Tag: brunch

White Rose Diner (Linden) taylor ham
Diners

White Rose Diner (Linden)

Hollie

White Rose Diner (Linden)

Recently I was in Linden, New Jersey and I wanted to stop at the White Rose Diner.  It’s a quintessential diner and one of the top 10 in the state. It was a matter of time before I finally made it.

Many old diners in New Jersey have the name white in them: White Rose Diner, White Mana, White Manna, White Rose System, White Rose Burgers. There are about 20 old diners in New Jersey with the name White in them. According to Munchmobile, when diners were first starting, “white” meant cleanliness and wholesomeness.

White Rose Diner (Linden)

White Rose Diner (Linden) Atmosphere: A
The White Rose Diner is a small, shiny, stainless steel, metallic, square diner. It sits about 12 people. Most of the seating is bar seating, but there is a table in the back.  If you are looking for an older, more retro diner in New Jersey, it doesn’t exist.

White Rose Diner (Linden)

These old stainless steel diners now resemble fast-food takeout places. You can sit down and eat, but with your order ready in 5 minutes, I watched many people take it and go.

White Rose Diner (Linden) inside

White Rose Diner (Linden) Coffee: B
Like many of the small, old school diners in New Jersey, it was a small 10-ounce cup of coffee. They didn’t have whipped cream, but I was given a to-go cup, which was great. While there was nothing special about the coffee, I’m happy with the order.

White Rose Diner (Linden) coffee

White Rose Diner (Linden) Food:
The White Rose Diner menu is written at the top of the diner. There is no handheld menu, but you can read it behind the counter. You take your order at the register and sit down. The White Rose Diner is well known for their “Taylor Ham Rolls” (their words; I have no bias in the name.). Since the White Rose Diner won an award for their Taylor Ham Roll, I felt like it was the only option. There aren’t many healthy options and it’s your old school greasy spoon.

White Rose Diner (Linden) taylor ham

The Taylor Ham Roll is a breakfast sandwich with Taylor Ham (which is thinly sliced ham), egg, cheese, and condiments. The White Rose Diner adds potatoes which gave them their own jive.

White Rose Diner (Linden) taylor ham

It tasted great to me. It was a large and filling breakfast sandwich.

White Rose Diner (Linden) Service: A
The White Rose Diner had one of the best services of any diner I’ve been too. Two employees were working, which is all I assume they need. The owner noticed my New York City Marathon shirt and started talking to me about the marathon. He told me his son runs the Philadelphia Marathon and Broad Street 10 Miler. How neat is that? I’ve never had a diner owner know about those races.  It was clear he loved his job.

White Rose Diner (Linden) Cost: $
For my coffee and Taylor Ham Sandwich, the cost was $5.50. I think the only time I’ve had that cheap of a diner meal is at Angelo’s Glassboro Diner.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the White Rose Diner (Linden)?

The White Rose Diner was excellent and I think anyone visiting New Jersey should go if you’re looking for the quintessential, metallic, diner experience. Plus, it’s not far from Newark Airport.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: B
Food: A
Service: A
Cost: $5-10
Overall: A

You can see all 278 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
Pork Roll or Taylor Ham?
What’s the smallest restaurant you’ve been too?

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Diners

Rehoboth Diner

Hollie

Rehoboth Diner (Rehoboth Beach, De)

The Rehoboth Diner was a unique experience, to say the least.  When we arrived around 11 am, it was busy and most tables were taken.

Rehoboth Diner (Rehobeth Beach, De)

Rehoboth Diner Atmosphere: B
The Rehoboth Diner sticks out on the main road. It’s not a big, shiny, metallic diner, but the “24-7” can’t be missed. The inside of the Rehoboth Diner is average size. You walk in next to a bakery.  There are several booths, tables, and a bar. We were sat at a table between booths. It’s my least favorite seating, but there are minimal choices when it’s busy.

Rehoboth Diner (Rehobeth Beach, De)
Inside

Rehoboth Diner Coffee: B
The coffee at the Rehoboth Beach Diner was average. It wasn’t the best nor the worst, but it was decent coffee. I could have used more.

Rehoboth Diner (Rehobeth Beach, De)
Low-quality photo and I didn’t realize it until I left.


Rehoboth Diner Food: C
The Rehoboth Diner menu has most everything a regular diner has. Since we got to the Rehoboth Diner around 11 am, we were only given a breakfast menu. I’m sure I could have asked for a lunch menu but decided breakfast was fine.  I decided to order the steak and eggs.

Rehoboth Diner (Rehobeth Beach, De)
Rehoboth Diner (Rehobeth Beach, De) steak and eggs

When it came out, I was disappointed that my steak wasn’t that big (for a $16 breakfast meal). Interesting because the Rehobeth Beach Diner is known for its big portions and generous portions. The steak itself was cooked medium rare, but it was bland in flavor. I chose scrambled eggs and rye toast. Everything was good, but not great.  Next time I go, I’ll probably order something else.

Rehoboth Diner (Rehobeth Beach, De)

Rehoboth Diner Service: C
To preface, our waitress at the Rehoboth Beach Diner was great. She was friendly and working hard. The manager came by our table midmeal and asked us to move tables so another party could sit. It wasn’t a big deal, but weird.  As we were leaving, a man came storming in to talk about “how unhappy he was.”

Rehoboth Diner Price: $$
For my steak and eggs, plus coffee, it as $20. Which the meal wasn’t worth that.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Rehoboth Diner?
The Rehoboth Diner wasn’t the worst nor the best diner I’ve been too. I would be interested in trying something off the Rehoboth Diner lunch menu.

Atmosphere: B
Coffee: B
Food: C
Service: C
Price: $12-20
Overall Thoughts: C

You can see all the diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
Do you like steak and eggs?
Have you ever been moved midmeal?

 

The metro diner east brunswick
Diners

The Metro Diner (Multiple Locations in the USA)

Hollie

The Metro Diner

A chain diner? Say it isn’t so.  Recently, I went to the Metro Diner with Nick K. Many people across the USA have told me I should try the Metro Diner. Apparently, it’s “where locals eat.” There is one location of the Metro Diner in East Brunswick.  I guess going to a chain diner in the Garden State is like getting Papa John’s in New York.  Anyway, I was looking forward to trying the Metro Diner. Besides the Bear Diner out West, the Metro Diner is the only chain diner I know of.

The metro diner east brunswick

The metro diner east brunswick
The Metro Diner was clean and modern, but it resembled a “fast food” or chain restaurant. It wasn’t a big, shiny, metallic building, but it was neat and clean. The inside has plenty of seating and booths. While the Metro Diner was busy for a weekday morning, it wasn’t overwhelming and we never felt like we were sitting on top of anyone.

 

Coffee: A
I was pleasantly surprised by the Metro Diner coffee and it appears they even have specialty coffees like “sugar cookie.”  How fun is that?  I appreciate a good personalized mug as well. In all, great coffee.

The metro diner east brunswick

Food: B
Compared to a typical diner, the Metro Diner menu is small. It’s known for their comfort food and that is pretty much all they sere. There are a few healthier options like salads but you won’t find a lot.

At any diner, I expect more than 3 omelet choices, but with chain restaurants, they need to keep things more simple. I was between the avocado toast and the eggie omelet but decided to try the veggie omelet. The waitress asked if I wanted onions, mushrooms, cheese, or a bunch of other things in my hashbrowns.  I chose onions.

When the meal came out, it was stuffed. I was shocked by how many eggies were stuffed in there, including asparagus, mushrooms, and onions. Both the hashbrowns and biscuit were good. I was impressed by the meal, but I do wish there were more options at the Metro Diner.

The metro diner east brunswick

Serice: A
Our waitress at the Metro Diner was friendly and our food came out fast. I wasn’t expecting the food to come out within 10 minutes of ordering.

Cost: $
For my meal and coffee, the cost was $12.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Metro Diner?
I liked Metro Diner and it was a good stop. Is it the diehard New Jersey Diner? No, but for a chain restaurant, the Metro Diner does a good job. I would go back. Plus, chances are for friends that aren’t local, there is a Metro Diner near you.

Atmosphere: B
Coffee: A
Food: B
Serice: A
Cost: $8-14
Overall: B

You can see all 275 diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite chain restaurant? Have you tried avocado toast?

Spa Diner (Hoboken) pancakes
Diners

Spa Diner (Hoboken)

Hollie

Spa Diner (Hoboken)

Recently I found myself in Hoboken, NJ. I haven’t been to Hoboken in a while so it was fun to come back. In 2011, my family stopped in Hoboken to check out Carlos Bakery. Carlos Bakery has multiple locations in NJ, including Marlton in South Jersey.

Spa Diner (Hoboken)

Spa Diner Atmosphere: B
The Spa Diner is an unassuming diner located in Hoboken. If you didn’t know any better, you would walk by. It’s open 24 hours.  The inside of the Spa Diner is small and has about 30 seats total, including several booths, tables, and bar space. I almost sat at the bar but opted for a booth instead.

Spa Diner Coffee: C
The Spa Diner coffee was bland and boring. There wasn’t anything unique or interesting about it and I never received refills. It was drinkable, but it was the stereotypical diner coffee, you think about in the movies.

Spa Diner (Hoboken) coffee

Spa Diner Food: C
The Spa Diner menu has all of the regular diner usuals. There is an all-day breakfast, pancakes, omelets, several salads, as well as sandwiches. I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for. After deciding pancakes, I went for the strawberry pancakes with whipped cream.

Spa Diner (Hoboken) pancakes

First, the waitress brought out the syrup. Then several minutes later, she brought out strawberries. Finally, after a while, the pancakes with the whipped cream came out. I expected the pancake to have the strawberries in them. They were just regular pancakes and a plate of strawberries. The pancakes themselves were fine, but there was nothing unique or unusual about them.

Spa Diner Service: D
I was disappointed with the Spa Diner service. While both waitresses were nice, it took a long time to take my order as well as get my food, and pay. I

Spa Diner Cost: $
For my pancakes and coffee, it was $10.25.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Spa Diner?
I didn’t dislike the Spa Diner, but it wasn’t my favorite diner I’ve been too. I would go to other diners before coming back to the Spa Diner.  If you are looking for a no frills, stereotypical diner, the Spa Diner is it.

Atmosphere: B
Coffee: C
Food: C
Service: D
Price: $8-13
Overall: C

You can see all 271 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
Would you expect the strawberries to be in the pancakes?
Have you been to Hoboken before?

Trainer's Midway Diner (Bethel, PA)
Diners

Trainer’s Midway Diner (Bethel, PA)

Hollie

If I ever wrote a “small-town diner” review, this would be up there. The Trainer’s Midway Diner is located right off of Route 78 in Bethel, Pa. My husband and I were going to stop at the Sheetz up the road for a quick bite to eat, but then we saw the giant “Midway Diner” sign and decided to stop.

The Trainer’s Midway Diner in Bethel is attached to a Comfort Inn and looks like a common spot for Truckers to sleep and grab a quick bite to eat.

Trainer's Midway Diner (Bethel, PA)

Trainer’s Midway Diner Atmosphere: C
Trainer’s Midway Diner is located off the main highway. The giant “Midway Diner” sign stands out, which is how we found it. The sign was the only reason we knew about it!

The inside is lackluster and has the small-town diner feel. There are plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar. The tables are decorated with personal art with the specials. Everything you can imagine with a small-town diner is there. We had no clue it’s called “Trainer’s Midway Diner” until googling it afterward. All of the signs say “Midway Diner.”

Trainer's Midway Diner (Bethel, PA)

Trainer’s Midway Diner Coffee: B
The coffee at Trainer’s Midway Diner was brewed hot and fresh. The cups were tiny and I could have used a dozen more refills. Other than that, it was fine.

Trainer's Midway Diner (Bethel, PA) coffee

Trainer’s Midway Diner Food: B
The Trainer’s Midway Diner menu has everything a stereotypical diner has but no more. There aren’t many healthy foods, but it has all of the basic breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The one unique item I saw was the eggie quesadilla so I decided to order that. It came stuffed with cheddar cheese, onions, and mushrooms. It tasted like a homecooked meal. The theme of the restaurant is things homecooked meals and this did not disappoint. If you are looking for a 5-star meal, you might want to look elsewhere.

Trainer's Midway Diner (Bethel, PA) quesadilla

Trainer’s Midway Diner Serice: C
The waitresses are the Trainer’s Midway Diner were young. We had friendly service, but we overheard most of them gossiping all of the time. It took a while for our food to come out, despite the Trainer’s Midway Diner not having many people.

Trainer’s Midway Diner Cost: $
For the eggie quesadilla and coffee, it as $10.

Overall Thoughts/Would I come back to Trainer’s Midway Diner?
Trainer’s Midway Diner was a good stop for what I needed. I wasn’t hungry, so it was a nice break. It wasn’t anything fancy, but I would come back if I’m around again. It’s a step up from fast food. If you need a hotel and diner stop along route 78, it would be a good one.

Atmosphere: C
Coffee: B
Food: B
Service: C
Cost: $8-15
Overall: B

You can see all of the diner reviews here. 

Questions for you:
Have you ever stopped somewhere based on a highway sign?
Do you like quesadillas?