Tag Archives: diners

Mel’s Diner (San Francisco)

February 17, 2019 By in Diners Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments
Mel’s Diner (San Francisco)

While in San Francisco, I knew I wanted to go to another diner. I hadn’t picked any out, but a quick google search led me to Mel’s Diner. There are a few locations in the Bay area, but the location on Lombard street seemed like our best bet.

When we arrived for breakfast, it wasn’t too crowded. Getting through San Francisco traffic is another story, but the diner itself was quiet.

Atmosphere: A
Mel’s Diner and Drive in the sticks out like in San Francisco. You can’t miss the shiny, chrome, exterior, and the large Mel’s sign.  The inside is just as retro, and you feel like you’re in a flashback.  There are big metal booths, shiny bars, and tables, and you can see the kitchen.

Mel's Diner and Drive In San Francisco

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh, and there were plenty of refills.  I appreciated everyone from the waitress, to the manager, and other wait staff came around each table to bring coffee refills.

Mel's Diner and Drive In San Francisco

Food: A
Mel’s Diner and Drive-in has all of the diner favorites. There are plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. They are well known for their chicken.  I decided to order the chicken and waffles. After living in Alabama two years ago, and going to John’s City Diner, I’ve been looking for good chicken and waffles.

Mel's Diner and Drive In San Francisco

These were delicious.  The chicken was crispy without being overdone, and the waffle was nice and crisp without being burnt. Burnt waffles and soggy waffles are my least favorite.

Service: A
Our waitress was friendly and brought plenty of refills, and the food came out quickly. I couldn’t have asked for better service.

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

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
I liked Mel’s Diner and Drive-In, and if I’m ever in the area again, I’ll be back.

You Can See All Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
Have you had chicken and waffles before?
What is your favorite diner in your area?

 

Diner of Los Gatos

February 10, 2019 By in Diners Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Diner of Los Gatos

Before making it to San Fransico, we decided to stop at the Diner of Los Gatos. It felt like midnight to me, but it was only 5:30 pm.  When we arrived, there were only a few parties in the diner which was nice because I was hungry.

Atmosphere: A

The Diner of Los Gatos looks like a diner from both the outside and the inside. When you drive by the Diner of Los Gatos, you immediately see a somewhat out of place diner (in a good way).diner at los gatos ca

The entire inside is chrome, with red booths, tables, and a lot of photos of Elvis. There is a giant cardboard cutout at the front, that I thought was a real person, many many times.

diner at los gatos ca

Coffee: B

The coffee was hot and fresh but nothing too exciting. It was good, but there was nothing to write home about.

Food: A

The Diner of Los Gatos has a small selection listed on a trifold laminated menu. There are all of the diner usuals from pancakes and waffles, to burgers, salads, and a few blue plate options.

We were hungry so decided to order the Greek platter. It came with gyro meat, pita bread, french fries, tomatoes, and tzatziki sauce. It came only a minute before our meals, so weren’t able to enjoy it as much as I hoped.  In all, it was good. I’ve never had french fries including in a greek platter, but sure why not?

diner at los gatos ca

For my entree, I ordered the Garlic Burger. We were only an hour or so, from the Garlic Captial of the Country so it seemed appropriate.  The Garlic burger was massive, and there was plenty of garlic. It was cooked perfectly, and I have no complaints. It was one of the better burgers I’ve had.

diner at los gatos ca

Service: B

It took longer than anticipated to order our food, but once we did, it came out quickly. I would have preferred to enjoy my appetizer versus taking one bite, and the entree was there, but there isn’t a need to complain about food coming out too fast.

Cost: $

For my entree, appetizer, and coffee, the cost was $30.

Overall Thoughts/Summary:

I liked the Diner of Los Gatos, and it was a great stop just south of San Fransico. I would go back again.

Atmosphere: A

Coffee: B

Food: A

Service: B

Cost: $12-20.

Overall: A

You Can See All Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:

Do you like garlic? 

What is your favorite restaurant appetizer? 

Jackson Diner

February 2, 2019 By in Diners Tags: , , , , , ,
Jackson Diner

Recently I went to the Jackson Diner. I came across the Jackson Diner when looking for new and closer diners to review. I stumbled upon their “specials menu” and noticed they had German Night on Mondays. I knew, when I did go, it needed to be on a Monday for German Night. They also have nights dedicated to Italian, Mexican, and Greek. It’s one of the most unique menus I’ve seen in a diner.

Atmosphere: A
The Jackson Diner is located in a shopping mall. Based on an online photo, I wasn’t expecting that. The outside appears to be just a casual restaurant, but the inside is a flashback from the past. It looks like a funky, fun, diner. Everything is metallic and shiny, and there are plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar.

Jackson diner nj

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh, and the waitress refilled it multiple times. That particular day was bitter cold, so I welcomed a hot drink. The whipped cream overflowed out which made it fun.

Jackson diner nj

Food: A
As I mentioned, I strategically planned to come on a Monday Night for German Night. Even with the German night, there are plenty of other “regular options,” and the Jackson Diner has every diner option you can imagine. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner including pork chops, seafood, and another page of specials that isn’t “German Night.”

I decided to order the Brautwurst which came with potatoes as well as red cabbage.  Since I was hungry, I also ordered a cup of the lobster bisque.

The lobster bisque was good and hot and had a kick to it which I really liked. I like all spicy foods, so it was a pleasant surprise.

Jackson diner nj

The German Special did not disappoint. There was a lot of Bratwurst! I had expected maybe a link or two, but there were 3.  The sauce was good, and the potatoes were juicy.  To be honest, I had never had red cabbage before so didn’t know what to expect. It was pickled and delicious. It looked almost like shredded beets.

Jackson diner nj

In all, I really liked my meal.

Service: A
Everyone from the waitress to the manager and the host were all friendly and funny. It was one of the best teams of employees I’ve seen.

Cost: $
For my soup, meal, and coffee the cost was $18.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back?
I really liked the Jackson Diner, and I will be back. Everything from the atmosphere to the food and service was great.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: A
Food: A
Service: A
Cost: $10-$15

Overall: A

You Can See All 228 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:

Have you ever had German Food before?

Are you excited for the Super Bowl? 

 

The Pit Stop Diner (Oceanside, CA)

January 27, 2019 By in Diners Tags: , , , , , ,
The Pit Stop Diner (Oceanside, CA)

While in California, I knew I wanted to get to a new diner. I’ve already been to both the Studio Diner as well as my very first diner ever: The Corvette Diner (I was born in San Diego, and my dad would always take us there).  Anyway!

We weren’t going as south as San Diego, so it made it fairly easy to find a new diner.  I found the Pit Stop Diner in Oceanside.

Pit Stop Diner Oceanside California

Atmosphere: A
On the outside, the Pit Stop Diner appears to be a “regular” nice restaurant.  It’s clean, modern, and fits the look of the plaza.

Pit Stop Diner Oceanside California

On the inside, however, it’s more diner than you know how to get ahold of?  (After over 300 diner visits, I guess I can use diner as a verb?). The Pit Stop Diner has every license plate, car part, and even a full car inside. Of any inside, it’s definitely one of my favorite atmospheres.

Service: A
Instead of being seated and picking from a menu at your seat, you stand at the front, order, and go sit down. I’ve actually never been to a diner like this, and it was a great experience. The hostess/cashier was friendly and funny, and the food came out quickly.

Coffee: B
Since you ordered at the front, the Pit Stop Diner gave you your own refillable cup to the coffee. They actually didn’t have whipped cream, but the fact I could refill my coffee at my choosing and with a large to go cup), was a huge perk for me.

Pit Stop Diner Oceanside California

Food:
The Pit Stop Diner has every type of food you can imagine.  One thing I appreciated was breakfast and lunch all day.  If you want a huge burger at 8 is, go for it!  Omelet for dinner, go for it!

Pit Stop Diner Oceanside California

I decided to order the Steak and Eggs. It came with toast, steak, and eggs. I ordered over medium eggs.  My meal was huge, and everything was cooked well.  It’s one of the better steak and eggs I’ve had in a while.  I would order it again.

Cost: $
For my meal and coffee, the cost was $18.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back?
I liked the Pit Stop Diner, and it’s one of the better diners I’ve been too overall. I would go back.

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

You Can See All Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
What is the best atmosphere of a restaurant you’ve been too?
Favorite state license plate?

After staring at 10,000 during my meal, I’ve come to terms I like the simplicity of Texas, Hawaii, and NYS (Yes, I know most people hate New York…most people hate my fashion too 😉

 

Fireside Family Restaurant (Pitman, NJ)

January 5, 2019 By in Diners Tags: , , , , , 2 Comments
Fireside Family Restaurant (Pitman, NJ)

On my way back to Virginia, I decided to stop at the Fireside Family Restaurant in Pitman, NJ.  When I arrived on Sunday, it was busy, but by the time I left, there was a line out the door which made it hard to get out.

Atmosphere: B
The Fireside Family Restaurant is a small square building that appears that it had an extension at some point.  The outside has plenty of parking. It’s a modest building and not a big shiny metallic diner.

Fireside family restaurant pitman nj

There are several tables, and then a row of booths in the extension.  There is a small dessert case towards the front. As I found out, the front gets very congested when it’s busy, and it was hard to get in and out.

Coffee: B
The coffee was good, but there wasn’t anything unique or unusual. I could have used more refills, but I don’t have any complaints.

Fireside family restaurant pitman nj

Food: B
The Fireside Family Restaurant has everything you need or want in a diner. There were plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. It didn’t have anything unique or special, but it didn’t lack any of the traditional diner items either.

Since it was brunch time I went with an omelet with grits. The omelet had sausage, tomatoes, and peppers.  It was good and typical of a diner meal.

Fireside family restaurant pitman nj

The grits were great, but I think they probably added a substantial amount of butter. Since living in Montgomery, almost two years ago, I’ve been on a quest for good grits. I have yet to find any as good as Montgomery, but I’m still searching.

Service: A
The waitress was friendly, and our food came out within 15 minutes or ordering. No complaints about that!

Cost:
For my omelet, and coffee it was $13.

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
I enjoyed the Fireside Family Restaurant and I would go back again. It’s a typical NJ Diner with nothing exceptionally good or bad.

Atmosphere: B
Coffee: B
Food: B
Service: A
Cost: $6-14
Overall: B

You Can See All 224 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite type of omelet?
Do you like to go out for breakfast? 

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