The writer was invited to visit Nancy’s TowneHouse and the meal was complimentary.
On a recent Friday evening, we paid a visit to Nancy’s TowneHouse in Rahway. The restaurant has a welcoming, old-school appeal. Owned by Nancy Knudsen, it has been in the city for 18 years. Nancy tells us it’s a real “family affair,” as her five children work with her at the restaurant.
Nancy’s TowneHouse has garnered a loyal following of pizza and Italian food lovers who come from near and far. We asked Knudson to tell us a little about running her restaurant in Rahway. She commented, “I like downtown Rahway and the mayor is helping the businesses do well,” adding, “It is a big arts community with UCPAC, and many of our customers visit when they are seeing a show. We’re glad to be a part of it.”
Options Galore
In a state with an abundance of good pizza spots—and known for Italian fare—Nancy’s TowneHouse is a standout. The pies come in small (14-inch) and large (16-inch), and each one features a thin, crispy crust, and a variety of creative options. A few fan favorites include the Philly cheesesteak pizza, baked ziti pizza, white pizza, and veggie pizza. And of course, you’ll find a selection for designing your own pie as well, including mushrooms, clams, bacon, olives, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and more. Knudsen’s own favorite is the eggplant and garlic pizza. Can’t decide on one plan for a pie? Neither could we! Instead we went for different toppings on each half.
While pizza is the main event at Nancy’s, the eatery also offers many more menu items such as appetizers, salads, soups, side dishes, specialty pastas, and dishes that include eggplant, chicken, veal, and seafood dinners. Nancy’s also accommodates families with a go-to children’s menu.
Popular Opinion
We are not alone in our appreciation of Nancy’s TowneHouse’s excellent pizza. NJ.com has named Nancy’s pies among the top 10 in the Garden State and most recently, the Union County spot got a great review from David Portnoy, of Barstool Sports.
At the Bar
Nancy’s TowneHouse offers full bar service with wine, beer and cocktails as well. And after savoring a delicious, satisfying meal, save a little room for dessert. Try a house-made Tiramisu or a scrumptious peanut butter silk, which you can enjoy with coffee, cappuccino, or espresso.
Party Time
Hosting a gathering? Nancy’s TowneHouse has a party room on site and offers complete catering service. The restaurant has a dining room, al fresco seating in the rear of the restaurant, and a comfortable outdoor pavilion right next door. Guests will find on-site parking and plenty of street parking in the city of Rahway as well.
Nancy’s TowneHouse
1453 Main Street
Rahway, New Jersey 07065
732-388-8100 nancystownhouse.com @nancys_townehouse_official_
Photo courtesy of Nancy’s TowneHouse Instagram. Used with permission.
If a prepared Thanksgiving meal sounds good to you, or you’re just not feeling the week-long-prep vibe for Thanksgiving, you’ll be pleased to check out this list of restaurants in New Jersey offering to-go feasts as well as dine-in options. Each restaurant has its own deadline for ordering and reservations. It’s all linked below, so you can find that information quickly and easily. Enjoy!
100 Ocean, Long Branch
To alleviate the stress of an all-day cooking extravaganza at home, 100 Ocean at Wave Resort, in Pier Village, will take care of all the cooking so you don’t have to. Dine in at the restaurant and enjoy a three-course, prix-fixe menu for $60 per person (plus a children’s menu), or choose from one of the takeout packages for groups of 2, 4, or 8. Learn more here.
Avenue, Long Branch
Spend your Thanksgiving at Avenue, which is serving from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For $55, guests can enjoy a three-course meal, including the option of a Thanksgiving turkey dinner. A children’s menu is also available for $20. Go to LeClubAvenue.com to make a reservation, or call 732-759-2900.
B2 Bistro, North Brunswick, Point Pleasant Beach, and Red Bank
Find several catered Thanksgiving dinner options from three of B2 Bistro’s locations. Each location is offering its own unique Turkey Day choices. Follow the links below for each location’s menu and deadlines for ordering. North Brunswick Point Pleasant Beach Red Bank
Bistro d’Azur, West Orange
Thanksgiving 2021 is “Bistro d’Go” from Chef Richard Krug, with his artisanal French Mediterranean flair. Click here to order Thanksgiving to go, by Sunday, November 21, and pick your order up on Thanksgiving Day between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Blu Grotto, Oceanport
You’ll find several to-go, heat-and-serve catering packages from Blu Grotto this Thanksgiving season. The packages can accommodate groups of 8 to 10 people, and up to 18 to 20 people. All orders must be in by Friday, November 19, and picked up on Thanksgiving. Follow the link for details.
Carmine’s, Atlantic City
Photo credit: Carmine’s Italian Restaurant
Carmine’s Thanksgiving special features an 18-pound roast turkey, stuffed with sausage-and-sage stuffing. Orders also include sides including brussels sprouts with caramelized onions and applewood smoked bacon, sautéed string beans with julienned red peppers and toasted hazelnuts, baby carrots with fresh dill, sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows and maple syrup, and mashed potatoes with giblet gravy. Available for $295, the meal serves 6 to 8 people for takeout, delivery, or dine-in at Carmine’s. You can add apple or pumpkin pie for $24.99. The restaurant is located inside the Quarter at Tropicana Hotel & Casino, at 2801 Pacific Avenue, Atlantic City. Reservations are available now, and preorders for takeout and delivery will be open seven days in advance, with limited first-come, first-served slots at carminesnyc.com.
DRIFTHOUSE by David Burke, Sea Bright
Enjoy a three-course prix-fixe for $85, with children 10 under $35. Choose from several appetizer, entrée, and dessert options. The Thanksgiving Day menu is linked here.
Fresco da Franco, Montclair
Fresco da Franco has created a special menu featuring Thanksgiving classics like traditional stuffing, pan-fried brussels sprouts, and fresh, oven-roasted turkey breast, as well as homemade Italian favorites like lasagna al forno, manicotti, and eggplant parmigiana, all prepared by Mamma Giuseppina. The full Thanksgiving menu can be viewed at Thanksgiving Menu — Fresco da Franco and is available all day for takeout and dine-in on Thanksgiving Day. Call 973-337-5100, ext. 3 to place your order.
Grain & Cane, Berkeley Heights
Grain & Cane
This Thanksgiving, Grain & Cane offers an ultimate Thanksgiving take-home feast. Customizable options allow customers to make a-la-carte purchases from the Thanksgiving menu based on their individual needs, from a single, fully cooked turkey, to individual side dishes and desserts.
For those looking to forgo the cooking and get out of the house, Grain & Cane also has a special prixe-fixe, dine-in menu for Thanksgiving, at $55 per person.
Harbor Pines Golf Course, Little Egg Harbor
Enjoy a relaxing dinner overlooking the ninth hole at Harbor Pines Golf Course. The Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet will be held Thursday, November 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. Guests can feast on traditional Thanksgiving fare, including roasted turkey and spiral ham, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, herbed stuffing, roasted vegetables, and much more. Dessert includes an assortment of fresh baked pies, cakes, and pastries. Children five and under eat for free. For more information or to reserve your spot, visit harborpines.com, or call 609-927-0006.
Le French Dad Boulangerie, Montclair
Bakery serving traditional apple tart, pear and almond tart and pecan pie, and more. Visit the website for all the details.
Osteria Morini, Bernardsville
Order Thanksgiving to go from Osteria Morini Bernardsville—click on the link to order for Thanksgiving—and don’t forget Morini Bakeshop with treats like apple ‘n oat pie, and vegan hazelnut tart with chocolate ganache. All options on the Thanksgiving menu feed 4 to 6 people. Chef Jamie Metzger says, “We leave a variable for those who eat more or less to be on the safe side!”
Pineapple Express, Montclair
You’ll find a number of items available for pickup on Wednesday, November 24, and Thursday, November 25 (Thanksgiving) from Pineapple Express, in Montclair. Choose from a full Thanksgiving spread of smoked Goffle Road turkey or Texas-style brisket, plus sides, a la carte turkeys, brisket, ribs, and Montclair caviar (house-smoked sausages and accoutrements), plus pies and wine. Orders must be placed online by Thursday, November 18, for pickup only, and you can find full details here.
Rat’s Restaurant, Hamilton
Turn to Rat’s Restaurant for a family-friendly alternative that’s a special upscale Thanksgiving meal in a beautiful setting! Thanksgiving (November 25) only, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The five-course pre-fixed menu costs $68 per adult / $35 per kid for ages 5 to 12. Kids under 5 eat free. Follow the link to review the Thanksgiving menu.
Photo credit David Burke Hospitality Management
Red Horse by David Burke, Rumson
Enjoy a three-course, prix-fixe menu for $95 per person, $35 for children 10 and under. Follow the link to review the menu and make reservations. View the Thanksgiving Day Menu.
SubUrban Bar & Kitchen – Randolph
Thanksgiving Catering at SubUrban Bar & Kitchen, offering Family Style Meals and à la carte selections. Order full meals in three sizes up to 10 people or trays of à la carte selections available in three sizes. Don’t forget the Beer, in crowlers and cans, bottles of Wine, and the Cocktail Kits to go.
The Reeds at Shelter Haven announces the return of its annual Thanksgiving dinner buffet. This traditional Thanksgiving meal features top favorite holiday fixings, including carved turkey, prime rib, savory stuffing, chilled salads, warm soups, homemade desserts, and more. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 609-368-0100. (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.) More details.
Monmouth Park is one of the few places in New Jersey (or anywhere for that matter) where you can watch and bet on live horse racing, and also take part in fine dining, live music, and miniature golf. Maybe it’s the only place.
View from the Beer Garden at Blu Grotto
Blu Grotto is the main pillar of this growing, resort-style destination at the racetrack. Situated in Oceanport, NJ, and a short drive from beautiful beaches, Blu Grotto is an Italian-style, fine-dining establishment with a unique brick-and-mortar location.
The Father-and-Son Management Team
Casey (left) and Elvin Kehres
For the first time in five years, Elvin Kehres and his son Casey are working in the same establishment. Together, they provide quality food, like the acclaimed short rib meatballs, and an excellent customer experience akin to a best friend’s dazzling dinner party.
Blu Grotto’s short rib meatballs
“It’s like being with the old family you haven’t seen in year,” said Casey Kehres, assistant general manager at Blu Grotto. “It’s never boring,” he added, laughing. Casey got his start working alongside his dad when he was 16. They first worked together at Landmark Hospitality’s Ryland Inn and again at Blu Grotto when the restaurant first opened six years ago.
“Casey knows what I expect and what I want,” said Elvin Kehres, the general manager at Blu Grotto. “He’s come a long way between working for me and [for David Burke at the Drift House]. I’ve actually learned a few things that he’s done in other places that we apply to Blu Grotto now.”
The Food, by Chef James Corona
Chef James Corona
While the father-and-son management team sometimes have different ideas about how to grow the Blu Grotto establishment, they agree on one thing, above all: quality cuisine.
“For the most part, we deal in the classics of old-Italian-style cooking,” Kehres said. “It is minimalistic cooking—not 15 different ingredients in a dish, but getting the freshest ingredients we can and presenting them on the plate. A lot of our dishes only have three or four ingredients, and we believe that’s the secret of Italian-style cooking.”
House-made pasta
In order to execute such fine Italian food, ownership employed Chef James Corona. Customers who know of Chef James may have heard of him from his time working with Mario Batali or David Bouley.
With emphasis on these ingredients, Chef James Corona and his kitchen staff make a concerted effort to buy as much produce as possible from local purveyors. For example, the mushrooms in dishes like strip steak pizzaiola come from Two River Mushroom Co., in Sea Bright, NJ.
In other dishes, the kitchen and management staff work together to source proper ingredients to make meals from scratch.
Blu Grotto’s fettuccine Bolognese
“Our pastas are made in house for dishes like the fettuccine Bolognese,” said Elvin. “Customers seek out Chef Corona for his style of cooking, which involves using the freshest ingredients he can find and making everything from scratch. People always rate our Bolognese as the best they’ve ever had.”
Casey chimed in. “Our calamari is never frozen,” he said. “They get the fresh squid in, break it down, and prepare it themselves. We hand cut our french fries daily.”
General Tso calamari Calabrian chilies
The Experience
Customer perception of Blu Grotto is another interesting topic of conversation for the Kehres clan. “We are fine dining,” said Casey. “So, one of the biggest stigmas we’re fighting is that we’re an expensive restaurant, but we want to break that. Within the past six years since we opened, the restaurant scene has definitely changed—not even including the pandemic.”
“Fine dining was very hoity-toity, white glove. Blu Grotto has found a nice balance between casual and fine dining. You still get the quality, the local ingredients, and the chef’s passion. But you can also come in shorts and not have to worry about putting on a jacket.”
Blu Grotto is an upscale establishment with a beautiful dining room. The space features comfortable blue lounge chairs and custom barstools manufactured by Lamborghini. Yes, you read that right, Lamborghini.
Deck at the Blu Grotto
During the warmer months, guests enjoy the spacious outdoor deck area, which seats up to 125 people. The management team does everything in its power to provide multiple options for customers while enjoying the fine food, whether individuals are sitting in the luxury sports car of barstool chairs or out on the sunny balcony.
“The concept is casual, fine dining,” said Elvin. “We don’t want people to think we’re a stuffy place, we want people to come in and enjoy themselves like they’re at a friend’s house.”
The bar at Blu Grotto
What’s New at The Blu Grotto?
Blu Grotto management aims to bring the same quality, “scratch-made” approach to every aspect of its business, including the bar’s cocktails. Guests can enjoy food and drink happy hour specials on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Be on the lookout for new, recurring events currently on the horizon for Blu Grotto customers. These include specialty events like wine dinners and beef-and-bourbon feasts.
“We also want to do more promotional nights like burger night in our atmosphere, and hopefully some live music,” said Casey. “I remember when we first opened, we had a phenomenal burger on our lunch menu—with bacon, onion jam, brioche bun, and Pat LaFrieda meat.”
Bar at Blu Grotto’s Beer Garden
The Beer Garden Says ‘Bye’ Until Next Year
The fine dining dinner establishment sits upstairs, while the location’s lower level opened as the Beer Garden about three years ago. Today, the Beer Garden at Blu Grotto is a seasonal, outdoor pub with live music, casual fare, and—you guessed it—cold beer. Walking through the space, it’s easy to imagine people wandering over after their time at the racetrack for some outdoor suds and sun, all to the tune of a live band. (It is currently closed for the season, other than special occasions, like Sunday football.)
“In the summer, we have bands that come in—local bands like Brian Kirk and the Jerks, The Nerds, West End Dogs, Moroccan Sheepherders,” said Elvin. “And The Beer Garden is a totally different menu, too—we treat it as a totally separate business, but with the same emphasis on quality. We have a Neapolitan-style pizza oven with blue mosaic tiles that we imported from Italy, so we bake pizzas out there. We do hamburgers, hot dogs, lobster rolls, burrata—things like that.”
The NJ Horsemen’s Association,which owns the racetrack, “wanted to make the Monmouth Park more of a destination,” explained Casey. “You have some that come from the racetrack who come upstairs to enjoy a nice meal. Or people who just want to have a nice, casual day with the family at the racetrack can go to the Beer Garden afterward. It’s all-encompassing, gives two different ends of the spectrum, and having both on one property is unique.”
Moving forward, interested—and hungry—individuals can follow the Blu Grotto on social media to see what’s on tap as the management and kitchen team plan fall and winter events. Stay tuned!
This is my final of three installments where I reveal the best sandwiches to be eaten in Atlantic,Cumberland, and now, Cape May Counties.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, sandwiches are my favorite food “thing.” And, having grown up in Cumberland, worked in Cape May for many years, and lived in Atlantic for almost three decades, I am uniquely qualified to point you in the right direction when you find yourself hungry for a great sandwich in South Jersey.
Each one of Cape May County’s best sandwiches on the list below is worth a drive to this oft-overlooked part of the state.
Author Todd Noon
Number 3: The Hot Chick
The Hot Chick at the Exit Zero Filling Station
Exit Zero Filling Station
110 Sunset Boulevard
Cape May, NJ
609-770-8479 exitzero.com
As any self-respecting New Jerseyan knows, where a person hails from in the Garden State can often be determined by asking one question: “What exit are you?” meaning which exit of the Turnpike or Parkway would you take to get to where you live.
Growing up in Cumberland County, where rare talk of the faraway Turnpike or Parkway was often dismissed as the crazed ramblings of someone who spent too much time in the sun or too many happy hours at the bar, I had little reason to consider the “What Exit?” question. On those rare occasions, however, when I was able to make contact with the outside world and someone asked me this quintessential New Jersey question, I typically responded with a sarcastic “Exit the Sticks” or an equally dismissive “Exit End of the World.”
Today, if you want to know where to find one of the state’s best sandwiches, my answer would be “Exit Zero,” and that response would be correct in both the literal and figurative senses.
The sandwich I am referring to is the Hot Chick and it can be found at the Exit Zero Filling Station, appropriately located about an easy 10-minute drive from the Parkway’s southernmost exit (Exit 0), just outside of Cape May City. Though the Filling Station’s address is listed as Cape May, it sits in West Cape May, less than 400 feet from the Cape May City limit.
The Hot Chick is one funky and tasty sandwich.
Served on a rich brioche bun, the Hot Chick takes you on a thrilling ride that leaves you both satisfied and feeling slightly guilty that you enjoyed it so much—just like a date with any typical Jersey Hot Chick (or Hot Dude).
The sandwich is composed of a large and juicy piece of buttermilk- and sriracha-marinated chicken that is topped with pepper jack cheese, a cool and crunchy Cajun slaw, and sweet-and-spicy pickle slices. This alone is enough to earn the sandwich a spot on this list, but the Exit Zero Filling Station adds a spicy sriracha aioli that kicks up the heat and enhances the other flavors of the sandwich.
The Hot Chick is messy, moist and over the top. The sweetness, the spiciness, the coolness, the heat, the textures—all of these experiences combine to awaken the senses and make this an incredibly fun sandwich to eat.
While waffle fries are the standard sidekick for the Hot Chick, you can also opt for tater tots, which I recommend if only because I find it difficult to pass up anything that reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite.
The Hot Chick at the Exit Zero Filling Station makes the trip to the southernmost point of the Parkway well worth the drive.
Number 2: Mahi Wrap
Bobby Dee’s Rock ‘n Chair
2409 Dune Drive
Avalon, NJ
609-967-3300 rocknchair.net
It seems like I am always making confessions of some sort when I compile these lists.
In a previous installment, I have pled guilty to being a Philly cheesesteak purist who practices hypocrisy by loving a particular cheesesteak that is loaded with things you would never find on a similar sandwich in the City of Brotherly Love.
I have also confessed to soliciting some culinary opinions of friends and then dismissing many of their suggestions with a simple “Thanks” or an even less convincing “Maybe I’ll try it,” knowing full well that I have little intention of actually doing so.
I am not especially proud of these personal shortcomings, but they were necessary admissions to help underscore the fact that I am giving you the unwaxed truth when it comes to telling you what the best sandwiches are.
Bobby Dee’s Rock ‘n Chair
So with that in mind, I have another confession to make as I introduce you to the second best sandwich in Cape May County, which is found at Bobby Dee’s Rock ‘n Chair, located at the corner of 24th and Dune Drive in the tony seaside town of Avalon: I have worked here part-time for the past 18 years, even though I took the job for what was supposed to be just few years until my younger daughter, Georgia, who was an infant at the time of my hiring, would be in Kindergarten. Georgia is now in college and I’m still slingin’ hash. Admittedly, having the extra cash has been nice over these past two decades.
Despite my affiliation with the restaurant, it is an objective fact that the mahi wrap is one of the freshest, most flavorful sandwiches you will find between Ocean City and Cape May Point.
Though head Chef Sid Gary puts out a number of great dishes, the mahi wrap is the brainchild of Sous Chef Amando Castelan, who has been with “The Chair” (as it is often called by locals and employees), for many years.
The mahi wrap is a unique combination of Mexican and American flavors—not so surprising when you consider that Castelan hails from south-central Mexico but now called the United States home.
The sandwich starts with a large spinach tortilla, which is filled with a generous portion of chunky blackened mahi and black-bean-and-corn salsa. The ingredients are given a cascade of pepper jack cheese, a generous dose of a spicy chipotle aioli, and are then closed up in the tortilla and grilled on both sides to give some additional texture.
The mahi is tender, moist, flaky and only subtly reminds you that it has been blackened.
The salsa is slightly cooling and provides a perfect crunchy counterpoint to the fish.
But the estrella brillante of this dish is the spicy aioli. And consider yourself warned: it is spicy. Not send-you-to-the-emergency-room spicy, but spicy enough that you may sweat a bit and you might want to have an extra napkin handy for your nose. Importantly, though, the spice does not overpower the sandwich—you will easily taste everything—but rather complements all of the ingredients. Somehow, it all works.
Served with a side of chips (or fries for an additional charge) and a kosher pickle spear, all but the hungriest among us would be challenged to eat the whole thing in one sitting. I have yet to be able to do it and, brother, I can eat.
HRBP from Mandys
Number 1: Hot Roast Beef and Provolone
Mandy’s Subs 518 Stone Harbor Boulevard
Cape May Court House, NJ
609-465-3330 mandyssubs.com
Most people pull into a gas station for the obvious reason: to get gas.
But in lower Cape May County, you will also find many motorists visiting one particular gas station to get one of the best sandwiches to be found this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
With seats for just a couple of tables and an equally small counter, Mandy’s Subs is a tiny, understated, pale peach building with faded red trim. It sits directly behind a gas station on one of the few main access roads leading into the resort town of Stone Harbor.
If you weren’t looking for the place, you would likely pass it, obscured as it is from the roadway by the gas station in front. Or, if you did see it, you might be skeptical of any food product making its way out the door, thinking it might be better suited for a burial than a stomach.
Mandys storefront
In either case, you would be missing out on what is Cape May County’s best sandwich: the hot roast beef and provolone at Mandy’s Subs in Cape May Court House.
Frankly, there is nothing fancy about this sandwich. No highbrow bread. No hard-to-pronounce imported cheese. No meat from an animal that lived its life on an idyllic, temperate island where it received daily pedicures while being read great works of literature and wearing handmade talismans designed to ward off pestilence.
The bare-bones simplicity of this masterpiece is what makes it so great. In short, what is done is done well.
The roast beef and provolone at Mandy’s comes hot or cold (make sure you specify when you place your order). Both are excellent; however, the hot version edges out its cold sibling as a result of the meat being bathed in a rich au jus, similar to what you might see in a traditional French dip.
After a quick swim in the jus, the meat—and there is lots of it—is placed inside a traditional sub roll along with a generous portion of provolone cheese. Served on the side is a cup of the jus and what Mandy’s calls Tiger Sauce—a white sauce with a consistency similar to crème fraiche and notes of horseradish. When added to the meat, cheese, and bread, Tiger Sauce makes for a singular, savory sandwich experience.
You can add the standard sub toppings such as lettuce and tomato if you would like, but it is nonsensical to put such things on a hot sandwich. Please don’t make this mistake.
For mine, I typically ask for a light smear of yellow mustard and some cherry pepper relish, but that, of course, is a matter of personal taste.
Whether you decide to have the hot roast beef and provolone as-is or dressed up a bit with some acceptable condiments, you are in for the best sandwich this southernmost county in New Jersey has to offer.
From barbecue to bubble drinks, November’s restaurant openings around the state are varied and exciting. Read on to learn more about new dining spots in New Jersey, and follow each of them on social media for updates and continued announcements. Congratulations to all of the new Garden State restaurants opening this month!
Pork at Mutiny BBQ, Asbury Park
Mutiny BBQ Company, Asbury Park
Bringing several elements of the nation’s best barbecue all into one space, Mutiny BBQ draws inspiration from Texas, Kansas City, Memphis, the Carolinas, and Louisiana, and works to create small-batch, high-quality ‘cue. The restaurant also caters and offers on-site barbecue for private events, with options including ribs, brisket, and pork-belly-burnt ends. Keep up with Mutiny BBQ on social media for an official opening date.
Taco Shop, Cape May Court House (Photo credit Yvonne Yuen)
Tacoshop, Cape May Court House
This Cape May County staple recently relocated to a newer, bigger space in Cape May Court House. The concept of James Beard-nominated Lucas Manteca, everything here is made from scratch—including the slow-roasted brisket and birria-style pork. Beyond the tacos, check out the empanadas and street corn. The spot includes gluten-free and vegan options as well.
The chain known for its massive beverages and extensive beer list has made its way to another spot in New Jersey—East Rutherford’s American Dream mall. Visit to indulge in wings, pizza, and plenty of sandwiches (including their fiery Nashville hot chicken sandwich). Happy hour offers include half-price appetizers and pizza, and $2 off most drinks; and don’t forget to order your beer in an iconic yard glass!
This Italian-American pizzeria is serving up much more than just pizzas. Though their pies are the stars of the show, with toppings including cherrystone clams and Buffalo mozzarella, they offer plenty of other options as well. Appetizers include grilled artichokes and fresh burrata, while entrees include a New York strip, and broccoli rabe and sausage cavatelli. Those dining outside can enjoy a view of Manhattan’s uptown skyline.
Enjoy a meal—and feel good about what you’re eating—at Crumb. With a menu that changes daily, visitors will never run out of options. Crumb incorporates high-quality ingredients, from 24-month aged prosciutto to black truffle sauce. It offers up salads and sandwiches, all of which are served on their house-made bread. Make sure to try their droolworthy cinnamon buns, too. Crumb opens November 6.
This Taiwanese bubble drink chain has made waves in the United States. And now it’s coming to New Jersey. The brand gained popularity for its photo-worthy drinks, which incorporate caramelized brown sugar and fresh mousse cream. (The brown sugar creates a tiger-stripe appearance, giving the brand its name.) Plus, their syrups and tapiocas go through a tedious, eight-hour cooking method that you just need to taste to believe.
Green Way Market is not just another grocery store. The Market prides itself on giving customers the best possible experience, from an in-house coffee and burger bar to cold beers on draft. Green Way carries plenty of high-quality products, and its own Green Way brand offers inexpensive, organic products as well.
This popular Essex County deli continues to grow with its newest Montclair location. This marks the deli’s third storefront after opening a second spot in Morristown, in 2020. Customers can indulge in all of the eatery’s classics, including its Sloppy Joe and Godfadda, which includes chicken cutlet, bacon, mozzarella, and Russian dressing—wow. The deli replaces Watchung Deli on Park Street.
Known for its quality meats served on freshly baked rolls, PrimoHoagies is now in the Rockaway area. The South Philadelphia deli has made its way to North Jersey, with franchise owners Felix Galinsky and Anthony Falange opening their second North Jersey location. (The duo opened a Mahwah location mid-pandemic.) Classic hoagies include the Philly cheesesteak and the corned beef Schwartzie.
Halloween is here and it’s time to face our biggest…beers. Monsters lurk in tap rooms and haunt bars all over the Garden State: big beasts bursting with flavor and a bad attitude. These denizens of the dark might not be hiding under your bed but they are indeed out to get you. They’re there, in the back of the refrigerator, lurking in the dark corner behind those pilsner cans leftover from the summer. Beware.
Bonesaw Brewing
Bonesaw Brewing in Glassboro backs up its sinister name with some downright terrifying beers. Outen the Light is an evil 15.3% ABV Barleywine composed of a half-dozen malts and aged in rye barrels. Lights out indeed. Ominous Synth music should be backed up by the sounds of a Gothic pipe organ. This 13.3% beer was two years in the making. That was time well spent for this Old Ale as it aged in sherry/single malt whiskey casks. If you can slay that demon, another one awaits you. Le Grande Demon (11% ABV) started out as a sunny Belgian Golden Strong Ale flavored with local honey that turned to the dark side in Jamaican and South American Rum barrels.
Devil’s Creek Brewery’s the Dark Side and Holy Mole
Speaking of demons and the dark side, Collingswood is home to Devil’s Creek Brewery where you can scare up a 9.5% ABV Imperial Stout named, appropriately, The Dark Side. For the true Dante’s Inferno experience, Holy Mole is a spicy Belgian strong ale with cocoa and cinnamon, which packs a punch at 9.3% ABV.
13th Child Brewery
13th Child Brewery’s Dizzy Double IPA
The devil appears in many forms. Here in New Jersey we have our very own form of devil. Mother Leeds’ cursed 13th child is said to still haunt the Pine Barrens. In fact, you just might catch a ghastly glimpse of the Jersey Devil after a pint of 13th Child Brewery’s Dizzy Double IPA (10% ABV).
Spellbound Brewing
Spellbound Brewing’s Livingthdream
Sometimes living the dream can be a nightmare. Spellbound Brewing, in Mount Holly, created Living the Dream?, a big, dark, bourbon barrel aged imperial stout that’s rich, dark, and roasty. This dream sequence takes a turn with the addition of Crispy Hippie blend coffee from Small World Coffee in Princeton. At 11.5% ABV it will haunt your dreams, too. And whatwerewethinking? (10% ABV) is a barrel aged barleywine that might have you question your sanity. This deep amber gem with fig and vanilla notes could give you the courage to open that basement door when you know damn well what’s down there.
Departed Soles Brewing
Departed Soles Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle
Let us continue on in the realm of the ethereal. Departed Soles, Jersey City, conjures up Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle. Billed as a Mexican cake barrel aged imperial stout with 12% ABV, Wobble Wobble Wobble might be a more appropriate name. That cute little Corgi pup on the can seems so innocent but I’ve lived with one. They’re devious.
Ghost Hawk Brewing
Ghost Hawk Brewing’s Good Boy Stout
The final stop on our beery trick-or-treat run is Ghost Hawk Brewing, in Clifton. Good Boy Stout is the perfect companion to that pirate costume you’ve been putting together. It’s another big Russian Imperial Stout (12%) but this one is aged in Jamaican rum barrels. Available in bottles at the brewery, a portion of the proceeds from each sale go to help the Brewery’s furry companions at the Clifton Animal Shelter.
Please confront these monsters responsibly and safely this Halloween.
With locations in Jersey City, Union, Elizabeth, Manhattan, and beyond, The Chippery sees most customers start their experience with a standard fish-and-chips order. And for customers looking to customize their orders, the options go above and beyond standard.
In 2013, Shaalan founded The Chippery. Today, the members of his inspired staff have perfected their process for providing scratch-made fish and chips across multiple locations around the Garden State—and beyond.
From Blue Chip to Fish and Chips
Years ago, Shalaan’s father, Adie, had several food trucks at Newark airport, and he says he grew up next to a fish-and-chips place that he really enjoyed, in Fanwood. Still, a career in the restaurant world wasn’t always his plan. As a young adult, he earned a business degree, and got his start in the corporate world, but that would not be his last stop on the career train.
“I thought back to my father’s businesses, and it inspired me to open my own restaurant,” Shaalan said. In 2013, he founded the Chippery. Was it scary? Sure. Nevertheless, he made it happen, saying, “I came into the business and just got better.”
Not Your Average Fish and “Chipps”
Over his years in business, Shaalan and company have refined their recipes and techniques to offer the best possible product. The Chippery’s chefs and cooks make their own batter and signature seasonings.
“We have specific techniques after what we’ve seen over the years,” said Shaalan. “We ventilate every takeout box to make sure the food doesn’t get soggy.” And in the world of fish and chips, avoiding sogginess is serious business.
“There is a certain period that we have to get the fish away from the fryers, so the heat doesn’t make it soggy,” he said, noting that the Chippery’s team members are all in the loop on the right approach. “We’ve had to pick up these little techniques that people don’t often see but will separate us from other restaurants.”
The attention to detail and quality doesn’t stop with the fish, and at the Chippery, you won’t find a standard long French fry either. Instead, when you open your ventilated box, get ready for perfectly puffy fried cottage chips, aka Chipps, which pair well with every menu item.
Secrets to the Sauce
With four different tartar sauces, it’s safe to say that Shaalan has spent serious time perfecting this important component of the fish-and-chips experience. While most fish and chips restaurants have premade tartar sauces, he said, “We make our own from-scratch tartar sauces like honey mustard tartar sauce, cilantro-lime tartar sauce, and chipotle tartar sauce.”
Something for Everyone
As the Chippery evolves and grows as a business, its menu grows right along with it. Customers will notice seafood options ranging from shrimp to calamari and clam strips. And for non-fish fans, or regulars ready to switch it up, Shaalan and company have a great fried chicken option on the menu.
The Chipperys Fried Twinkie
Fried and True
The layers of what’s available at the Chippery are part of what make it a true destination. With combination meals like the Chick Parade, which includes chicken, fish, and chips; the Crab & Go; and the Tsunami, you’ll be talking about the Chippery long after you walk out the door. And the fried fun continues well past the entrees, with desserts like fried Oreos, fried Twix, and fried Twinkies.
Out and About
The Chippery has a location on four wheels that Shaalan uses to cater private events, birthday parties, and corporate events. It’s connected him with some great people, places, and longtime clients. “Where I like spending my time is doing the events—that’s what I love to do,” said Shaalan. “The thing I like about the food truck is that I get to see different parts of NJ and experience new areas.”
The Chippery Food Truck in front of Kean University
With clients like Kean University,Jaguar, and beyond, the Chippery’s catering resume is quite impressive. “[Companies] want a brand that they can boast about,” said Shaalan. “They like what we’re doing, they like the truck and the food, and we’ve become a reliable business partner [to them].”
The business continues to expand beyond its Garden State and Manhattan locations. “We have a ghost kitchen in California and we’re on our way to opening another in Fort Lauderdale, FL,” Shaalan said. These not-so-spooky ghost kitchens have popped up worldwide in recent years, with celebrities like Guy Fieri, DJ Pauly D, and Dwayne Wade getting in on the action.
He also noted a partnership with a company called Combo Kitchen. “They offer our franchise to different people, so you’ll see the Chippery in different locations around the country,” he said.
The famous Chippery “Chipp”Owner Tamer Shaalan at The Chippery’s Union location
“Let’s Do It Right”
Before he founded the Chippery, Shaalan noticed a hole in the market. Being a fish-and-chips lover, he had never found another place in NJ that quite matched the quality of his old go-to spot in Fanwood.
After getting married, Shaalan and his wife, Sandra, moved to Bayonne, NJ, where he took a chance on a small retail location in 2013. “I said, ‘Let’s do it and let’s do it right.’” And that they did.
Shaalan made it a point to use all fresh ingredients and a “from-scratch” approach as he started the restaurant, and this has not changed for the business. He shared the story of the Chippery’s fries, and just like that things came full circle. “When I first opened Bayonne, I was looking everywhere for these fries,” he said. “A day before we opened, a lady came by and said she used to supply the chips for the [place I loved] in Fanwood. It was perfect. And from there it was history.”
The Jersey City Craft Beer Fest returns on October 23 with two sessions: Session 1: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Session 2: 6 p.m. to 9:30 pm.
This event is the perfect opportunity for beer aficionados to enjoy an Oktoberfest-style beer tasting in their own backyard. Come enjoy an eclectic variety of supremely fermented beer and cider in all styles, combining the best elements of a beer garden with the staggering array of choices found only at a Craft Beer Festival.
Use code JERSEYBITES for $20 off each General Admission ticket when you purchase online.
The event takes place in the Morgan Street Lot and is easy to get to. The lot is conveniently located near the Light Rail and PATH trains.
With over 150 craft beers, it’s a great place to discover new beers and speak to brewery representatives. Guests will love the variety of breweries in attendance, including Jersey City’s own Departed Soles, Hoboken’s 902 Brewing, and so many more, along with live music throughout the event. And be sure to grab a bite from Angry Archie’s, Chava’s Empanadas, Mozzarepas, Taste of Poland, and others!
When?
Saturday October 23, 2021
Session 1: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Session 2: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where?
Morgan Street Lot
107 Morgan Street
Jersey City, NJ, 07302
Ticketing Info
General Admission – $50 ($60 at the Door)
Designated Driver: $15
Use code JERSEYBITES for $20 off each General Admission ticket when you purchase online.
All tickets include samples and a souvenir tasting glass.
Don’t miss Jersey City’s largest craft beer event!
Participating Breweries and More
1947 Beer
902 Brewing
All Points West
Chevalier Rouge
Coney Island
Czieg Meister
Departed Soles
Dogfish Head
Drink Noca
Ecanna Wines
Evil genius
Ghost hawk brewing
Hoboken Brewing
Jersey Cyclone
NJ Beer Co.
The Long Drink
Proximo
Ross Brewing Co
Sam Adams
Truly
Two Roots
Weyerbacher
Yale House Terrace
And more!
Food Options
Angry Archie’s
Chava’s Empanadas
Mozzarepas
Taste of Poland
And more!
Get more details and order tickets online today! Use code JERSEYBITES for $20 off each General Admission ticket when you purchase online.
As October begins, we noticed two types of eateries rise to the top of the list of new openings in the Garden State: bakeries and seafood, an unlikely combination on most lists, but one we’re glad to see here! The newest endeavor of former Flaky Tart owner and James Beard Award-nominated baker Matthew Rosenzweig, the Bakers Grove is scheduled to open late in October, in Shrewsbury. The town also welcomes Corbo & Sons Osteria. Meanwhile, Point Pleasant Beach welcomes two new restaurants as well. Read on to learn more about new dining openings in New Jersey, and follow them on social media for updates and further announcements.
Sandpiper Coastal Bar & Grill, Atlantic City
Sandpiper is the Hard Rock Hotel’s newest upscale dining venture. With plates designed for sharing, this oceanside eatery is perfect for a night out with friends. The restaurant offers coastal bites, such as crab stuffed oysters, plus bar favorites, including flatbreads and sliders. The menu changes seasonally.
This juicy seafood company has spots throughout the United States, and its second New Jersey location has just opened. (The eatery first planted NJ roots in Newark.) Red Crab offers seafood boils, where customers can pick their seafood, decide on a seasoning, and finally, choose their spice level. Seafood options to boil include snow crab legs and crawfish. Fried seafood baskets and po’ boy sandwiches are available, too.
With its first location in Mahwah, Sangria brought its own take on Spanish tapas to North Jersey. Now, the restaurant will soon open a second spot on Hoboken’s west side. Crispy potatoes, chorizo, and croquettes are only a few of the “sneak peek” dishes Sangria Hoboken has let its followers in on through social media. Classic empanadas and grilled octopus will also be on the menu. Follow Sangria on Instagram for more details about an opening date.
This small boutique taco shop calls downtown Maplewood home. With everything made in-house, from scratch, offerings include barbacoa short rib, Baja fish, Cajun shrimp, Cuban pork, and even a roasted cauliflower veggie taco. Fan favorites like quesadillas, nachos, and taco bowls are also available, so there’s something for everyone.
PPB Mystic Lobster Roll owners Daryl and Heather Thiry
Mystic Lobster Roll Company, Point Pleasant Beach
Mystic Lobster Rolls can be found in locations throughout the country, but New Jersey’s newest location of the business just opened up shop in Point Pleasant. Each lobster roll is made with a third of a pound of fresh Maine lobster meat, and the varieties are endless—from a Hawaiian roll with mango caviar to a Deep South roll with chipotle mayonnaise. Try their tacos or lobster mac and cheese, too.
Kale Yeah brings on the fun of customizing the perfect salad dish. Visitors start with their base salad (with plenty of leafy options), and add in any toppings they choose, from shredded cheese to seaweed. Plus, each salad includes crunchy options like croutons and wonton strips, as well as protein such as chicken or raw tuna. Top it off with the dressing of your choice.
The Baker’s Grove is the newest endeavor of former Flaky Tart owner and James Beard Award-nominated baker Matthew Rosenzweig. This small-batch bakery will be producing hand-crafted artisanal pastries and desserts, as well as savory treats, which celebrate seasonal and locally-grown ingredients. The bakery hopes to open its doors in late October, though there is not yet an official opening date.
This authentic Italian eatery will be a full-service BYOB dining spot. The menu will feature artisanal pizzas and fresh pasta—and every dish will highlight local produce and ingredients. Corbo & Sons is eager to provide a warm, inviting dining experience to those within the Shrewsbury and Monmouth County communities. The restaurant is expected to open this fall.
Featuring Vietnamese fusion, Bamboo Village offers a menu of Vietnamese-style soups and salads as well as other Asian classics, including General Tso’s chicken and beef chow fun. Bamboo Village will offer special grand opening deals—be on the lookout for an opening date.
This mother-daughter owned bakery brings the best of French pastries to Westfield. Chocolate croissants and lemon meringue cupcakes are only a few of the delicacies customers can enjoy in the shop’s light, fun atmosphere. Don’t miss the adorable pink bicycle that greets visitors outside the shop!
Set the way-back machine to late 2015, when the once-great grocery retailer that served Fanwood filed for bankruptcy and shuttered all of its stores for good. The building was demolished, leaving both a giant hole in the ground and a void in many Fanwood residents’ hearts. I have to admit, although I was always a bit skeeved by my neighborhood supermarket, even I missed its sticky floors, mismatched ceiling tiles, and squeaky refrigerator doors, (cue ’80s monster ballad “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone),” by Cinderella.)
A Big Loss
The loss of our town supermarket hit harder than some of the places our town has said goodbye to. I’ve lived in Fanwood over the past 14 years. In that time, I’ve seen three pizzerias, two banks, and a Chinese restaurant come and go. Even with all of its flaws, our hometown grocery gave Fanwood an identity. And despite a decade-old renaissance, Fanwood often remains in the shadow of Westfield’s showier downtown and the bustling communities of Scotch Plains and Plainfield. But on the grocery front, we were self-sufficient. Senior citizens could walk to the store for milk and eggs. Families didn’t have to pack up the car and trek to Route 22 for Sunday groceries.
Fanwood Larder owner Eva Pfaff
Lifelong Fanwood resident Eva Pfaff also felt the grocery store’s absence, so much so that she walked away from a successful career in Manhattan with an idea to establish Fanwood Larder in her hometown. To be clear, Fanwood Larder is not a 1,500-square-foot cupboard used to store bacon (although how awesome would that be?). It is a 1,500-square-foot storefront packed with household goods, personal care items, and dozens of locally sourced products—all with a variety of dietary needs in mind.
A BRKLYN-Inspired Plan
Paying homage to the hugely successful BRKLYN Larder, Pfaff created Fanwood Larder to fill a need in the community. And that it has done.
Since its inception in 2017, Pfaff has made her brand of culinary celebration and local foods known to Fanwood’s downtown area. Whether it’s a readily available Grab-&-Go kit, like an elegant French chicken with rainbow potatoes and salad, or sandwich bags that you need for your kid’s school lunch, Fanwood once again has an early accessible “closer grocer.”
Options Galore
In addition to the fresh fruits and vegetable, stop by for traditional pierogi from Rahway’s Wheelie Good Pierogi, or an amazing fresh ricotta cheese from Newark’s Antonio Mozzarella Factory. If you have a sweet tooth, grab a bag of Bebops Donuts, out of Peapack Gladstone, and dip them into some wildflower honey from Chester’s Sweet Cheeks Farm.
Fanwood Larder also holds recurring book signings featuring Garden State authors. Be on the lookout for these, as well as other interesting and informative events. Follow the store on Facebook and Instagram for the most up-to-date announcements.
A new epoch in the history of the Diner Capital of the World is about to open in East Newark: the new Tops Diner. New Jersey has never seen anything quite like this, and the novel structure will establish a gold standard and move the Garden State’s diner concept to the next level.
Say farewell to the old Tops Diner
The Update
The old diner is being torn down and will be replaced with a parking lot. Tops will be situated in its same location, at the intersection of Passaic and Central Avenues in East Newark, adjacent to the Clay Street Bridge and a stone’s throw from the Passaic River. Plans call for a “soft” opening of the new diner by the end of September. The hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Takeout orders, representing a significant slice of the diner’s daily business (about 20%), will continue.
The dazzling, world-class kitchen
The first thing motorists will see when they approach the diner is the dark, majestic Tops tower, which crowns the roof, and there’s a rigid, dazzling stainless-steel awning, which wraps around the diner’s façade. The exterior will have large windows, stainless steel panels and accents and neon lights. Space along the perimeter will allow for outdoor patio-style dining, and parking in the front and back of the diner has room for 165 cars. The overall design is a near mirror-image to the architectural concept drawing unveiled by Jimmy Golemis over two years ago.
The 18-stool counter
Inside the Space
The interior design is highlighted by an eye-catching 18-stool counter adorned with black marble, serving a full selection of cocktails, beer, wine and spirits. The spacious, 15,900-square-foot interior with a high ceiling can accommodate a variety of tables and booths, with a 300-customer capacity, and the most artistic feature of the interior can be seen when you look down: an authentic, four-tone terrazzo floor, created by Sicilian artisans. Early on in the project’s planning, Golemis determined the installation of a terrazzo floor was a priority and a nod to Garden State diner tradition. Many vintage, factory-built diners from the 20th century had elegant terrazzo floors—a source of pride for family owned enterprises. Unfortunately, most modern, site-built diners refrain from including terrazzo floors, mainly due to cost considerations.
Expanded seating options
The diner’s most impressive interior appointments will be, for the most part, unseen by customers: a glistening world-class stainless-steel kitchen; a full bakery with multiple ovens for baking artisan bread, pastries, pies, and cheesecake; and separate stations for gourmet coffee and espresso; filtered water; and ice cream. Tops is hardwired with a network of leading-edge information technology resources to manage the business.
The artistic terrazzo floor
A Wide Reach
The Hudson County diner is renowned for its professional, courteous waitstaff, while customers, food critics and restaurant reviewers rave about the diner’s daily specials, breakfasts, salads, fresh seafood, steaks, meatloaf, egg platters, sandwiches, wraps, milk shakes and splendid desserts. Each year Tops is lauded by national and regional magazine “best diner” surveys, “favorite diner” polls by foodie websites, statewide news coverage, and a consensus of diner fans.
How widespread is the acclaim for Tops as a go-to place for Jersey patrons and travelers? The evidence is clear from the diner’s parking lot on any given day: half the cars have license plates from out of state. The Golemis family has used this well-earned popularity as a foundation to create something spectacular, even as the diner remains true to New Jersey’s diner culture and spirit.
“Tops Never Stops” neon sign
“A diner is a place for people to relax, meet friends, enjoy good food, and feel comfortable,” Jimmy Golemis declared. “That was the atmosphere at the old diner, and it will be the atmosphere at the new Tops. We’ll continue to be a beacon for this neighborhood.”
The 2019 architectural concept drawing
The Diner Scene in the Garden State
As previously reported, the Garden State’s diner circuit has undergone a spontaneous “season of renewal” over the past three years, with major capital investments to redesign and modernize so many of these beloved roadside attractions. Tops puts an exclamation point on this trend. In terms of a historical perspective, going back to the 1950s, New Jersey has seen its share of lavish, large-scale diners with expanded seating capacities, including the Circle Diner, on the Route 31/202 Flemington Circle; the original Olga’s Diner, in Marlton; the original Ocean Bay Diner, in Point Pleasant; Mastoris Diner in Bordentown; the Tick Tock Diner, in Clifton; Geets Diner, in Williamstown; and the Point Diner, in Somers Point.
Stove top cuisine, 2019
The Golemis family in November 2019 revealed plans to Jersey Bites for the new diner, replacing the familiar silver and blue edifice that evolved as a landmark for diner lovers throughout New Jersey, and beyond.
Glorious strawberry cheesecake
This blogger’s 2019 book, Stories from New Jersey Diners—Monuments to Community, published by The History Press, reported that the history of Tops goes back to 1938 when a man named Jess P. Persson (1884-1946) operated Tops Grill at the same location of today’s diner. It’s likely that prior to 1938, Persson also owned a mobile lunch wagon at or near this same site. The Golemis family purchased Tops in 1972 and has overseen several major expansions and remodeling projects, building a reputation as premier eatery. The new Tops Diner is the crowning achievement to that tradition.
The Pilgrim Diner in Cedar Grove is back in business, reclaiming its spot as an eatery on the roadmap of the Diner Capital of the World. The diner, shuttered for two years, welcomed customers with a “soft” opening on August 31.
Pilgrim Diner: back in business
Anticipation of the diner’s reopening began in January, with outward signs that the structure was undergoing renovations. The Gikas family retains ownership of the property and the building, having launched the business in 1965. The Mark Twain Diner’s management team, located in Union, is in charge of the diner’s daily operations.
Back at It
This reporter and his spouse had a wonderful breakfast at the diner on a recent Friday morning. I enjoyed my go-to favorite diner dish: eggs over easy with home fries and well-done corned beef hash. The hash was an extra tasty treat that made me smile, while “the wife” ordered a stack of pancakes, which were most impressive. I grabbed a bite when she wasn’t looking—light, well cooked, and delicious.
The menu, as a diner fan would expect, has a full assortment of generous egg platters, sandwiches, wraps, appetizers, nachos; an eye-catching dessert case on display at the main entrance, loaded with pies and cakes; along with beef, chicken, and seafood dishes as well as specials of the day.
Pilgrim Diner Dessert Case
The diner’s appearance, inside and out, is polished, neat and clean, with a spacious interior accommodating many booths and tables. Yes, there is a counter with individual seating (as promised). And yes, they have an extensive breakfast menu—two important features that reflect the true spirit of a Jersey diner.
Eggs over easy with corned beef hash
The service on this Friday morning was efficient; the atmosphere was friendly and informal. As we sat in the diner, many patrons walked through the vestibule, a sign that the Pilgrim’s reopening is circulating via word of mouth. The Essex County diner benefits from its location, overlooking a stretch of Route 23/Pompton Avenue, and provides motorists with a large parking lot.
Pilgrim Diner’s pancake stack
A Bit of History
The Manno Dining Car Company of Fairfield built the original Pilgrim Diner, which opened in 1965. In the late 1970s the eatery changed its look with a new diner produced by the Fodero Dining Car Company of Bloomfield—a Mediterranean-style design with a tile roof, field stone façade, and large arched windows. Over the last 20 years, the diner has undergone various expansions and renovations. (Manno and Fodero ceased their diner manufacturing operations 40 years ago.)
Gents to the left; ladies to the right
Under a previous management team, the Pilgrim Diner closed in the late spring/early summer of 2019. Earlier this year Jersey Bites reported the diner was being renovated with plans to reopen.
Pilgrim Diner under construction January 2021
Updated Look
The Pilgrim Diner’s rebirth is welcome news for the Garden State diner circuit. Last year many diners, cafes, and restaurants throughout New Jersey were hard hit due to lockdowns and restrictions, with many businesses ultimately closing. On a more positive track, a number of Jersey diners during the last three years have made significant capital investments to redesign and modernize their interiors and exteriors—creating a spontaneous “season of renewal” for these beloved roadside attractions.
Manno Pilgrim Diner, circa 1965. Photo courtesy of Chris Gikas.
The renewal list throughout the state includes Tops Diner in East Newark; the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton; the Vincentown and the Red Lion diners, both in Southampton Township; Paul’s Diner in Mountain Lakes; the Hawthorne Diner (formerly the Triangle Diner) in Hawthorne; Geets Diner in Williamstown; and the Sit ‘n Chat Diner (formerly the Sussex Queen Diner) in Wantage.
Fodero-Built Pilgrim Diner, circa 1980. Photo courtesy of Bobby Cole.
Much to the delight of its customers, the Pilgrim Diner has gained a place on that season-of-renewal list. Welcome back.
Pilgrim Diner
82 Pompton Ave. (Route 23)
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
973-239-2200 Facebook
Monday marked more than a ribbon-cutting; it felt like opening night.
With a sense of anticipation usually reserved for a red carpet premiere, Paper Mill...
