Fireside Family Restaurant (Pitman, NJ)

January 5, 2019 By Hollie in Diners Tags: diners, food, menu, new jersey, restaurant, review 2 Comments

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.

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.

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.

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?

Royal Diner (Vineland)

December 15, 2018 By Hollie in Diners Tags: diners, food, menu, new jersey, restaurant, review 3 Comments

Lately, I’ve spent a bit of time in the Vineland area, and I’ve wanted to check out the Royal Diner. The Royal Diner used to be a Friendly’s which is apparent from the exterior.

Atmosphere: B
The Royal Diner exterior definitely looks like an old Friendlys. There are plenty of signs outside saying now open. I’m not sure how long ago it was transformed. That being said, it’s a big building with plenty of parking.

The inside is one big room with plenty of booths, tables, and a salad bar. You never feel like you’re sitting on top of anyone.

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh, and the waitress brought plenty of refills. It was good.

Food: B
The Royal Diner has plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. There is nothing unique, but it has all of the usual diner options. It is advertised they have plenty of flavors of ice cream too (Is that what Friendly’s is known for?)

I decided to order the beef gyro and the salad bar.

The salad bar had plenty of options. It had everything a small salad bar typically has: lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and several kinds of salad dressings. It also had beets, bread, coleslaw, soup, and three bean salad. I thought it could use a few more options, maybe spinach or another green.

The beef gyro was good. It has a little bit too much tzatziki for my liking but other than that good.

In all my meal was good, nothing out of the ordinary but nothing bad.

Service: A
I have to say, the waitresses and hostess were one of the best of any diner I’ve been too. They were all kind, funny, the food came out quickly, and I had plenty of refills. I couldn’t ask for a better experience.

Cost: $
For my coffee, gyro, and salad bar it was $16.

Overall Thoughts/Would I come back?
I liked the Royal Diner and thought it was a good stop. I would definitely go back.

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

You Can see all 221 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
What’s your favorite salad bar item?
So do you like gyros?

Golden Star Diner (Ringoes)

October 27, 2018 By Hollie in Diners Tags: Diner, food, greek, gyro, menu, new jersey, restaurant 2 Comments

A few weeks ago, I went up to the Golden Star Diner in Ringoes. I haven’t been up that way, but my good friend Eric and I drove up. It was nice to catch up. The Golden Star is just under an hour north.

We got there around 5:30, and it wasn’t too crowded.

Atmosphere: B
There isn’t anything too unique about the diner. It’s an old building, with outdated furnishings. It does have a cute little outdoor pond, and they were decorated for the outside.

The inside has a bar with plenty of booths and tables. We sat in a peaceful booth which was nice.

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh, and I have no complaints. The waitress refilled it often. There wasn’t anything too special about it, but it wasn’t bad.

Food: B
The Golden Star Diner has everything of a typical diner. There are a lot more breakfast options including several omelets. There were also several wraps, sandwiches, and Greek specialties. I decided the Greek Gyro Platter caught my eye and ordered that.

I also added Manhatten clam chowder. The clam chowder was good, and I actually like Manhatten clam chowder more than New England. There were plenty of clams and potatoes.

The Greek Gyro platter came with a Greek Gyro and Greek salad. I was indifferent about it. I could have used more food, and I hesitate to call it a “platter.” I don’t know why I think gyros will ever be easy eats but I was able to not be as messy as possible.

Dessert: C
I was still hungry so decided to order bread pudding. The bread pudding was decent, except it was doused with too much cinnamon. It wasn’t my least favorite but not my favorite either.

Service: A
The waitress was friendly and refilled our beverages often. Our food also came out exceptionally quickly, which is always wonderful when you’re hungry.

Cost: $
For my soup, platter, coffee, and dessert it was $20.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back?
The Golden Star Diner was right in the middle as far as diners go. It wasn’t especially good or bad. I wouldn’t be opposed to going back, but it wouldn’t be my first choice.

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

You can see all 215 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite soup?
What is your favorite type of pudding?

Metuchen Diner

October 14, 2018 By Hollie in Diners Tags: bread pudding, Diner, food, menu, new jersey, restaurant, salad 2 Comments

If you must know, it’s taken me a very long time, and many spell checks, to be able to spell the town of Metuchen. It’s taken me equally as long to be able to say it. Anyway, not that it’s relevant to the diner, but I met my good friend Christine at the Metuchen Diner a couple of weeks ago.

It’s only about an hour north of me, and it was an easy drive on the turnpike.

Atmosphere: B
There is nothing unique or exciting about the Metuchen Duner. It’s a stereotypical NJ diner. The inside has plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar. It’s cleanly and there is plenty of space but nothing too exciting.

Coffee: A
The coffee was great. The waitress kept it refilled all of the time, and I have no complaints.

Food: B
The Metuchen Diner has everything a diner wants or needs. There are plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. I was feeling “somewhat” healthy and decided to order the grilled portobello salad. The salad came with grilled portobello; I added salmon.

The salad was good, but I wish it were a little larger.

It also came with soup, and I decided to choose Matzah Ball soup. I haven’t had it in a while. It was nice because it came with two actual Matzah balls which you rarely see.

Dessert: A
We both decided to order dessert. I chose the bread pudding, and I will say, it was one of the best bread puddings I’ve had in a while. There were huge pieces of bread, as well as raisins which I really enjoyed. I would go back just for the bread pudding.

Service: A
The waitress was one of the best waitresses I’ve had. She was friendly, refilled everything, and our food came out quickly.

Cost: $
For my coffee, meal, and bread pudding it was $20.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back?
I really enjoyed the Metchuen Diner, and I would go back if the opportunity presented itself.

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

You Can See All 214 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
What is your favorite type of soup?
What is one town or city in your state you struggle saying?

Empress Diner (Lyndhurst)

September 15, 2018 By Hollie in Diners Tags: Diner, food, French Toast, menu, new jersey, review 1 Comment

While driving up to Maine, I wanted to stop at a new diner. Early in the summer, I went to more, and it’s since slowed down. I’ve wanted to get to the Empress Diner for a few years, and it seemed to work out the best this trip.

The Empress Diner itself is located in downtown Fairlawn, NJ.

Atmosphere:
The outside is a well-kept building. It isn’t a metallic, or shiny building but it’s well kept which matters. There are only a handful of parking spots, and we had to circle around and park on the street since there was no parking available.

The inside is a lot bigger and can fit more people. There is a full-length bar, plenty of booths, and plenty of tables.

Coffee: B
The coffee was good, but nothing too exciting. I could have used more refills, but since I was getting on the road, it was probably a better idea not to have too much.

Food: B
I had no idea what I wanted to order. The Empress Diner has everything you would want in a diner. There are plenty of breakfast, lunch, and specialty items. There are several salads as well.

I decided to order the French toast on challah bread with a side of “Taylor ham.” If you don’t know the state of New Jersey, how you say Taylor Ham (or Pork Roll) is a big deal. The North says Taylor Ham, and the South says, Pork Roll. As someone who didn’t grow up in New Jersey, I don’t have a “side,” but it seems like everyone in NJ does…ha!

The French toast was good, and the challah bread was thick. The Taylor Ham was delicious, and I have no complaints.

Service: B
The service was decent, but I definitely felt as though I could use more refills on my beverage. Luckily the food came out quick. The server and hostess were friendly as well.

Cost: $10
For my French toast, ham, and coffee it was $10.

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
I was happy with the Empress Diner and I have no complaints. I would definitely go back, and they have an extensive menu, so you always have plenty of options.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: B
Food: A
Service: B
Cost: $8-20
Overall: A

You Can See all 210 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
What is something unique about where you live?
Do you like French toast?

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Running and Laughing through the Garden State

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