Recently I went to the Salem Oak Diner in Salem County, NJ. The Salem Oak diner is one of the quintessential diners in Salem, NJ. It’s in a small town, located close to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. If you just entering NJ and looking for a stereotypical NJ diner, it’s the perfect stop.
The other interesting aspect is the Salem Oak Diner is located across from the oldest White Oak in NJ. It is estimated to be between 500 – 600 years old and the largest white oak tree in NJ! Recently the Salem Oak tree has uprooted and collapsed. It’s been devastating news to see the Salem Oak Tree, no longer. 🙁 RIP Salem Oak Tree, you will be missed by all.
The white oak tree was owned by the Salem Religious Society of Friends. It stood in the Salem Friends cemetery. The White Oak Tree actually had historical meaning and was the location of a 1675 peace treaty between Quaker John Fenwick and Lenni Lenape Native Americans. All of it right near the diner.
Salem Oak Diner Atmosphere: A
The Salem Oak Diner looks like it’s been around for decades and that is because it has! It’s in an old shiny train car. Inside has a few booths, tables, and a bar.
Salem Oak Diner Coffee: B
The coffee at the diner was brewed hot and fresh. There was nothing unique or unusual about it, but it wasn’t bad either. It tasted like that of typical diner coffee.
Salem Oak Diner Food: A
The Diner has a lot more options that you would anticipate for a small old time diner. It has plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. It even has several salads and healthy choices.
To be honest, I was surprised it was open for dinner. I stopped in around lunch and decided to order the vegetarian omelet. It had an assortment of vegetables including broccoli, asparagus, and mushrooms. The waitress asked if I wanted onions in my home fries and I thought, sure why not. I also chose rye toast.
The omelet at the Salem Oak Diner was massive. It was one of the better omelets I’ve had. I enjoyed the addition of opinions in my homefries. I’m not sure if this a regular thing, but it was a nice addition.
Service: A
The waitress was friendly and refilled our beverages quickly. The food also came out fast, so I have no complaints about that.
Cost: $
For my meal and coffee, the cost was $9. You can’t get much better than that.
Overall/Would I Come Back to Salem Oak Diner:
I really liked the Salem Oak Diner, and I’m glad I was finally able to get down there. If you are looking for a quick, unique, and fun stop close to the highway, the Salem Oak Diner is perfect! It’s devastating now that the Salem Oak Tree has come down, but it’s still worth the stop.
Atmosphere: A
Coffee: B
Food: A
Service: A
Cost: $6-12
Overall: A
You can see all 191 Diners here.
Questions for you:
What is the oldest restaurant you’ve been in?
What is your favorite type of breakfast food?