Jefferson Diner (Lake Hopatcong)
After running the Pregame four-miler two weeks ago, my husband and I drove further north to the Jefferson Diner. The Jefferson Diner (Lake Hopatcong) has been on my “diner to do list” for months, and it’s much easier to justify a 20-minute drive versus two hours. Plus who doesn’t love diner food after a race?
The Jefferson Diner has been featured on Food Network a few different times. Most famously now, LOLZ blog.
Jefferson Diner Atmosphere: A
The Jefferson Diner is the end cap of a mini strip mall. At first thought, it seems strange. However, it’s such a retro building; it sticks out and is hard to miss.
The inside of the Jefferson Diner is spacious, and you aren’t sitting on top of anyone. I’ve come to realize that my restaurant pet peeve is dining on top of people. I like to have space, and the Jefferson Diner had plenty.
We arrived around 1 pm on a Super Bowl Sunday, and it wasn’t busy. It was awesome because I was starving.
Jefferson Diner Coffee: A
I can’t go to a diner without having coffee. Believe it or not, I usually don’t have a lot of coffee in the afternoon. I value my sleep too much. The coffee at the Jefferson Diner was often refilled, and it was hot. The waiter also continued to refill it and even added whipped cream. I couldn’t ask for better coffee.
Jefferson Diner Service: A
The waiter at the Jefferson Diner was excellent. He made food recommendations and polite and friendly.
Jefferson Diner Food: A
The Jefferson Diner menu is enormous. The many has all of the standard options from breakfast, lunch, and dinner. To be honest, I was so hungry I didn’t take too much time looking at the Jefferson Diner menu. When I discovered the Jefferson Diner several months ago, I looked at the menu but hadn’t really since. Plus, when I’m hangry, I’ll eat the first thing that sounds good.
At the Jefferson Diner, I decided on the Hunters Platter with Sausage, scrambled eggs, and chocolate chip pancakes. It looked like far more than three eggs to me, but I’m not complaining. Everything about the Jefferson Diner food was delicious. The pancakes were light and fluffy with plenty of chocolate chips. There was nothing about my meal I didn’t like.
I walked by several tables, and I wanted to try everything. I wish the Jefferson Diner weren’t so far because the food was so good and there are plenty of beers on tap.
Jefferson Diner Dessert: A
After looking at the Jefferson Diner dessert case, I knew I wanted to order something. I was going to take the dessert home, but I didn’t want to be a risk-taker and have melted cake. At the Jefferson Diner, I opted for the red velvet cake because that’s my favorite. I’ve been to 89 diners in NJ now, and honestly, this red velvet might be the best. The red velvet cake had a huge layer of cream cheese frosting, and the inside was extremely fruity. I haven’t had many “fruity red velvet cakes,” so this was a pleasant surprise.
It was perfect. I left nearly rolling out of the diner, but luckily I could sit in my food coma for the 2-hour drive home.
Jefferson Diner Cost: $
Here is the kicker. For the Hunters Platter, coffee, red velvet cake, and ice cream it was $22. That’s one of the best deals for the best dinner food I’ve had.
Summary/Would I come back to the Jefferson Diner (Lake Hopatcong)?
I wish I didn’t live 2 hours south from the Jefferson Diner in Lake Hopatcong because it’s one of my favorite. When we are back in the Lake Hopatcong area, I will be back.
Jefferson Diner Summary:
Atmosphere: A
Coffee: A
Service: A
Food: A
Dessert: A
Cost: $10-15
Overall: A
You can see all of the diner reviews here.
Questions for you:
What are your favorite type of pancake and your favorite cake?
What time do you stop having coffee (if you are a coffee/caffeine drinker)?
I love diners! I grew up in NY going to NY/NJ diners and there’s really nothing else like it where I’m living now.
Any waiter that puts whipped cream on your coffee deserves a 100% tip in my book. And love, love, love diner pancakes!!
Yum that all looks so good!! Whipped cream on your coffee? YUM!!! I try to keep my coffee drinking to the morning hours but every once in a while I will have an afternoon cup. Have a great weekend!!
Wow! I haven’t felt tempted to go out of my way for a diner before this one, but if (if!) I’m ever within a few hours, I’ll go there. Looks amazing!
And I’m a coffee drinker, but know from experience that I can’t have one after 2 PM. Any later, and I do have problems falling asleep before midnight. Sigh.
Ohhh I want to try this diner simply because they put whipped cream in the coffee! love a good diner. we almost went to one last night and I was going to have chocolate chip pancakes but we ended up not going. You must try the diners out by me next!
This diner is really near me! We don’t go very often but now I’m craving it!
Also, I know the Pregame 4 miler is organized by Superhero Events. Have you run any of their other races? I did their Superhero Half Marathon and the Halloween Half Marathon last year and really enjoyed both! I’ve never done the pregame 4 miler though. Maybe next year!
I actually haven’t done any of the other races but I’ve heard they are good! I wanted to do the half as well but it’s the same weekend as another race!
I love coffee in the morning but if I make some in the afternoon it makes me gag. I drink 2 or 3 cups in the morning but have to have creamer in it. Whipped cream sounds really good and healthier than the creamer. And cake is best if it has more frosting than cake!!
I think whipped cream might be more unhealthy than creamer because it’s just sugared cream. Ha, either way it’s delicious and I get it with all of my coffee.
Favorite pancake would be chocolate chip! Favorite cake – chocolate chocolate. As you can see there is a chocolate theme here. Great diner review!