Main Street Diner (East Brunswick)

February 9, 2019 By Hollie in Diners Tags: coffee, Diner, food, greek, new jersey, pizza, pizzeria, review 2 Comments

Amelia, Danielle, and I were looking for a diner somewhat in the middle of north and south jersey. The Main Street Diner (and now Pizzeria) seemed like a good bet. The reviews looked good, and the photos were fine.

Atmosphere: C
When we arrived, we were the only people in the restaurant. That’s how it stayed the entire time! It’s a tiny diner that fits about ten parties. There are a few booths and a few tables. The booth we sat in, we cramped, but it was the size of all of them. The Main Street Diner could use an update. It’s clean, but it’s outdated.

Coffee: B
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh. There wasn’t anything special about it, but it wasn’t bad either.

Food: A
When I arrived for dinner, I had no idea what I wanted. Did I want breakfast? Lunch? Or the unique pizza option? The menu at the Main Street Diner has a little bit of everything. They have all of the diner specials and well as the unique pizza.

I originally ordered pork chops but they were out, so I decided to order the chicken souvlaki instead. It was a stuffed pita with chicken, lettuce, tomato, and Tzatziki sauce. I was feeling healthy, so I ordered a side Greek salad as well. The dressing was one of the best I’ve had in a while, and the souvlaki was stuffed. My meal was great.

Service: A
The Main Street Diner is unique in that when we came, the hostess was also the waiter, chef, and part owner. It was a one-person show! I can only imagine how tough that can be when it was busy, but he was friendly and great. We had a delightful experience.

Cost: $
For my meal and coffee, it was $12.

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
In all, I had a great experience at the Main Street Diner in East Brunswick. I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first, but it was a pleasant experience, and I’ll be back.

Atmosphere: C
Coffee: B
Food: A
Service: A
Cost: $8-16
Overall: B

You can See All 229 Diner Reviews Here.

Question for you:
Have you ever been the only party in a restaurant?

Busy Bee Cafe (Ventura, CA)

February 3, 2019 By Hollie in Diners Tags: breakfast, brunch, california, Diner, food, omelet, review

While on the 8-hour drive from Carlsbad to San Fransico, we decided to stop at the Busy Bee Cafe in Downtown Ventura. By the name, you obviously think, cafe, not a diner. But instead, it’s one of the most decorated diners out there. If there is anything I learned while going to diners in California, is the decorations and atmosphere is usually at the top.

Atmosphere: A
The Busy Bee Cafe is located in downtown Ventura. The walkable downtown is beautiful with plenty of parking. The outside appears to be a little cafe with a retro “time to eat” clock at the top.

The inside is as retro as it gets. There is a full-length bar, tables, and booths. Everything is chrome with red booths, coat racks, and vintage signs all across the restaurant.

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh, and the waitress refilled it multiple times. I have no complaints. One unique addition was the multiple coffee mate creamers at the table. There were several single-serve flavors including Irish cream french vanilla.

Food: A
The Busy Bee Cafe serves everything at all times. If you want pork chops at 6 am…go for it. Breakfast for lunch? Go for it. There are plenty of blue plate specials as well. I decided to order the farmers omelet with their famous biscuit and gravy. Growing up, I loved good biscuits and gravy. It was my favorite!

Without reading the menu, I would expect the Farmers Omelet to have every vegetable imaginable. The Famers omelet actually had all of the proteins available! It was cooked well.

The biscuit and gravy were perfect. They serve the gravy on the side so you can top as much as you would like. For me, that was all of it.

Service: A
We saw many of the wait staff including the manager. The employees worked as a team which was cool. The food came out quickly, and I have no complaints.

Cost: $
For my meal and coffee, the cost was $13.

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
I liked the Busy Bee Cafe, and it’s a great stop along 101. If I’m in the area again, I would definitely go back.

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

Overall: A

You Can See All Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite type of omelet?
Do you have a downtown where you live?

Jackson Diner

February 2, 2019 By Hollie in Diners Tags: diners, food, german, menu, new jersey, restaurant, review

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Hollie in Diners Tags: breakfast, california, coffee, diners, food, menu, steak

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 😉

John and Elaines Restaurant (Point Pleasant)

January 26, 2019 By Hollie in Diners Tags: breakfast, brunch, coffee, Diner, food, new jersey, restaurant 1 Comment

Recently I was in Point Pleasant and met up with Cyd, from NJ Isn’t Boring to go to a diner. We attempted to go to John and Elaine’s Restaurant a while ago, but we couldn’t find it. This time, we were able to find it. Point Pleasant is somewhat confusing for those not from the area and has a lot of one-way roads.

Anyway, we arrived around lunchtime, and it wasn’t too crowded. There is both a seating area and a bigger, fancier, dining room.

Atmosphere: A
John and Elain’s Restaurant reminds me of an old dive seafood restaurant. It has plastic fish, and photos plastered all over a wooden wall. It’s cute, and a fun stop, but it’s not a big, metallic shiny diner you would picture.

The dining room appeared to be fancy.

Coffee: B
I liked the coffee, but I needed more. I felt as though I had to beg the waitress for refills. Other then that, it was fine. Nothing of note.

Food: B
The menu at John and Elaine’s is much smaller than the average diner menu. In fact, for breakfast and lunch, it’s only a single page front and back. I decided to order the veggie omelet with a cup of the split pea (I can never say no to split pea).

The split pea was ham based and was good. It was hot, which I can always use.

The omelet was somewhat overcooked. It was visible from the hashbrowns and toast, that were both burned. The food was good, and minus the overcooking, it was fine. The omelet had a mixed medley of vegetables which included mushrooms and tomatoes, plus a lot of cheese. Both the hashbrowns and toast were overcooked and somewhat burnt, so they weren’t my favorite.

Service: B
The waitress was nice but appeared if she was having a rough day. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it didn’t seem like she was thrilled to be there. Our food came out quickly, and other than that, it was good.

Cost: $
For my soup, omelet, and coffee the cost was $17.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back?
I liked John and Elaine’s, and it was a good stop for breakfast. It wasn’t my least or favorite, and somewhere right in the middle.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: B
Food: B
Service: B
Cost: $8-17
Overall: B

You Can See All 227 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite type of omelet?
What is your favorite breakfast food?

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Tag Archives: food

Main Street Diner (East Brunswick)

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