New Jersey Diners

Cakebread Cellars Wine Dinner at the Peacock Inn

Chef Manuel Perez will be serving a special six-course menu paired with the Cakebread wines. These wines will all be available for purchase, even though some are highly allocated and not typically available for purchase.

Jefferson Diner – Solid American Food with a Greek Twist – Neat ...

Even prior to moving to New Jersey, the diner capital of the USA, from South Florida, I had been a fan of diners.  Granted, there were just a couple ‘real’ diners in the Ft Lauderdale area, but I always recognized the appeal of homey, comfort food in a relaxed atmosphere.

After arriving in New Jersey, and to my delight, I saw diners on nearly every street corner.  New Jersey is the state with the greatest number of diners with over 350 “greasy spoons” from Port Jarvis to Cape May.

Although I have enjoyed disco fries, gyros and pancakes at many diners in Northern New Jersey, my favorite is Jefferson Diner in Lake Hopatcong.  As with many diners in the Garden State, Jefferson Diner is owned by a family of Greek ancestry.  The Seretis family opened its dining establishment in 1985 and through the years, the popular spot has garnered significant media attention.  Jefferson Diner has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with host Guy Fieri and Unwrapped with Marc Summers ( watch episodes here ).

The meal I enjoy the most at Jefferson Diner is breakfast.  The menu is substantial and the standard fares are peppered with Greek favorites.  There are 30 kinds of omelets ($5.29 – $10.99) featured on the menu ranging from a Greek Omelet with Feta and tomatoes ($7.99) to a Lox and Onion Omelet ($10.99).  There are short and full stacks of both light and fluffy buttermilk pancakes ($3.99 – $7.89) and French toasts ($3.69 – $7.79).  There are also a variety of waffles and breakfast sandwiches to please any palate.

At our table, a typical breakfast at Jefferson Diner consists of homemade oatmeal with brown sugar ($3.39), cheesy scrambled eggs with crispy corned beef hash ($8.59), a gyro platter ($9.99) and lobster bisque.  Did I say lobster bisque?  Yes!  Soup comes with the gyro platter, so why not go for the unpredictable and start the day with a bit of crustacean?  The oatmeal is creamy and comforting and exactly as it should be.  The eggs and corned beef hash come with enough hash browns to feed the whole family and the gyro platter (chicken or beef) features crisp greens, ultra fresh tomatoes and Tzatziki, a Greek yogurt, cucumber, mint and garlic sauce.

Even though the diner can accommodate over 250 patrons, and often does, the Seretis family ensures each guest is warmly greeted and attentively taken care of during his/her meal.

Tip: If you go to Jefferson Diner for lunch or dinner, do not miss the Big Fat Greek Section of the menu!

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