New Crystal Diner (Toms River, NJ)
A few weeks ago, we wanted to go out to eat somewhere new. Not only did we want to go to a new restaurant but a new area in general. Though Tom’s River and Seaside Heights (made famous by Snooki and the MTV Jersey Shore) is only 30 minutes away, we had yet to find ourselves there. Since we have been to most of the rest of the state, we decided to head east.
We opted to drive out there and find a diner to try. Lucky for us, there are plenty. The nice thing about finding new diners in NJ is you have to drive. Chances are if you drive 10 minutes down any road you’ll find one.
New Crystal Diner Atmosphere: A
The outside of the New Crystal Diner is big, metallic, and shiny. You cannot miss it driving by. The inside of the New Crystal Diner is one large room. It’s what you imagine when you picture “diner.” It’s big, red booths and tables. We were lucky to grab a booth by the window.
New Crystal Diner Coffee: B
The coffee at the new Crystal Diner was hot, and they had plenty of different sweeteners as well as cream. The lady couldn’t do whipped cream for me (sad), but it wasn’t bad coffee. It was a normal coffee. It wasn’t remarkably good or bad. It wasn’t burnt or watery. I only “took off points” because they couldn’t put whipped cream on it when I know they had some for dessert. I’m not sure what the deal was, but I’ll never know.
New Crystal Diner Food: A
The menu at the New Crystal Diner is extensive. There were ten full pages of different foods ranging from breakfast to seafood to an entire page of different salads…as you can see, the list was endless. I think this could have been the diner with the most extensive menu that we have been too. I wasn’t sure what to expect since it was such an extensive and overwhelming menu.
I opted for the Greek Salad with chicken and no anchovies. It wasn’t more than 5 minutes, and they brought the food out. I’m not joking when I say 5 minutes. It was the fastest restaurant food I’ve ever received. (Faster than Waffle House). My husband joked that maybe they had already made it and we were waiting for us to come. It was amazing.
The salad at the New Crystal Diner was good. In my personal opinion, it’s the toppings and dressings that make a salad. If you eat dry lettuce, it will be gross. The Greek salad contained everything I liked: feta cheese, grape leaves, lots of pita bread, tomatoes, chicken, Their Greek dressing was a home mix of oil and vinegar. Honestly, this was the fastest and one of the best salads I’ve had. I don’t even think I could have prepared it that quickly at home if I was being timed.
New Crystal Diner Dessert: B
The New Crystal Diner had plenty of dessert at the front, but I wasn’t in the mood for anything substantial. I drank some of my husband’s milkshake, which was pretty good. It wasn’t the best milkshake I have ever had nor was it the worst. It would recommend it, but I wouldn’t say it was the best milkshake you’ve had or it will change your life.
New Crystal Diner Cost: $$
For two meals, two coffees and a milkshake it was 40 dollars.
Overall Opinion:
Would I Come Back to New Crystal Diner (Toms River)?
It was a delicious meal, and I could not believe how fast the food came out. I was extremely impressed because it wasn’t as if we were the only ones in the restaurant either. The only complaint was the whipped cream for the coffee, but other than that the experience at the New Crystal Diner was positive. Next time I’ll probably try one of their many desserts or cakes. I don’t have any complaints, and I’m glad to check another diner off my NJ list.
You can see all diner reviews here.
Questions for you:
What is the fastest that you have ever been brought out food?
What are your favorite salad, toppings?
I don’t like it when places are unaccommodating – like no whipped cream for the coffee! You were generous in your markdown:). That would prevent me from going back just because there are plenty of places that will honor special requests – especially since they had the item you asked for!
I agree! Ha, I figured whip cream was a different request so I cannot complain to much. 😉
That diner looks a little too clean. I’m suspicious.
That salad looks great. They definitely did not skimp on the toppings and chicken :). Glad you enjoyed it.
Now that’s what I call fast food! I go mad waiting for food…or anything else, really. I am so impatient and it drives me mad when I don’t know exactly how long something is going to take…it’s not really the waiting that gets to me actually, but the uncertainty of not knowing when/if a certain event will happen.
I love chickpeas and olives on salads! Ooh, and sun-dried tomatoes. I need to make one of these salads for dinner…
xxx
Are you saving a Diner for when I drive through in August (that’s when I’m officially coming now!)? This does look clean, but so delicious!
Oh yum! I recently had a greek salad for the first time and loved it! My favorite salad topping is for sure warmed veggies oddly enough, I like having cold lettuce and tomatoes with some warmed peppers, or broccoli or even cauliflower.
I haven’t been to that diner, but I grew up in Tom’s River and Seaside Heights (back in the 70s and early 80s) and enjoyed the Jersey shore long before it was the “Jersey Shore” (pre-Snooki and the Situation). Haven’t been back there in about 20 years though.
I’m making dinner now, and all I want is a milkshake.
Dang, that is high praise to say it was one of the best salads you’ve ever had that’s for sure!
I’m like you and I see a big menu I immediately get very skeptical, that’s awesome that it turned out so well. Good Lord my favorite salad topping I honestly don’t know how to pick, red onion maybe?
Fast food I’ve ever gotten, not sure maybe 10 minutes.
Favorite salad toppings= feta, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red & green pepper and onion. Yum!
I wish I could teleport over to the diner & try it, someday!