JerseyDevil
07-01-2007, 10:57 AM
I wanted people's ideas on what their favorite diner is and what their idea of the ideal diner is. To me it's the traditional 50's style. Traditional menu, traditional seating, traditional service. I found one of those right behind where I live - Dover Diner on Rt 166 right off of Rt 37 in Toms River.
Too many diners in New Jersey have started remodeling and are becoming just restaurants, not diners in a true sense.
Dover Diner is one of the long narrow diners. Only one row of booths and of course the bar stool seating area. I think it only has about 8 - 10 booths. They do have some southern specialties which I was surprised at. These are two southern dishes I like - Country Fried Steak and Biscuits and Gravy. I ended up having the Biscuits and Gravy because I haven't had it since I moved from Indiana. Not as good as out there, but it wasn't bad. The main thing was that there weren't any "big" chunks of sausage. They were basically flakes of sausage. It had a good sausage taste and there was basically a lot in there, but it was all just small pieces. I have to get their hamburger - that's the TRUE sign of a good diner. I don't want a frigging hamburger with a kaiser bum. I want a traditional AMERICAN hamburger and I think I can get that at Dover Diner! My cousin Steve who lives in Beachwood, had pancakes, sausage and bacon. It seemed good, but I'm not a traditional breakfast food person - hence why I liked that they had Biscuits and Gravy.
The last couple of years I've been to the Princetonian in Princeton, the Americana in West Windsor and then the Dover Diner in Toms River. If you want the REAL Diner experience - go to Dover Diner. if you're looking for a restaurant - such as an IHop experience, go to the others. I prefer the TRUE Diner experience.
BTW - there is a remodeled diner that is just reopened here. The Crystal Diner - it's just a block away from the Dover Diner on the corner of 166 & 37. I want to try it, but I think it's going to be just like the Princetonian & The Americana. I have a feeling it's more restaurant than diner.
Too many diners in New Jersey have started remodeling and are becoming just restaurants, not diners in a true sense.
Dover Diner is one of the long narrow diners. Only one row of booths and of course the bar stool seating area. I think it only has about 8 - 10 booths. They do have some southern specialties which I was surprised at. These are two southern dishes I like - Country Fried Steak and Biscuits and Gravy. I ended up having the Biscuits and Gravy because I haven't had it since I moved from Indiana. Not as good as out there, but it wasn't bad. The main thing was that there weren't any "big" chunks of sausage. They were basically flakes of sausage. It had a good sausage taste and there was basically a lot in there, but it was all just small pieces. I have to get their hamburger - that's the TRUE sign of a good diner. I don't want a frigging hamburger with a kaiser bum. I want a traditional AMERICAN hamburger and I think I can get that at Dover Diner! My cousin Steve who lives in Beachwood, had pancakes, sausage and bacon. It seemed good, but I'm not a traditional breakfast food person - hence why I liked that they had Biscuits and Gravy.
The last couple of years I've been to the Princetonian in Princeton, the Americana in West Windsor and then the Dover Diner in Toms River. If you want the REAL Diner experience - go to Dover Diner. if you're looking for a restaurant - such as an IHop experience, go to the others. I prefer the TRUE Diner experience.
BTW - there is a remodeled diner that is just reopened here. The Crystal Diner - it's just a block away from the Dover Diner on the corner of 166 & 37. I want to try it, but I think it's going to be just like the Princetonian & The Americana. I have a feeling it's more restaurant than diner.