Amphora’s Diner Deluxe mixed vegetables
Jan 5 2020
Amphora’s Diner Deluxe (Herndon, VA)

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe (Herndon, VA) 
While driving back to New Jersey, I decided to stop at Amphora’s Diner Deluxe in Herndon, Virginia. I’ve been to many diners in New Jersey, but not many in Washington DC.  One thing I appreciate is a diner open 24 hours a day.  There are fewer and fewer of them these days!

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe

I decided to stop at Amphora’s Diner Deluxe. We wanted to stop at a diner in that general area, and the online menu looked good.

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe Atmosphere: A
The exterior of the Amphora’s Diner Deluxe is metallic, chrome, and shiny. If you’re looking for a stereotypical diner, Amphora’s Diner Deluxe is a great stop.

You walk into the giant and well-known bakery. There are plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar.

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe Coffee: C
The coffee at Amphora’s Diner Deluxe was brewed fresh and was dark. The mug said Lavazza.

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe coffee

I was disappointed with the number of grounds in the bottom. A few I could deal with, but it was a sea of grounds.

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe coffee

 

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe Food: A
Amphora’s Diner Deluxe menu has plenty of options from all-day breakfast, pages of salads, lunch, and dinner specials. The menu even has a whole page of vegetarian options too.

Since I was hungry, I decided to order the grilled mixed vegetables, which came with a medley of balsamic grilled Vegetables, including portabello mushroom, yellow squash, red and green peppers, onions, eggplant, tomatoes and carrots. It was delicious and I was happy with my choice. I will say it could use bread.

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe mixed vegetables

For my entree, I decided to order the ratatouille bake. I can’t remember if I’ve ever ordered ratatouille at a diner before, but it was incredibly filling. It came with peppers, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, feta cheese and chickpeas over rice.

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe food

Amphora’s Diner Deluxe Service: A
The waiter at Amphora’s Diner Deluxe was great and friendly. He refilled my beverages, and our food came out in the blink of an eye.

Cost: $$
For my coffee, appetizer, and meal, it was $26.

Overall Thoughts/Would I come back to Amphora’s Diner Deluxe?
I liked it and next time in the Washington DC and NOVA area, I may be back.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: C
Food: A
Service: A
Price: $12-25
Overall: A

You can see all the diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
What’s the best diner near you?
What’s one thing you like to do on road trips?

Hollie 3 Comments
The metro diner east brunswick
Dec 28 2019
The Metro Diner (Multiple Locations in the USA)

The Metro Diner

A chain diner? Say it isn’t so.  Recently, I went to the Metro Diner with Nick K. Many people across the USA have told me I should try the Metro Diner. Apparently, it’s “where locals eat.” There is one location of the Metro Diner in East Brunswick.  I guess going to a chain diner in the Garden State is like getting Papa John’s in New York.  Anyway, I was looking forward to trying the Metro Diner. Besides the Bear Diner out West, the Metro Diner is the only chain diner I know of.

The metro diner east brunswick

The metro diner east brunswick
The Metro Diner was clean and modern, but it resembled a “fast food” or chain restaurant. It wasn’t a big, shiny, metallic building, but it was neat and clean. The inside has plenty of seating and booths. While the Metro Diner was busy for a weekday morning, it wasn’t overwhelming and we never felt like we were sitting on top of anyone.

 

Coffee: A
I was pleasantly surprised by the Metro Diner coffee and it appears they even have specialty coffees like “sugar cookie.”  How fun is that?  I appreciate a good personalized mug as well. In all, great coffee.

The metro diner east brunswick

Food: B
Compared to a typical diner, the Metro Diner menu is small. It’s known for their comfort food and that is pretty much all they sere. There are a few healthier options like salads but you won’t find a lot.

At any diner, I expect more than 3 omelet choices, but with chain restaurants, they need to keep things more simple. I was between the avocado toast and the eggie omelet but decided to try the veggie omelet. The waitress asked if I wanted onions, mushrooms, cheese, or a bunch of other things in my hashbrowns.  I chose onions.

When the meal came out, it was stuffed. I was shocked by how many eggies were stuffed in there, including asparagus, mushrooms, and onions. Both the hashbrowns and biscuit were good. I was impressed by the meal, but I do wish there were more options at the Metro Diner.

The metro diner east brunswick

Serice: A
Our waitress at the Metro Diner was friendly and our food came out fast. I wasn’t expecting the food to come out within 10 minutes of ordering.

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

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Metro Diner?
I liked Metro Diner and it was a good stop. Is it the diehard New Jersey Diner? No, but for a chain restaurant, the Metro Diner does a good job. I would go back. Plus, chances are for friends that aren’t local, there is a Metro Diner near you.

Atmosphere: B
Coffee: A
Food: B
Serice: A
Cost: $8-14
Overall: B

You can see all 275 diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite chain restaurant? Have you tried avocado toast?

Hollie 1 Comments
Oct 22 2016
Jersey Diner (Cinnaminson)

Jersey Diner (Cinnaminson)

The Jersey Diner in New Jersey?  

Sadly, the Jersey Diner has closed. It doesn’t look promising the Jersey Diner will reopen.

A few weeks ago, Cyd of New Jersey Isn’t Boring, and I met at the Jersey diner in Cinnaminson, NJ.  Amazingly enough, this diner isn’t far from me, yet I hadn’t been before.  When she first told me about it, I was shocked it was one I haven’t been too.

Jersey Diner Atmosphere: A

The Jersey Diner itself is picture-perfect NJ diner.  It is after all called, the Jersey Diner! The outside is a shiny metallic building, and inside is filled with booths, tables, and a long bar.  It’s everything you picture from a diner.

Jersey Diner

Jersey Diner
So shiny…

Jersey Diner Service: A

I’ve been fortunate with waiters and waitresses lately, and this was no exception.  Our waitress was extremely friendly, and I have no complaints.  She was one of the kindest and friendliness servers I’ve had to date.

Jersey Diner Coffee: A

The coffee at the Jersey Diner was excellent, and I have no complaints.  The waitress added a lot of whipped cream, possibly more than actual coffee.  Let’s be honest; we all know that was okay by me.

Jersey Diner

Food: A

The Jersey Diner menu is enormous with many different and unique options like Mexican food.  I haven’t seen a lot of diners with that.  I decided to order a gyro quesadilla.  The quesadilla came with gyro, feta cheese, onions and French fries.  The quesadilla itself was good but messy. Jersey Diner

 It was filled with feta cheese and chicken that seemed to spill everywhere.

The French fries were nice and soft.  Personally, I like soft, large fries versus small crispy ones.  These fit the bill.  It also came with soup, and I ordered the beef barley.  It was good but nothing out of the ordinary.

Jersey Diner

Dessert: A
We had been sitting right next to the dessert case, so it was hard not to stare.  I ultimately decided to get a “puff pastry,” which is something I’ve never had before.  It was like a giant pastry filled with frosting and whipped cream, so for me it was perfect.  This was one of my favorite “noncake” desserts to date.

Jersey DinerPrice: $

For my quesadilla, coffee, and pastry, the cost was $14.  The pastry was only $2.99; I could not believe it.

Jersey Diner Summary/Overall:

The Jersey Diner was good and a very stereotypical diner.  The puff pastry was one of the best desserts I’ve had, and I will be back.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: A
Service: A
Food: A
Dessert: A
Overall: A

You can see all of the diner reviews here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite type of cake?
Do you like quesadillas?

Hollie 1 Comments
Jun 28 2014
The Pop Shop (Collingswood)

The Pop Shop (Collingswood) 

ETA: Now the Pop Shop has a location in Medford too.

Last weekend, I met Danielle and Amelia at the Pop Shop in Collingswood, NJ.  I needed an excuse to see them, and the Pop Shop has been on my top to do diner list.  I sat down and was immediately not disappointed. The loud music, the openness, everything about this screamed adorable diner, and why have I not been here? Before even beginning to order or eat, the Pop Shop began at the top of my list.

danielleameliaandipopshop

The Pop Shop Atmosphere: A

The Pop Shop is located in downtown Collingswood. The exterior is funky and stands out among buildings.

Although the Pop Shop is a little bit loud for my liking, I love everything about it.  The dining room of The Pop Shop is fun, bright with bubble gum colors, and it’s open.  I love the general and overall style.

The Pop Shop Coffee: A

The woman was generous and brought a lovely cup of coffee topped with whipped cream.  The whipped cream was so stacked it nearly toppled over.  I can never have complaints about that.  The coffee itself was delicious as well.

thepopshopcoffee

Food: A

The Pop Shop has a smaller menu than most “regular” diners in NJ.  It has a great selection of salads, sandwiches, and their most well known grilled cheeses. They have everything fro American comfort food, to grilled cheese sandwiches made on brioche french toast, English muffins, omelets, and chocolate chip pancakes. They even have a gluten-free menu! I’ve been to The Pop Shop multiple times and ordered a bit of everything.

The first time I went, I ordered the smoked salmon salad.  Despite having a much smaller menu, it’s clear that Pop Shop does each dish exceptionally well.  There isn’t a need for an overall extensive list because everything is okay.

thepopshopsalad

The smoked salmon salad was one of the best salads I’ve had in a while.  It came with smoked salmon, goat cheese, caramelized onions, and mixed greens.  I wish it had come with bread, but other than that I have no complaints.  The salad was perfection.

Dessert: A

You truly cannot go to the Pop Shop without getting dessert.  They are one of the most well-known dessert places in South Jersey.  The Pop Shop specializes in ice cream, soda fountains, and sundaes.  I had to get a Sundae.  (It was, after all, Sundae Sunday). I ended up getting a vanilla sundae with whipped cream, brownie, and cookie crumbles.  It was excellent.  Unfortunately, I was so full from eating all day I had to bring it partially back home.  I enjoyed the second half the day after just as much as the first.

thepopshopsundae

thepopshopsundae1

Price: $

It was 20 dollars for the salad, coffee, and huge sundae.

Would I come back to The Pop Shop?

Yes, I had a great experience, and it’s an excellent spot for kids. They even host birthday parties and events if you are looking to do that.

You can see all diner reviews here. 

Question for you:

Have you ever been to a restaurant featured on television?

 

Hollie 11 Comments
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