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Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ)

March 29, 2020March 10, 2020 Hollie

Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ)

Recently my good friend Cyd (who owns the website New Jersey Isn’t Boring) and I went to the Maple Valley Diner in Clifton, NJ. She heard it was good so we decided to give a shot. We’ve been to over 30 diners together now so it’s becoming harder and harder to find new ones that we both haven’t been too.

Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ) Atmosphere: A
The Maple Valley Diner looks modern and well kept. It sticks out on the highway. The interior of The Maple Valley Diner looks fairly modern with plenty of booths, tables, a full-length bar, and a dessert case. I always appreciate a diner with a dessert case, although it makes me want to order dessert more (not a problem though).

The Maple Valley Diner Coffee: A
The Maple Valley Diner coffee was brewed hot and fresh and the waitress brought plenty of refills. I could haven’t asked for a better experience.

The Maple Valley Diner Food: B
The Maple Valley Diner menu has most things you expect in a diner. There is an all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I expected there to be more specials as well as seafood options, but there weren’t as many. The Maple Valley Diner is known for their sweet potatoes, french fries, french toast, egg platters, and cake.

I decided to order the steak kabob (I think I’ve ordered it once at the Galaxy Diner). It came with grilled steak, grilled vegetables, on top of rice, as well as a side greek salad. I was happy with the steak kabob, although I asked for the steak for medium-rare, and it was much closer to medium or even done. Other than that, the meal was excellent.

The Maple Valley Diner Dessert: B
We heard the Rainbow Cake was excellent (also known as Italian cake) so we decided to order that. I like a good rainbow cake and I have no complaints. It also had a hint of raspberry, which was tasted great. I did think it was a small piece for the cost ($6).

The Maple Valley Diner Service: A
Our waitress at The Maple Valley Diner was friendly and our food came out fast. Plus, the manager came to check on us. In all, it was a great experience.

The Maple Valley Diner Cost: $$
For the steak kabob, coffee, and cake it was $30, which I did think the cake was much pricer for the size.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to The Maple Valley Diner?
I liked The Maple Valley Diner and I would go back if I’m in Clifton again. It’s slightly more expensive but worth the price. It was a great diner and experience. I would go back just for the rainbow cake.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: A
Food: B
Dessert: B
Service: A
Cost: $15-25

Overall: A

You can see all 296 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:

Do you like rainbow cake?

Have you ever tried a steak kabob?

Ocean Bay Diner (South Amboy)

March 28, 2020March 2, 2020 Hollie

Ocean Bay Diner (South Amboy, NJ)

Recently I was in South Amboy and I decided to make a stop at the Ocean Bay Diner in South Amboy.

When I arrived to the Ocean Bay Diner, I was the only one there. I was surprised and I wasn’t sure the Ocean Bay Diner was open.

Ocean Bay Diner Atmosphere: A

The Ocean Bay Diner looks like a stereotypical diner. The outside is inviting with the name Ocean Bay Diner.

The inside of the Ocean Bay Diner is clean, modern, and has plenty of booths and tables. There is even a big salad bar too.

Ocean Bay Diner Coffee: A

The Ocean Bay Diner coffee was served hot and fresh and the waitress brought plenty of refills. It was good coffee.

Ocean Bay Diner Food: B

The Ocean Bay Diner menu has everything you can imagine in a diner. There is all day breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I didn’t notice any specials at the Ocean Bay Diner which was the only surprising.

I decided to order the broiled salmon which came with soup, the salad bar, 2 sides, and the salmon. It was a lot of food which is why I chose it.

I decided to forgo the soup because it was just a lot of food.

The salad bar at the Ocean Bay Diner is one of the best diner salad bars yet. There were all of the regular salad bar options including 2 types of greens, olives, tomatoes, onions, and tomatoes. It also had plenty of options that not many sale bars do including beets, peppers, and bean salad. In all, I was extremely pleased.

The salmon came with two sides and I chose corn and rice. The corn was bland and the rice tasted like regular rice. Nothing unique or unusual about the sides.

The salmon tasted good. Instead of a filet of salmon, they plated salmon steak. It came with skin (my favorite) but also had bones. In all, it was one of the better diner salmons I’ve had.

I was happy with my meal and the Ocean Bay Diner salad bar is one of the best I’ve been too.

Ocean Bay Diner Service: A

The waitress at the Ocean Bay Diner was great and I couldn’t have asked for better service. Our food also came out quickly.

Ocean Bay Diner Cost: $$

For my meal and coffee, it was $23. It was a lot of food but the Ocean Bay Diner has a few meals that cost over $30!

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Ocean Bay Diner in Sayreville?

I liked the Ocean Bay Diner and it’s one of the better diners I’ve been to up that way. Plus, the salad bar was great.

Atmosphere: A

Coffee: A

Food: B

Service: A

Cost: $15-30

Overall: A

You can see all 295 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:

What’s your favorite salad bar item?

Do you prefer salmon steak or filet?

Diners

Veronica Plaza Diner (Somerset, NJ)

March 22, 2020March 2, 2020 Hollie

Veronica Plaza Diner (Somerset, NJ)

Recently I was in Somerset, NJ so I decided to stop at the Veronica Plaza Diner.

The Veronica Plaza Diner is located in a shopping center near Rutgers University. The Veronica Plaza Diner is only open until 3 pm so it’s a breakfast and lunch spot only.

Veronica Plaza Diner Atmosphere: C

The Veronica Plaza Diner is located in a small shopping center. It doesn’t stand out but there is plenty of parking.

The inside of the Veronica Plaza Diner has plenty of wooden tables, booths, and a small bar. It was dimly lit and slightly dirty which is never a good sign.

Veronica Plaza Diner Coffee: A

The Veronica Plaza Diner coffee tasted great and the waitress brought over a refill.

Veronica Plaza Diner Food: B

The Veronica Plaza Diner menu has breakfast and lunch with a few specials. There were plenty of breakfast options and I was in the mood for pancakes.

Pancakes are one of the most risky things to order a diner. Either the pancakes are flat and bland or they are thick and fluffy. You never know why you’ll get!

I ordered the chocolate chip and peanut butter pancakes which tasted good. There was a solid amount of pancakes and it there were plenty of chocolate chips. They were topped with crunchy peanut butter.

The pancakes weren’t the worst nor the best pancakes I’ve had but I was pleased with my selection.

Veronica Plaza Diner Service: C

The waitress at the Veronica Plaza Diner was friendly but it took a while for our food to come. When it was time for the check, it took a long time for her to come back. I couldn’t seem to find her anywhere.

Veronica Plaza Diner Cost: $$

For my pancakes and coffee it was $10. Most of the diner was fairly expensive for the amount of food and quality.

Overall thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Veronica Plaza Diner?

The food at the Veronica Plaza Diner was decent but it’s not somewhere I would back for. The Veronica Plaza Diner could use a decent cleaning as well.

Atmosphere: C

Coffee: A

Food: C

Service: C

Cost: $10-20

Overall: C

You can see all 294 Diner Reviews Here.

Question for you:

Do you like pancakes? What’s your favorite type of pancake?

Diners

South Star Diner (Mount Holly)

March 15, 2020March 3, 2020 Hollie

South Star Diner (Mount Holly)

Recently I was at the South Star Diner in Mount Holly. The South Star Diner has gone under new ownership and has a new name, new manager, and is entirely new. Which is great because when it was previously the “, “I can’t say my experience was all that great. I haven’t been to the diner in 6 years (and my time in New Jersey flies).

South Star Diner (Mount Holly) Atmosphere: B
The South Star Diner has been remodeled. Outside it has a large, shiny, sign that says “South Star Diner.” There is a reasonably open parking lot and it sticks out on Route 38.

Inside there are plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar. They’ve done remodeling, so it appears to sit more people than previously.

South Star Diner (Mount Holly) Coffee: A

The South Star Diner serves Lacas Coffee, which is brewed right in Pennsauken. It was great and the waitress refilled it often. In all, it was good coffee.

South Star Diner (Mount Holly) Food: B
The South Star Diner menu is massive and has everything you typically have in a diner menu. There is all-day breakfast, seafood, wraps, a full page of salads, and steaks. I was in a pork chop mood, so I decided to order the broiled pork chops.

The broiled pork chops came with soup or salad, two sides, and the pork chops.

I decided to order the Greek salad and it was a great starter salad. It was bigger than some diner salads I’ve had before. Plus, it even included anchovies, which most people know how much I like those.

The broiled pork chops were decent. They weren’t my favorite nor my least favorite, but they were plenty there.

For my sides, I chose the beets and baked potato. If beets are a side, chances are I’ll choose them. Both were fine, but nothing special about them.

In all, my meal was good and I was most impressed with a starter salad.

South Star Diner (Mount Holly) Service: A
Our waitress was friendly and slightly funny, plus our food came out fast. I couldn’t ask for better service.

South Star Diner (Mount Holly) Cost: $
For my pork chops and coffee, it was $16.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come back to the South Star Diner (Mount Holly)?
I liked the South Star Diner and they’ve definitely made big improvements to it. It now stands out on Route 38 and is a spot I would want to stop.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: A
Food: B
Cost: $12-20
Service: A
Overall: A

You can see all 292 Diner Reviews here.

Questions for you:
Do you like pork chops?
Do you prefer soup or salad?

Diners

All Seasons Diner II (Freehold)

March 14, 2020February 22, 2020 Hollie

All Seasons Diner II (Freehold, NJ)

Recently my good friend and I took a road trip to Freehold, NJ to go to the All Seasons Diner II. We wanted to go to a new diner and this seemed like a good one. I haven’t been to Freehold in a while. Many years ago (almost 6 OMG), I went to the All Seasons Diner in Eatontown after the NJ Half Marathon. Rereading one of my first diner reviews makes me realize how far in dinering I have come. Anyway.

All Seasons Diner II Atmosphere: A
The All Seasons Diner II is a large building located after a bridge on the highway. It stands out. The All Seasons Diner II isn’t a shiny, metallic building, but it’s a modern building with a large parking lot.

Inside the All Seasons Diner II, there is plenty of seating, including booths, tables, and a full-length bar. There is a dessert case as well as a salad bar. The salad bar looked massive, so I knew whatever I ordered, I wanted that.

All Seasons Diner II Coffee: A
The All Seasons Diner II serves the locally brewed Lacas coffee. It was brewed hot, fresh, and the waitress brought plenty of refills. It was one of the better coffees I’ve had recently.

All Seasons Diner II Food: B
The All Seasons Diner II menu has everything you can imagine in a diner. In fact, the All Seasons Diner II menu is one of the largest menus of any diner I’ve ever been too. I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for but the salad bar looked appetizer, so I knew I wanted to order from that.

The All Seasons Diner II menu had so many specials, so I decided to order the pork chops from the early bird special. The meal came with soup, salad bar, the pork chops, 2 sides, and bread pudding. It was a lot of food. A lot!

For my soup at the All Seasons Diner II I decided to order Manhatten clam chowder. It wasn’t as hot as I like soup, but it tasted good.

The All Seasons Diner II salad bar had most everything a salad bar has. There were several different types of pasta salads, green bean salads, and most salad bar toppings. I was surprised the salad bar didn’t have olives though, but I’m a big olive fan. In all, it was a good salad bar and one of the better diner salad bars.

My pork chops tasted good. They weren’t rubbery or overcooked and I liked them—one of the better diner pork chops I’ve had recently.

For my sides at the All Seasons Diner II, I ordered a baked potato and carrots. Something got lost in translation and my waitress brought out green beans. I wasn’t that upset because the green beans interested me more. They were in a marinara sauce (which I’ve never seen them cooked that way.). It was exactly what it looked like: beans and onions in a marinara sauce. It tasted fine; it was just different.

All Seasons Diner II Dessert: C
Since my meal came with dessert, I ordered the bread pudding. The bread pudding came doused in cinnamon. It was good bread pudding; it just tasted like someone dropped a bottle of cinnamon on it.

All Seasons Diner II Service: A
The waitress was friendly and our food came out fast. I have no complaints.

All Seasons Diner II Cost: $
For the entire meal, it was $20.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the All Seasons Diner II (Freehold)?
I liked the All Seasons Diner II and I had a good experience. It’s a lot of food and a stereotypical diner. I would go back.

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

Overall: A

You can see all 291 Diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite salad bar choice?
Do you like cinnamon?

Tag: coffee

Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ)

Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ)

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Ocean Bay Diner (South Amboy)

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Veronica Plaza Diner (Somerset, NJ)

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South Star Diner (Mount Holly)

South Star Diner (Mount Holly)

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All Seasons Diner II (Freehold)

All Seasons Diner II (Freehold, NJ)

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Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ)

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You can see all 294 Diner Reviews Here.

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South Star Diner (Mount Holly)

You can see all 292 Diner Reviews here.

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All Seasons Diner II (Freehold, NJ)

You can see all 291 Diner reviews here.

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