Tag: Diner

Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ) rainbow cake
Diners

Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ)

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)

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.Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ) coffee

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.

Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ) steak kabob

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).

Maple Valley Diner (Clifton, NJ) rainbow cake

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? 

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Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) rice pudding
Diners

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin)

Hollie

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin)

While in West Berlin, NJ, I decided to check out Oceanos Restaurant. While it’s in the grey area of diners, I decided to classify it as one. It serves diner food, looks and acts like a diner.

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin)

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) Atmosphere: C

Oceanos Restaurant is in a large building with plenty of parking. The inside has a long but handicap friendly ramp to get in. Inside, Oceanos Restaurant needs a definite makeover. The inside is dirty and part of the wall was falling down.

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) Coffee: A

Possibly the best part of Oceanos Restaurant was the coffee. It was brewed hot and fresh and the waitress added an absurd amount of whipped cream.

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) coffee

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) Food: D

Oceanos Restaurant menu had plenty of options, including all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There weren’t a lot of specials, but there were plenty of options. It looked like Oceanos Restaurant was more dinner based with a lot of chicken breast, roast beef, and pasta options.

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) greek platter

I was hungry so I decided to order the Greek Sampler. The pita bread was dry and the olives looked like they had been sitting around for a long time. It was edible but it wasn’t great. It was pathetic.

I decided to order the stuffed salmon. It came with stuffed salmon with crab meat as well as two sides. I chose beets and mixed vegetables. It also came with soup or salad so opted for a starter salad.

The starter salad was decent, but nothing unusual.

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) side salad

Both sides tasted frozen and reheated.  It was clear the mixed vegetables were frozen and then reheated.

The stuffed salmon tasted precisely as you would think frozen fish and reheated to taste. I was disappointed because I thought it would be good.  It was edible, but I wouldn’t order it again.

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) salmon

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) Dessert: C

Since my meal at Oceanos Restaurant came with dessert, (either pudding or ice cream), I ordered the rice pudding. I wanted bread pudding, but they didn’t have it. What kind of diner doesn’t have bread pudding?

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) rice pudding

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) Service: C

The service at Oceanos Restaurant could use help.  Our waitress was friendly, but the food took a while to come out. When we got there, the hostess was on his cell phone, so it took a while for us even to sit down.

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) Cost: $$

For my coffee and meal, it was $20, which was too expensive for the quality of food.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin)?

I wouldn’t go back to Oceanos Restaurant. It was edible diner food, but it was expensive for the quality of food. Plus, Oceanos Restaurant needs a considerable makeover.

Atmosphere: C

Coffee: A

Food: D

Dessert: C

Overall: C

Cost: $15-20

Oceanos Restaurant (West Berlin) Overall: C

You can see all 293 Diners Here.

Questions for you:

Have you been to any meh restaurants lately?

Do you like rice pudding? 

Little Duck Diner Quacko Tacos
Diners

The Little Duck Diner (Savannah, Ga)

Hollie

The Little Duck Diner (Savannah, Ga)

While on a day trip to Savannah, Georgia, my husband and I ended up at the Little Duck Diner.  We weren’t planning on going, but the original restaurant was closed. A quick google search found the Little Duck Diner only a block down the road. Just looking at the Little Duck Diner menu, it looked like a fun and unique experience, so we thought why not.

Little Duck Diner

Little Duck Diner Atmosphere: A
The Little Duck Diner isn’t like regular diners. It’s not an old school metallic restaurant. It’s located on the main street of Savannah and looks like a fancy bistro. When you walk in, you feel like you’re in a chic and posh diner versus an old school diner.  According to the website, the Little Duck Diner is inspired by our little ducklings and known to be a vintage chic diner reminiscent of dining cars and diners in the 20’s and 30’s with a contemporary twist.

While the seating is a little closer than I prefer, it’s ok.

Little Duck Diner

Little Duck Diner Coffee: B
The coffee at the Little Duck Diner was good, but there was nothing unusual or unique. The waitress did bring a refill.

Little Duck Diner Coffee

Little Duck Diner Food: A
The Little Duck Diner menu consists of one of the most diner unique menus of any diner I’ve been too. You’ll find a few diner favorites like pancakes, grilled cheese, omelets, and eggs, but most of their menu is unique and features a lot of duck items as well as Asian fusion and bi bim bop.

Some of the items that stuck out where the Quacko Tacos (duck tacos), shrimp and grits, and flyboy tacos.

Little Duck Diner Quacko Tacos

I decided to order the Quacko Tacos and a side of grits. Grits are an item I’ve tried to find at diners up north but never been successful. Grits are just better in the south.

Little Duck Diner grits

The Quacko Tacos were delicious. I can see why Duck is the Little Duck Diner specialty.  Inside the Quacko Tacos were bbq duck, lettuce, avocado, pickled carrots, daikon, sriracha mayo, and cilantro. I appreciated the extra kick with the siracha. All of the tacos came with a side salad that tasted fresh.

The grits were delicious and I have no complaints. Definitely just as good as other grits I’ve had in the south.

Little Duck Diner Service: A
The waitress was friendly and our food came out fast. In fact, I couldn’t believe for such an upscale and posh restaurant/diner; our food came out that fast. I was more than impressed because there were several parties in the diner too.

Little Duck Diner Cost: $
For my coffee, quacko tacos, and grits, it was $15.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Little Duck Diner?
I liked the Little Duck Diner and I was happy with the meal. While it was my original intention to go to a diner in Savannah, I’m glad we did.

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

You can see all diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
Do you like Duck?
What is your favorite type of taco?

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack)
Diners

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack)

Hollie

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack)

While in Hackensack, I drove by the “Coach House Diner.” I swear I’ve been to the Coach House Diner before, but after spending too much time looking into it, I realized I went to the Coach House Diner in North Bergen. Even when I was sitting inside, The Coach House Diner in Hackensack looked almost identical to the Coach House Diner in North Bergen.

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack)

Ironically, I went in to wait out the traffic, but while I was eating, there was an accident on Route 4, which caused about a 30-minute delay. I could have been home much faster if I hadn’t eaten at the Coach House. No regrets.

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack)

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack) Atmosphere: A
The Coach House Diner in Hackensack looks like an old coach house. Inside is mid-evil with plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar. There is also a salad bar.

You won’t find a bright shiny diner, but I always appreciate a diner that stays with it’s theme.

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack) Coffee: A
The coffee tasted good. The waitress brought plenty of refills.  I guess I forgot to take a photo, which is unfornate because the coffee was great.

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack) Food: C
The Coach House Diner menu has everything you expect in a diner. There is an all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was surprised that there weren’t any specials at all.  I was between a salad with grilled chicken and the greek but decided for the greek.

I wasn’t too hungry, so I decided to order their greek salad with salmon. It’s a staple meal for when I’m not hungry but don’t want to wait (2 hours) to drive home. The salad itself was on the smaller side and there wasn’t a lot of lettuce. I was disappointed with it. The salmon was ok and I was happy it came with anchovies, but no bread like it stated on the menu.

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack) greek salad
Greek salad with salmon

In all, it was ok. It was edible, but by no means great.

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack) Service: A
The waitress at the Coach House Diner was friendly and the food came out fast. I couldn’t have asked for better staff.

The Coach House Diner (Hackensack) Cost: $$
For my coffee and salad, it was $22, which was pricy for what I got.

Overall Thoughts/Would I go back to The Coach House Diner (Hackensack)?
The Coach House Diner (Hackensack) was a decent stop. It wasn’t the best or the worst diner I’ve been too. I do appreciate the atmosphere of the Coach House, though.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: A
Food: C
Service: A
Cost: $15-20
Overall: B

You can see all 288 Diner Reviews here.

Questions for you:
Have you been in a Coach House?
What is your favorite type of salad?

Hilton Head Diner pancakes
Diners

Hilton Head Diner

Hollie

Hilton Head Diner (Hilton Head, SC)

While in Hilton Head, my husband and I wanted to check out a diner.  I haven’t been to a diner in South Carolina (that I can remember) so it was a fun opportunity. Plus the Hilton Head Diner was less than a mile from our hotel so that we couldn’t say no.

Hilton Head Diner

Hilton Head Diner Atmosphere: A
The Hilton Head Diner is stereotypical. It’s a large shiny building that draws your eyes in from the outside. There is plenty of parking as well.

Hilton Head Diner

The inside has plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar. You walk in next to their dessert case and I stared at the large cinnamon buns for quite some time.  There is even a jukebox in the front too.

Hilton Head Diner Coffee: A
The Hilton Head Diner diner was coffee. I always appreciate when a diner uses logo coffee mugs.  You can purchase the coffee mugs at the front, as well as other memorabilia too. The coffee was brewed hot and fresh and the waitress refilled it often.

Hilton Head Diner

Hilton Head Diner Food: B
The Hilton Head Diner menu has everything a typical diner would have. Since it’s open 24-7, there is an all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There were a few specials on the board too.

Hilton Head Diner pancakes

Since I wanted to get carbohydrates in before the Hilton Head Half, I ordered the tall stack of blueberry pancakes with whipped cream. The pancakes came out and they were good, but I wouldn’t necessarily think they were a tall stack. There were plenty of blueberries cooked inside.  Personally, I think ordering pancakes can be one of the riskiest orders because the pancakes might be great, or flat and thin, but you never know! In all, they were good but I wouldn’t classify it as a tall or large stack of pancakes.

Hilton Head Diner Service: A
Our waitress at the Hilton Head Diner was great and the food came out fast. We couldn’t have asked for better service.

Hilton Head Diner Cost: $
For my pancakes and coffee, it was $10.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Go Back to the Hilton Head Diner?
I liked the Hilton Head Diner and the food was great. There are a lot of great options and I would be interested in trying a lunch or dinner special too.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: A
Food: B
Service: A
Overall: A

You can see more diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
Have you been to Hilton Head before?
What are your favorite pancakes?