FueledByLOLZ

Cinnaminson Diner

Recently, I went to the Cinnaminson Diner in Cinnaminson. The diner just reopened, and I wanted to try it. I have been twice now and had positive experiences both times. The first time I arrived around 6 pm on a Friday night, and it wasn’t too crowded. Since it’s located in a shopping center, there is plenty of parking.

Atmosphere: B
The Cinnaminson Diner is clean and open. It’s not a giant metallic building, but it’s clean and modern. Inside there are plenty of booths and tables.

One atmosphere point I found interesting, was this crack in the window. Was it caused by hail? A bullet hole? The world will never know…

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh. Other than wishing I had more, I have no complaints.

Service: B
While the restaurant was busy, the service was still rather slow. The waitress came over a few times, but we were left without beverage refills a few times.

Food: A
The Cinnaminson diner has everything a typical diner has. One of their newer specials is lobster ravioli. My dad ordered it the first time I went, and after seeing it, I thought it looked excellent and ordered for myself the second time. It was one of the biggest and most filling portions I’ve had in a while. Embarrassingly enough, I forgot to take a photo the second time I went!

I don’t order a lot of pasta when going out to eat and haven’t had lobster ravioli in years. I don’t have any complaints it was good.

The first time I ordered the Greek Salad which was just as good. It was a large portion was fresh ingredients. Instead of pita bread, they gave garlic bread which was unique.

Cost: $
For my coffee and lobster ravioli, the cost was $13. It was a good deal and I left full.

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
I enjoyed the Cinnaminson Diner both times. It’s a typical diner with nothing too crazy or unusual but it’s a good stop and one of the better ones along Route 130. I feel like I need to go back based on my lack of photos. 😉

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

Closeby Diners: Jersey Diner, Route 130, Continental

Questions for you:
Do you like lobster?
What is your favorite type of pasta?
I like either ravioli or lasagna

Crystal Lake Diner (Revisited)

Many moons ago, the Crystal Lake Diner was one of the first diners I reviewed (Not to be confused with another favorite in Toms River: The New Crystal Diner).

When we originally went, were living in central Jersey at the time and taking a day trip to the Haddonfield area. Oddly enough the following year, we ended up moving about a quarter of a mile from the Crystal Lake Diner. We have since moved again but we aren’t the only ones who have gone through changes in the last few years.

We never went to the Crystal Lake Diner while living so close because shortly after we originally went, there was a massive fire which left it closed for about 2 years.

When they reopened several months ago, I knew eventually I had to go back.

Atmosphere: A
To be honest, I don’t remember a whole lot from the previous visit a few years ago. Now, the interior is brand new. It’s modern, clean and had plenty of space. We were immediately greeted with a dessert case including red velvet cake.

Crystal Lake Diner Haddon Township — Image via NJ Pen

Coffee: A
The Crystal Lake Diner brewed Lacas coffee which is a personal favorite of mine. It’s a local blend and it’s hard to mess it up. The waitress brought plenty of refills with plenty of whipped cream. I couldn’t ask for better coffee.

Service: A
The waitress was one of the best I’ve had in a while. Even though it was a busy Saturday night, she was always attentive to our table. She made sure we had plenty of refills the entire time. She was also extremely friendly.

Food: B
I do remember the menu at the Crystal Lake Diner is similar to their previous menu. It’s typical of a diner and they have several specials but nothing too unique. If you’re looking for a stereotypical diner menu, the Crystal Lake Diner is ideal.

Our dinner came with a homemade bread basket which came with cinnamon rolls, cheesy bread and corn muffins. Each were great but my favorite was the cheesy bread.

I decided to order the lobster ravioli. It came out in a nice marinara sauce. The ravilis themselves had plenty of lobster stuffed in without being overpowering. I would have preferred something else to come along side the ravilis or just more of them. I was actually surprised the portion size was not bigger.

Dessert: B

The lobster ravioli came with a pudding dessert so I chose the bread pudding. The waitress asked if I wanted whipped cream and how could I refuse?

The bread pudding with good and it was obvious they made it in house (and it didn’t just come from a tube). It was one of the better bread puddings I had, especially for coming with the meal.

Price: $
For my lobster ravioli and coffee the price was $15 which wasn’t bad for the amount of food I got. Especially considering it came with dessert!

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
I enjoyed the Crystal Lake Diner both times I’ve been. I will definitely be back and it’s nice to see it reopen after the fire. The service was by far one of the best I’ve had in awhile.

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

Closeby Diners: Metro Diner, Black horse Diner, Legacy Diner

Questions for you:
Have you ever been to a restaurant after it reopened?
What is your favorite type of pudding?

Piston Diner (Westville)

After the Broad Street 10 mile race, my in-laws and I went to the Piston Diner in Westville, NJ. It’s one of the last diners I hadn’t been in Camden County and right on the way home. There isn’t a lot of information online about the Piston Diner, so I was worried I might end up at someone’s house versus an actual diner.

Atmosphere: B
The atmosphere at the Piston Diner is that of many typical New Jersey Diners. While it isn’t a big shiny, metallic building, it is a big open building with plenty of seating. They had a lot of streamers decorating the inside, but I’m not entirely sure what the holiday was.

Service: D
We arrived at noon on a Sunday, and it wasn’t crowded at all. To be honest, that’s a red flag because Sundays for breakfast and lunch are usually the most crowded diner times. Even though it wasn’t crowded, the service took a long time. It was one of the slowest waits I’ve had in a while and disappointing.

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot and fresh, and when we were able to get ahold of the waitress, she brought refills. The coffee itself was good.

Food: D
The diner has just about every typical diner food option. I wasn’t especially hungry after spectating Broad Street, but I can’t pass up eating at a diner. I decided to order the Greek Salad with salmon. I also ordered a side of pickled beets.

When my food arrived, I regretted the decision. The salad used a lot of watery, white lettuce and didn’t have most of the traditional Greek Salad toppings including anchovies, grape leaves or pita bread. The dressing was watery, and I needed two. While it wasn’t a bad salad, it wasn’t anything I would order again. I wasn’t starving, so it filled me up. It did have a lone french fry which was not listed as a salad addition. 😉

Cost: $$
For my salad with salmon and coffee, the cost was $16. For the quality of food, it should have been cheaper.

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
I didn’t dislike the Piston Diner, and the food was ok for what I needed for the day, but next time I’ll order something else. The service was rather slow, so I can’t imagine how it would be when they are busy.

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

Nearby Diners: Metro Diner and Black Horse Diner

Questions for you:
Do you prefer chopped salads or big, leafy salads?
Do you like beets?

WhiteHorse Diner

Recently I met up with personal friend Christine at the Whitehorse Diner in Hamilton, NJ. Not to be confused with the Black Horse Diner in Camden County. Until a week ago, I hadn’t heard of the Whitehorse Diner, but with over 500 diners in the garden state, you’re bound to find one (or 100) you haven’t heard of.

We arrived on a Friday for lunch, and it wasn’t crowded at all. In fact, for most of our meal, we were the only ones.

Atmosphere: A
The atmosphere of the Whitehorse diner is what you picture for a diner. The outside is big, metallic, and shiny while the inside has plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar.

Coffee: A
The coffee was brewed hot each time, and I had no issues with it. It was definitely one of the better coffees I’ve had lately.

Service: A
Since we were the only ones in the Whitehorse diner, the attention was all on us. I’ve seen this go both ways in restaurants. The waiter or waitress is either overbearing or doesn’t show up much at all. For us, it was perfect, and the waitress gave us plenty of attention, refilled our beverages but didn’t hover.

Food: A
The menu at the Whitehorse diner is everything you could want in a diner plus several additional healthy choices. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner specials. I opted for something more healthy. Both Christine and I ordered the same thing! Twinners are winners right?

We ordered a Greek salad with arugula and salmon. When it came out, I couldn’t ask for a better salad. It was a huge portion of salmon, and everything was fresh.

Cost: $
For my salad with salmon and coffee, the cost was $16. I can’t complain at all because the food was fresh.

Overall Thoughts/Summary:
I liked the Whitehorse Diner and have no complaints. They have a great menu with a lot of options. I wish they advertised more because they are hidden.

Atmosphere: A
Service: A
Coffee: A
Food: A
Cost: $9-15
Overall: A

Closeby Diners: Daphne’s Diner, Town Diner

Questions for you:
What is your favorite salad?
What is the last hidden restaurant you’ve found?

Point 40 Diner (Monroeville, NJ)

Last month, Angela was back in town after running the Boston Marathon. As many people know, Angela moved out to Colorado a few months ago. It’s always tough when one of your good friends moves but I was excited we could catch up after she ran a great Boston in not so ideal weather.

Last year, Angela and I ran a 20 miler together when she was training for the Philadelphia full marathon, and I was contemplating doing another full. While I ultimately decided that marathoning still wasn’t for me, it was still a fun time.

We decided to go to the Point 40 Diner in Monroeville, NJ. It has been on my diner to do list for a while, and it was the perfect opportunity. Plus, the famous Pete G said the Point 40 has “the best Greek salads in the state, ” and you can’t argue with him. Like the Huck Finn Diner, I was trying to eat healthier before the Atlantic City Half Marathon.

Atmosphere: B
There isn’t anything unique about the environment of the Point 40 diner, but it is clean. When you walk in, there is a rotating dessert case as well as a giant colorful board with menu specials. There are several rooms and a full-length bar. It’s a nice, uncomplicated diner.

Coffee: A

The coffee was brewed hot and the waitress brought plenty of refills. The mug itself was customized with the Point 40 in writing and an ad to a local business. Custom coffee mugs are always fun and I have to give credit that a coffee mug is good ad space.

Service: A
At 7 pm, the diner was actually busy. The waitress was great and refilled everything as needed. Plus our food was brought out quickly. How quickly the food was brought out was definitely a pleasant surprise and I have no complaints.

Food: B
The Point 40 has everything of a traditional diner. The famous food critique Pete said the Point 40 diner has the best Greek salad he has ever had tried so naturally, I had to try it.

Personally, while it wasn’t a bad salad, it wasn’t my ultimate favorite. There were plenty of toppings including an overwhelming amount of feta cheese, hard boiled eggs, onions, anchovies, and tomatoes. The salad itself was drenched in dressing. It was great but it wasn’t my all time favorite. Maybe I’m a salad snob though.

Cost: $
For my coffee and salad, the cost was $14. It wasn’t expensive, and I have no complaints.

Summary/Would I Come Back?
The Point 40 Diner is a good stop and I don’t have any issues. If I’m in the area again, I would stop!

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

Closeby Diners I’ve reviewed: Harrison House Diner, Swedesboro Diner, Elmer Diner, Blue Plate

Questions for you:
Where is the best Greek Salad you’ve had?
What time do you typically eat dinner?

Huck Finn Diner (Union)

A couple of weeks ago, the owner of the website, New Jersey Isn’t Boring, and I went to the Huck Finn Diner in Union. I thought I had been already but turns out I was thinking of the Tom Sawyer Diner or Mark Twain Diner. As you can see, there are a lot of literary diners around Union.

Long time readers know, but Cyd and I try and hang out at least once a month. She reviews diners as well as everything else in New Jersey so she is the pro…If you ever find yourself in New Jersey check out her website and you won’t have any trouble finding something to do.

We arrived on a dreary weekday, and the diner wasn’t terribly crowded. While I’ve wanted to go out to various diners as well as seeing friends, I also want to eat healthy during my lead up to the Atlantic City Half Marathon. Even though I didn’t run well, at least I ate healthy…I guess.

Atmosphere: B
There isn’t anything too unique or unusual about the Huck Finn Diner. It’s clean, and there is both a salad bar as well as full bar. It would be interesting if they added a Huck Finn painting or centered more of the atmosphere around the book. The building itself was clean, open and had plenty of seating so I can’t complain about that.

Service: B
The waitress was kind and refilled our beverages, but it did take awhile. We waited a few times for drink refills. The food itself took about 15 minutes to come out which wasn’t bad.

Coffee: A
The coffee was from Lacas and was piping hot. My only complaint was needing a bigger mug! Other than that, it was great.

Food: A
The menu at the Huck Finn Diner is huge, and they have everything you want or need in a diner. Plus they have plenty of specials as well.

I was hungry, so I decided to order the split pea soup. It came with a bowl of croutons to add to my soup at my leisure.

For my entree, I ordered the Huck Finn salad which came with arugula, blue cheese, apples and walnuts topped with balsamic dressing. They used red delicious apples which are my favorite apple. Like any salad, I prefer to add protein so I also added salmon. My salad itself was great, and I have no complaints. The salmon portion was one of the biggest of any diners I’ve been too. The salmon and salad were both extremely fresh.

Cost: $$
For my soup, salad, salmon and coffee the cost was $21. It was on the pricier side but worth it.

Overall thoughts/Would I come back?
I enjoyed the Huck Finn Diner and would definitely come back. It’s one of my favorites in the area.

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

Closeby Diners I’ve Reviewed: Mark Twain, Kenilworth

Questions for you:

What is your favorite salad base?

Do you prefer salad bars or ordering a salad?

Woodstown Diner

A few weeks ago I found myself in Woodstown, NJ. I had driven by the Woodstown Diner a few times and heard it was good. Since it was around lunchtime, I wanted to stop.

Atmosphere: B
The outside of the Woodstown Diner is a normal but lengthy building. It looks like a regular restaurant versus a metallic, shiny diner. I was shocked to see how long the Woodstown Diner is. From the road, it looks like it might seat 50 people but once you pull into the parking lot, you realize it can probably sit close to 200!

The inside of the diner itself has several rooms including a bar and banquet hall. It was definitely surprising. Many people don’t realize this, but liquor laws in New Jersey are strict, and it’s rare to find a diner in South Jersey that serves alcohol. In fact, New Jersey is one of the few states with dry towns that don’t serve alcohol at all.

Even though it wasn’t crowded, we were sat in the second room next to the dirty dish cart. Out of all the tables, I wasn’t sure why the manager sat me there. It was loud, and our meal was constantly interrupted by staff bussing tables and clinking of dishes.

Service: B
The manager seemed to be having a difficult day when he sat us. He threw the menus on the table and walked away. The waitress of the Woodstown Diner was friendly, and I have no complaints. She refilled our beverages often, and the food was brought out fairly quick.

Coffee: B
Even though the coffee mug was small, the coffee itself was good. The Woodstown Diner uses the local Lacas coffee which as many readers know is my favorite!

Food: B
The menu at the Woodstown Diner is that of a typical diner. They have everything from eggs to lunch and plenty of specials. Everything about the menu is traditional, and there wasn’t anything that grabbed my eye as being unique or extraordinary. I decided to order a gyro wrap with French fries. A classic diner favorite but not something I’ve ordered in a while!

The gyro itself was huge. It was packed well with plenty of lettuce, gyro meat, onions, and tomato. It was packaged well and one of the least messy gyro wraps I’ve had. It came with steak fries which weren’t bad.

Cost: $
For my gyro and coffee, the cost was $10. One of my cheaper diner meals.

Overall summary/Would I come back?
I enjoyed the Woodstown Diner, and it was definitely a hidden gem in Southern New Jersey. While the manager was somewhat rude, our service, in general, was decent and I would go back.

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

Close by Diners I’ve been too: Swedesboro Diner, Deepwater Diner, Hollywood Cafe

Questions for you:
What’s the best coffee you’ve had recently?
Where was the last place you ate?

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