies. The
     notes receivable were non-interest bearing. During 1997, the Company
     terminated these note receivable agreements and recorded the full amount of
     premiums paid in 1996 and 1997, less the cash surrender value of the
     policies, as expense. In 1998, the Company recorded the full amount of
     premiums paid in 1998, less the cash surrender value of the policies, as
     expense. As such, the Company recorded $92,000 and $123,000 of expense for
     these insurance policies for the years ended January 3, 1999 and December
     28, 1997, respectively.

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
     Due from Related Parties
     ------------------------
     In connection with entering into an employment continuity agreement during
     1998, the Company made a $100,000 loan to an officer of the Company. The
     note, bearing interest at a rate of 5.25%, is secured by the Company's
     common stock holding of the officer. The loan and accrued interest is to be
     repaid by the officer through the application of annual bonuses in the
     amount of $20,000, plus accrued interest, to the officer over a five year
     period.

10.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
  
     Operating Leases
     ----------------
     The Company leases restaurant land and buildings under various
     noncancellable operating leases with terms expiring at various dates
     through 2017. Certain of these leases are with related parties (see Note
     9). These leases include minimum lease payments, reimbursable operating
     costs and real estate taxes. Also, certain of these leases contain renewal
     options for a maximum of 20 years beyond the original term, have provisions
     for additional rent based on sales at the individual locations and annual
     increases based on the consumer price index. The leases provide for certain
     rent holidays and escalations in payments over the lease terms. The effect
     of the holidays and escalations have been reflected in rent expense on a
     straight-line basis over the initial lease terms. The excess of expense
     over cash payments has been reflected in the consolidated financial
     statements as deferred rent.

     Future minimum annual lease payments as of January 3, 1999 are:


                    1999                                   2,121,000
                    2000                                   2,204,000
                    2001                                   2,248,000
                    2002                                   2,290,000
                    2003                                   2,319,000
                    Thereafter                            18,390,000


     Rent expense under the leases for fiscal 1998, 1997 and 1996 was
     approximately $2,236,000, $2,033,000, and $1,622,000, respectively.

     Legal Proceedings
     -----------------
     On May 20, 1996, the Company was named as a defendant in a proceeding
     instituted in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland,
     captioned Laura Reese v. Roger Richardson and Silver Diner Development,
     Inc. The plaintiff alleges that she was sexually assaulted by Roger
     Richardson, who was the general manager of the Laurel Silver Diner
     restaurant. Mr. Richardson was terminated promptly following the occurrence
     of the event in November 1994. Plaintiff sought recovery of $500,000 for
     each count. It was not clear if the counts were in the alternative or
     cumulative. The Company's insurance carrier was defending the claim with
     reservation of rights. The Company is insured up to $1,000,000 with respect
     to the above mentioned claims. In September 1998, the court granted summary
     judgement in favor of the Company as to all claims brought against them in
     this case. No final judgement can be entered at this time due to a
     Suggestion of Bankruptcy filed by Mr. Richardson, the co-defendant in the
     case, prior to the decision of the court to grant summary judgement on
     behalf of the Company.

     Employment Continuity Agreements
     --------------------------------
     SDDI has entered into employment continuity agreements with certain
     executives. The agreements are for one to five years in length and provide
     for minimum salary levels, as adjusted for minimum percentage increases and
     include incentive bonuses based on specified management goals. The
     aggregate minimum commitment for future salaries, excluding bonuses, as of
     January 3, 1999 is approximately $1.2 million.

11.  INCOME TAXES

     At January 3, 1999, the Company has a net operating loss carryforward of
     approximately $6 million for income tax purposes, that expires in 2008
     through 2013, which may be used to reduce future income tax expense and tax
     liabilities. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary
     differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for
     financial reporting purposes and the amounts reported for income tax
     purposes.

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
     Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities
     are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            January 3, 1999          December 28, 1997 
                                                           ------------------       -------------------
     <S>                                                   <C>                       <C>               
     Net operating loss carryforwards                             $ 2,420,534               $ 2,219,298
     Book over (under) tax depreciation/amortization                  (83,841)                  238,197
     Deferred rent                                                    466,653                   422,475
                                                           ------------------       -------------------
     Deferred tax assets                                            2,803,346                 2,879,970
          Less: valuation allowance                                (2,803,346)               (2,879,970)
                                                           ------------------       -------------------
     Net deferred tax asset                                       $         -               $         -
                                                           ==================       =================== 
</TABLE>

     As a result of the Company's history of cumulative losses, a valuation
     allowance equal to the calculated deferred tax benefit has been recorded at
     January 3, 1999 and December 28, 1997, respectively.

12.  STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS

     The Company has the following stock-based compensation plans:
 
     1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

     The 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan was adopted in September 1996 by the
     Company's board of directors and approved by shareholders in June 1997, and
     continues in effect for a term of 10 years. The Company is authorized to
     issue 300,000 shares under the plan to employees who customarily work at
     least 20 hours per week and more than five months in a calendar year, and
     who have been continuously employed by the Company for six months. Under
     the terms of the plan, employees can choose each quarter to have up to 10
     percent of their base earnings (not to exceed $21,250 annually) withheld to
     purchase the Company's common stock. The purchase price of the stock is 85%
     of the lower of its beginning-of-quarter or end-of-quarter market price.
     The Company implemented the plan in August of 1998.

     1996 Stock Option Plan

     The 1996 Stock Option Plan was adopted by the Company's board of directors
     in September 1996 and approved by shareholders in June 1997, and continues
     in effect for 10 years. The plan provides for incentive stock options and
     nonqualified stock options. Options may be granted to any director,
     officer, key employee or outside consultant of the Company. Terms of the
     options are set by the Company's board of directors and range from seven to
     ten years, with the ability to accelerate vesting upon the Company
     achieving certain performance measurements, as predetermined by the Board.
     The Company has reserved 1,200,000 shares of common stock for issuance
     under the plan. A total of 1,143,500 options were granted under this plan
     during Fiscal 1998.

     Restaurant Operating Partner Program

     The Restaurant Operating Partner Program, which was adopted by the
     Company's board of directors in December 1996 for implementation in fiscal
     year 1997, provides for the general manager (Operating Partner) and the
     store manager team (Store Managers) of each of the Company's restaurants to
     share in the profits of their restaurant and to participate as equity
     owners of the Company. To participate in the program, employees who became
     Operating Partners prior to January 4, 1999 were required to make an
     initial investment in discounted Company common stock, which may not be
     sold or otherwise transferred by the Operating Partner for a period of five
     years from the date of purchase. Should the Operating Partner's employment
     terminate for any reason other than death or disability, the Company has
     the right to repurchase the stock from the Operating Partner for the amount
     of his or her investment. Employees who become Operating Partners beginning
     January 4, 1999 and thereafter are required to purchase 8,000 shares of
     Company common stock at market value and can potentially receive an annual
     award up to $10,000 of Common Stock, dependent upon achievement of
     performance criteria as established and evaluated by the Board. The plan
     also provides for annual restricted common stock awards to Store Managers;
     however, the Company has determined that no further stock awards will be
     provided to Store Managers subsequent to January 3, 1999. For employees who
     became Operating Partners and Store Managers prior to January 4, 1999,
     stock awarded at the end of the first year generally vests after the fourth
     anniversary of the award date. For each year thereafter, stock awards
     generally vest after the third anniversary of the award date. For employees
     who became Operating Partners beginning January 4, 1999 and thereafter,
     stock awarded at the end of the first year vests 

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
     after the fifth anniversary of the award date, stock awarded at the end of
     the second year vests after the fourth anniversary of the award date, and
     stock awarded in each subsequent year vests after the third anniversary of
     each award date. The stock awards under these plans are awarded at the
     discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. The Company has reserved
     415,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the plan. During Fiscal
     1998, 17,391 shares were issued under the plan.

     1996 Consultant Stock Option and Stock Purchase Plan

     The 1996 Consultant Stock Option and Stock Purchase Plan was adopted by the
     Company's board of directors in September 1996, and continues in effect for
     a term of 10 years. The plan provides for the Company's consultants to
     purchase (i) options to purchase shares of common stock in the Company or
     (ii) shares of common stock in the Company, and apply a portion of the fees
     otherwise payable to them by the Company to pay the purchase price for such
     options or common stock. Options under the plan are granted with an
     exercise price at the fair market value of the common stock on the first
     day of each calendar quarter, and are exercisable at any time in whole or
     in part for a period of three years from date of grant and vest
     immediately. The Company records the transactions at the fair value of the
     options granted to the consultant, using the Black-Sholes methodology. The
     Company has reserved 100,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the
     plan. During Fiscal 1998, no options were issued to consultants under this
     plan.

     1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan

     The 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan was adopted by the
     Company's board of directors in September 1996 and approved by shareholders
     in June 1997, and continues in effect for 10 years. Under the plan, each
     non-employee director shall be granted an option to purchase 1,000 shares
     of the Company's common stock at fair market value on the first day of each
     calendar quarter. Options granted under the plan are exercisable at any
     time in whole or in part for a period of three years from date of grant,
     and vest immediately. The Company has reserved 150,000 shares of common
     stock for issuance under the plan. A total of 35,000 options were granted
     under this plan during Fiscal 1998.

     Second Amended and Restated 1991 Stock Option Plan

     The Second Amended and Restated 1991 Stock Option Plan for directors,
     officers, key employees and consultants provides for incentive and non-
     qualified stock options. The options generally expire 10 years from the
     date of grant and are exercisable over the period stated in each option.
     The board of directors determines the option price (not to be less than
     fair market value for incentive options) at the date of grant. Excluding
     the effect of the Merger (see Note 2), options under the plan are
     exercisable in full if the Company executes a merger agreement or
     consolidates with another company, if more than 50% of the Company's voting
     stock is acquired by another person or group in an other than capital stock
     transaction, or if Robert T. Giaimo ceases to be President of the Company.
     The plan expires in 2001. At January 3, 1999, no options were available for
     future grant under the plan.

     Second Amended and Restated Earned Ownership Plan

     The Second Amended and Restated Earned Ownership Plan for key employees
     provides for non-qualified stock options. The options generally expire 10
     years from the date of grant, have an option price of $0.0003 and vest 20%
     at date of grant and 20% on each of the next four anniversaries following
     the grant date. Excluding the effect of the Merger (see Note 2), options
     under the plan are exercisable in full if the Company executes a merger
     agreement or consolidates with another company, if more than 50% of the
     Company's voting stock is acquired by another person or group in an other
     than capital stock transaction, or if Robert T. Giaimo ceases to be
     President of the Company. The plan has no fixed expiration date. At January
     3, 1999, no options were available for future grant under the plan.

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
     The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25 and related Interpretations in
     accounting for its plans. The compensation cost that has been charged
     against income under the Company's plans was approximately $10,000,
     $141,118 and $39,823 for the years ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997
     and December 29, 1996, respectively. Had compensation cost been determined
     in accordance with FASB Statement No. 123, the Company's net loss and net
     loss per share would have been the pro forma amounts indicated below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Fiscal Years Ended                              
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                  January 3,                December 28,               December 29,      
                                                     1999                       1997                       1996          
                                           ----------------------     ----------------------     ----------------------  
           <S>                             <C>                        <C>                        <C>                     
           Net loss:                                                                                                     
               As reported                        $ (1,883,306)              $ (1,958,419)              $ (1,429,472)    
               Pro forma                          $ (1,995,021)              $ (2,030,469)              $ (1,469,539)    
                                                                                                                         
           Net loss per common share:                                                                                    
               As reported                        $      (0.16)              $      (0.17)              $      (0.15)    
               Pro forma                          $      (0.17)              $      (0.17)              $      (0.15)    
</TABLE>

     Options granted during the year ended January 3, 1999 were issued pursuant
     to the 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan and the 1996 Stock
     Option Plan. The fair value of each option grant under these plans is
     estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model
     with the following weighted-average assumptions: dividend yield of 0.0% and
     expected volatility of 50%. In addition, in estimating the fair value of
     the options granted under the 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan
     and the 1996 Stock Option Plan, the following weighted average assumptions
     were used: risk free interest rate of 5.5% and an expected life of 6 years.

     Options granted during the year ended December 28, 1997 were issued
     pursuant to the 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, the 1996
     Consultant Stock Option and Stock Purchase Plan and the 1996 Stock Option
     Plan. The fair value of each option grant under these plans is estimated on
     the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the
     following weighted-average assumptions: dividend yield of 0.0% and expected
     volatility of 49%. In addition, in estimating the fair value of the options
     granted under the 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan and the 1996
     Consultant Stock Option and Stock Purchase Plan, the following weighted
     average assumptions were used: risk free interest rate of 5.7% and an
     expected life of 2 years. The fair value of options granted under the
     Incentive Stock Option Plan was estimated assuming a risk free interest
     rate of 6.2% and an expected life of seven years.

     All options granted during the year ended December 29, 1996 were issued
     pursuant to the 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. The fair
     value of each option grant under this plan is estimated on the date of
     grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following
     weighted-average assumptions: dividend yield of 0.0%, expected volatility
     of 27%, risk free interest rate of 6.2% and an expected life of two years.

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
  A summary of the status of the Company's stock option plans as of January 3,
  1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996 and changes during the years
  ended on these dates is:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       1998                         1997                          1996
                             ---------------------------   -------------------------    -------------------------
                                               Weighted-                   Weighted-                    Weighted-
                                                Average                     Average                      Average
                                               Exercise                    Exercise                     Exercise
                                 Shares         Price         Shares        Price           Shares       Price
<S>                          <C>               <C>         <C>             <C>          <C>             <C>         
Options outstanding,                                                                      
 Beginning of year              583,327        $  2.55       689,220        $   2.52       784,959       $   2.50
Granted                       1,178,500        $  1.09        89,387        $   3.54        18,000       $   5.83
Exercised                        (8,461)       $  0.00       (35,421)       $   0.00       (16,669)      $   0.00
Forfeited                       (62,075)       $  3.45      (149,858)       $   3.78       (82,081)      $   4.05
Repurchased                           -        $     -       (10,001)       $   0.00       (14,989)      $   0.00
                             ----------                    ---------                     ---------       
Options outstanding,                                                                                         
 End of year                  1,691,291        $  1.51       583,327        $   2.55       689,220       $   2.52 
                             ==========                    =========                     =========
 
Options exercisable at
 Year end                       687,954                      396,809                       313,260
 
Weighted-average fair
 Value of options
 Granted during the                            $  0.41                      $   1.41                     $   1.21
 Year
</TABLE>

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at
January 3, 1999:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Options                                              Options
                                          Outstanding                                          Exercisable
                       -----------------------------------------------------         ---------------------------------
      Range               Number        Weighted-Avg.          Weighted-Avg.           Number            Weighted-Avg.
       of               Outstanding       Remaining              Exercise            Exercisable           Exercise
 Exercise Prices        at 1/03/99    Contractual Life             Price             at 1/03/99              Price
<S>                    <C>            <C>                      <C>                   <C>                 <C>
Less than $0.01             192,865          5.4 years           $     0.00              177,175           $     0.00
$0.63 to $1.25            1,178,500          5.9 years           $     1.09              270,000           $     1.27
$2.13 to $3.82               79,054          1.5 years           $     3.30               79,054           $     3.30
$4.05 to $6.50              240,872          3.5 years           $     4.21              161,725           $     4.28
                       ------------                                                  -----------         

$0.0003 to $6.50          1,691,291          2.3 years           $     1.51              687,954           $     1.88
                       ============                                                  ===========
</TABLE>

13. NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

SFAS 128, "Earnings per Share", requires the disclosure of a reconciliation
between the numerators and the denominators of the basic and diluted per-share
computations for income from continuing operations. For the years ended January
3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, the Company incurred a net
loss; therefore, all potential common shares are antidilutive and are not
included in the calculation of the diluted net loss per common share. At January
3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, there were options to purchase
1,691,291, 583,327, and 689,220 shares, respectively at the weighted average
price of $1.51, $2.55, and $2.52, respectively. These options are antidilutive
and, thus, not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share for the
years ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996. In
addition, at January 3, 1999 and December 28, 1997, there were 25,919 and 8,528,
respectively, restricted shares of common stock outstanding. These shares, which
were issued during 1997 and 1998 pursuant to the Restaurant Operating Partner
Program, are antidilutive and are not included in the computation of net loss
per share for the years ended January 3, 1999 and December 28, 1997.

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

The Company sponsors a plan to provide retirement benefits under the provision
of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the 401(k) Plan) for all
employees who have completed one year of service. Company contributions may
range from 0% to 100% of employee contributions, up to a maximum 6% of eligible
employee compensation, as defined. Employees may elect to contribute up to 20%
of their eligible compensation on a pretax basis. Benefits under the 401(k) Plan
are limited to the assets of the 401(k) Plan. During the years ended January 3,
1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, respectively, the Company made no
contributions to the 401(k) Plan.

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

         None

PART III

         ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY.

         The information under "Election of Directors" in the Proxy Statement
for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 1998 is incorporated herein by
reference. Information concerning executive officers is set forth under
"Executive Officers of the Registrant" in Part I.

         ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

         The information under "Executive Compensation" in the Proxy Statement
for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 1998 is incorporated herein by
reference.

         ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
                   MANAGEMENT.

         The information under "Ownership of Common Stock by Directors and
Executive Officers" and "Election of Directors" in the Proxy Statement for the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 1999 is incorporated herein by reference.

         ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

         The information under "Election of Directors" and "Executive
Compensation" in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in
1999 is incorporated herein by reference.

                                       36
<PAGE>
 
PART IV

         ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM
                   8-K.

(a)      Lists of Documents Filed as Part of this Report

1. Financial Statements

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                 Page
<S>                                                                              <C>
Report of Independent Auditors................................................    19
 
Consolidated Financial Statements:
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
January 3, 1999 and December 28, 1997.........................................    20
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
Fiscal Years Ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996...    21
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the
Fiscal Years Ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996...    22
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
Fiscal Years Ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996...    23
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements....................................    25
</TABLE>

2. Schedules

All Schedules are omitted because the required information is inapplicable or it
is presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes thereto.

3. Exhibits

Exhibit Number  Description of Document
- --------------  -----------------------

     3          Articles of incorporation and bylaws

     3.1        Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation as amended by
                Certificates of Amendment incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                3.01 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

     3.2        Registrant's Bylaws incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of
                the registrant's Form S-4 (File No. 33-98844).

     9          Form of Voting and Lockup Agreement with respect to Stock Option
                Agreements incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9.01 of the
                registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

     9.1        Form of SDDI Voting and Lockup Agreement among SDDI, Robert T.
                Giaimo and certain shareholders of SDDI, together with Schedule
                of executed Voting and Lockup Agreements incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 9.04 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

                                       37
<PAGE>
 
     9.2        FTAC Voting and Lockup Agreement dated as of September 15, 1995
                by and among the registrant and George A. Naddaff, Douglas M.
                Suliman, Jr., Ralph J. Guarino and Charles A. Cocotas
                incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9.05 of the registrant's
                Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

     9.3        Assumption of SDDI Voting and Lockup Agreement, SDDI Affiliate
                Lockup Agreement and Stockholder Lockup Agreement dated March
                27, 1996, pursuant to Section 5.14(c) of merger agreement by and
                among FTAC, FTAC Transition Corporation and SDDI, incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 9.06 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

     9.4        GKN Voting and Lockup Agreement dated as of September 15, 1995
                by and among the registrant, Robert T. Giaimo, GKN Securities
                Corp., and certain additional signatories thereto incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 9.07 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

     10         Material Contracts

                Material Contracts - Real Property

                Rockville, Maryland

     10.1       Lease Agreement between Federal Realty Investment Trust
                (Landlord) and SDLP (Tenant) dated July 13, 1988 as amended by
                Lease Modification dated August 17, 1988, Second Lease
                Modification dated February 3, 1989, Third Amendment to Lease
                dated January 20, 1993, and Fourth Lease Modification Agreement
                dated October 17, 1994 incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.01 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

                Laurel, Maryland

     10.2       Lease between CG Beltsville Limited Partnership (Landlord) and
                SDLP (Tenant) dated January 26, 1990, as amended by Letter
                Agreement dated October 28, 1995 incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit 10.02 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

                Dale City, Virginia (Potomac Mills)

     10.3       Lease between RGDI (Landlord) and SDPMI (Tenant), dated June 10,
                1991, as amended by First Amendment to Lease, dated October 14,
                1991, as amended by Second Amendment to Lease dated October 30,
                1995 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.03 of the
                registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

                Parking Lot (parcel 11-B-1A), Dale City, Virginia (located
                adjacent to Silver Diner Restaurant at Potomac Mills)

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
     10.4       Lease between Robert Giaimo Development, Inc. ("RGDI")
                (Landlord) and SDPMI (Tenant) dated May 27, 1992, as amended by
                Amendment to Lease dated October 30, 1995 incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 10.04 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

                Towson, Maryland

     10.5       Lease Agreement between Towson Town Center Associates (Landlord)
                and the registrant (Tenant) effective January 30, 1992
                incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.05 of the registrant's
                Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

                Fair Lakes, Virginia (Fair Oaks)

     10.6       Ground Lease Agreement between F.L. Promenade L.P. (Landlord)
                and the registrant (Tenant) dated July 12, 1994, as amended by
                First Amendment to Ground Lease Agreement dated February 15,
                1995, and Second Amendment to Ground Lease Agreement dated April
                4, 1995 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.06 of the
                registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

                Tysons Corner, Virginia

     10.7       Ground Lease between Lehndorff Tysons Joint Venture (Landlord)
                and the registrant (Tenant) dated December 29, 1994), as amended
                by First Amendment to Lease dated May 14, 1995 incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 10.07 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

                Springfield, Virginia

     10.8       Springfield Mall Lease between Franconia Associates (Landlord)
                and the registrant (Tenant) effective May 1, 1996 incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 10.08 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

                Merrifield, Virginia

     10.9       Agreement of Lease dated September 14, 1995 by and between 2909
                Gallows LC (Landlord) and the registrant (Tenant) incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 10.09 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

                Reston, Virginia

     10.10      Purchase and Sale Agreement dated December 29, 1995 by and
                between Reston Land Corporation (Seller) and the registrant
                (Buyer) incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the
                registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

                Clarendon, Virginia

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
     10.11      Lease dated February 12, 1996 between Wilson Limited Partnership
                (Landlord) and the registrant (Tenant) incorporated by reference
                to Exhibit 10.11 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27,
                1996.

                Kendall, Florida

     10.12      Purchase Agreement dated October 4, 1996 by and between
                Documentation Corp. And Bersin Development Corp. (Sellers) and
                the registrant (Buyer). Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Annual
                Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 1996,
                is incorporated herein by reference.

                Cherry Hill, New Jersey

     10.13      Lease Agreement dated September 30, 1996 by and between Cherry
                Hill Associates L.P. (Landlord) and the registrant (Tenant).
                Exhibit 10.13 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
                the fiscal year ended December 29, 1996 is incorporated herein
                by reference.

                Material Contracts - Stock Plans

     10.14      SDDI Second Amended and Restated 1991 Stock Option Plan,
                together with forms of incentive stock option agreement and non-
                qualified stock option agreement incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit 10.14 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

     10.15      SDDI Second Amended and Restated Earned Ownership Plan, together
                with form of non-qualified stock option agreement incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

     10.16      Silver Diner, Inc. 1996 Non-employee Director Stock Option Plan
                together with form of stock option agreement incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 4(a) of the registrant's Form S-8 filed
                December 20, 1996.

     10.17      Silver Diner, Inc. 1996 Consultant Stock Option and Stock
                Purchase Plan together with form of stock option agreement, form
                of stock purchase agreement, form of election to purchase common
                stock and form of election to purchase options, incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 4(b) of the registrant's Form S-8 filed
                December 20, 1996.

     10.18      Certificate and Agreement of Participation, Silver Diner, Inc.
                Restaurant Operating Partner Program and Addenda incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 4 of the registrant's Form S-8 filed
                February 14, 1997.

     10.19      Silver Diner, Inc. Stock Option Plan together with form of Stock
                Option Agreement. Exhibit 10.19 to the Company's Annual Report
                on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 1996, is
                incorporated herein by reference.

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
     10.20      Silver Diner, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan together with
                form of Subscription Agreement and Notice of Withdrawal. Exhibit
                10.20 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                year ended December 29, 1996, is incorporated herein by
                reference.

                Material Contracts - Agreements with Executive
                Officers/Directors

     10.21      Letter Agreement dated December 31, 1995 between the registrant
                and Daniel Brannan regarding terms of employment, as amended by
                Letter Agreement dated March 26, 1996 incorporated by reference
                to Exhibit 10.18 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27,
                1996.

     10.22      Letter Agreement dated December 4, 1996 between the registrant
                and Patrick Meskell regarding terms of employment, as amended by
                Letter Agreement dated March 26, 1996 incorporated by reference
                to Exhibit 10.19 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27,
                1996.

     10.23      Founder's Employment Agreement dated August 28, 1995 by and
                between the registrant and Robert T. Giaimo incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

     10.24      Assumption of Founder's Employment Agreement dated March 27,
                1996 pursuant to Section 5.14(b) of merger agreement by and
                among FTAC, FTAC Transition Corporation and SDDI, incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

     10.25      Indemnity Agreement dated August 29, 1995 by and between Robert
                T. Giaimo, as indemnitee, and the registrant incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

                Material Contracts - Miscellaneous

     10.26      Option to Purchase dated January 26, 1990 between CG Beltsville
                Limited Partnership (Optionor), and SDLP (Optionee) regarding
                land parcel on which the Silver Diner Restaurant in Laurel,
                Maryland, is located incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36
                of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

     10.27      Amendment No. 1 to the Stock Escrow Agreement dated as of March
                26, 1996 among the Registrant, George A. Naddaff, Douglas M.
                Suliman, Jr., Ralph J. Guarino, Charles A. Cocotas and
                Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, together with letter
                dated March 27, 1996 from the Registrant to Continental Stock
                Transfer & Trust Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.37 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
     10.28      Affiliate Warrant Exchange and Custodial Agreement dated
                September 15, 1996, by and among George A. Naddaff, Douglas M.
                Suliman, Jr. and Charles A. Cocotas, as Warrant Holders, SDDI
                and Douglas M. Suliman, Jr., as Custodian incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 10.38 of the registrant's Form 8-K dated
                March 27, 1996.

     10.29      Escrow Agreement dated as of February 1, 1996 by and between GKN
                Securities Corp., certain affiliates thereof, the SDDI and Arent
                Fox, as Escrow Agent incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39
                of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

     10.30      Option Agreement dated March 27, 1996 by and between RGDI and
                SDDI granting option to SDDI for the purchase of Potomac Mills
                real estate parcels incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34
                of the registrant's Form 8-K dated March 27, 1996.

     10.31      Form of Certificate and Agreement of Participation-Restaurant
                Operating Partner Program, as approved by the Board on December
                15, 1998*
                
     10.32      Form of Addendum to a Certain Certificate and Agreement of
                Participation in the Silver Diner, Inc. Restaurant Operating
                Partner Program (Version for 1997 Certificates issued after
                January 1, 1997), as approved by the Board on December 15, 1998*
 
     10.33      Form of Addendum to a Certain Certificate and Agreement of
                Participation in the Silver Diner, Inc. Restaurant Operating
                Partner Program (Version for 1997 Certificates issued on January
                1, 1997), as approved by the Board on December 15, 1998*
                
     10.34      Silver Diner, Inc. Stock Option Plan (as amended March 4, 1998)*
 
     10.35      Stock Option Plan Agreement between Silver Diner, Inc. and
                Robert T. Giaimo for grant of 150,000 Shares on December 15,
                1998*
 
     10.36      Form of Stock Option Plan Agreement between Silver Diner, Inc.
                and certain Executive Officers, Date of Grant: December 15,
                1998, together with Performance Criteria for each of: Craig
                Kendall; Patrick Meskell; Timothy Cusick; and Ype Von Hengst*
 
     10.37      Stock Option Plan Agreement between Silver Diner, Inc. and
                Robert T. Giaimo for grant of 400,000 Shares on December 15,
                1998*

     10.38      Form of Restated Stock Option Plan Agreement between Silver
                Diner, Inc. and Certain Executive Officers Granting Shares on
                December 29, 1997*

     10.39      Employment Agreement dated November 9, 1998, between Silver
                Diner, Inc. and Ype Von Hengst, including Promissory Note in
                principal amount of $100,000*
 
     10.40      Letter Agreement dated November 9, 1998 between Robert T. Giaimo
                and Silver Diner, Inc. Re: Founder's Employment Agreement*

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
     10.41      1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, as amended March
                4, 1998 and incorporated by reference to registrant's Form S-8
                dated July 21, 1998*

     21         Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
                (a)  Silver Diner Development, Inc., a Virginia corporation

     23         Accountants Consents
 
     23.1       Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.*
 
     27         Financial Data Schedule
   
          (b) Reports on Form 8-K

              There were no Reports on Form 8-K filed during the last fiscal
              quarter of the period covered by this report.

*         Filed herewith. All other exhibits have been previously filed as
          indicated.

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                              Silver Diner, Inc.

                                              By:  Robert T. Giaimo
                                              ---------------------
                                              Robert T. Giaimo
                                              President and Chief Executive
                                              Officer
                                              April 5, 1999


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signatures                    Title                             Date
/s/ Robert T. Giaimo          President, Chief Executive        April 5, 1999
- --------------------      
                              Officer and Director
Robert T. Giaimo                       
                      
/s/ Craig Kendall             Vice President, Finance           April 5, 1999
- -----------------     
Craig Kendall         
                      
/s/ Catherine Britton         Director                          April 5, 1999
- --------------------- 
Catherine Britton     
                      
/s/ Ype Hengst                Director                          April 5, 1999
- --------------        
Ype Hengst            
                      
/s/ Edward H. Kaplan          Director                          April 5, 1999
- --------------------  
Edward H. Kaplan      
                      
/s/ George A. Naddaff         Director                          April 5, 1999
- --------------------- 
George A. Naddaff     
                      
/s/ Louis P. Neeb             Director                          April 5, 1999
- -----------------     
Louis P. Neeb         
                      
/s/ Charles Steiner           Director                          April 5, 1999
- -------------------   
Charles Steiner       
                      
/s/ Douglas M. Suliman        Director                          April 5, 1999
- ----------------------
Douglas M. Suliman

                                       44

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.31

                                                            NOVEMBER 13, 1998
                                                            -----------------


                  CERTIFICATE AND AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION

                              SILVER DINER, INC.

                     RESTAURANT OPERATING PARTNER PROGRAM
                                        
     This Certificate and Agreement of Participation ("Certificate of
Participation") is entered into as of this ____ day of __________, 199__, by and
between Silver Diner, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("SDI") and its wholly-owned
subsidiary Silver Diner Development, Inc., a Virginia corporation (both
corporations being collectively referred to herein, unless the context otherwise
requires, as "Silver Diner") and _______________ ("Operating Partner").

     1.   OPERATING PARTNER; DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE; EFFECTIVE DATE.

     Silver Diner hereby retains the Operating Partner to serve as the general
manager for the Silver Diner Restaurant located at _________________ (the
"Restaurant") on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

          (A) DUTIES.  The Operating Partner's duties shall include (i) managing
the day-to-day business, operations and affairs of the Restaurant; (ii) assuming
responsibility for efficiently and effectively operating the Restaurant so as to
achieve high levels of customer satisfaction, (iii) assuming responsibility for
the supervision, retention, and development of Restaurant employees and
operating personnel, (iv) using his/her best efforts to promote the Restaurant's
image in the community that it serves, and (v) carrying out such other duties as
may be delegated from time to time by the officers of Silver Diner.

          (B) FULL TIME.  The Operating Partner shall devote his/her full time
and attention to operating the Restaurant.

          (C) EFFECTIVE DATE.  The date the Operating Partner tenders to SDI
full payment for the mandatory Common Stock investment described in Section
4(a).

          (D) PROXIMITY OF RESIDENCE.  In order to maximize the effectiveness
of the Operating Partner's performance, the Operating Partner agrees to 
establish his/her primary residence within ________________(      ) miles of the
Restaurant and to maintain his/her primary residence within such proximity to
the Restaurant for the duration of this Certificate and Agreement unless a
modification is approved by the Board of Directors of SDI.  If the primary
residence of the Operating Partner does not currently meet this proximity
requirement, the Operating Partner agrees to relocate his/her primary residence
on or before ______________ in order to meet such proximity requirement and
acknowledges that Profit-Sharing distributions hereunder will be suspended in
the event of a failure to so relocate by such date.


     2.   BASE SALARY; BENEFITS; PROFIT SHARING.

     In consideration of the Operating Partner's services, commencing on the
Effective Date the Operating Partner shall (i) receive from Silver Diner the
Base Salary and benefits described below and (ii) be entitled to participate and
share in the Restaurant's operating income described below.
<PAGE>
 
          (A) BASE SALARY AND BENEFITS.  The annual Base Salary of the Operating
Partner shall be $45,000 payable bi-weekly.  Silver Diner shall also provide
such benefits as may generally be provided to other management employees, (which
may change from time to time) including health and dental insurance for the
Operating Partner and eligible members of his/her family, and two weeks of
vacation per year, with scheduling approved by Silver Diner.

          (B) MONTHLY PROFIT SHARING.  The Operating Partner shall be entitled
to receive in cash five percent (5%) of the monthly Restaurant Operating Income
(as defined below) of the Restaurant, which amount shall be paid to the
Operating Partner within thirty (30) days of the close of the month, subject to
the terms and conditions of this paragraph.  As used in this Certificate of
Participation:

              .   A month shall mean that period of time as reflective of the
                  monthly accounting period then being used by Silver Diner for
                  financial reporting purposes, which period now consists of
                  four weeks or 28 days, and

              .   Restaurant Operating Income shall mean the net sales of the
                  Restaurant determined by SDI in accordance with generally
                  accepted accounting principles consistently applied ("GAAP")
                  for the month less (i) cost of sales, (ii) labor (including
                  all salary and cash or stock bonus payments other than
                  Monthly Profit-Sharing and Quarterly Profit-Sharing payments
                  made to the Operating Partner under this Section 2), (iii)
                  operating expenses of the Restaurant (including allocated
                  corporate expenses on behalf of the Restaurant, such as
                  advertising and menu costs not to exceed 5% on an annual
                  basis), and (iv) a deemed annual occupancy cost of $295,000
                  with respect to all facilities other than the Rockville
                  facility (the occupancy costs of which shall be separately
                  determined).

          SDI will establish targeted margins for the Restaurant. If the actual
margin experience with respect to any month falls below the targeted margin for
such month by two percent (2%) or more, then no payment of the above-referenced
five percent (5%) profit-sharing amount will be paid until a determination is
made of the actual margin experience for the quarter in which such month
occurred. If the actual margin for the Restaurant with respect to such quarter
does not fall below the targeted margin for the quarter by two percent (2%) or
more, than any prior deferred monthly payments of the profit-sharing amount will
be paid over to the Operating Partner within thirty (30) days of the close of
the quarter.

          If the actual margin for the Restaurant falls below the targeted
margin for the quarter by two percent (2%) or more, then no monthly profit-
sharing payments will be made to the Operating Partner with respect to such
quarter and any monthly profit-sharing payments previously made to such
Operating Partner during the quarter will be treated as unearned payments which
will reduce, on a dollar for dollar basis, profit-sharing payments otherwise
payable to such Operating Partner with respect to future months of operation.

          (C) QUARTERLY POSITIVE SALES PROFIT SHARING. The Operating Partner
shall be entitled to receive in cash two percent (2%) of the Restaurant
Operating Income for each fiscal quarter if his/her Restaurant has positive same
store sales for the quarter. Appendix I attached hereto sets forth the methods
to be used in determining whether there are positive same store sales.
<PAGE>
 
          (D) QUARTERLY OPERATIONAL GOAL PROFIT-SHARING.  The Operating Partner
shall be entitled to receive in cash two percent (2%) of the Restaurant
Operating Income for each fiscal quarter if his/her Restaurant achieves its
operational goal for such quarter. For these purposes, SDI will establish on a
periodic basis the criteria (such as favorable exit interviews) to be used to
target and measure operational goals for each quarter. Such measurement
methodology shall be communicated to the Operating Partner prior to the
commencement of the time period to which the standard of measurement will apply.

     3.   RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

          Silver Diner will issue to the Operating Partner at the times and in
the amounts specified below that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares
of SDI Common Stock ("Common Stock") as provided below.

          (A) ANNUAL AWARDS.  Subject to the terms of Section 5 and prior to any
termination under Section 6 and subject to the annual approval of the Board of
Directors of SDI, the Operating Partner shall be awarded on a calendar basis
that number of shares of Common Stock as shall be determined by dividing (i) the
closing price of the shares of Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System
on the day immediately preceding each Award Date into (ii) the Award Amount, as
defined below.  For these purposes, the Board of Directors of SDI has
specifically reserved the right to review performance on an annual basis and, in
its sole discretion, to reduce or eliminate the maximum Award Amount otherwise
payable to an Operating Partner pursuant to the following schedule if
appropriate.

          For these purposes, the first Award Date shall constitute the December
          31 immediately following the Effective Date. Subsequent Award Dates
          shall occur on the December 31 of each subsequent calendar year
          commencing on and after the Effective Date. The Award Amount with
          respect to the first Award Date (consisting of the first December 31
          following the Effective Date) shall be computed by multiplying (i) an
          amount of up to a maximum of $5,000 by (ii) a fraction, the numerator
          of which is the number of days occurring between the Effective Date
          and December 31 of the calendar year in which the Effective Date
          occurs and the denominator of which is 365. The Award Amount with
          respect to future Award Dates, together with the Vesting Date for each
          Award, as described in Section 5(c), is set forth below:

 
                                                        END OF RESTRICTION
                                                        PERIOD AND
AWARD AMOUNT                   AWARD DATE               VESTING DATE
- ------------                   ----------               ------------
Stock acquired pursuant     Effective Date              Sixth December 31
to 4(a) (Mandatory                                      occurring after the
Investment) and                                         Effective Date 
Section 4 (b) (Optional                                 (12/31/__)
Investment)
 
Pro-Rata portion of         1st December 31             Fifth December 31
up to a maximum of          following date of           following date of the
$5,000, as described        hire (12/31/__)             the Award (12/31/__)
 
Up to a maximum of          2nd  December 31 follow-    Fourth December 31
$5,000                      ing date of hire -          following date of the
                            (12/31   )                  Award - (12/31/      )
<PAGE>
 
Up to a maximum of          3rd  December 31 follow-    Third December 31
$7,500                      ing Effective Date -        following date of the
                            (12/31/   )                 Award - (12/31/  )
                          
Up to a maximum of          4th  December 31 follow-    Third December 31
$7,500                      ing Effective Date -        following date of the
                            (12/31/   )                 Award - (12/31/  )
                          
Up to a maximum of          5th  December 31 follow-    Third December 31
$10,000                     ing Effective Date -        following date of the
                            (12/31/  )                  Award - (12/31/  )
                          
Up to a maximum of          6th December 31 follow-     Third December 31
$10,000                     ing Effective Date -        following date of the
                            (12/31/  )                  Award - (12/31/  )

          (B) RESTRICTIONS.  The shares of Common Stock awarded to the Operating
Partner shall be subject to each of the restrictions and limitations contained
in Section 5.

     4.   SILVER DINER STOCK INVESTMENT.

     The Operating Partner shall be obligated on the Effective Date to invest
$12,500 in Silver Diner and shall have the option to invest an additional
$12,500 as follows:

          (A) MANDATORY INVESTMENT.  The Operating Partner shall be required to
purchase for cash 8,000 shares of Common Stock at a price equal to the closing
price of the shares of Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System on the
day immediately preceding the date that the Operating Partner pays for such
shares (the "Closing Price"), which date must be on or before sixty (60) days
following the date of the execution of this Agreement.

          (B) OPTIONAL INVESTMENT.  The Operating Partner shall also have the
option, but not the obligation, to invest an additional $12,500 in SDI by
purchasing shares of Common Stock at a price equal to 50% of the Closing Price.

          (C) PAYMENT.  The Operating Partner shall pay the purchase price for
the shares of Common Stock in cash on or before the Effective Date.  The
Operating Partner understands that failure to do so will result in no payment or
accrual of monthly profit sharing or quarterly positive sales profit sharing and
in no stock awards being granted or accrued until the purchase price is paid.

          (D) SILVER DINER REPURCHASE RIGHT.  Silver Diner shall have the
option, but not the obligation, to purchase the shares of Common Stock acquired
by the Operating Partner pursuant to Sections 4(a) and 4(b) at any time during
the ninety (90) day period following Termination of this Certification of
Participation (except if Termination is by reason of death or disability as
provided below) if Termination occurs at any time prior to the sixth (6th)
December 31 following the Effective Date (12/31/      ) on payment to the
Operating Partner in case of the amount originally paid by the Operating Partner
to SDI to acquire such shares from SDI without payment of any premium or
interest.

          (E) BANK LOAN DEFAULT.  If the Operating Partner borrows money from a
bank for all or part of the purchase price for his/her purchase of common shares
of Silver Diner pursuant to the mandatory or optional investment provisions set
forth above, which bank loan is secured by a pledge of all of such purchased
shares, then the repayment of such loan shall be effectuated through a payroll
withholding mechanism established between Silver Diner and the applicable bank.
If the Operating Partner nevertheless defaults on such bank loan, the bank
<PAGE>
 
shall have the right to send notice of such default to Silver Diner and request
that Silver Diner repurchase the pledged shares. Silver Diner shall have the
right, but not the obligation, during the ten (10) day period following receipt
of such notice and request from the bank to repurchase the pledged shares in
cash of the amount originally paid by the Operating Partner to SDI, without
payment of any premium or interest. If Silver Diner does not exercise such
repurchase right, the bank may dispose of the pledged shares free of any
restrictions on transferability other than under applicable federal and state
securities laws.

          (F) TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS; LIENS.  All shares of Common Stock acquired
by the Operating Partner pursuant to Sections 4(a) (Mandatory Investment) and
4(b) (Optional Investment) shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 4(d)
(Silver Diner Repurchase Right), 4(e) (Bank Loan Default), 5(a) (Stock Transfer
Restrictions), 5(b) (Stock Dividends, etc.), and 5(d) (Legends) and 5(e) (Escrow
of Shares of Common Stock) for a period of five years following the Effective
Date.

     5.   STOCK TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, VESTING; LEGENDS.

          (A) STOCK TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.  The Operating Partner agrees that
until the Vesting Date occurs with respect to the Common Stock acquired pursuant
to Section 3 or 4 (which Vesting Date appears in the chart contained in Section
3(a)), he/she shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, convey,
give, bequeath, grant a security interest in, otherwise encumber, make a short
sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of,
voluntarily or involuntarily, the Common Stock acquired pursuant to Section 3 or
4 to which the restriction period relates and any such transfer or attempted
transfer shall be void; provided, however, that all provisions of this Section
                        --------  -------                                     
5(a) shall terminate (i) immediately in the event of the Operating Partner's
death and (ii) on Termination by SDI in the event of the Operating Partner's
disability.

          (B) STOCK DIVIDENDS, SPLITS, RECLASSIFICATIONS AND SUBDIVISIONS.  In
the event that SDI, or any successor entity, declares a dividend or makes a
distribution on the Common Stock payable in securities or subdivides or
reclassifies the Common Stock or reorganizes, consolidates, or merges with or
into any other legal entity, then any securities issues as a result of any such
event shall be deemed to constitute part of the shares of Common Stock sold or
Awarded to the Operating Partner and shall be deemed to constitute part of the
shares of Common Stock sold or Awarded to the Operating Partner and shall be
subject to Sections 3, 4 and 5.

          (C) VESTING.  Each share of Common Stock awarded to the Operating
Partner pursuant to Section 3 (i) shall, except for death or disability, as
determined by SDI, be forfeited and canceled without payment of any
consideration to the Operating Partner if this Certificate of Participation is
Terminated (as defined below) during the Restriction Period applicable to such
share of Common Stock or described in Paragraph (a) of Section 5 and (ii) shall
become fully vested upon the expiration of such Restriction Period (the "Vesting
Date").  For purposes of convenience the Vesting Date is shown in the Chart
contained in Section 3(a).

          (D) LEGENDS.  Each certificate representing shares of Common Stock
issued pursuant to this Certificate of Participation shall conspicuously bear a
legend in substantially the following form:

          "The transfer of the Common Stock (by sales, transfer, conveyance,
          gift, bequest, hypothecation, pledge or otherwise) represented by this
          certificate is restricted and the shares of Common Stock are, pursuant
          to the terms of an agreement to which the Corporation is a party, as
          such agreement may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified
          from time to time, subject either (i) to the right of the corporation
          to redeem such shares for cash at a price substantially less than the
          price at which the shares of Common Stock may be trading, or (ii) to
          forfeiture without payment of any consideration and the Corporation
          has a lien on the Common Stock represented by this certificate to
          ensure payment and performance of all obligations thereunder.  A copy
          of the Agreement is on file at the Corporation's office."

          (E)  ESCROW OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.  Each share of Common Stock
issued to the Operating Partner as an Award under Section 3 and each share of
Common Stock acquired by the Operating Partner pursuant
<PAGE>
 
to Section 4(a) (Mandatory Investment) and Section 4(b) (Optional Investment)
will be held in escrow for the benefit of the Operating Partner by the law firm
of Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC or such other escrow agent as may be
designated by SDI from time to time, until the restrictions relating to such
share of Common Stock have been eliminated. If any shares of Common Stock are
pledged as collateral for a loan used to purchase such shares of Common Stock
and if such shares of Common Stock are released from collateral during the
restriction period relating to such shares, then upon their release from
collateral, such shares shall be delivered to the escrow agent described above
for the duration of such restriction period. In the event that a forfeiture of a
share of Common Stock arises under Section 6(b), the forfeited share shall be
released from escrow and delivered to SDI. In the event the restriction period
with respect to a share of Common Stock lapses prior to any forfeiture of such
share, the share of Common Stock shall be released from escrow and delivered
directly to the Operating Partner.

     6.   TERMINATION.

          (A) TERMINATION BY SILVER DINER OR BY THE OPERATING PARTNER.  Silver
Diner reserves the right to terminate the services of the Operating Partner and,
except as provided in Section 6(c), all obligations and liabilities under this
Certificate of Participation at any time for any reason in its sole and absolute
discretion and with or without cause. The Operating Partner reserves the right
to resign and terminate, except as provided in Section 6(c), all obligations and
liabilities under this Certificate of Participation at any time for any reason
in his/her sole and absolute discretion and with or without cause.

          (B) EFFECTS OF TERMINATION.  As used in this Certificate of
Participation, "Termination" shall mean termination pursuant to this Section 6.

              (I)   Following Termination for any reason, other than death or
the determination by Silver Diner of disability, the Operating Partner shall be
entitled to receive the Base Salary which has accrued prior to the date of
Termination, the Profit Participation which has accrued for the month or quarter
preceding the month or quarter in which Termination occurs and that number of
shares of Common Stock acquired by the Operating Partner pursuant to Section 3
(the Award Shares) which shall have been held for the periods of time required
by Section 5 and the Operating Partner's right to the shares of Common Stock
which have not been held for the period of time required by Section 5 shall be
forfeited. In addition, the shares of Common Stock purchased by the Operating
Partner pursuant to Section 4 shall be subject to Silver Diner's option, but not
obligation, to purchase or redeem such shares as provided in Section 4(c)
(Termination) and 4(d) (Bank Loan Default).

              (II)  Following Termination for death or the determination by
Silver Diner of disability, the Operating Partner, and in the event of death,
the representative of the Operating Partner, shall be entitled to receive the
Base Salary which has accrued prior to the date of Termination, the Profit
Participation which has accrued for the month or quarter preceding the month or
quarter in which Termination occurs and all shares of SDI Common Stock issued to
the Operating Partner pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 shall become fully vested and
free and clear of any and all liens, claims or restrictions arising under or by
virtue of this Certificate of Participation.

              (III) Following Termination for any reason, the provisions of
Sections 7 through 20 shall remain in full force and effect.

          (C) EMPLOYMENT AT WILL.  Nothing contained in this Certificate of
Participation shall constitute or be evidence of any agreement or understanding,
express or implied, on the part of Silver Diner to employ the Operating Partner
for any specific period of time or create any obligation or liability other than
as specifically set forth herein and employment of the Operating Partner is and
shall remain an employment at will.
<PAGE>
 
     7.   CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

     The Operating Partner agrees that all Confidential information (as defined
below) relating to Silver Diner or to its business and affairs, including
without limitation, any information whatsoever concerning its organization,
management or finances, shall at all times and notwithstanding that Termination
shall have occurred, be treated as confidential and shall not be used,
disclosed, divulged or otherwise placed at the disposal of any person or entity
except to the extent that (i) the parties hereto may otherwise agree in writing,
(ii) such information is required to be disclosed by law, (iii) such information
is otherwise publicly available other than by reason of a breach by such party
of this Section 7 or (iv) such information is submitted into evidence in any
legal proceedings between or among the parties.

     "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" means all information, records, documents,
accounts and correspondence of every description regarding past, current or
future business activities, interests, methodology or affairs whether written,
recorded or stored by electronic, magnetic, electro-magnetic or other form or
process or otherwise in machine or computer readable form including without
limitation:

          (A)  business plans, research, know-how, development and survey
               information,

          (B)  customer, staff, and all other training manuals and product
               policy manuals, recipes, and

          (C)  planning and marketing strategies, procedures, techniques and
               information.

     8.   NON-COMPETITION.

     The Operating Partner agrees that during the period of time that he/she is
providing services hereunder and for a period ending on the first anniversary of
any Termination:

          (A) The Operating Partner will not engage, without first obtaining
Silver Diner's prior written consent, directly or indirectly within 25 miles of
a then existing Silver Diner Restaurant, in any restaurant business (x) with the
word "Diner" in its name or logo or which is commonly understood to be a diner
or (y) whose menu, trade dress and pricing are substantially similar to that
employed in the Silver Diner Restaurants, whether as employee, officer,
director, partner, joint venture, stockholder (other than the holder of less
than 5% of the stock of a corporation, the securities of which are traded on a
national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market), consultant or
agent.

          (B) The Operating Partner will not engage, without first obtaining
Silver Diner's prior written consent, directly or indirectly, within the United
States, in any restaurant business with the word "Diner" in its name or logo or
which is commonly understood to be a diner, whether as employee, officer,
director, partner, joint venturer, stockholder (other than the holder of less
than 5% of the stock of a corporation, the securities of which are traded on a
national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market), consultant or
agent.

          (C) The Operating Partner will not induce or attempt to persuade any
employee of Silver Diner to terminate his or her employment relationship in
order to enter into employment which is competitive with Silver Diner.
<PAGE>
 
          (D) It is the intent and understanding of each party hereto that if,
in any action before any court or agency legally empowered to enforce the
covenants contained in this Section 8 any term, any restriction, covenant or
promise contained therein is found to be unreasonable and for that reason
unenforceable, then such term, restriction, covenant or promise shall be deemed
modified to the extent necessary to make it enforceable by such court or agency,
and such finding shall not, in any event, affect the enforceability of any other
term, restriction, covenant, or promise herein.

     9.   ENFORCEMENT COSTS.

     If any legal action or other proceeding is brought for the enforcement of
any right provided for in this Certificate of Participation, or because of an
alleged dispute or breach in connection with any provisions of any right
provided for in this Certificate of Participation, the party who shall
substantially prevail shall be entitled to recover from the other party all
reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs and all expenses (even if not taxable as
court costs), including, without limitation, all such fees, costs and expenses
incident to appeals, incurred in connection with such action or proceeding, in
addition to any other relief to which the party may be entitled.

     10.  WITHHOLDING OF TAXES.

     Silver Diner shall, to the extent permitted or required by law, have the
right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Operating
Partner any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be
withheld, including any withholding required on expiration of the restrictions
imposed on the shares of Common Stock awarded or sold to the Operating Partner
pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Participation.

     11.  TERM.

     The Term of this Certificate of Participation shall be five (5) years from
the Effective Date except that the provisions of Sections 5-20 shall survive the
Term.

     12.  APPLICABLE LAW AND VENUE.

     This Certificate of Participation shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland. In the event of any legal or
equitable action arising under this Certificate of Participation, the parties
agree that the jurisdiction and venue of such action shall lie exclusively
within either the state courts of Maryland located in Montgomery County or the
United States District Court for the District of Maryland in Prince George's
County, Maryland, and the parties do hereby waive any other jurisdiction and
venue.

     13.  ASSIGNMENT PROHIBITED.

     This Certificate of Participation is personal to the Operating Partner and
he/she may not assign or alienate any of his/her obligations under this
Certificate of Participation without the written consent of Silver Diner. This
Certificate of Participation shall be binding upon Silver Diner and its
successors and assigns.

     14.  SEVERABILITY.

     If any part of this Certificate of Participation is contrary to, prohibited
by, or deemed invalid under applicable law or regulations, such provision shall
be inapplicable and deemed omitted to the extent so contrary, prohibited or
invalid, but the remainder of this Certificate of Participation shall not be
invalid and shall be given full force and effect so far as possible.
<PAGE>
 
     15.  WAIVERS.

     The failure or delay of either party at any time to require performance by
the other of any provision of this Certificate of Participation, even if known,
shall not affect the right of such party to require performance of that
provision or to exercise any right, power or remedy hereunder, and any waiver by
either party of any breach of any provision of this Certificate of Participation
shall not be construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of
such provision, a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right,
power or remedy under this Certificate of Participation.  No notice to or demand
on either party in any case shall, of itself, entitle such party to any other or
further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

     16.  REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.

     No remedy conferred upon any party pursuant to this Certificate of
Participation is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and
every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other
remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law, in equity, by
statute or otherwise.  No single or partial exercise by any party of any right,
power or remedy hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof.

     17.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

     The parties hereto hereby irrevocably covenant and agree not to elect a
trial by jury of any issues triable by a jury and waive any right to trial by
jury fully to the extent any such right should now or hereafter exist. This
waiver of right to a trial by jury is separately given, knowingly and
voluntarily but the Operating Partner and Silver Diner and this waiver is
intended to incorporate individually each instance and each issue as to which
the right to a trial by jury would otherwise occur.

     18.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS.

     This Certificate of Participation incorporates the entire agreement between
the parties with respect to the subject matter of the Certificate of
Participation, and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous agreements,
negotiations or discussions between the parties with respect to employment,
compensation and benefits and no change or modification shall be valid unless
made in writing and signed by both the parties.

     19.  NOTICES.

     All notices, consents, approvals and other communications given or made
pursuant hereto shall be in writing and shall be (a) delivered personally, (b)
by overnight courier, (c) transmitted by telecopier, or (d) by registered or
certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), in each case to the
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):

          (A)  if to Silver Diner:

               Silver Diner, Inc.
               11806 Rockville Pike
               Rockville, Maryland 20852
               Attention: President

          (B)  if to the Operating Partner at the address maintained by Silver
               Diner for the Operating Partner.

     20.  This Certificate of Participation may be executed in counterparts, all
of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, it being understood
that all parties hereto need not sign the same counterpart.
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Certificate of
Participation as of the date first set forth above.

                              Silver Diner, Inc.

                              Silver Diner Development, Inc.


Date:__________________      By:_______________________________
                                  Robert T. Giaimo, President


Date:__________________      By:_______________________________
                                             , Operating Partner

By his or her signature above, the Operating Partner agrees to make the $12,500
minimum investment in Silver Diner pursuant to Section 4(a) and the Operating
Partner agrees to make an optional investment in Silver Diner of $______________
pursuant to Section 4(b).

                           CONFIRMATION OF PURCHASE
                           ------------------------

By the execution of this Confirmation of Purchase, the Operating Partner and
Silver Diner, Inc. acknowledge that the Operating Partner has completed the
purchase of Silver Diner, Inc. stock in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4(a) as of the _____ day of _________, 199__.


                             Silver Diner, Inc.

                             Silver Diner Development, Inc.


Date:__________________      By:_______________________________
                                  Robert T. Giaimo, President


Date:__________________      By:_______________________________
                                             , Operating Partner
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      APPENDIX I
                                   to Certificate and Agreement of Participation


           OPERATING PARTNER QUARTERLY POSITIVE SALES PROFIT SHARING
           ---------------------------------------------------------

     1.   If there are positive same Store sales for the quarter in question
(sales exceed target), the Operating Partner's share of the Restaurant Income
will be two percent (2%).

     2.   For existing Stores, the quarter sales target will be based upon sales
in the corresponding fiscal quarter for the prior fiscal year.

     3.   For new Stores, the quarterly sales target will be based upon a budget
to be established by Silver Diner for the fiscal quarter in which the Store is
opened and for the next four quarters. Such budget will be based upon an
estimate of the market for each particular location and Silver Diner's
investment in the Diner at each location. A sales target for the next two
quarters (5th and 6th) will be based upon the 3rd and 4th quarters (seasonally
adjusted). It is anticipated that this method will factor out the "honeymoon"
performance of a new Store from opening through the 1st and 2nd full quarters.
Commencing with the 7th full quarter after the Store opening, the sales target
will be based upon the sales in the corresponding quarter of the prior fiscal
year.

     4.   Recognizing that circumstances could occasionally cause a Store's
sales for any quarter to be less than the corresponding quarter of the prior
fiscal year, the Quarterly Positive Sales Profit Sharing will be paid if the
Store's year-to-date sales equal or exceed targeted year-to-date sales.

     5.   In preparing sales targets and in comparing quarterly sales with sales
in prior periods, Silver Diner will take into account the occasional impact of
53-week fiscal years.

                                     * * *

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.32

                         VERSION FOR 1997 CERTIFICATES
                         -----------------------------
                              ISSUED AFTER 1/1/97
                              -------------------


                     RESTAURANT OPERATING PARTNER PROGRAM
                     ------------------------------------


                       ADDENDUM NO. _______ TO A CERTAIN
                  CERTIFICATE AND AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION
                           IN THE SILVER DINER, INC.
                     RESTAURANT OPERATING PARTNER PROGRAM
(THE "CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION")


     This Addendum No. ______ to that certain Certificate and Agreement of
Participation ("Certificate of Participation") by and between Silver Diner, Inc.
and its wholly-owned subsidiary Silver Diner Development, Inc. and
____________________________ is made as of this ____ day of _______________,
1998.

                                   RECITALS

     R-1.  All defined terms in the Certificate of Participation shall have the
same meanings as in this Addendum No. ______.

     R-2.  Silver Diner has introduced a restaurant operating partner program
originally designated as the "Silver Diner, Inc. Restaurant Owner Operator
Program" but now designated as the "Silver Diner, Inc. Restaurant Operating
Partner Program" (the "Operating Partner Program") to be implemented in part
through this Certificate of Participation.

     R-3.  Silver Diner wishes to make certain refinements to the Operating
Partner Program as it relates to existing and future managers who desire to
become operating partners under the Operating Partner Program.

     It is mutually agreed that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Certificate of Participation, the following shall apply:

     (1)  All references in the Certificate of Participation to "Owner Operator"
shall be modified so as to constitute references to "Operating Partner".

     (2)  Paragraph (b) of Section 2 is hereby amended and restated in its
entirety to read as follows:

                    (b)  MONTHLY PROFIT SHARING. The Operating Partner
               shall be entitled to receive in cash five percent (5%)
               of the monthly Restaurant Operating Income (as defined
               below) of the Restaurant, which amount shall be paid to
               the Operating Partner within thirty (30) days of the
               close of the month, subject to the terms and conditions
               of this paragraph. As used in this Certificate of
               Participation:

                    .      A month shall mean that period of time as reflective
                           of the monthly accounting period then being used by
                           Silver Diner for financial reporting purposes, which
                           period now consists of four weeks or 28 days, and
<PAGE>
 
                    .      Restaurant Operating Income shall mean the net sales
                           of the Restaurant determined by SDI in accordance
                           with generally accepted accounting principles
                           consistently applied ("GAAP") for the month less (i)
                           cost of sales, (ii) labor (including all salary and
                           cash or stock bonus payments other than Monthly
                           Profit-Sharing and Quarterly Profit-Sharing payments
                           made to the Operating Partner under this Section 2),
                           (iii) operating expenses of the Restaurant (including
                           allocated corporate expenses on behalf of the
                           Restaurant, such as advertising and menu costs not to
                           exceed 5% on an annual basis), and (iv) a deemed
                           annual occupancy cost of $295,000 with respect to all
                           facilities other than the Rockville facility (the
                           occupancy costs of which shall be separately
                           determined).

               SDI will establish targeted margins for the Restaurant. If the
               actual margin experience with respect to any month falls below
               the targeted margin for such month by two percent (2%) or more,
               then no payment of the above-referenced five percent (5%) profit-
               sharing amount will be paid until a determination is made of the
               actual margin experience for the quarter in which such month
               occurred. If the actual margin for the Restaurant with respect to
               such quarter does not fall below the targeted margin for the
               quarter by two percent (2%) or more, than any prior deferred
               monthly payments of the profit-sharing amount will be paid over
               to the Operating Partner within thirty (30) days of the close of
               the quarter.

               If the actual margin for the Restaurant falls below the targeted
               margin for the quarter by two percent (2%) or more, then no
               monthly profit-sharing payments will be made to the Operating
               Partner with respect to such quarter and any monthly profit-
               sharing payments previously made to such Operating Partner during
               the quarter will be treated as unearned payments which will
               reduce, on a dollar for dollar basis, profit-sharing payments
               otherwise payable to such Operating Partner with respect to
               future months of operation.

     (3)  A new Paragraph (d) is added to Section 2 to read as follows:

                    (D)  QUARTERLY OPERATIONAL GOAL PROFIT-SHARING.  The
               Operating Partner shall be entitled to receive in cash two
               percent (2%) of the Restaurant Operating Income for each fiscal
               quarter if his/her Restaurant achieves its operational goal for
               such quarter. For these purposes, SDI will establish on a
               periodic basis the criteria (such as favorable exit interviews)
               to be used to target and measure operational goals for each
               quarter. Such measurement methodology shall be communicated to
               the Operating Partner prior to the commencement of the time
               period to which the standard of measurement will apply."
<PAGE>
 
     (4)  Paragraph (a) of Section 3 is amended and restated in its entirety to
read as follows:

                    (A)  ANNUAL AWARDS.  Subject to the terms of Section 5 and
               prior to any termination under Section 6 and subject to the
               annual approval of the Board of Directors of SDI, the Operating
               Partner shall be awarded on a calendar basis that number of
               shares of Common Stock as shall be determined by dividing (i) the
               closing price of the shares of Common Stock on the NASDAQ
               National Market System on the day immediately preceding each
               Award Date into (ii) the Award Amount, as defined below. The
               Board of Directors has specifically reserved the right to review
               performance on an annual basis and, in its sole discretion, to
               reduce or eliminate the maximum Award Amount otherwise payable to
               the Operating Partner pursuant to the following schedule, if
               appropriate.

               For these purposes, the first Award Date constituted the first
               anniversary of the Effective Date. The Award Amount with respect
               to the first Award Date was $5,000. Subsequent Award Dates shall
               occur on the December 31 of each subsequent calendar year
               commencing on and after January 1, 1998. The Award Amount with
               respect to the second Award Date (consisting of December 31,
               1998) shall be computed by multiplying (i) an amount of up to a
               maximum of $7,500 by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is
               the number of days occurring between the first anniversary of the
               Effective Date and December 31, 1998 and the denominator of which
               is 365. The Award Amount with respect to future Award Dates,
               together with the Vesting Date, as described in Section 5(c), for
               each Award and the Vesting Date for the Silver Diner Stock
               Investment is set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  END OF RESTRICTION
                                                                       PERIOD AND
     AWARD AMOUNT                       AWARD DATE                    VESTING DATE
     ------------                       ----------                    ------------
     <S>                              <C>                         <C> 
     Stock acquired pursuant          Effective Date              Sixth December 31
     to Section 4(a) (Mandatory                                   occurring after the
     Investment) and Section                                      Effective Date (12/31/__)
     4(b) (Optional Investment)
 
     $5,000                           First Anniversary of the    Fifth December 31
                                      Effective Date              following date of the
                                      (__/__/__)                  Award (12/31/__)
 
     Pro-rata portion of              2nd December 31 following   Fourth December 31
     up to a maximum of               Effective Date (12/31/__)   following date of the
     $7,500 as described                                          Award (12/31/__)
     above
 
     Up to a maximum of               3rd  December 31 follow-    Third December 31
     $7,500                           ing Effective Date -        following date of the
                                      (12/31/  )                  Award - (12/31/   )
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                 <C>                        <C> 
     Up to a maximum of             4th  December 31 follow-   Third December 31
     $7,500                         ing Effective Date -       following date of the
                                    (12/31/  )                 Award - (12/31/   )
 
     Up to a maximum of             5th  December 31 follow-   Third December 31
     $10,000                        ing Effective Date -       following date of the
                                    (12/31/  )                 Award - (12/31/  )
 
     Up to a maximum of             6th December 31 follow-    Third December 31
     $10,000                        ing Effective Date -       following date of the
                                    (12/31/  )                 Award - (12/31/  )
</TABLE>

     (5)  Paragraphs (d) and (e) of Section 4 are amended and restated to read
     as follows:

               (D)  SILVER DINER REPURCHASE RIGHT.  Silver Diner shall have the
          option, but not the obligation, to purchase the shares of Common Stock
          acquired by the Operating Partner pursuant to Sections 4(a) and 4(b)
          at any time during the ninety (90) day period following Termination of
          this Certification of Participation (except if Termination is by
          reason of death or disability as provided below) if Termination occurs
          at any time prior to the sixth (6th) December 31 following the
          Effective Date (12/31/      ) on payment to the Operating Partner in
          case of the amount originally paid by the Operating Partner to SDI to
          acquire such shares from SDI without payment of any premium or
          interest.

          (E)  BANK LOAN DEFAULT.  If the Operating Partner borrows money from a
          bank for all or part of the purchase price for his/her purchase of
          common shares of Silver Diner pursuant to the mandatory or optional
          investment provisions set forth above, which bank loan is secured by a
          pledge of all of such purchased shares, then the repayment of such
          loan shall be effectuated through a payroll withholding mechanism
          established between Silver Diner and the applicable bank. If the
          Operating Partner nevertheless defaults on such bank loan, the bank
          shall have the right to send notice of such default to Silver Diner
          and request that Silver Diner repurchase the pledged shares. Silver
          Diner shall have the right, but not the obligation, during the ten
          (10) day period following receipt of such notice and request from the
          bank to repurchase the pledged shares in cash of the amount originally
          paid by the Operating Partner to SDI, without payment of any premium
          or interest. If Silver Diner does not exercise such repurchase right,
          the bank may dispose of the pledged shares free of any restrictions on
          transferability other than under applicable federal and state
          securities laws.

     (6)  Paragraph (a) of Section 5 is amended and restated to read as follows:

               (A)  STOCK TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.  The Operating Partner agrees
          that until the Vesting Date occurs with respect to the Common Stock
          acquired pursuant to Section 3 or 4 (which Vesting Date appears in the
          chart contained in Section 3(a)), he/she shall not, directly or
          indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, convey, give, bequeath, grant a
          security interest in, otherwise encumber, make a short sale of, loan,
          grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of,
          voluntarily or involuntarily, the Common Stock acquired pursuant to
          Section 3 or 4 to which the restriction period relates and any such
          transfer or attempted transfer shall be void; provided, however, that
                                                        --------  -------      
          all provisions of this Section 5(a) 
<PAGE>
 
          shall terminate (i) immediately in the event of the Operating
          Partner's death and (ii) on Termination by SDI in the event of the
          Operating Partner's disability.

     (7)  Paragraph (c) of Section 5 is hereby amended and restated to read as
          follows:

               (C)  VESTING.  Each share of Common Stock awarded to the
          Operating Partner pursuant to Section 3(i) shall, except for death or
          disability, as determined by SDI, be forfeited and canceled without
          payment of any consideration to the Operating Partner if this
          Certificate of Participation is Terminated (as defined below) during
          the Restriction Period applicable to such share of Common Stock as
          described in Paragraph (a) of Section 5 and (ii) shall become fully
          vested upon the expiration of such Restriction Period (the "Vesting
          Date").  For purposes of convenience the Vesting Date is shown in the
          Chart contained in Section 3(a).

     (8)  A new Paragraph (e) is hereby added to Section 5 to read as follows:

               (E)  ESCROW OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.  Each share of Common
          Stock issued to the Operating Partner as an Award under Section 3 and
          each share of Common Stock acquired by the Operating Partner pursuant
          to Section 4(a) (Mandatory Investment) and Section 4(b) (Optional
          Investment) will be held in escrow for the benefit of the Operating
          Partner by the law firm of Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC or
          such other escrow agent as may be designated by SDI from time to time,
          until the restrictions relating to such share of Common Stock have
          been eliminated.  If any shares of Common Stock are pledged as
          collateral for a loan used to purchase such shares of Common Stock and
          if such shares of Common Stock are released from collateral during the
          restriction period relating to such shares, then upon their release
          from collateral, such shares shall be delivered to the escrow agent
          described above for the duration of such restriction period. In the
          event that a forfeiture of a share of Common Stock arises under
          Section 6(b), the forfeited share shall be released from escrow and
          delivered to SDI. In the event the restriction period with respect to
          a share of Common Stock lapses prior to any forfeiture of such share,
          the share of Common Stock shall be released from escrow and delivered
          directly to the Operating Partner.


                                             Silver Diner, Inc.

                                             Silver Diner Development, Inc.


Date: __________________                     By: _____________________________
                                                  Robert T. Giaimo, President



Date: __________________                     _________________________________
                                             _____________, Operating Partner

<PAGE>
 
Exhibit 10.33

                         VERSION FOR 1997 CERTIFICATES
                         -----------------------------
                               ISSUED ON 1/1/97
                               ----------------


                     RESTAURANT OPERATING PARTNER PROGRAM
                     ------------------------------------


                       ADDENDUM NO. _______ TO A CERTAIN
                  CERTIFICATE AND AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION
                           IN THE SILVER DINER, INC.
                     RESTAURANT OPERATING PARTNER PROGRAM
(THE "CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION")


     This Addendum No. ______ to that certain Certificate and Agreement of
Participation ("Certificate of Participation") by and between Silver Diner, Inc.
and its wholly-owned subsidiary Silver Diner Development, Inc. and
____________________________ is made as of this ____ day of _______________,
1998.

                                   RECITALS

     R-1.  All defined terms in the Certificate of Participation shall have the
same meanings as in this Addendum No. ______.

     R-2.  Silver Diner has introduced a restaurant operating partner program
originally designated as the "Silver Diner, Inc. Restaurant Owner Operator
Program" but now designated as the "Silver Diner, Inc. Restaurant Operating
Partner Program" (the "Operating Partner Program") to be implemented in part
through this Certificate of Participation.

     R-3.  Silver Diner wishes to make certain refinements to the Operating
Partner Program as it relates to existing and future managers who desire to
become operating partners under the Operating Partner Program.

     It is mutually agreed that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Certificate of Participation, the following shall apply:

     (1)   All references in the Certificate of Participation to "Owner
Operator" shall be modified so as to constitute references to "Operating
Partner".

     (2)   Paragraph (b) of Section 2 is hereby amended and restated in its
entirety to read as follows:

                  (B)  MONTHLY PROFIT SHARING. The Operating Partner shall be
                entitled to receive in cash five percent (5%) of the monthly
                Restaurant Operating Income (as defined below) of the
                Restaurant, which amount shall be paid to the Operating Partner
                within thirty (30) days of the close of the month, subject to
                the terms and conditions of this paragraph. As used in this
                Certificate of Participation:

                  .       A month shall mean that period of time as reflective
                          of the monthly accounting period then being used by
                          Silver Diner for financial reporting purposes, which
                          period now consists of four weeks or 28 days, and
<PAGE>
 
               .    Restaurant Operating Income shall mean the net sales of the
                    Restaurant determined by SDI in accordance with generally
                    accepted accounting principles consistently applied ("GAAP")
                    for the month less (i) cost of sales, (ii) labor (including
                                  ----
                    all salary and cash or stock bonus payments other than
                    Monthly Profit-Sharing and Quarterly Profit-Sharing payments
                    made to the Operating Partner under this Section 2), (iii)
                    operating expenses of the Restaurant (including allocated
                    corporate expenses on behalf of the Restaurant, such as
                    advertising and menu costs not to exceed 5% on an annual
                    basis), and (iv) a deemed annual occupancy cost of $295,000
                    with respect to all facilities other than the Rockville
                    facility (the occupancy costs of which shall be separately
                    determined).

               SDI will establish targeted margins for the Restaurant. If the
          actual margin experience with respect to any month falls below the
          targeted margin for such month by two percent (2%) or more, then no
          payment of the above-referenced five percent (5%) profit-sharing
          amount will be paid until a determination is made of the actual margin
          experience for the quarter in which such month occurred. If the actual
          margin for the Restaurant with respect to such quarter does not fall
          below the targeted margin for the quarter by two percent (2%) or more,
          than any prior deferred monthly payments of the profit-sharing amount
          will be paid over to the Operating Partner within thirty (30) days of
          the close of the quarter.

               If the actual margin for the Restaurant falls below the targeted
          margin for the quarter by two percent (2%) or more, then no monthly
          profit-sharing payments will be made to the Operating Partner with
          respect to such quarter and any monthly profit-sharing payments
          previously made to such Operating Partner during the quarter will be
          treated as unearned payments which will reduce, on a dollar for dollar
          basis, profit-sharing payments otherwise payable to such Operating
          Partner with respect to future months of operation.

  (3)  A new Paragraph (d) is added to Section 2 to read as follows:

               (D)  QUARTERLY OPERATIONAL GOAL PROFIT-SHARING.  The Operating
          Partner shall be entitled to receive in cash two percent (2%) of the
          Restaurant Operating Income for each fiscal quarter if his/her
          Restaurant achieves its operational goal for such quarter. For these
          purposes, SDI will establish on a periodic basis the criteria (such as
          favorable exit interviews) to be used to target and measure
          operational goals for each quarter. Such measurement methodology shall
          be communicated to the Operating Partner prior to the commencement of
          the time period to which the standard of measurement will apply.
<PAGE>
 
     (4)  Paragraph (a) of Section 3 is hereby amended and restated to read as
follows:

                    (A)  ANNUAL AWARDS. Subject to the terms of Section 5 and
               prior to any Termination under Section 6 and subject to the
               annual approval of the Board of Directors of SDI, the Owner
               Operator shall be awarded on the 365th day following commencement
               of the quarter occurring immediately after the quarter in which
               the Effective Date occurs and on each subsequent anniversary of
               such commencement (each such date being referred to as the "Award
               Date") that number of shares of Common Stock as determined by
               dividing the closing price of the shares of Common Stock on the
               NASDAQ National Market System on the day immediately preceding
               each Award Date into:

               .    Up to a maximum of $5,000 for the first anniversary
                    following the Award Date

               .    Up to a maximum of $7,500 for each of the second and third
                    anniversaries following the Award Date, and

               .    Up to a maximum of $10,000 for the fourth and fifth
                    anniversaries following the Award Date.

     For these purposes, the Board of Directors of Silver Diner has specifically
reserved the right to review performance on an annual basis and, in its sole
discretion, to reduce or eliminate the amount of the Annual Award otherwise
payable to the Operating Partner pursuant to the above schedule, if appropriate.

     (5)  A new Paragraph (e) is added to Section 4 to read as follows:

                    (E)  BANK LOAN DEFAULT. If the Operating Partner borrows
               money from a bank for all or part of the purchase price for
               his/her purchase of common shares of Silver Diner pursuant to the
               mandatory or optional investment provisions set forth above,
               which bank loan is secured by a pledge of all of such purchased
               shares, then the repayment of such loan shall be effectuated
               through a payroll withholding mechanism established between
               Silver Diner and the applicable bank. If the Operating Partner
               nevertheless defaults on such bank loan, the bank shall have the
               right to send notice of such default to Silver Diner and request
               that Silver Diner repurchase the pledged shares. Silver Diner
               shall have the right, but not the obligation, during the ten (10)
               day period following receipt of such notice and request from the
               bank to repurchase the pledged shares in cash of the amount
               originally paid by the Operating Partner to SDI, without payment
               of any premium or interest. If Silver Diner does not exercise
               such repurchase right, the bank may dispose of the pledged shares
               free of any restrictions on transferability other than under
               applicable federal and state securities laws.

     (6)  A new Paragraph (e) is added to Section 5 to read as follows:

                    (E)  ESCROW OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK. Each share of Common
               Stock issued to the Operating Partner as an Award under Section 3
               and each share of Common Stock acquired by the Operating Partner
               pursuant to Section 4(a) (Mandatory Investment) and Section 4(b)
               (Optional Investment) will be held in escrow for the benefit of
               the Operating Partner by the law firm of Arent Fox Kintner
               Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC or such other escrow agent as may be
               designated by SDI from time to time, until the restrictions
               relating to such share
<PAGE>
 
               of Common Stock have been eliminated. If any shares of Common
               Stock are pledged as collateral for a loan used to purchase such
               shares of Common Stock and if such shares of Common Stock are
               released from collateral during the restriction period relating
               to such shares, then upon their release from collateral, such
               shares shall be delivered to the escrow agent described above for
               the duration of such restriction period. In the event that a
               forfeiture of a share of Common Stock arises under Section 6(b),
               the forfeited share shall be released from escrow and delivered
               to SDI. In the event the restriction period with respect to a
               share of Common Stock lapses prior to any forfeiture of such
               share, the share of Common Stock shall be released from escrow
               and delivered directly to the Operating Partner.


                              Silver Diner, Inc.
                              Silver Diner Development, Inc.



Date: __________________      By: ____________________________
                                   Robert T. Giaimo, President



Date: __________________      _______________________________
                              ____________, Operating Partner

<PAGE>
 
Exhibit 10.34


                              SILVER DINER, INC.
                               STOCK OPTION PLAN
                          (AS AMENDED MARCH 4, 1998)

     1.   PURPOSE

     This Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") for Silver Diner, Inc. (the "Company")
is intended to provide incentive to officers and other key employees of the
Company by providing those persons with opportunities to purchase shares of the
Company's Common Stock under (a) incentive stock options ("Incentive Stock
Options") as such term is defined under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended and (b) other stock options ("Non-Qualified Options").

     2.   DEFINITIONS

     As used in this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings indicated:

     (a)  "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

     (b)  "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     (c)  "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the
Company.

     (d)  "Company" shall mean Silver Diner, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     (e)  "Disability" shall mean an Optionee's inability to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted
or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12)
months.

     (f)  "Fair Market Value" per share as of a particular date shall mean (i)
the closing sales price per share of Common Stock on the principal national
securities exchange, if any, on which the shares of Common Stock shall then be
listed for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common
Stock on such exchange, or (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are not then
listed on a national securities exchange, the last sales price per share of
Common Stock entered on a national inter-dealer quotation system for the last
preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common Stock on such national
inter-dealer quotation system, or (iii) if no closing or last sales price per
share of Common Stock is entered on a national inter-dealer quotation system,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the shares of Common Stock
in the over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there was a
quotation for such Common Stock in such market, or (iv) if no price can be
determined under the preceding alternatives, then the price per share as most
recently determined by the Board, which shall make such determinations of value
at least once annually.

     (g)  "Incentive Stock Option" means one or more options to purchase Common
Stock which, at the time such options are granted under this Plan or any other
such plan of the Company, qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422
of the Code.

     (h)  "Non-Qualified Option" shall mean any Option that is not an Incentive
Stock Option.

     (i)  "Option Price" shall mean the purchase price of shares of Common Stock
covered by an Option.

     (j)  "Parent" shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an
unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of
granting an Option, each of the corporations other than the 
<PAGE>
 
Company owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such
chain.

     (k)  "Plan" shall mean this Stock Option Plan.

     (l)  "Option" shall mean any option issued pursuant to this Plan.

     (m)  "Optionee" shall mean any person to whom an Option is granted under
this Plan.

     (n)  "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an
unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of
granting an Option, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in
the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.

     (o)  "Ten Percent Shareholder" shall mean an Optionee who, at the time an
Option is granted, owns directly or indirectly (within the meaning of section
425(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, its Parent or a
Subsidiary.

     3.   GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.

     (a)  The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee consisting
of three or more members of the Board (the "Committee") as shall be established
by the Board.

     (b)  The Board (or Committee, if applicable), shall have the authority in
its discretion, subject to and not inconsistent with the express provisions of
the Plan, to administer the Plan and to exercise all the powers and authorities
either specifically granted to the Board (or Committee, if applicable) under the
Plan or necessary or advisable in the administration of the Plan, including,
without limitation, the authority to grant Options; to determine the Option
Price; to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Options
shall be granted; to determine the number of shares to be covered by each
Option; to interpret the Plan; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and
regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and provisions of the
Option Agreements (which need not be identical) entered into in connection with
Options granted under the Plan; and to make all other determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  All powers granted
to the Board under the Plan shall be deemed granted to the Committee if the
Committee is established.

     (c)  No member of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action
taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Option
granted hereunder.

     4.   GRANTING OF OPTIONS

     Options may be granted under the Plan at any time prior to September 11,
2006.

     5.   ELIGIBILITY

     (a)  Options may be granted to any director, officer key employee or
outside consultant of the Company. In determining from time to time the officers
and employees to whom Options shall be granted and the number of shares to be
covered by each Option, the Board shall take into account the duties of the
respective officers and employees, their present and potential contributions to
the success of the Company and such other factors as the Board shall deem
relevant in connection with accomplishing the purposes of the Plan.

     (b)  At the time of the grant of each Option under the Plan, the Board
shall determine whether such Option is to be designated an Incentive Stock
Option. Incentive Stock Options shall not be granted to a director who is not an
employee of the Company. The length of the exercise period of Incentive Stock
Options shall be governed by Section 7(e)(1) of the Plan; the exercise period of
all other Options will be governed by Section 7(e)(2).
<PAGE>
 
     (c)  An Option designated an Incentive Stock Option can, prior to its
exercise, be changed to a Non-Qualified Option if the Optionee consents to amend
his Option Agreement to provide that the exercise period of such Option will be
governed by Section 7(e)(2) of the Plan.

     6.   STOCK

     (a)  The stock subject to the Options shall be shares of the Common Stock.
Such shares may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued shares
contributed directly by the Company or shares which shall have been or which may
be acquired by the Company. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as to
which Options may be granted from time to time under the Plan shall be 1,200
shares. The limitation established by the preceding sentence shall be subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 7(i) hereof.

     (b)  If any outstanding Option under the Plan for any reason expires or is
terminated without having been exercised in full, the shares of Common Stock
allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option shall (unless the Plan shall
have been terminated) become available for subsequent grants of Options under
the Plan.

     7.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

     Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by Option
Agreements in such forms as the Board may from time to time approve. Options
shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

     (a)  Option Price. Each Option shall state the Option Price, which in the
          ------------                                                        
case of Incentive Stock Options shall be not less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of
grant of the Option; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder, the Option Price shall not be less
than one hundred ten percent (110%) of such fair market value. The Option Price
per share for Non-Qualified Options shall not be less than the par value of a
share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option. The Option Price shall
be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7 (i) hereof. The date on which
the Board adopts a resolution expressly granting an Option shall be considered
the day on which such Option is granted.

     (b)  Restrictions. Any Common Stock issued under the Plan may contain
          ------------                                                    
restrictions including, but not limited to, limitations on transferability that
may constitute substantial risks of forfeiture, as the Board may determine.

     (c)  Value of Shares. Options may be granted to any eligible person for
          ---------------                                                   
shares of Common Stock of any value, provided that the aggregate Fair Market
Value (determined at the time the Option is granted) of the stock with respect
to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the
Optionee during any calendar year (under all the plans of the Company, its
Parent and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000.

     (d)  Medium and Time of Payment. The Option Price shall be paid in full, at
          --------------------------                                            
the time of exercise, in cash or, with the approval of the Board, in shares of
Common Stock having a fair market value in the aggregate equal to such Option
Price or in a combination of cash and such shares.
<PAGE>
 
     (e)  Term and Exercise of Options.
          ---------------------------- 

          (1)  Unless the applicable Option Agreement otherwise provides, each
Option shall become vested and first exercisable in the following installments:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
              Year                 Percentage Exercisable
              ----                 ----------------------
       <S>                         <C> 
       Less than Two Years                   0%                   

           Two Years                        20%                   

           Three Years                      20%                   

           Four Years                       25%                   

           Five Years                       35%                    
</TABLE>

          (2)  Incentive Stock Options shall be exercisable over the exercise
period specified by the Board in the Option Agreement, but in no event shall
such period exceed ten (10) years from the date of the grant of each such
Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder, the exercise period shall not
exceed five (5) years from the date of grant of such Option. The exercise period
shall be subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 7(f) and 7(g)
hereof. An Incentive Stock Option may be exercised, as to any or all full shares
of Common Stock as to which the Incentive Stock Option has become exercisable,
by giving written notice of such exercise to the Board; provided that an
Incentive Stock Option may not be exercised at any one time as to less than 100
shares (or such number of shares as to which the Incentive Stock Option is then
exercisable if such number of shares is less than 100).

          (3)  Non-Qualified Options shall be exercisable over a period not to
exceed ten (10) years.

     (f)  Termination of Employment. Except as provided in this Section 7(f) and
          -------------------------                                             
Section 7(g) hereof, an Option may not be exercised by persons who are not
outside consultants to the Company unless the Optionee is then a director of or
in the employ of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company (or a
corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of such corporation issuing or assuming
the Option in a transaction to which Section 425(a) of the Code applies), and
unless the Optionee has remained continuously a director or so employed since
the date of grant of the Option. In the event all association of an Optionee
(other than an outside consultant) with the Company (as an employee, or director
or both) shall terminate (other than by reason of death or Disability), all
Options or unexercised portions thereof granted to such Optionee which are then
exercisable may, unless earlier terminated in accordance with their terms, be
exercised within thirty (30) days after such termination; provided, however,
that if the association of the Optionee with the Company shall terminate for
"cause" (as determined by the Board), all Options theretofore granted to such
Optionee shall, to the extent not theretofore exercised, terminate forthwith. A
bona fide leave of absence shall not be considered a termination or break in
continuity of employment for any purpose of the Plan so long as the period of
such leave does not exceed ninety (90) days or such longer period during which
the Optionee's right to reemployment is guaranteed by statute or by contract.
Where the period of such leave exceeds ninety (90) days and the Optionee's right
to reemployment is not guaranteed, the Optionee's employment will be deemed to
have terminated on the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave. Nothing in the
Plan or in any Option granted pursuant hereto shall confer upon an employee any
right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its divisions or Parent
or Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any
such divisions or Parent or Subsidiary to terminate or change the terms of such
employment at any time.

     (g)  Death or Disability of Optionee. If an Optionee who was an outside
          -------------------------------                                   
consultant when his Option was granted shall die or if an Optionee shall die
while a director of or employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of
the Company, or if the Optionee's employment shall terminate by reason of
Disability, all Options theretofore granted to such Optionee may, unless earlier
terminated in accordance with their terms, be exercised by the Optionee or by
the personal representative of the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired
the right to exercise such Option by bequest or inheritance or otherwise by
reason of death of the Optionee, at any time within 
<PAGE>
 
nine (9) months after the date of death or Disability of the Optionee, but in no
event later than the date of expiration of the Option, provided that during the
lifetime of the Optionee any Option granted to him may be exercised only by the
Optionee.

     (h)  Nontransferability of Options. Options granted under the Plan shall
          -----------------------------
not be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution, and Options may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee,
only by the Optionee. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Board, in its
sole discretion, permit the assignment or transfer of a Non-Qualified Option and
the exercise thereof by a person other than an Optionee, on such terms and
conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may determine. Any such terms
shall be determined at the time the Non-Qualified Option is granted, and shall
be set forth in the Option Agreement.

     (i)  Effect of Certain Changes.
          ------------------------- 

          (1)  If there is any change in the number of shares of Common Stock
through the declaration of stock dividends, recapitalization resulting in stock
splits, or combinations or exchanges of such shares, then the number of shares
of Common Stock available for Options, the number of such shares covered by
outstanding Options, and the price per share of such Options shall be
proportionately adjusted to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of
issued shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that any fractional shares
resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated.

          (2)  In the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, or in the event of any corporate separation or division, including but
not limited to, a split-up, a split-off or spin-off, the Board may provide that
the holder of each Option then exercisable shall have the right to exercise such
Option (at its then Option Price) solely for the kind and amount of shares of
stock and other securities, property, cash or any combination thereof receivable
upon such dissolutions or liquidation, or corporate separation or division; or
the Board may provide, in the alternative, that each Option granted under the
Plan shall terminate as of a date to be fixed by the Board, provided, however,
that no less than thirty (30) days' written notice of the date so fixed shall be
given to each Optionee, who shall have the right, during the period of thirty
(30) days preceding such termination, to exercise the Options as to all or any
part of the shares of Common Stock covered thereby, including shares as to which
such Options would not otherwise be exercisable.

          (3)  If while unexercised Options remain outstanding under the Plan
(i) the Company executes a definitive agreement to merge or consolidate with or
into another corporation or to sell or otherwise dispose of substantially all
its assets, (ii) more than 50% of the Company's then outstanding voting stock is
acquired by any person or group or (iii) Robert T. Giaimo ceases to be President
of the Company (any such event being an "Accelerating Event") then from and
after the date of any such agreement or the date on which public announcement of
the acquisition of such percentage shall have been made or the date on which Mr.
Giaimo ceases to be President of the Company (any such date being referred to
herein as the "Acceleration Date"), all Options shall be exercisable in full,
whether or not otherwise exercisable. Following the Acceleration Date, (a) the
Board shall, in the case of a merger, consolidation or sale or disposition of
assets, promptly make an appropriate adjustment to the number and class of
shares of Common Stock available for Options, and to the amount and kind of
shares or other securities or property receivable upon exercise of any
outstanding Options after the effective date of such transaction, and the price
thereof, and (b) the Board may, in its discretion, permit the cancellation of
outstanding Options in exchange for a cash payment in an amount per share
subject to any such option determined by the Board in its sole discretion, but
not less than the difference between the Option Price per share and the Fair
Market Value per share of Common stock on the Acceleration Date.

          (4)  Paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Section 7(i) shall not apply to a
merger or consolidation in which the Company is the surviving corporation and
shares of Common Stock are not converted into or exchanged for stock, securities
or any other corporation, cash or any other thing of value. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, in case of any consolidation or merger of another
corporation into the Company in which the Company is the continuing corporation
and in which there is a reclassification or change (including a change to the
right to receive cash or other property) of the shares of Common Stock (other
than a change in par value, or from par value 
<PAGE>
 
to no par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination, but including
any change in such shares into two or more classes or series of shares), the
Board may provide that the holder of each Option then exercisable shall have the
right to exercise such Option solely for the kind and amount of shares of stock
and other securities (including those of any new direct or indirect parent of
the Company), property, cash or any combination thereof receivable by the holder
of the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Option might have been
exercised upon such reclassification, change, consolidation or merger.

          (5)  In the event of a change in the Common Stock as presently
constituted, which is limited to a change of all of its authorized shares with
par value into the same number of shares with a different par value or without
par value, the shares resulting from any such change shall be deemed to be the
Common Stock within the meaning of the Plan.

          (6)  To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to stock or
securities of the Company, such adjustments shall be made by the Board, whose
determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive, provided
that each Option granted pursuant to this Plan and designated an Incentive Stock
Option shall not be adjusted in a manner that causes the Option to fail to
continue to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code.

          (7)  Except as hereinbefore expressly provided in this Section 7(i),
the Optionee shall have no rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation
of shares of stock of any class or the payment of any stock dividend or any
other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or by
reason of any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation, and any issue
by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into
shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason
thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or Option Price of shares of
Common Stock subject to an Option. The grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan
shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make
adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or
business structure or to merge or to consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate or
sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

     (j)  Rights as a Shareholder. An Optionee or a transferee of an Option
          -----------------------
shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by his
Option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate to him for such
shares. No adjustments shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary,
whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions or other rights
for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is issued,
except as provided in Section 7(i) hereof.

     (k)  Other Provisions.  The Option Agreements authorized under the Plan
          ----------------                                                  
shall contain such other provisions, including, without limitation, (i) the
imposition of restrictions upon the exercise of an Option and (ii) the inclusion
of any condition not inconsistent with an Option designated by the Board as an
Incentive Stock Option qualifying as an Incentive Stock Option, as the Board
shall deem advisable, including provisions with respect to compliance with
federal and applicable state securities laws.

     8.   AGREEMENT BY OPTIONEE REGARDING WITHHOLDING TAXES

     (a)  No later than the date of exercise of any Option granted hereunder,
the Optionee will pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the
Board regarding payment of any federal, state or local taxes of any kind
required by law to be withheld upon the exercise of such Option, and

     (b)  The Company shall, to the extent permitted or required by law, have
the right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Optionee
any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld
upon the exercise of such Option.
<PAGE>
 
     9.   TERM OF PLAN

     Options may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time within a
period of ten (10) years from the date on which the Plan is adopted by the
Board, provided that no Options granted under the Plan shall become exercisable
unless and until the Plan shall have been approved by the Company's
shareholders.

     10.  SAVINGS CLAUSE

     Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, this Plan is intended to
qualify as a plan pursuant to which Incentive Stock Options may be issued under
Section 422 of the Code. If this Plan or any provision of this Plan shall be
held to be invalid or to fail to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder, such invalidity or failure shall
not affect the remaining parts of this Plan, but rather it shall be construed
and enforced as if the Plan or the affected provision thereof, as the case may
be, complied in all respects with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

     11.  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

     The Board may at any time and from time to time suspend, terminate, modify
or amend the Plan, provided that any amendment that would materially increase
the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as to which Options may be
granted under the Plan, materially increase the benefits accruing to
participants under the Plan, or materially modify the requirements as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan shall be subject to the approval of
the holders of a majority of the Common Stock voting at a meeting at which a
quorum is present, except that any such increase or modification that may result
from adjustments authorized by Section 7 (i) hereof shall not require such
approval. Except as provided in Section 7 hereof, no suspension, termination,
modification or amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any Option previously
granted unless the written consent of the Optionee is obtained.

     12.  NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN

     Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor the submission of the
Plan to stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating
any limitations on the power or authority of the Board to adopt such other or
additional incentive or other compensation arrangements of whatever nature as
the Board may deem necessary or desirable or preclude or limit the continuation
of any other plan, practice or arrangement for the payment of compensation or
fringe benefits to employees generally, or to any class or group of employees,
which the Company or any Subsidiary now has lawfully put into effect, including,
without limitation, any retirement, pension, savings and stock purchase plan,
insurance, death and disability benefits and executive short-term incentive
plans.

     13.  NATURE OF PAYMENTS

     (a)  All Options granted shall be in consideration of services performed
for the Company by the Optionee.

     (b)  All Options granted shall constitute a special incentive benefit to
the Optionee and shall not be taken into account in computing the amount of
salary or compensation of the Optionee for the purpose of determining any
benefits under any pension, retirement, profit-sharing, bonus, life insurance or
other benefit plan of the Company or under any agreement between the Company and
the Optionee, unless such plan or agreement specifically otherwise provides.
<PAGE>
 
     14.  NONUNIFORM DETERMINATIONS

     The Board's determinations under this Plan need not be uniform and may be
made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive,
Options (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Board shall be entitled, among other
things, to make nonuniform and selective determinations which may, INTER ALIA,
reflect the specific terms of individual employment agreements, and to enter
into nonuniform and selective Option Agreements, as to the persons to receive
Options and the terms and conditions of Options.

     15.  SECTION HEADINGS

     The section headings contained herein are for the purpose of convenience
only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of said sections.


Adopted by the Board of Directors on September 11, 1996.

Attest:

________________________________        _______________________________________ 
                                             Secretary

Date:_____________

<PAGE>
 
Exhibit 10.35


                              SILVER DINER, INC.
                          STOCK OPTION PLAN AGREEMENT

A Stock Option award is hereby granted by Silver Diner, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Company"), to the Key Employee named below ("Optionee"), for and
with respect to common stock of the Company, par value $0.00074 per share
("Common Stock"), subject to the following terms and conditions:

     1. Subject to the provisions set forth herein and the provisions of the
Stock Option Plan ("Plan"), the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by
reference, and in consideration of the agreements of Optionee herein provided,
the Company hereby grants to Optionee a Stock Option to purchase from the
Company the number of shares of Common Stock, at the purchase price per share
("Option Exercise Price"), and on the schedule, all as set forth below. Such
Stock Option is sometimes referred to herein as the "Award".


Name of Optionee:          Bob Giaimo

Number of Shares Subject   150,000
to Stock Option:
 
Option Exercise Price      $ 0.625  
Per Share (100% of the
closing price of the
Common Stock on the
date of the grant of
the Stock Option by the
Board of Directors at
the Board of Director's
meeting on December 15,
1998):

Date of Grant:             December 15, 1998

Exercise Schedule:         Optionee has been granted a Stock Option Award to
                           purchase 150,000 shares of Common Stock. The Stock
                           Option Award shall be one-hundred percent (100%)
                           vested on September 15, 2008. Prior to September 15,
                           2008, the Stock Option Award shall be zero percent
                           (0%) vested. Any nonexercised options shall expire on
                           December 14, 2008.

                           The Compensation Committee may establish performance
                           criteria at any time, and from time to time, to allow
                           for the acceleration of vesting for some or all of
                           the Stock Option Award granted hereunder.

     2.  The exercise of all or any portion of the Award is conditioned upon the
acceptance by Optionee of the terms hereof as evidenced by his execution of this
Option Agreement in the space provided therefor at the end hereof and the return
of an executed copy to the Secretary of the Company.

     Written notice of an election to exercise any portion of the Award, in a
form substantially identical to that attached as an Exhibit hereto and
specifying the portion thereof being exercised and the exercise date, shall be
given by Optionee, or his legal representative, (a) by delivering such notice at
the principal executive offices of the Company no later than the exercise date,
or (b) by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, addressed to the Secretary of
the Company at the Company's principal executive offices at least three business
days prior to the exercise date.
<PAGE>
 
     3.  Neither Optionee nor any other person entitled to exercise the Stock
Option under the terms hereof shall be, or have any of the rights or privileges
of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any Common Stock issuable on
exercise of the Stock Option, until the date of the issuance of a stock
certificate for such Common Stock.

     4.  If the Award shall be exercised in whole, this Option Agreement shall
be surrendered to the Company for cancellation. If the Award shall be exercised
in part, or a change in the number or designation of the Common Stock shall be
made, this Option Agreement shall be delivered by Optionee to the Company for
the purpose of making appropriate notation thereon, or of otherwise reflecting,
in such manner as the Company shall determine, the partial exercise or the
change in the number or designation of the Common Stock.

     5.  Optionee represents, warrants and agrees that Optionee will acquire and
hold the shares purchased on exercise of the Option for his own account for
investment and not with the view to the resale or distribution thereof, except
for resales or distributions in accordance with applicable securities laws, and
that Optionee will not, at any time or times, directly or indirectly, offer,
sell, distribute, pledge, or otherwise grant a security interest in or otherwise
dispose of or transfer all, any portion of or any interest in, any shares
purchased on exercise of the Option (or solicit an offer to buy, take in pledge
or otherwise acquire or receive, all or any portion thereof).

     Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has received and reviewed a description
of the Common Stock of the Company and a copy of the Plan. Optionee further
acknowledges that Optionee has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and
receive answer from, the officers and representatives of the Company concerning
all material information concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of
the transactions in which Optionee is acquiring the Option and may subsequently
acquire shares of the Common Stock. Optionee further acknowledges that Optionee
understands that the Company may use the proceeds from the exercise of the
Option for general corporate purposes.

     6.  The grant of the Award hereunder shall not be deemed to give the
Optionee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or to affect the
right of the Company to discharge the Optionee at any time.

     7.  The Award shall be exercised in accordance with such administrative
regulations as the Board shall from time to time adopt.

     8.  The Award and this Option Agreement shall be construed, administered
and governed in all respects under and by the laws of the State of Maryland,
without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.

                              SILVER DINER, INC., a Delaware corporation


                              By: 
                                 _____________________________________________

  

The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing Award and the terms and conditions
hereof.


                              ________________________________________________
                              Key Employee
<PAGE>
 
                          PROFIT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
                                  BOB GIAIMO


 .    The profit performance goal may be achieved in the year 1999 or the year
     2000 if the Company's actual net income from either January 1, 1999 through
     December 31, 1999 or from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000 is a
     positive number, after adjusting net income for GAAP purposes by
     eliminating therefrom any preopening expenses attributable to new stores
     opened in the applicable year (1999 or 2000) and exclusive of the income
     and expenses of all new stores for the first six months of each new store's
     operation. Profitability shall be determined by the Compensation Committee,
     and shall be adjusted to reflect changes in accounting principles (e.g.
     depreciable life of assets) or other nonoperating effects such as write-
     offs of fixed assets. In addition, the preopening budgets of each new store
     must be met.

 .    If the profit performance goals are achieved, the Stock Option shall become
     100% vested immediately and exercisable as to the 150,000 shares.

 .    If the Company's actual net income from both January 1, 1999 through
     December 31, 1999 and January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000 is a
     negative number, after making the appropriate adjustments outlined in the
     above paragraph, the Stock Option Award's vesting schedule shall not be
     accelerated and the Stock Option Award shall become 100% percent vested on
     September 15, 2008.

<PAGE>
 
Exhibit 10.36

                              SILVER DINER, INC.
                          STOCK OPTION PLAN AGREEMENT

A Stock Option award is hereby granted by Silver Diner, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Company"), to the Key Employee named below ("Optionee"), for and
with respect to common stock of the Company, par value $0.00074 per share
("Common Stock"), subject to the following terms and conditions:

     1.  Subject to the provisions set forth herein and the provisions of the
Stock Option Plan ("Plan"), the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by
reference, and in consideration of the agreements of Optionee herein provided,
the Company hereby grants to Optionee a Stock Option to purchase from the
Company the number of shares of Common Stock, at the purchase price per share
("Option Exercise Price"), and on the schedule, all as set forth below. Such
Stock Option is sometimes referred to herein as the "Award".

 
Name of Optionee:          Craig Kendall
 
Number of Shares Subject   55,000
to Stock Option:

Option Exercise Price      $0.625
Per Share (closing price
of Common Stock on the
date of the grant of the
Stock Option by the
Board of Directors at
the Board of Director's
meeting on December 15,
1998):

Date of Grant:             December 15, 1998
 
Exercise Schedule:         Optionee has been granted a Stock Option Award to
                           purchase 55,000 shares of Common Stock. The Stock
                           Option Award shall be one-hundred percent (100%)
                           vested on December 31, 2005. Prior to December 31,
                           2005, the Stock Option Award shall be zero percent
                           (0%) vested. Any nonexercised options shall expire on
                           December 14, 2008. The Compensation Committee may
                           establish performance criteria at any time, and from
                           time to time, to allow for the acceleration of
                           vesting for some or all of the Stock Option Award
                           granted hereunder.


     2.  The exercise of all or any portion of the Award is conditioned upon
the acceptance by Optionee of the terms hereof as evidenced by his execution of
this Option Agreement in the space provided therefor at the end hereof and the
return of an executed copy to the Secretary of the Company.

     Written notice of an election to exercise any portion of the Award, in a
form substantially identical to that attached as an Exhibit hereto and
specifying the portion thereof being exercised and the exercise date, shall be
given by Optionee, or his legal representative, (a) by delivering such notice at
the principal executive offices of the Company no later than the exercise date,
or (b) by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, addressed to the Secretary of
the Company at the Company's principal executive offices at least three business
days prior to the exercise date.

     3.  Neither Optionee nor any other person entitled to exercise the Stock
Option under the terms hereof shall be, or have any of the rights or privileges
of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any Common Stock issuable on
exercise of the Stock Option, until the date of the issuance of a stock
certificate for such Common Stock.
<PAGE>
 
     4.  If the Award shall be exercised in whole, this Option Agreement shall
be surrendered to the Company for cancellation. If the Award shall be exercised
in part, or a change in the number or designation of the Common Stock shall be
made, this Option Agreement shall be delivered by Optionee to the Company for
the purpose of making appropriate notation thereon, or of otherwise reflecting,
in such manner as the Company shall determine, the partial exercise or the
change in the number or designation of the Common Stock.

     5.  Optionee represents, warrants and agrees that Optionee will acquire and
hold the shares purchased on exercise of the Option for his own account for
investment and not with the view to the resale or distribution thereof, except
for resales or distributions in accordance with applicable securities laws, and
that Optionee will not, at any time or times, directly or indirectly, offer,
sell, distribute, pledge, or otherwise grant a security interest in or otherwise
dispose of or transfer all, any portion of or any interest in, any shares
purchased on exercise of the Option (or solicit an offer to buy, take in pledge
or otherwise acquire or receive, all or any portion thereof).

     Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has received and reviewed a description
of the Common Stock of the Company and a copy of the Plan. Optionee further
acknowledges that Optionee has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and
receive answer from, the officers and representatives of the Company concerning
all material information concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of
the transactions in which Optionee is acquiring the Option and may subsequently
acquire shares of the Common Stock. Optionee further acknowledges that Optionee
understands that the Company may use the proceeds from the exercise of the
Option for general corporate purposes.

     6.  The grant of the Award hereunder shall not be deemed to give the
Optionee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or to affect the
right of the Company to discharge the Optionee at any time.

     7.  The Award shall be exercised in accordance with such administrative
regulations, as the Board shall from time to time adopt.

     8.  The Award and this Option Agreement shall be construed, administered
and governed in all respects under and by the laws of the State of Maryland,
without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.

                              SILVER DINER, INC., a Delaware corporation


                              By: ____________________________________

The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing Award and the terms and conditions
hereof.

                              ________________________________________
                              Key Employee
<PAGE>
 
                             PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
                                 CRAIG KENDALL


In the event that the Company's actual net income from January 1, 1999 through
December 31, 1999 exceeds the Company's budgeted net income, as described in the
attachment hereto, by at least $300,000, the Stock Option shall become
immediately vested and exercisable with respect to 25,000 shares of Common
Stock. If the Company's actual net income during the period specified does not
exceed the Company's budgeted net income by at least $300,000, the Stock Option
shall vest immediately in part in accordance with the following schedule:

If the Company's actual net income for 1999:

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by $200,000 or more but less than $300,000, the
   right to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall
   become immediate and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become
   vested on December 31, 2005;

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by $100,000 or more but less than $200,000, the
   right to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall
   become immediate and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become 
   vested on December 31, 2005;

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by less than $100,000, the right to purchase
   10,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall become immediate
   and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become vested on December
   31, 2005;

 .  does not exceed budgeted net income, all shares of Common Stock under the
   Stock Option shall become vested on December 31, 2005.
<PAGE>
 
                             PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
                                TIMOTHY CUSICK


In the event that the Company's actual net income from January 1, 1999 through
December 31, 1999 exceeds the Company's budgeted net income, as described in the
attachment hereto, by at least $300,000, the Stock Option shall become
immediately vested and exercisable with respect to 25,000 shares of Common
Stock. If the Company's actual net income during the period specified does not
exceed the Company's budgeted net income by at least $300,000, the Stock Option
shall vest immediately in part in accordance with the following schedule:

If the Company's actual net income for 1999:

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by $200,000 or more but less than $300,000, the
   right to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall
   become immediate and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become
   vested on December 31, 2005;

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by $100,000 or more but less than $200,000, the
   right to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall
   become immediate and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become
   vested on December 31, 2005;

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by less than $100,000, the right to purchase
   10,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall become immediate
   and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become vested on December
   31, 2005;

 .  does not exceed budgeted net income, all shares of Common Stock under the
   Stock Option shall become vested on December 31, 2005.
<PAGE>
 
                             PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
                                YPE VON HENGST


In the event that the Company's actual net income from January 1, 1999 through
December 31, 1999 exceeds the Company's budgeted net income, as described in the
attachment hereto, by at least $300,000, the Stock Option shall become
immediately vested and exercisable with respect to 25,000 shares of Common
Stock. If the Company's actual net income during the period specified does not
exceed the Company's budgeted net income by at least $300,000, the Stock Option
shall vest immediately in part in accordance with the following schedule:

If the Company's actual net income for 1999:

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by $200,000 or more but less than $300,000, the
   right to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall
   become immediate and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become
   vested on December 31, 2005;

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by $100,000 or more but less than $200,000, the
   right to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall
   become immediate and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become
   vested on December 31, 2005;

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by less than $100,000, the right to purchase
   10,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall become immediate
   and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become vested on December
   31, 2005;

 .  does not exceed budgeted net income, all shares of Common Stock under the
   Stock Option shall become vested on December 31, 2005.
<PAGE>
 
                             PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
                                PATRICK MESKELL


In the event that the Company's actual net income from January 1, 1999 through
December 31, 1999 exceeds the Company's budgeted net income, as described in the
attachment hereto, by at least $300,000, the Stock Option shall become
immediately vested and exercisable with respect to 25,000 shares of Common
Stock. If the Company's actual net income during the period specified does not
exceed the Company's budgeted net income by at least $300,000, the Stock Option
shall vest immediately in part in accordance with the following schedule:

If the Company's actual net income for 1999:

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by $200,000 or more but less than $300,000, the
   right to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall
   become immediate and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become
   vested on December 31, 2005;

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by $100,000 or more but less than $200,000, the
   right to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall
   become immediate and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become
   vested on December 31, 2005;

 .  exceeds budgeted net income by less than $100,000, the right to purchase
   10,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option shall become immediate
   and the remaining shares of the Stock Option shall become vested on December
   31, 2005;

 .  does not exceed budgeted net income, all shares of Common Stock under the
   Stock Option shall become vested on December 31, 2005.

<PAGE>
 
Exhibit 10.37



                              SILVER DINER, INC.
                          STOCK OPTION PLAN AGREEMENT

A Stock Option award is hereby granted by Silver Diner, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Company"), to the Key Employee named below ("Optionee"), for and
with respect to common stock of the Company, par value $0.00074 per share
("Common Stock"), subject to the following terms and conditions:

     1.  Subject to the provisions set forth herein and the provisions of the
Stock Option Plan ("Plan"), the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by
reference, and in consideration of the agreements of Optionee herein provided,
the Company hereby grants to Optionee a Stock Option to purchase from the
Company the number of shares of Common Stock, at the purchase price per share
("Option Exercise Price"), and on the schedule, all as set forth below. Such
Stock Option is sometimes referred to herein as the "Award".



 
 Name of Optionee:         Robert T. Giaimo

 Number of Shares Subject  400,000
 to Stock Option:
 
 Option Exercise Price     $1.375                                           
 Per Share:
 
 Date of Grant:            12/15/98
 
 Exercise Schedule:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
 
                         Number of Shares                       Exercise Period
    Date(*)            Subject to Stock Option                Date First Exercisable              Expiration
    -------            -----------------------                ----------------------              ----------
    <S>                <C>                                    <C>                                 <C> 
    12/29/98                 120,000                               12/29/98                       12/14/03

    12/29/99                 80,000                                12/29/99                       12/14/03

    12/29/00                 80,000                                12/29/00                       12/14/03

    12/29/01                 120,000                               12/29/01                       12/14/03
</TABLE> 


(*) An additional 18% of options vest when the market price of the Shares is
greater than $5.00 per Share, $7.50 per Share and $10 per Share, with the
options vesting 100% when the market price is greater than $12.00 per Share.

     2.   The exercise of all or any portion of the Award is conditioned upon
the acceptance by Optionee of the terms hereof as evidenced by his execution of
this Option Agreement in the space provided therefor at the end hereof and the
return of an executed copy to the Secretary of the Company.

     Written notice of an election to exercise any portion of the Award, in a
form substantially identical to that attached as an Exhibit hereto and
specifying the portion thereof being exercised and the exercise date, shall be
given by Optionee, or his legal representative, (a) by delivering such notice at
the principal executive offices of the Company no later than the exercise date,
or (b) by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, addressed to the Secretary of
the Company at the Company's principal executive offices at least three business
days prior to the exercise date.

     3.  Neither Optionee nor any other person entitled to exercise the Stock
Option under the terms hereof shall be, or have any of the rights or privileges
of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any Common Stock issuable on
exercise of the Stock Option, until the date of the issuance of a stock
certificate for such Common Stock.
<PAGE>
 
     4.  If the Award shall be exercised in whole, this Option Agreement shall
be surrendered to the Company for cancellation. If the Award shall be exercised
in part, or a change in the number or designation of the Common Stock shall be
made, this Option Agreement shall be delivered by Optionee to the Company for
the purpose of making appropriate notation thereon, or of otherwise reflecting,
in such manner as the Company shall determine, the partial exercise or the
change in the number or designation of the Common Stock.

     5.  Optionee represents, warrants and agrees that Optionee will acquire and
hold the shares purchased on exercise of the Option for his own account for
investment and not with the view to the resale or distribution thereof, except
for resales or distributions in accordance with applicable securities laws, and
that Optionee will not, at any time or times, directly or indirectly, offer,
sell, distribute, pledge, or otherwise grant a security interest in or otherwise
dispose of or transfer all, any portion of or any interest in, any shares
purchased on exercise of the Option (or solicit an offer to buy, take in pledge
or otherwise acquire or receive, all or any portion thereof).

     Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has received and reviewed a description
of the Common Stock of the Company and a copy of the Plan. Optionee further
acknowledges that Optionee has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and
receive answer from, the officers and representatives of the Company concerning
all material information concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of
the transactions in which Optionee is acquiring the Option and may subsequently
acquire shares of the Common Stock. Optionee further acknowledges that Optionee
understands that the Company may use the proceeds from the exercise of the
Option for general corporate purposes.

     6.  The grant of the Award hereunder shall not be deemed to give the
Optionee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or to affect the
right of the Company to discharge the Optionee at any time.

     7.  The Award shall be exercised in accordance with such administrative
regulations, as the Board shall from time to time adopt.

     8.  The Award and this Option Agreement shall be construed, administered
and governed in all respects under and by the laws of the State of Maryland,
without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.


                              SILVER DINER, INC., a Delaware corporation


                              By:______________________________________________


The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing Award and the terms and conditions
hereof.


                              _________________________________________________
                              Robert T. Giaimo, Key Employee

<PAGE>
 
Exhibit 10.38


                                    (Form)
                              SILVER DINER, INC.
                     RESTATED STOCK OPTION PLAN AGREEMENT

A Stock Option award is hereby granted by Silver Diner, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Company"), to the Key Employee named below ("Optionee"), for and
with respect to common stock of the Company, par value $0.00074 per share
("Common Stock"), subject to the following terms and conditions:

     1.  Subject to the provisions set forth herein and the provisions of the
Stock Option Plan ("Plan"), the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by
reference, and in consideration of the agreements of Optionee herein provided,
the Company hereby grants to Optionee a Stock Option to purchase from the
Company the number of shares of Common Stock, at the purchase price per share
("Option Exercise Price"), and on the schedule, all as set forth below. Such
Stock Option is sometimes referred to herein as the "Award".

 
 Name of Optionee:           Patrick Meskell

 Number of Shares Subject    100,000
 to Stock Option:

 Option Exercise Price       $1.25                                              
 Per Share:
 
 Date of Grant:              12/29/97

 Exercise Schedule:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           Number of Shares                        Exercise Period
 Date(*)               Subject to Stock Option                 Date First Exercisable        Expiration
 ------                -----------------------                 ----------------------        ----------
 <S>                   <C>                                     <C>                           <C> 
 12/29/97                          10,000                                 12/29/97             12/28/07

 12/29/98                          20,000                                 12/29/98             12/28/07

 12/29/99                          20,000                                 12/29/99             12/28/07

 12/29/00                          20,000                                 12/29/00             12/28/07

 12/29/01                          30,000                                 12/29/01             12/28/07

</TABLE>

(*) An additional 18% of options vest when the market price of the Shares is
greater than $5.00 per Share, $7.50 per Share and $10 per Share, with the
options vesting 100% when the market price is greater than $12.00 per Share.

     2.   The exercise of all or any portion of the Award is conditioned upon
the acceptance by Optionee of the terms hereof as evidenced by his execution of
this Option Agreement in the space provided therefor at the end hereof and the
return of an executed copy to the Secretary of the Company.

     Written notice of an election to exercise any portion of the Award, in a
form substantially identical to that attached as an Exhibit hereto and
specifying the portion thereof being exercised and the exercise date, shall be
given by Optionee, or his legal representative, (a) by delivering such notice at
the principal executive offices of the Company no later than the exercise date,
or (b) by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, addressed to the Secretary of
the Company at the Company's principal executive offices at least three business
days prior to the exercise date.
<PAGE>
 
     3.  Neither Optionee nor any other person entitled to exercise the Stock
Option under the terms hereof shall be, or have any of the rights or privileges
of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any Common Stock issuable on
exercise of the Stock Option, until the date of the issuance of a stock
certificate for such Common Stock.

     4.  If the Award shall be exercised in whole, this Option Agreement shall
be surrendered to the Company for cancellation. If the Award shall be exercised
in part, or a change in the number or designation of the Common Stock shall be
made, this Option Agreement shall be delivered by Optionee to the Company for
the purpose of making appropriate notation thereon, or of otherwise reflecting,
in such manner as the Company shall determine, the partial exercise or the
change in the number or designation of the Common Stock.

     5.  Optionee represents, warrants and agrees that Optionee will acquire and
hold the shares purchased on exercise of the Option for his own account for
investment and not with the view to the resale or distribution thereof, except
for resales or distributions in accordance with applicable securities laws, and
that Optionee will not, at any time or times, directly or indirectly, offer,
sell, distribute, pledge, or otherwise grant a security interest in or otherwise
dispose of or transfer all, any portion of or any interest in, any shares
purchased on exercise of the Option (or solicit an offer to buy, take in pledge
or otherwise acquire or receive, all or any portion thereof).

     Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has received and reviewed a description
of the Common Stock of the Company and a copy of the Plan. Optionee further
acknowledges that Optionee has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and
receive answer from, the officers and representatives of the Company concerning
all material information concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of
the transactions in which Optionee is acquiring the Option and may subsequently
acquire shares of the Common Stock. Optionee further acknowledges that Optionee
understands that the Company may use the proceeds from the exercise of the
Option for general corporate purposes.

     6.  The grant of the Award hereunder shall not be deemed to give the
Optionee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or to affect the
right of the Company to discharge the Optionee at any time.

     7.  The Award shall be exercised in accordance with such administrative
regulations, as the Board shall from time to time adopt.

     8.  The Award and this Option Agreement shall be construed, administered
and governed in all respects under and by the laws of the State of Maryland,
without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.

     9.  The Award and this Option Agreement are subject to the requirement that
the shareholders of the Company approve and ratify the adoption of the Plan no
later than June 11, 1997.

                              SILVER DINER, INC., a Delaware corporation


                              By:_______________________________________________


The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing Award and the terms and conditions
hereof.


                              __________________________________________________
                              Patrick Meskell, Key Employee

<PAGE>
 
Exhibit 10.39

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             --------------------

     This Employment Agreement (the AGREEMENT), effective as of November __,
1998, is made and entered into by and between Silver Diner, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the COMPANY), and Ype Von Hengst, a Maryland resident (the
EXECUTIVE).

                                   RECITALS

     1. The Company is engaged in the business of operating and franchising
diner-style restaurants in the United States operating under the trade name of
"Silver Diner" and plans to expand such operations outside of the United States.

     2. The Company has employed the Executive for __ years.

     3. The Company desires to continue to employ the Executive, and the
Executive desires to obtain employment with the Company, upon the terms and
conditions stated herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein,
and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

                                  AGREEMENTS

SECTION 1.  EMPLOYMENT

The Company hereby employs the Executive as an Executive Vice-President and
Executive Chef, to perform such duties as are reasonably required by such
position and such other duties as he may be assigned from time to time by the
Company's President. The Executive agrees to devote his full and best efforts
and abilities to the Company on a full-time basis. In performing duties
hereunder, the Executive will at all times act in a professional, competent and
loyal manner, and consistent with the Company's policies and procedures.

SECTION 2.  TERM

The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof, and shall continue
until December 31, 2003, unless terminated sooner pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement (the TERM). The Term may only be renewed or extended in a writing
signed by the President of the Company.

Section 3.  COMPENSATION/BENEFITS

     (A)  BASE SALARY The Executive shall be entitled to an annual base salary,
          -----------                                                          
payable in installments, less required legal deductions, and in accordance with
the Company's policy governing salary payments to executive employees generally,
as it may be amended from time to time by the Company (BASE SALARY). From the
effective date of this Agreement through December 31, 1998, the Base Salary
shall be payable at the annual rate of $125,000. From January 1, 1999 through
December 31, 1999, the Base Salary shall be payable at the annual rate of
$150,000. Effective January 1, 2000, the Base Salary shall be the sum of the
Base Salary for the immediately preceding period (including all prior increases)
plus an amount equal to the excess of (i) the amount determined by multiplying
the Base Salary for the immediately preceding period (including all increases)
by a fraction the numerator of which is the Consumer Price Index for all urban
consumers -- all items (1967 = 100) for the Washington, D.C. - Maryland -
Virginia Metropolitan Areas as prepared and published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor (the "CPI") for the comparison month
and the denominator of which is the CPI for the base month over (ii) the Base
Salary for the immediately preceding period (including all increases).  For the
purposes of this subsection, the initial base month shall be January 1999 and
the initial comparison month shall be the following December 1999. For the
second year following 
<PAGE>
 
the execution of this Agreement and thereafter the base month and comparison
month shall be the same month, respectively, during each subsequent year. If the
CPI is revised or discontinued during the term of this Agreement, the parties
shall devise a formula based on a then-published index of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor that will yield a comparable annual
increase. In no event, however, shall the Base Salary (as adjusted) be reduced
during the term of this Agreement.

     (B) BENEFITS  The Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits
         --------                                                           
         during the Term:

         1.  Health/Dental Insurance. The Executive shall be entitled to
             participate in the group health and dental plans offered to the
             Company's executive employees generally, and as approved by the
             Company's President, in accordance with the terms of said plans, as
             they may be modified in the Company's discretion from time to time
             (MEDICAL BENEFITS). If the Executive elects coverage under said
             plan(s), the Company shall pay the full cost of family coverage
             under the plan(s).

         2.  Life/Disability Insurance. The Company shall, at no cost to the
             Executive , provide the Executive with life insurance coverage in
             the amount of $1,500,000 and disability insurance coverage in the
             minimum amount of $2,600 per week, subject to usual and customary
             terms and a 90-day waiting period. If, at any time during the Term,
             the Executive receives replacement income under the disability
             insurance coverage, the Company's obligation to pay the Base Salary
             shall be reduced by the amount of replacement income received by
             the Executive.


         3.  Other Benefits. In addition to existing stock options, the
             Executive shall be entitled to participate in stock options and
             bonus plans and to such other benefit plans as customarily made
             available by the Company to executive employees generally.

     (C) LOAN In consideration of the Executive entering into this Agreement,
         ----                                                                
the Company agrees to extend a $100,000 non-recourse loan (the LOAN) to the
Executive upon the execution of this Agreement, subject to the Executive's
agreement to execute a promissory note in the form attached hereto, and
incorporated herein, as Exhibit A (the PROMISSORY NOTE). The Executive agrees to
transfer 182,881 shares of his common stock in the Company to the Company under
the terms set forth in Exhibit A to secure the Loan (SECURED SHARES). Upon the
execution of this Agreement, the Executive agrees to transfer to the Company all
stock certificates evidencing ownership of these shares and a stock power
separate from certificate.

     (D) LOAN BONUS  During each year of the Term in which the Executive is
         ----------                                                        
actually employed by the Company on December 31, beginning December 31, 1999,
the Executive shall be entitled to an annual bonus of an amount equal to $20,000
plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Loan (the BONUS). The Bonus shall not be
paid to the Executive, but shall be applied by the Company to repay the then
outstanding principal and interest under the Loan.

SECTION 4.  EXPENSES

The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary
business expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder, in
accordance with its policies and procedures, as they may be amended from time to
time and subject to submission of proper documentation of each expense.

SECTION 5.  PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY

     (A) EXCLUSIVE SERVICES  During the term of his employment, the Executive
         ------------------                                                  
shall at all times devote his entire working time, attention, energies, efforts
and skills to the business of the Company, and shall not, directly or
indirectly, do anything to compete with the Company's present or contemplated
business, nor will he plan or organize any competitive business activity.
<PAGE>
 
     (B) CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION  The Executive shall not, at any time during
         ------------------------                                             
or after his employment with the Company, disclose or use, directly or
indirectly, any Confidential Information of the Company (or any affiliated
entity, hereinafter, collectively, the COMPANY), except as required by the
performance of his duties hereunder. For the purposes of this Agreement,
"Confidential Information" shall mean all information disclosed to the
Executive, or known by him as a consequence of or through his employment with
the Company, where such information is not generally known in the trade or
industry, and where such information refers or relates in any manner whatsoever
to the business activities of the Company. "Confidential Information" shall
include Company and/or franchisee (a) business plans, research, know how,
development and survey information, (b) customer, staff and other training
manuals and policy manuals, (c) kitchen and building designs, procedures, and
techniques, and (d) recipes developed and/or used by the Company. Upon
termination of this Agreement, the Executive shall immediately return to the
Company all of its property (including all Company related documents), and all
copies thereof, including without limitation all Confidential Information which
has been reduced to tangible form, in his possession, custody or control.

     (C) SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES  The Executive agrees that during the term of
         -------------------------                                              
this Agreement, and for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months after
termination of such employment for any reason, he shall not, except in the
course of her duties hereunder, directly or indirectly induce or attempt to
induce or otherwise counsel, advise, solicit or encourage any person to leave
the employ of the Company or any person who at the time had left the employ of
the Company within the previous six months to accept employment with any person
or entity besides the Company.

     (D) NON-COMPETITION For a period of twelve (12) consecutive months after
         ---------------                                                     
the termination of Executive's employment with the Company for any reason other
than a termination by the Company without cause as provided in Section 6(C), the
Executive shall not, (i) engage in the "diner business" anywhere in the United
States; (ii) engage in competition with the Company within a 10 mile radius of
any Company owned or franchised facility or planned facility; or (iii) directly
or indirectly, either individually or as a stockholder (other than a stockholder
of less than 5% of a corporation the securities of which are traded on a
national securities exchange), director, officer, partner, consultant, owner,
employee, agent, or in any other capacity, work for, consult with or otherwise
assist Movenpick (and all affiliates, subsidiaries and parent corporation) in
the development of "diners". For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall
be deemed to "engage in competition" with the Company if he shall directly or
indirectly, either individually or as a stockholder (other than a stockholder of
less than 5% of a corporation the securities of which are traded on a national
securities exchange), director, officer, partner, consultant, owner, employee,
agent, or in any other capacity, work for, consult with or otherwise assist any
person or entity engaged in the same or similar business engaged in by the
Company. For the purposes of this Agreement, "diners", the "diner business" and
the business of the Company shall mean (i) any restaurant business with the word
"Diner" in its name or logo, or which is commonly understood to be a diner; or
(ii) any moderately priced restaurant business whose menu and trade dress
together are confusingly similar to that employed by Silver Diner restaurants.
The Executive agrees that the restrictions imposed by the provisions of this
Section are fair and reasonable considering the nature of the Company's
business, and are reasonably required for the protection of the Company.

     (E) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE  The Executive agrees that in the event of his
         --------------------                                               
breach of any of the provisions of this Section, the remedies available at law
to the Company would be inadequate and in lieu thereof or in addition thereto
the Company shall be entitled to appropriate equitable remedies, including
specific performance, attorneys fees and injunctive relief. In the event that a
court of competent jurisdiction shall declare any provision or restriction
contained in this Section to be unenforceable, the provisions of this section
shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not so declared to be
unenforceable, and the court shall be empowered to modify said unenforceable
provision(s) as needed to make such provision(s) enforceable to the maximum
extent permitted by law. In no event shall any such modifications increase the
period of time or make the provisions contained in this Section 5 more
restrictive.
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 6.  TERMINATION

     (A)  AUTOMATIC TERMINATION  This Agreement shall terminate automatically
          ---------------------                                              
upon the death of the Executive or the Executive's inability to perform the
essential functions of his job due to an impairment or disability, and with or
without a reasonable accommodation, for at least 180 consecutive days. In the
event of a termination under this Section because of the Executive's death, all
Company obligations to pay the Base Salary, Bonus and Medical Benefits shall
cease as of the effective date of the termination, except as otherwise required
by law. In the event of a termination under this Section because of the
Executive's inability to perform the essential functions of his job, (i) the
Executive's right to Base Salary and the Bonus shall cease as of the effective
date of the termination, and (ii) the Company shall make the Medical Benefits
available to the Executive for a period of eighteen (18) months following
termination, the costs of which shall be paid by the Company for the first
twelve (12) months of such period. If the Agreement is terminated pursuant to
this Section, the Principal Balance of the Loan shall be extinguished, and all
right, title and interest in the Secured Shares shall vest with the Maker (or
his estate or heirs).

     (B)  FOR "CAUSE"  This Agreement may be terminated by the Company
          -----------                                                 
immediately for "Cause" for any one of the following reasons: (i) the active
participation of Executive in materially gross and fraudulent conduct; or (ii)
the conviction of Executive of a felony where imprisonment is imposed. Upon an
event constituting "Cause", the Company shall deliver to the Executive written
notice of such conduct and the Executive shall immediately be suspended from
performing his duties for a period of 14 calendar days during which time the
compensation and other benefits provided to Executive shall continue and the
Executive shall have the opportunity to review the facts and circumstances
surrounding such notice and to meet with the Company's Board of Directors. If,
at the end of the 14-day suspension, the Company has not revoked the written
notice, the termination shall become effective. In the event of a termination
under this Section, (i) the Company's obligation to pay the Base Salary, Medical
Benefits and Bonus shall cease immediately upon the termination; and (ii) the
Principal Balance shall be extinguished, and all right, title and interest to
the Secured Shares shall vest immediately with the Company.

     (C)  WITHOUT "CAUSE"  This Agreement may be terminated by the Company
          ---------------                                                 
immediately for any reason, with or without "Cause". If this Agreement is
terminated by the Company without "Cause", (i) the Executive shall be entitled
to the applicable Base Salary, Bonus, and Medical Benefits (at the Company's
expenses), for a one (1) year period commencing with the effective date of the
termination; and (ii) the Principal Balance of the Loan shall be extinguished
and all right, title and interest in the Secured Shares shall vest with the
Maker (or his estate or heirs).

     (D)  VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION   The Executive may terminate this Agreement at
         ----------------------                                               
any time upon 60 days written notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company
may, at its option, relieve Executive of any or all of his duties, or may
terminate Executive immediately. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Executive under this Section, (i) the Company's obligation to pay the Base
Salary, Medical Benefits and Bonus shall cease immediately upon the termination;
and (ii) the Principal Balance shall be extinguished, and all right, title and
interest to the Secured Shares shall vest immediately with the Company.

     (E)  DUTIES FOLLOWING TERMINATION  Upon termination of employment and/or
          ----------------------------                                       
this Agreement, the Executive shall cooperate with the Company, as reasonably
requested by the Company, to effect a transition of Executive's responsibilities
and to ensure that the Company is aware of all matters being handled by
Executive. Except in any suit between the Executive and the Company, Executive
shall also, upon reasonable notice, furnish such information and proper
assistance to the Company as may be reasonably required by the Company in
connection with any litigation in which it is or may become a party. Any suit
between the Executive and the Company shall be subject to the rules of discovery
in the jurisdiction in which the suit is pending.

SECTION 7.  MISCELLANEOUS

     (A) NON-WAIVER  The Company's failure at any time to require the
         ----------                                                  
performance by the Executive of any of the terms hereof shall in no way affect
the Company's right thereafter to enforce the same, nor shall the waiver by the
Company of the breach of any term hereof be taken or held to be a waiver of any
succeeding breach.
<PAGE>
 
     (B) SEVERABILITY  In the event that any provision of this Agreement
         ------------                                                   
conflicts with the law under which this Agreement is to be construed, or if any
such provision is held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction or an arbitrator, such provision shall be deleted from this
Agreement and the Agreement shall be construed to give full effect to the
remaining provisions thereof.

     (C) GOVERNING LAW  This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and
         -------------                                                    
governed according to the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to the
principle of conflicts of laws thereof.

     (D) HEADINGS AND CAPTIONS  The paragraph headings and captions contained in
         ---------------------                                                  
this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be construed to define,
limit or affect the scope or meaning of the provisions hereof.

     (E) ENTIRE AGREEMENT  This Agreement contains and represents the entire
         ----------------                                                   
agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, representations or
understandings, oral or written, express or implied with respect to the subject
matter hereof. Neither this Agreement, nor any term of Executive's employment
with the Company, may be modified or amended in any way unless in a writing
signed by both the Executive and the Company's President. No representation,
promise or inducement has been made by either party hereto that is not embodied
in this Agreement, and neither party shall be bound or liable for any alleged
representation, promise or inducement not specifically set forth herein.

     (F) ASSIGNMENT  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
         ----------                                                       
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. The
Executive shall not have any right to assign, delegate or transfer any duty or
obligation to be performed by him hereunder to any third party, nor to assign or
transfer the right, if any, to receive payments hereunder.

     (G) NOTICES  All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in
         -------                                                         
writing and shall be deemed properly given if delivered personally or sent by
certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or sent
by telegram, telex, telecopy or similar form of telecommunication, and shall be
deemed to have been given when received. Any such notice or communication shall
be addressed:  (a) if to the Company, to Robert T. Giaimo, Silver Diner, Inc.,
11806 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland  20852; and a copy to Arnold
Westerman, Esquire, Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC, 1050 Connecticut
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5339, or (b) if to the Executive, to his
home address at 4307 Pinetree Road, Rockville, Maryland  20853; or to such other
address as the parties shall have furnished to one another in writing.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement,
to be effective as of the day and year first above written.

EXECUTIVE:                      SILVER DINER, INC.


                                     By: 
- --------------------------------         --------------------------------
Ype Von Hengst                           Robert T. Giaimo, President

Date:   November _____, 1998             Date:  November ___, 1998
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A


                                PROMISSORY NOTE


$100,000                                                   November __, 1998

     Ype Von Hengst, a Maryland resident (MAKER), promises to pay to the order
of Silver Diner, Inc. (the COMPANY), the principal sum of $100,000, plus
interest on the unpaid principal balance thereof from time to time outstanding
(the PRINCIPAL BALANCE) at the rate of 5.25% per annum before maturity, as set
forth in this Promissory Note.

     SECTION 1  REFERENCE TO OTHER DOCUMENTS.

     This Promissory Note is issued pursuant to the Company's agreement to make
a $100,000 loan to Maker (the LOAN), as set forth in a certain Employment
Agreement dated as of the date hereof between the Maker and the Company
(incorporated herein by reference). All capitalized terms used in this Note
which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them
in the Employment Agreement.

     SECTION 2  SECURITY.

     To secure his obligations hereunder, the Maker hereby grants the Company a
security interest in 182,881 shares of his common stock in the Company
(including any securities or property issued or issuable with respect to this
common stock by reason of dividends, stock splits, reclassification,
recapitalization, mergers, asset sales or any similar transaction) (SECURED
SHARES) and agrees to transfer to the Company (i) all stock certificates
evidencing his ownership of the Secured Shares and (ii) a stock power separate
from certificate.

     SECTION 3  REPAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL BALANCE.

     (a) Principal and Interest. This Note shall be deemed repaid in full if
         -----------------------                                             
the Maker complies with all terms of the Employment Agreement for the full Term
contemplated by that Agreement. Provided the Maker complies with all terms of
the Employment Agreement, $20,000, together with accrued and unpaid interest on
the Note shall be paid by application of the Bonus for each year that Maker
complies with the Employment Agreement.

     (b) Interest Calculations. Interest shall be calculated and accrue through
         ---------------------                                                  
the Maturity Date on the basis of a 365 day year and actual days elapsed.

     (c) Forgiveness of Debt. If the Employment Agreement is terminated by the
         --------------------                                                  
Company for "Cause" pursuant to Section 6(B) of the Employment Agreement, or
through the voluntary resignation of Maker pursuant to Section 6(D), the
Principal Balance shall be extinguished, and all right, title and interest to
the Secured Shares shall vest immediately with the Company. If the Employment
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 6(A), or by the Company without
"Cause" pursuant to Section 6(C), the Principal Balance shall be extinguished,
and all right, title and interest to the Secured Shares shall vest immediately
with the Maker (or his estate or executors).

     (d) Prepayment. Except as provided in Section 3(c), the Maker may not
         -----------                                                       
prepay all or any part of the Principal Balance without the express written
consent of the Chairman of the Board.

     (e) Release of Secured Shares. If the Chairman of the Board consents,
         --------------------------                                        
Maker shall have the right to withdraw from the security granted hereby some of
the Secured Shares; provided, however, that the aggregate fair market value of
the Secured Shares remaining subject to the security interest granted hereby
shall be equal to or greater than 125% of the remaining balance of this Note.
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 4  DEFAULT

The filing by Maker of a voluntary petition for relief in a case under the
Bankruptcy Code or any state insolvency law, or the filing of an involuntary
petition against Maker in a case under the Bankruptcy Code or any state
insolvency law, shall constitute a default under this Promissory Note. In the
event of such a default, all right, title and interest in the Secured Shares
shall vest immediately with the Company.

     SECTION 5  NON-RECOURSE

Except as provided herein in Section 3(c), (i) the Maker shall have no personal
liability for payment of the principal or interest under this Promissory Note;
(i) the Company agrees to enforce any right to payment hereunder solely against
the Secured Shares; and (iii) the Company agrees to look solely to the Secured
Shares in satisfaction of the payments due hereunder.

     SECTION 6  MISCELLANEOUS

     (a)   Notices.  Any notice or other communication required or permitted to
be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the parties at
the addresses set forth below (or to such other addresses as the parties may
specify by due written notice to the other). Notices are other communications
given by certified mail, return receipt requested, shall be deemed given 3 days
after the date of mailing:

               Maker:    Ype Von Hengst
                         4307 Pinetree Road
                         Rockville, Maryland  20853

               Company:  Silver Diner, Inc.
                         11806 Rockville Pike
                         Rockville, Maryland  20852
                         Attn: Robert T. Giaimo

                         with a copy to:

                         Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
                         1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
                         Washington, D.C. 20036-5339
                         Attention: Arnold R. Westerman

     (b)   Waivers.  Waiver of any provision of this Promissory Note shall not
           --------                                                           
constitute a continuing waiver of any rights of the Company.

     (c)   Governing Law.  The validity, construction and enforceability of, and
           --------------                                                       
the rights and obligations of the Maker and the Company under this Promissory
Note shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the State of Maryland without reference to the conflicts of laws provisions
thereof.

     (d)   Binding.  The obligations and liabilities of Maker under this
           --------                                                     
Promissory Note shall be binding upon and enforceable against Maker and his
successors and assigns, including but not limited any Chapter trustee appointed
in the Maker in any bankruptcy matter.

     (e)   Negotiability.  The Company agrees not to assign, transfer or
           --------------
negotiate this Note without the written consent of the Maker.
<PAGE>
 
                                        MAKER:

Date:   November __, 1998               ____________________________________
                                        Ype Von Hengst



This is to certify that this Promissory Note from Maker to Company was executed
by the same in my presence:

     Dated this __ day of November, 1998.


                                        ____________________________________
                                        Notary Public
     
My Commission expires:
[SEAL]

<PAGE>
 
Exhibit 10.40

ROBERT T. GIAIMO
8708 Brook Road
McLean, Virginia  22102

                               November 9, 1998


Silver Diner, Inc.
Attn: Clinton A. Clark,
      Chairman, Compensation Committee
11806 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852

     RE:  FOUNDER'S EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Dear Clint:

     This letter pertains to my employment agreement (the "Contract") with
Silver Diner Development, Inc. (SDDI), dated August 28, 1995. Since SDDI was
merged into Silver Diner, Inc. (the "Company"), all references in the Contract
to SDDI shall mean the Company.

     This will advise you that I hereby agree that the Contract is amended,
effective immediately, as follows:

     In the event of my termination for Involuntary Resignation, the maximum
amount of the Involuntary Resignation Payment provided for in Section 7(c)(v) of
the Contract shall not exceed three (3) times my Base Compensation, including
all bonuses, for the Company's fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year
in which the Involuntary Resignation occurs. To illustrate if the Involuntary
Resignation were to occur with exactly four (4) years remaining in the then
current term of the Contract, the Involuntary Resignation Payment would
nevertheless be capped at three (3) times my Base Compensation, including all
bonuses, for the immediately preceding fiscal year. On the other hand, if the
Involuntary Resignation were to occur with exactly two (2) years remaining in
the then current term of the Contract, the Involuntary Resignation Payment would
equal two (2) times my Base Compensation, including all bonuses, for the
immediately preceding year as is provided for in the Contract.

     Except as set forth in this letter, the Contract continues in full force
and effect in accordance with its terms.

     I am pleased to make the foregoing modifications to my Contract, to be
ratified by the Board in December.

                              Sincerely,



                              Robert T. Giaimo

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.41


 
                              SILVER DINER, INC.

                 1996 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
                          (AS AMENDED MARCH 4, 1998)


     The following constitute the provisions of the Company's 1996 Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan.

1.   PURPOSE

     The purpose of the Plan is to provide an investment opportunity to the
Company's Non-employee Directors by granting them Options to purchase shares of
Common Stock as compensation for their service on the Board.

2.   DEFINITIONS

     As used in this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings indicated:

     (A) "BOARD" shall mean the Company's Board of Directors.

     (B) "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     (C) "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the shares of common stock, $.00074 par
value, of the Company.

     (D) "COMPANY" shall mean Silver Diner, Inc., and its Subsidiaries.

     (E) "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

     (F) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean the closing price of a share of the
Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System, or (ii) if the
shares of such Common Stock are not then listed on the Nasdaq National Market
System, the closing price per share of the Common Stock on the principal
national securities exchange, if any, on which the shares of Common Stock shall
then be listed, or (iii) if the shares of such Common Stock are not then listed
on a national securities exchange, the closing price per share of Common Stock
entered on a national inter-dealer quotation system, or (iv) if no closing or
last sales price per share of Common Stock is entered on a national inter-dealer
quotation system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the shares
of such Common Stock in the over-the-counter market, or (v) if no price can be
determined under the preceding alternatives, then the price per share as most
recently determined by the Board, which shall, if the price is not determined
under any one of the preceding alternatives, make such determination of the Fair
Market Value at least once each month.

     (G) "FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean a registration statement
filed on Form S-8 with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act covering the offer and sale of the Options
and the underlying Common Stock.

     (H) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" shall mean any member of the Company's Board
who is a "Non-Employee Director" as such term is defined under Rule 16b-
3(b)(3)(i) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

     (I) "OPTION" shall mean any option issued pursuant to this Plan.

     (J) "OPTIONEE" shall mean any person to whom an Option is granted under
this Plan.
<PAGE>
 
     (K) "PARENT" shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an
unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of
granting an Option or the sale of any Common Stock, each of the corporations
other than the Company owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.

     (L) "PLAN" shall mean this 1996 Non-employee Director Stock Option Plan.

     (M) "REORGANIZATION" shall mean any merger, reorganization,
consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

     (N) "REGISTERED" shall mean a Form S-8 Registration Statement shall be in
effect covering the purchase of the Options or the underlying shares.

     (O) "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     (P) "STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT" shall mean the agreement evidencing  the
Options sold to Optionees pursuant to the Plan containing the terms  and
conditions specified in Section 7 below and on the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.

     (Q) "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an
unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of
granting an Option, each of the corporations, other Than the last corporation in
the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.

3.   GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

     The Plan shall be administered by a committee (the "Committee"), consisting
of not less than two Non-employee Directors. The Committee shall have the
authority in its discretion to administer the Plan and to interpret the Plan and
to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the operation
of the Plan and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable
for the administration of the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee may
not alter, amend or modify the express provisions of the Plan. The Board shall
fill all vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Board may from time to
time appoint additional members to the Committee, and may at any time remove one
or more Committee members and substitute others. No member of the Board or the
Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good
faith with respect to the Plan or any action taken thereunder.

4.   TERM OF PLAN

     The Plan became effective upon its adoption by the Company's Board on
September 11, 1996, subject to stockholder approval, and shall continue in
effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 10
hereof. Any Options outstanding under the Plan on such date shall continue to be
exercisable pursuant to their terms, except as provided by Section 7(f) hereof.

5.   ELIGIBILITY

     Options may be granted to any Non-employee Director of the Company as
compensation for service on the Board.

6.   STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

     An aggregate of 150,000 shares of Common Stock shall be reserved for
issuance pursuant to Options issued pursuant to the Plan. If any outstanding
Option under the Plan for any reason expires or is terminated without
<PAGE>
 
having been exercised in full, the shares of Common Stock allocable to the
unexercised portion of such Option shall (unless the Plan shall have been
terminated) become available for subsequent issuance of Options under the Plan.

7.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

     Each Option issued pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock
Option Agreement containing the terms and conditions specified in this Section
7.

     (A) GRANT OF OPTIONS. Each Non-employee Director shall be granted an Option
to purchase 1,000 shares of Common Stock on the first day of each calendar
quarter from the date of the Plan's adoption by the Board. Each Non-employee
Director shall also be granted an Option pursuant to the Plan for the second and
third quarters of 1996 with the date of grant being May 29, 1996 and July 1,
1996, respectively. Options for the second and third quarters of 1996 and for
each quarter until the Plan is approved by stockholders will be granted subject
to stockholder approval.

     (B)  OPTION EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price of each Option (the "Option
Exercise Price") shall equal the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the
day immediately preceding the date of grant of each Option. The Option Exercise
Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7(f) hereof.

     (C)  TERM AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Options shall be exercisable in whole or
in part at any time over the exercise period, but in no event shall such period
exceed three years from the date of the grant of each such Option. The exercise
period shall be subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 7(f)
below. An Option may be exercised by giving prior written notice of such
exercise to the Company and by paying the Option Exercise Price to the Company
either by delivering on the date of exercise (i) a check in the amount of the
Option Exercise Price, (ii) Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the day
immediately preceding the date of exercise equal to or less than the Option
Exercise Price, or (iii) a combination thereof. If the Optionee tenders shares
of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value which exceeds the Option Exercise
Price, the Company shall return to the Optionee any and all whole shares of
Common Stock which exceed the Option Exercise Price and the Company shall pay
the Optionee any additional amount which exceeds the Option Exercise Price in
cash in lieu of issuing the Optionee a fractional share for such amount.

     (D) VESTING AND RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY. Options issued under the
Plan shall vest immediately upon grant and shall not be transferable other than
by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified
domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA") or the rules thereunder.

     (E) DEATH OR DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. If an Optionee shall die or become
disabled, all Options theretofore issued to such Optionee may, unless earlier
terminated in accordance with their terms, be exercised at any time during the
term of the Option by the personal representative of the Optionee or by the
person who acquired the right to exercise such Option by bequest or inheritance
or otherwise by reason of the death or disability of the Optionee.

     (F) RECLASSIFICATION; RECAPITALIZATION; AND REORGANIZATIONS.

         (1) DIVIDENDS AND STOCK SPLITS. If there is any change in the number
of shares of Common Stock through the declaration of stock dividends,
recapitalization resulting in stock splits, or combinations or exchanges of such
shares, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for Options, the
number of such shares covered by outstanding Options and the Option Exercise
Price shall be proportionately adjusted to reflect any increase or decrease in
the number of issued shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that any
fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated.

         (2) SPIN-OFFS AND LIQUIDATIONS. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or in the event of any corporate
separation or division, including, but not limited to, a split-up, a split-
<PAGE>
 
off or spin-off, each Option granted under the Plan shall terminate as of a date
to be fixed by the Board, provided, however, that no less than thirty (30) days'
written notice of the date so fixed shall be given to each Optionee, who shall
have the right during the period of thirty (30) days preceding such termination,
to exercise the Options as to all or any part of the shares of Common Stock
covered thereby.

         (3) REORGANIZATIONS. If, while unexercised Options remain outstanding
under the Plan, the Company executes a definitive Reorganization agreement, the
Committee may provide that each Option granted under the Plan shall (i)
terminate as of a date to be fixed by the Board, provided, however, that no less
than thirty (30) days' written notice of the date so fixed shall be given to
each Optionee, who shall have the right, during the period of thirty (30) days
preceding such termination, to exercise the Options as to all or any part of the
shares of Common Stock covered thereby or (ii) remain outstanding and be
adjusted so that on exercise the Optionee shall receive the securities, cash or
property that would have been issued with respect to the shares of Common Stock
had the Option been exercised  immediately prior to the Reorganization.  The
Committee may also, in its discretion, permit the cancellation of outstanding
Options in exchange for a cash payment to the Optionee equal to the difference
between the exercise price of the Option and the value of the consideration that
would have been paid had the Option been exercised immediately prior to the
Reorganization.

         (4) EXEMPTIONS. Section 7(f) shall not apply to a Reorganization in
which the Company is the surviving corporation and shares of Common Stock are
not converted into or exchanged for stock, securities of any other corporation,
cash or any other thing of value. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in
case of any Reorganization in which the Company is the continuing corporation
and in which there is a reclassification or change (including a change to the
right to receive cash or other property) of the shares of Common Stock (other
than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result of
a subdivision or combination, but including any changes in such shares into two
or more classes series of shares), the Committee may provide that the holder of
each Option then exercisable shall have the right to exercise such Option solely
for the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities (including those
of any new direct or indirect Parent of the Company), property, cash or any
combination thereof receivable by the holder of the number of shares of Common
Stock for which such Option might have been exercised upon such Reorganization
or reclassification. In the event of a change in the Common Stock as presently
constituted, which is limited to a change of all of its authorized shares with
par value into the same number of shares with a different par value or without
par value, the shares resulting from any such change shall be deemed to be the
Common Stock within the meaning of the Plan. Except as herein expressly
provided, the Optionee shall have no rights by reason of any subdivision or
consolidation of shares of stock of any class or the payment of any stock
dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of
any class or by reason of any dissolution, liquidation, or Reorganization, and
any assurance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities
convertible into shares of stock of any class, and no adjustment by reason
thereof shall be made with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to an Option or to the Option Price. The grant of an Option pursuant to
the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make
adjustments, reclassifications, Reorganizations or changes of its capital or
business structure or to merge or to consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate or
sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

8.   RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER

     No Optionee shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any
shares until the stock certificate evidencing such shares has been issued
evidencing such shares. No adjustments shall be made for dividends (ordinary or
extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions
or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock
certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 7(f) hereof.

9.   GENERAL RESTRICTIONS

     (A) INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. The Company may require an Optionee to give
written assurances in substance and form satisfactory to the Company to the
effect that such person is acquiring the Common Stock for his or her own account
for investment and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise
distributing the
<PAGE>
 
same, and to such other effect as the Company deems necessary or appropriate in
order to comply with applicable federal and applicable state securities laws.

     (B) COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS. Each Option shall be subject to the
requirement that if, at any time, counsel to the Company shall determine that
the listing, registration or qualification of the shares subject thereto on any
securities exchange or any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of
any governmental or regulatory body, is necessary as a condition of, or in
connection with, the issuance of Options, such Options may not be sold or
exercised, in whole or in part, unless such listing, registration,
qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained on
conditions acceptable to the Board. The Company plans to register the shares
subject to the Options on a Form S-8 Registration Statement. However, nothing
herein shall be deemed to require the Company to obtain an effective Form S-8
Registration Statement or to apply for or to obtain any listing, registration or
qualification of the Options or Common Stock to be issued pursuant thereto.

10.  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

     The Board may at any time and from time to time suspend, terminate, modify
or amend the Plan, provided that no suspension, termination, modification or
amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any rights under the Plan unless the
written consent of those affected is obtained.
<PAGE>
 
                              SILVER DINER, INC.
                            STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                                    FOR THE
                 1996 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN

     A stock option award (the "Stock Option" or "Award") is hereby granted by
Silver Diner, Inc., (the "Company"), to the Non-employee Director named below
("Optionee"), for and with respect to common stock of the Company, par value
$.00074 per share ("Common Stock"), subject to the following terms and
conditions:

     1.  Subject to the provisions set forth herein and the provisions of the
1996 Non-employee Director Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), the provisions of
which are hereby incorporated by reference, and in consideration of the
agreements of Optionee provided in this Stock Option Agreement (the "Option
Agreement"), the Company hereby grants to Optionee a Stock Option to purchase
from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock, at the exercise price and
on the schedule, all as set forth below.

Name of Optionee:

Date of Grant:

Option Exercise Price:

Number of Shares of Common
Stock Subject to Stock Option:

Expiration Date:

     2.  Written notice of an election to exercise any portion of the Award
specifying the portion thereof being exercised and the exercise date, shall be
given by Optionee, or his legal representative, (a) by delivering such notice at
the principal executive offices of the Company no later than the exercise date,
or (b) by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, addressed to the Secretary of
the Company at the Company's principal executive offices at least three business
days prior to the exercise date.

     3.  Neither Optionee nor any other person entitled to exercise the Stock
Option under the terms hereof shall be, or have any of the rights or privileges
of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any Common Stock issuable on
exercise of the Stock Option, until the date of the issuance of a stock
certificate for such Common Stock.

     4.  If the Award shall be exercised in whole, this Option Agreement shall
be surrendered to the Company for cancellation. If the Award shall be exercised
in part, or a change in the number or designation of the Common Stock shall be
made, this Option Agreement shall be delivered to the Company for the purpose of
making appropriate notation thereon, or of otherwise reflecting, in such manner
as the Company shall determine, the partial exercise or the change in the number
or designation of the Common Stock.

     5.  The grant of the Award hereunder shall not be deemed to give the
Optionee the right to be retained as a Non-employee Director of the Company or
to affect the right of the Company to discharge the Optionee at any time.

     6.  The Award shall be exercised in accordance with such administrative
regulations as the Board shall from time to time adopt.
<PAGE>
 
     7.  The Award and this Option Agreement shall be construed, administered
and governed in all respects under and by the laws of the State of Delaware,
without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.

     8.  The Award and this Option Agreement are subject to the requirement that
the shareholders of the Company approve and ratify the adoption of the Plan no
later than __________________, 199 .

                              SILVER DINER, INC.


                              By:  _________________________________
                                   Name:
                                   Title:

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 
333-09735 of Silver Diner, Inc. on Form S-3 and in Registration Statements No. 
333-18509, No. 333-21841, No. 333-27325, No. 333-59533 and No. 333-59535 of 
Silver Diner, Inc. on Forms S-8 of our report dated March 8, 1999, appearing in 
this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Silver Diner, Inc. for the year ended January
3, 1999.

                                              /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
                                              March 31, 1999
                                              Washington, D.C.  



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements of Silver Diner, Inc. and Subsidiaries, for the year ended
January 3, 1999, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-03-1999
<CASH>                                       1,611,757
<SECURITIES>                                   746,597
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    139,039
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,852,265
<PP&E>                                      20,907,989
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,790,572
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              21,638,497
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        2,227,222
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         8,558
<OTHER-SE>                                  18,229,437
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                21,638,497
<SALES>                                     28,561,422
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            28,561,422
<CGS>                                        7,920,808
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                7,920,808
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            19,087,455
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              40,639
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             (1,556,438)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         (1,556,438)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                     (326,868)
<NET-INCOME>                                (1,883,306)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.16)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (0.16)
        

</TABLE>


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