Phoenix Diner (Absecon)
My husband and I planned a trip down to Atlantic City. It gave me another perfect opportunity to try a new diner. We stopped just outside of Atlantic City in Absecon at the Phoenix diner.
When we pulled up, we got the very last parking space. It was 11:30 on a Sunday (My least favorite times to go out to eat at diners). I thought there would be a wait. To my surprise, we were quickly seated at the Phoenix Diner, and there were even open tables and booths available. Starting on that note already made the diner a winner in my books. Diners are like black holes; there is always somewhere to sit even if the parking lot is overflowing.
Phoenix Diner Atmosphere: B
The Phoenix Diner is a big open diner. The outside a sizeable modern building while the inside is decorated with wood and shore displays.
I was enjoying the wood and shore decorations. The Phoenix Diner is a nautical-themed diner. As a child in a navy family, I always appreciate the nautical themes.
Phoenix Diner Coffee: A
The coffee at the Phoenix Diner was good. I was able to get my coffee with whipped cream. I enjoyed the coffee except it was in such a baby cup. I needed a refill almost immediately. I wish restaurants gave bigger coffee mugs, but I think that is a problem that I only run into.
Phoenix Diner Food: Me: B
The menu at the Phoenix Diner is huge. I swear it could have been a taller menu then me. Like I have said, it’s not an authentic diner unless the menu contains at least 10000000 items. The Phoenix Diner has everything from seafood, to salad, to steak to breakfast…
I ordered the large Greek salad with chicken. When it came out, I was surprised because I thought it would be a lot larger. Because the menu at the Phoenix Diner was larger? I don’t know!
Because of running, I know I have a skewed perception of what is a large meal and filling and what is not. It isn’t uncommon for me to eat a 1000 calorie salad. That is over half of some people’s calories. I digress, and that is a post for another day. Anyways I was hoping the salad would be a lot larger. It did, however, contain an insane amount of feta cheese. The salad was 1 part lettuce, two parts chicken and 100 parts feta cheese. The salad at the Phoenix Diner had close to 30 cubes in there.
Phoenix Diner Price: $
It was 25 dollars for two coffees and two meals.
Overall thoughts/Would I come back to the Phoenix Diner (Absecon)?
Yes, I would come back to the Phoenix Diner in Absecon at some point. It was good food for the price, and I have no big complaints. It wasn’t huge portions like the majority of diners in NJ, but it also didn’t cost an arm and a leg since Atlantic City is a pretty touristy town if you are ever in town I recommend it.
You Can See All Diner Reviews Here.
Question for you: Has your perception of “a large meal” changed since working out?
Oh yes! I’m always concerned with portions when we eat out because I require loads of calories from all the swimming and running I’ve done in my life. And the coffee cup problem? I get that. It’s funny. I also hate getting coffee and they ask me if I want room for cream. I say no and they don’t fill it to the top! I don’t know why, but that bugs me! I need my coffee filled to the brim! Have a great weekend!
Diners are like black holes, there is always somewhere to sit even if the parking lot is overflowing.
Awesome
Have you ever been to what use to be the Crystal Diner(or something like that) in the Toms River NJ area? There’s a “New Crystal Diner” now, but when I was little my Mom always took me to the Crystal Diner. It had stone outside on the exterior and inside it was mostly pink, I loved the rotating dessert display and we always ordered blinzes with sour cream. I’m sad it doesn’t exisit but did you ever get there or as a child? This is going back 20 years ago so I don’t know how long ago it was closed or switched over. Just curious!(or if you’ve been to the New Crystal Diner too)
It’s funny you should ask that because I was just there two days ago. I’ve been a couple of times (it’s only 30 or so minutes from me).
They don’t have a lot of desserts there anymore. I’ve only lived in the area for about 10 months so I never went to the The crystal diner!
Here is a link to it: http://fueledbylolz.com/2014/04/19/new-crystal-diner-review/
Thank you! Reading your review now. Looks so different from my memory, but what did I expect? The exterior is much more diner-y now though which is a good. I wonder if they still serve blintzes. Thanks for the link!
Random question, but I noticed you order Greek salads and from memory, the times I visited there was alot of ‘Greek’ inspired dishes like lemon chicken etc- is there a reason for that? I just noticed a picture of the Parthenon on the menu too. I think it’s because here we perceive diners to be classic American food lol. Excuse this random ethnic query. lol
No reasoning that I know of…I think diners just always dabble in Greek food too. LOL, they have burgers, steak, seafood….why not add Greek too? (In reality I think they are overzealous).
Watching non-athletes eat fascinates me … because they eat so little food, and I’m like, “that looks like a good appetizer!”