Running and Laughing through the Garden State
Recently my husband and I decided to private fly to a new airport: Aeroflex–Andover Airport (FAA 12N). We’ve been up to Sussex County multiple times, but we’ve never flown. We’ve flown to Morristown as well as Lincoln Park, so we thought it would be fun to fly to Aeroflex–Andover Airport.
Continue reading “Private Flying to Aeroflex-Andover Airport”
Holy smokes, when we moved to New Jersey in 2013, I had no idea a diner quest was in my future. I had been to a few diners like a normal person, but I certainly didn’t go out of my way to go to diners…but now here I am 300 New Jersey Diners later. I’ve been to diners about 100 diners in other states as well.
Recently I was in Highland Park and I decided to stop at the White Rose Hamburgers. I’ve been to a few White Rose Diners and White Rose System (Roselle), White Diamond and White Rose Diner (Linden).
Why are there so many diners with the name White in them? According to Munchmobile, when diners were first starting, “white” meant cleanliness and wholesomeness. Most diners with the color white are also older. Some even resemble hamburger stands.
In light of current events, I ordered takeout at the White Rose Hamburgers.
White Rose Hamburgers(Highland Park) Atmosphere: A
The White Rose Hamburgers looks like an old school diner and everything you want in a diner. The White Rose Hamburgers parking lot is bigger than the White Rose Hamburgers itself. Inside, there are about 15 seats, which are mostly booth seats. The White Rose Hamburgers is a retro diner that you picture in diners.
White Rose Hamburgers (Highland Park) Coffee: B
The White Rose Hamburgers serves regular coffee. It’s no-frills and no whipped cream, but it was good.
White Rose Hamburgers (Highland Park) Food: B
The White Rose Hamburgers menu is small and located all on the back of the diner. You order at the register and then sit down wherever you want. The White Rose Hamburgers more resembles a hamburger joint than a New Jersey Diner. There are plenty of menu options, including eggs, burgers, and gyros. They are known for their pork rolls or taylor ham (whatever you prefer to call it). I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for and decided to order a beef gyro.
The beef gyro was no-frills and to go. It didn’t even come with a side (which was fine). It almost felt like I ordered at a fast food place because I ordered and within 2 minutes, it was out.
My beef gyro was good and I have no complaints. It was the typical gyro but stuffed with tzatziki sauce. The tzatziki sauce oozed out. It all, it was one of the better beef gyros I’ve had. There were no sides, but
White Rose Hamburgers (Highland Park) Service: B
The White Rose Hamburgers isn’t a typical diner. You don’t have a host or waiter. It’s just one person taking the orders and the chefs cooking it. They were all friendly.
White Rose Hamburgers (Highland Park) Cost: $
For my coffee and meal, it was $10.
Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the White Rose Hamburgers (Highland Park)?
I liked the White Rose Hamburgers and it’s a cheap, fun stop. If you’re looking for a no-frills, greasy stop, it’s definitely worth your while.
You can see all 298 Diners Here.
Questions for you:
Do you like beef gyros?
What’s the last no-frill spot you’ve gone?
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?
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
Question for you:
Do you like pancakes? What’s your favorite type of pancake?