“When asked to recall his decision, five years ago, to leave Delhi, India, for a career in the United States, Vipul Gupta, offers a warm smile. His long-distance career move led to his current role as corporate chef for the Mehtani Group, which owns several restaurants, including Ming, in Edison. He’s culinary director of Ming, where he has established a pan-Asian culinary philosophy and menu.”

“It was Friday the 13th and this reporter had stumbled into the vintage Blairstown Diner. A nice chap named Brian Emenheiser, of Allentown, was the full-costumed re-enactor portraying Jason Voorhees, the murderous, gruesome fiend from the Friday the 13th movie franchise…”

“The Garden State was once the world’s leading manufacturer of sleek and shiny diners. Those days are over—but Jersey remains the diner capital of the world…”

“In a world of Waze-enabled driving, diners are still physical landmarks and signposts on the landscape of our state — that, despite declining numbers, still help give us our bearings. Although not invented here, we long ago grabbed “Diner Capital of the World” status and have not relinquished the belt since. “

“On a Sunday evening last month, my cell phone chimed at 8:37. It was my good buddy and longtime friend Patrick. There was a sense of urgency in his voice. He had a craving for chili dogs. It sounded serious. ‘Alright Patrick,’ I said, speaking in a measured, reassuring tone. ‘Listen carefully. Tomorrow morning I’ll meet you at Johnny Prince’s Bayway Diner, in Linden. Don’t worry. Everything will be OK.’ And so it was. “

“Everyone—yes, everyone—knows that diners are a New Jersey staple. We didn’t get the gracious moniker for “Diner capital in the world” for nothing, and with a slew of books keeping tabs on the history, nobody captures it better than Nutley native, Michael C. Gabriele, with his newest book, The History of Diners In New Jersey from The History Press. With Gabriele’s journalistic view of the past and present of casual dining, and his insightful personal journeys he paved within his findings—he offers readers a hungry awakening of their beloved eateries.”

“Deep in the sacred Pine Barrens, traveling south on Route 206, wayfarers can experience numerous roadside attractions. There are the lush, pastoral woodlands; colorful farm stands selling Jersey tomatoes, corn, peaches and blueberries. And then you arrive in “the place of many deer,” the translation of the Native American word for the village known as Shamong, New Jersey. It’s where intrepid travelers can feast at the Shamong Diner.”

“Renowned as a top-rated diner in various polls and surveys, the dazzling East Newark diner, which had a “soft opening” last October, is the culmination of a $10 million, four-year project that involved demolishing the “old” Tops, building the new structure, and adding expanded parking areas.”

“It was a mild, gray, late-December (2015) morning. Corporate jets were landing in nearby Teterboro Airport, knifing their way through the fog. Tractor trailers were highballing along Route 17, north and south. The sound of a commuter train horn, running along the Pascack Valley Line, echoed in the distance. Time for breakfast at the Bendix Diner.”

“Walking into Keyport’s Broad Street Diner on a Saturday afternoon in April, there were familiar, reassuring sights, sounds, and aromas that made concerns from the public health crisis melt away. For more than 14 months, New Jersey diners, cafes, and restaurants, dealing with lockdowns from the pandemic, have struggled to stay afloat. Some eateries have found ways to survive; others have not.”

“During the holiday season, the best blessings to count are life’s simple pleasures, such as the good fortune to have a meal with a friend at a New Jersey diner. The Sunday before Thanksgiving the phone rang at 9:05 a.m. and I was off to the Summit Diner to have brunch with my buddy Les Cooper.”

”In one corner, a group of children is gathered, playing with toys and games while their parents drink coffee and eat breakfast. The sounds of jazz recordings float through the room as gentle background music. Two large picture windows frame the sights and sounds of pedestrians and cars, along with reflected sunlight. It’s just another day at the Montclair Diner, the friendly little old/new eatery located on Valley Road in Montclair.“

“Estime’s Café, which opened in September 2018, is nestled among a small group of shops on Inman Avenue, operated by brothers Duke and Dummon Estime. The menu items are inspired by their Haitian culinary roots, highlighted with vibrant Caribbean spices.”

“It was a brisk Thursday evening as an energetic crowd arrived at Cedar Bean’s Coffee Joint in Cedar Grove: a hip, eclectic gathering of guitar players, artists, bohemian types, a punk rocker or two, parents and their kids, dedicated java drinkers, and a gregarious MC named Natty Bumpercar, who is also a local parent and stand-up comedian. The Caffeinated Open Mic night featured an impressive roster of aspiring singer/songwriters.”

“In a career that spans over a half century, which includes receiving the prestigious 2009 James Beard Foundation Award and garnering thousands of loyal customers, Smith has distinguished himself as the gold standard, the diner man’s diner man, the best in the business in the diner capital of the world.”