Most restaurants serve food.

A few create a world.

I Like Killing Flies tells the story of Kenny Shopsin, the legendary owner of Shopsin's, a tiny New York restaurant that became famous not because it followed the rules, but because it refused to.

The documentary captures a man with an uncompromising vision, a huge menu, a sharp sense of humour and a belief that a restaurant should have a personality.

At Lynn's American Diner, Kenny Shopsin represents:

Authenticity.

Independence.

Passion.

And the courage to create something completely your own.

Quick Facts

Released: 2004

Director:
Matt Mahurin

Subject:

Kenny Shopsin

Location:

Greenwich Village, New York City

Genre:

Documentary

Food culture

Biography

The Story

A Restaurant Like No Other

Shopsin's was not a typical restaurant.

It was a place built entirely around Kenny Shopsin's personality and philosophy.

With a menu containing hundreds of items, strict house rules and a reputation unlike any other restaurant in New York, Shopsin's became a destination for people looking for an experience rather than just a meal.

Kenny Shopsin

A True Original

Kenny Shopsin was not interested in becoming a chain.

He was not interested in following trends.

He believed that the best restaurants were created by people who cared deeply about what they were doing.

His approach was unusual, sometimes controversial, but always authentic.

That authenticity made him unforgettable.

The Philosophy

The greatest lesson from Kenny Shopsin is simple:

A restaurant needs a soul.

Customers remember:

The personality.

The story.

The atmosphere.

The people behind the counter.

Food matters, but the experience is what brings people back.

A Connection to Lynn's American Diner

This is why Kenny Shopsin belongs on the walls of Lynn's American Diner.

Although the approach may have been different, the philosophy is familiar:

Do not create something ordinary.

Create something people remember.

Lynn's American Diner was built around the same belief:

A restaurant should be more than somewhere to eat.

It should be somewhere people feel connected to.

Restaurant Culture

I Like Killing Flies is not only about one restaurant.

It is about the spirit of independent American businesses.

The places that survive because they have character.

The places that cannot be replaced by a chain.

The places where the owner’s personality becomes part of the experience.

Why We Remember I Like Killing Flies

Because the most memorable restaurants are not always the biggest.

Sometimes they are the ones with the strongest identity.

Kenny Shopsin created something impossible to copy.

I Like Killing Flies at Lynn's American Diner

This documentary belongs in the archive because it represents:

🍔 American restaurant culture

🗽 New York individuality

🔥 Passion over perfection

⭐ The importance of having a unique story

Related Archive Pages

American Diner Culture

Food Films

The Founder

Chef

Big Night

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Did You Know?

Kenny Shopsin's menu became famous for containing hundreds of choices.

Shopsin's began as a small grocery store before becoming a legendary restaurant.

The documentary explores the relationship between creativity, customers and running an independent business.

Kenny Shopsin became an icon among chefs and restaurant owners because of his uncompromising approach.

Lynn's American Diner Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10/10

Why It's On Our Wall

The greatest restaurants are not created by copying others.

They are created by people who believe in something.

Kenny Shopsin built a restaurant that could only exist because it was uniquely his.

That same belief drives independent restaurants everywhere:

Be authentic.

Be memorable.

Be yourself.

That is why I Like Killing Flies earns its place in the Lynn's American Diner Film History Archive.

"A restaurant without personality is just a place that serves food."

The Lynn's American Diner Film History Archive celebrates the films, people and stories that continue to define American culture.