56 Diner (Branford, CT)

August 18, 2019 By Hollie in Diners Tags: coffee, connecticut, Diner, food, menu, pork chops 1 Comment

After the Sea Legs 10 Miler, I decided to check out a diner right on the way home. The 56 Diner in Banford, CT, is right off 95 so an easy stop.

Atmosphere: B
The 56 Diner in Banford resembles an old Friendlys, and that’s because it was.

The inside has a full-length bar. There are plenty of booths and tables.

One thing we found interesting was the menu placement. Some of the ads were upside down!

Coffee: B
The coffee was good, but there was nothing or unique.

Food: C
The 56 Diner has most diner options. There is all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Omelettes served with home fries and toast, to egg salad to wraps, to pork chops, and dinner options. They also have an ice cream bar too, complete with banana splits. There are a few healthy choices as well. I decided to order the pork chops and upgrade my regular salad to a greek salad.

The Greek Salad was good. It was a nice size, and I appreciated the fresh ingredients. It came with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and grape leaves.

The pork chops, however, were another story. They were thin and tasted as though they were reheated. I was disappointed because pork chops are usually one of my favorite meals. The mashed potatoes appeared as though they were squeezed out of a tube.

Was my meal terrible? No. It was okay, but I wouldn’t order it again.

Service: B
It took a while for the host to sit us. Once he did, it took a while to take our orders and for the food to come out. He was friendly, but it was a lot longer than you would think.

Cost: $$
For my coffee, pork chops, and salad, it was $20.

Overall Thoughts of the 56 Diner/Would I Come Back?
The 56 Diner is ok. It’s not my favorite in the area, but it’s a good stop, especially if you are staying in one of the hotels nearby and don’t want fast food.

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

You Can See All Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
Do you like pork chops?

Have you ever been to a Friendly’s? This is the second diner I’ve been to that was an old Friendlys.

Park Place Diner (Matawan)

August 17, 2019 By Hollie in Diners Tags: breakfast, brunch, coffee, Diner, new jersey, omelet, Pancakes, review 2 Comments

After the Sheehan Classic Asbury Park 5k, I decided to stop at the Park Place diner (Matawan). It’s located right across from Aberdeen Shopping Center, and the Town Square Diner.

Atmosphere: A
The atmosphere of the Park Place Diner in Matawan is typical of a modern diner. It’s not metallic or shiny, but a nice modern building.

The front door is located next to the dessert case as well as a bar. Inside, there are plenty of booths and tables. Apparently, it’s a great local spot to hold a business meeting.

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh, and the waitress refilled it often.

Food: A
The menu at the Park Place Diner is massive, and they have everything from breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials. They also serve everything all day long, which is nice.

I decided to order the farmers omelet, which came with pancakes. The Farmers Omelet was stuffed with Ham, Onion, Peppers, Potatoes and Cheddar Cheese. It had the most cheese I’ve seen in an omelet.

Ordering pancakes at a diner can always be risky. I’ve had good pancakes, but I’ve also had bad, flat, pancakes. The pancakes at the Park Place Diner were light and fluffy and tasted good. I was pleased!

Service: A
The waitress was one of the friendliest waitresses I’ve had recently. Even though the Park Place Diner was busy, she made sure to refill my coffee, and the food came out quickly.

Cost: $
For my omelet and coffee at the Park Place Diner, it was $12.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Park Place Diner?
I liked the Park Place Diner in Matawan, and if I’m in the area, I’ll be back. Some of the lunch and dinner options interested me.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: A
Food: A
Service: A
Cost: $8-15
Overall: A

You can see all 256 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite type of omelet?
What is the riskiest item at a diner to order?

Shoreline Diner and Vegetarian Enclave (Guilford, CT)

August 11, 2019 By Hollie in Diners Tags: bean, coffee, connecticut, diners, food, menu, resaurant, salad, vegetarian Leave a comment

When in Connecticut for the Sea Legs Shuffle 10 Miler, Alexis and I wanted to go to a new diner. I’ve been to a bunch of diners in Connecticut, but new diners are always fun. We noticed the Shoreline Diner was conveniently located near the race start and it looked interesting. How many diners also promote a vegetarian menu?

We arrived around dinner time, and it wasn’t too crowded.

Atmosphere: A
The Shoreline Diner exterior is bright purple and retro. It’s not metallic or shiny, but any purple building stands out.

The inside is that of a typical dining experience. There are plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar. It’s bright and open, so you don’t feel like you’re sitting on top of anyone.

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh, and I enjoyed it. The whipped cream tasted good too.

Food: A
The Shoreline Diner is unique that they have many different vegetarian options. You don’t see that very often. Everything is fresh and one of the freshest I’ve seen for a diner. They are known for their vegan breakfast, greek salad, sweet potato fries, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. How many diners do you know, known for their vegan options? If you need to follow a special diet, they have plenty of safe options and the waitress even asked if we were allergic to anything before taking our order.

I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for so I decided to go for a salad and their chicken souvlaki.

The “Super Salad” was fresh and had organic baby kale, strawberries, walnuts, and goat cheese with a balsamic dressing. It was one of the better salads I’ve had a diner.

The chicken souvlaki was good. There were plenty of sautéed vegetables with chicken and all on a pita. It tasted great and was filling.

Service: A
Our waitress was friendly, and the food came out fast. I couldn’t ask for a better experience. She refilled our beverages, and I have no complaints.

Cost: $
For my salad, coffee, and chicken souvlaki, it was $30. I technically did order two meals, though.

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
I liked the Shoreline Diner and Vegetarian Enclave. It is one of my more favorite diners in Connecticut. It’s one of the more unique diners I’ve been to. I would love to come back sometime and explore some of the vegan and vegetarian options.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: A
Food: A
Service: A
Cost: 13-20
Overall: A

You can see all diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
Have you tried a vegetarian restaurant before?

Town Square Diner (Matawan)

August 10, 2019 By Hollie in Diners Tags: brunch, coffee, diners, food, new jersey, review, salad

Recently I went to the Town Square Diner in Matawan. One of my goals is to go to a few more diners in that general area. Previously the Aberdeen Diner, a few years ago, it was reopened under the name Town Square Diner.

Atmosphere: B
The Town Squire Diner is located in the Aberdeen Shopping Center. It’s not a standalone diner and just blends in with the rest of the shopping center.

Once you get inside, it looks like a diner. It’s dimly lit with plenty of booths, tables, and a bar.

Coffee: B
The coffee at the Town Squire Diner was brewed hot and fresh. It wasn’t anything unique or unusual but it was good. I could have used more refills but other than that, it was good.

Food: B
The menu and food at the Town Squire Diner has everything you would expect in a diner. There are plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Plus there were several different menu specials. In fact, the specials are what spoke to me.

I arrived around lunchtime and didn’t know what I was craving. One of their specials: The Shrimp Salad caught my eye. It came with arugula, shrimp, avocado, and artichoke hearts. The salad was good but I do wish it was bigger.

It also came with soup and I chose lentil. The lentil soup was delicious but it was hot, so hot in fact, that I burned out my tongue. That was my fault though.

Cost: $$
For my salad and coffee, it was $18.

Service: A
Our waitress at the Town Square Diner was friendly and our food came out fast. Without rushing, I was in and out within 45 minutes.

Overall Thoughts:
I liked the Town Square Diner. The meal was fresh and the food came out fast. I would go back.

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Diners don’t make me happy, why do you ask?

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Atmosphere: B
Coffee: B
Food: B
Service: A
Cost: $10-20
Overall: A

You can see all 255 diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
Do you ever order from the specials menu?
Do you like shrimp?

Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer vs Collagen Latte

August 9, 2019 By Hollie in vital proteins Tags: breakfast, coffee, collagen, health, nutrition, wellness 15 Comments

As most people know, I’m a Vital Proteins Ambassador, and in exchange for a post a month, Vital Proteins will send me new products to try.

I’ve written about the health benefits of Vital Proteins and Collagen before as well as how Collagen protein has helped me recover from workouts.

Vital Proteins just came out with a new product: The Collagen Lattes

There are four different flavors:

Madagascar Vanilla
Cocoa Caramel
Golden Milk
Hot Cocoa

I am lucky enough to try The Golden Milk.

The ingredient list of Vital Proteins Golden Milk is small. It’s made with chicken bone broth collagen, coconut milk, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper extract.

Like the Collagen Creamer, the Collagen Latte goes well into coffee, hot cocoa, and other frothy drinks. Since it’s the summer, I prefer something colder so tried my hand at making a cold beverage.

So What is the difference between the Collagen Lattes and Collagen Creamers?

Both have a creamy consistency as well as collagen. The difference is their purpose and how to use them.

Collagen Creamer:

I’ve written about the collagen creamer before. It’s an excellent creamer. It is free of added sugars, dairy, and gluten. It’s not as creamy as full-fat milk, and I like it in hot cocoa the best. Vital Protein Collagen Creamers contain MCT, a healthy fat, in coconut milk. Each coconut creamer also contains 10 grams of collagen and protein. Finally, one of my favorite parts of any Vital Proteins Collagen product is the ingredients list. Each Vital Protein product is made with real food. There are no artificial sweeteners or refined sugars. Plus, the Collagen Creamer is also Dairy and Gluten-Free (it’s not critical for me, but I do know it is for many).

Collagen Lattes:

The Collagen Lattes are all dairy-free and have 10g of bone broth collagen. Like the Collagen Creamers, the Collagen Lattes also contain MCTs and are dairy and gluten-free. There are no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or additives.

Two flavors Madagascar Vanilla and Golden Milk flavors contain no caffeine. The Cocoa Caramel and Hot Cocoa flavors each have 5 mg of caffeine.

So which is “better”?

The answer is neither!

Looking strictly at ingredients and nutrition facts both contain coconut milk powder, which means they are dairy-free. I’m not lactose intolerant, but my husband is, and they work well for him.

The creamer is best added to a drink like coffee or smoothie while the latte flavors can be drunk as a stand-alone drink.

The other main difference is the sourcing of the collagen. The creamer is sourced from collagen peptides. Also known as collagen peptides creamer. What are peptides? Collagen peptides act as building blocks for the body and help build stronger hair, nails, and joints.

The Collagen Lattes contains bone broth collagen. Bone broth is bones and cartilage and is better for bone health. As a runner, I like the added benefit of bone health.

You won’t go wrong for either, and it comes down to your preference. If you are looking for a healthier alternative for creamer, I would choose the creamer. If you want to substitute your coffee or morning drink altogether, the latte is a good place to start.

Right now I’m drinking Golden Milk which I like and highly recommend.

Thank you to Vital Proteins for sending the new Collagen Latte Golden Milk to try.

Questions for you:

Have you tried Collagen Lattes or Collagen Creamer?

What is your favorite type of creamer?

FueledByLOLZ

Running and Laughing through the Garden State

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