Vicki Lawhorne had seen Food Network star Guy Fieri on television many times, but she was still excited when he walked through her diner door.

"He was the nicest, down-to-earth person you'd ever want to meet," said Mrs. Lawhorne, owner of the Dor-Stop Restaurant, 1423 Potomac Ave., Dormont. "He was absolutely wonderful. I felt so relaxed around him."

Mrs. Lawhorne had the chance to meet Mr. Fieri May 18 when he brought his popular Food Network show ''Diners, drive-ins and dives'' to Pittsburgh.

Mrs. Lawhorne said she was notified in February that her restaurant was under consideration to be a part of the show. She said some of her regular customers e-mailed the network and suggested the Dor-Stop would be a perfect locale if the show were ever in Pittsburgh.

At that time she underwent a 90-minute interview so the show's producers could verify the authenticity of her home cooking.

This week Mr. Fieri and the crew showed up and stayed for about five hours while Mrs. Lawhorne and her family whipped up some pumpkin pancakes, raspberry French toast, German potato pancakes and other dishes for which the restaurant has become locally well known.

She said Mr. Fieri loved the food, and the whole experience went off without a hitch. Almost.

"When he came in the back I got flour all over him and batter all over his watch and his arm," she said. "But that's how I cook."

Mrs. Lawhorne said she was not one bit nervous with Mr. Fieri and his camera crew around although she did get a bit jittery three days earlier when the show's producers stopped in.

"But when Guy showed up I was fine.'' ," she said.

Sunday is typically a busy day at the Dor-Stop under normal conditions and the presence of the Food Network folks only added to it, Mrs. Lawhorne said.

She was not permitted to tell her patrons ahead of time about the show's visit because the producers wanted as real of a setting as possible.

She said service was pretty normal although some customers did have to wait a little while for their meals.

Mrs. Lawhorne said the episode featuring the Dor-Stop is expected to air in either late August or early September.

She said 13 members of her family work at the restaurant in one capacity or another. She said she and her husband, Bob, have owned the business for 22 years.

According to the Food Network website, 'Diners, drive-ins and dives are popular again thanks to faithful baby boomers, a slew of younger fans and a whole new generation of owners.'

Mr. Fieri began his career in food service at the age of 10, selling soft pretzels from a three-wheeled bicycle cart that he built with his father, according to the website. By selling pretzels and washing dishes, Mr. Fieri earned enough money in six years to study abroad in France, where he developed his appreciation for food and culture.

He now lives in California.