New Jersey Diners, Pick from Hundreds
12 Feb 2008
In New Jersey, there are literally hundreds of Diners. No, I don’t mean people who “Dine”, I mean eating establishments called Diners. My husband was amazed at how many there were when he moved from Colorado to New Jersey years ago, they just don’t have them out west.
On my route to work in earlier years, I passed the Bendix Diner every day. This is your classic old-style diner, showing some age, but the food is great. Bendix Diner is one of the most photographed Diners, and the inside was used for shooting movies such as “Diner” in the 1980′s starring Kevin Bacon and other notable stars. But to me, it’s just a familiar place I see when I drive Route 17, a real piece of Americana right here in New Jersey.
The newer diners, the ones that no longer have the metallic look of an over-sized Air Stream camper, vary a bit in appearance inside and out, but there are a few things you can pretty much count on; a display of delicious Pies in a glass case as you enter; your choice between eating at a counter; at tables with bench seats that line the wall, and are often fastened to the wall called booths; and then there’s the open dining area with tables and chairs in the central area, and booths lining the walls.
What’s the best thing about a Diner…besides the pies? The huge selection on the menu! Some Diners are open 24 hours a day, and you can get any meal, including breakfast, at any time during the day or night.
