The writer accepted a complimentary meal at the diner.
Maybe it’s my imagination, but in recent months it seems like there are optimistic developments in New Jersey’s “diner downturn.” As reported in Jersey Bites, the vintage Roadside Diner in Wall Township reopened in July 2025 under new ownership. Last November, Alps Diner in Wayne celebrated its fifth anniversary.
The Tick Tock Diner in Clifton has extended its Friday and Saturday hours to midnight. The family-run New West Orange Diner recently opened to rave reviews. The parking lots of the Pompton Queen Diner in Pompton Plains and Tops Diner in East Newark are always full. There’s new ownership at the Park West Diner in Little Falls and the OB Diner in Point Pleasant Beach. Business is strong and steady at the Silver Coin Diner in Hammonton, Olgas Diner in Marlton, the Broad Street Diner in Keyport, and the Vincentown Diner in Southampton Township. The Bendix Diner in Hasbrouck Heights is being rebuilt.
Do these examples add up to only a small sample size? Well, maybe, but many positive business trends begin with a small sample size. This looks like the start of a “rebalancing” for the Garden State’s beloved diner circuit (over 450 establishments)—still recovering from the black hole of Covid-19, which led to the closure of many eateries.
Ridge Diner Reopens with a Fresh Look and Expanded Space
One of the strongest signs of recovery can be found in the Bergen County town of Park Ridge, where the Ridge Diner has expanded. The bigger Ridge Diner reopened on December 19, 2025, after a two-month closure to complete construction. The diner boosted its capacity by 30 seats, doubled the size of its kitchen and basement storage area, and redesigned its interior with a higher ceiling and a cozy, most impressive open-floor plan. And yes, there’s still a counter.
The brothers Bob and Chris Meidanis, interviewed on the first day of April—as numerous lunch patrons were arriving—are proud and pleased with the results of the Ridge Diner’s new look. The brothers confessed that plans to expand the diner were put in place several years ago, after receiving all the necessary construction approvals from the town. But then the pandemic hit, and they were forced to wait and go into survival mode. Nevertheless, they persevered.
From 1972 to Today, A Diner Built to Last
“The diner hadn’t been renovated in over 16 years,” Bob said. “We knew it was time. A diner absorbs lots of wear and tear, and it takes its toll.” He’s also aware that there is a lot of competition from attractive places to eat in the affluent towns of northern Bergen County. “If you want to stay around as a business, you have to modernize and adapt.”
The Ridge Diner has been around since 1972, when it was founded by Bob and Chris’ father, Mike, and their uncle, George. The structure underwent renovations in 1983, 1994, and 2009. The brothers have assumed stewardship of the diner’s operations, while 80-year-old Mike still stops in almost every day. “We grew up in the business,” Bob said of himself and his brother Chris. “We know our customers, and we want to be present. We want to keep that warm, homey atmosphere.”
A Well-Rounded Menu Built for Regulars
This reporter enjoyed a brunch of a fresh waffle topped with strawberries and bananas. Delicious. The coffee was excellent and, as an extra treat, I ordered an espresso “mock-tini,” a cocktail glass filled with espresso, heavy cream, vanilla syrup, cinnamon, and cocoa powder, all topped with espresso beans; well-made, very classy, and very delicious. The fabulous dessert display case was more than tempting, so I ordered a cute mini tiramisu to go.
Customers throughout the diner were happy to have their dishes photographed, so I snapped shots of an egg-and-cheese omelet with Taylor Ham and a Cobb salad. A stroll through the kitchen revealed a beautiful veggie pizza and pancakes on the flat-top grill, waiting to be flipped.
Chris said his favorite dish was the chicken parmesan platter, adding that customers are big fans of the diner’s homemade honey mustard sauce. “Some people come in and order a container of honey mustard to go.”
The Ridge Diner’s daily menu features eggs, crepes, pancakes, French toast, and waffles for breakfast; salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and soup for lunch; and seafood, steaks, chicken, and pasta for supper.
And, in Park Ridge, it was heartwarming to see an autographed photograph inside the diner of Emmy Award-winning actor James Gandolfini (1961-2013), who played the lead role of crime boss Tony Soprano in the acclaimed HBO crime drama series “The Sopranos.” A hometown hero and cultural icon of New Jersey, Gandolfini grew up in Park Ridge and graduated from Park Ridge High School in 1979.
In a state that takes its diners seriously, Ridge Diner feels like exactly what it should be, familiar, reliable, and just updated enough to keep pace. It is the kind of place where regulars return, new customers settle in quickly, and the coffee keeps coming.
The Ridge Diner
125 Kinderkamack Road
Park Ridge, NJ 07656
Website
(201) 391-4242
