| #ffffff;" /> | | | | entrance. The variety of food offered and the size of |
| The Jersey Diner is going the way of many traditional | | | | the menu is gigantic. They serve up almost all of the |
| institutions with changes to keep pace with the times. If | | | | basic traditional meal items from the usual breakfast |
| you have not yet eaten at a Jersey diner, do it now | | | | pancakes, eggs, waffles, etc., to sandwiches, burgers, |
| before it becomes a lost opportunity. | | | | fries, and traditional American hot dishes and soups. |
| New Jersey, often referred to as the "diner capital of | | | | Favorite New Jersey Diners |
| the world", with more than 500 diners, it has the largest | | | | Elgin Dinner |
| concentration of diners in the United States. | | | | 2621 Mt. Ephraim Ave. Camden |
| For a true New Jersey experience, eating at a diner is | | | | A landmark in South Jersey for more than 45 years. |
| a must. They have a beloved "Joizy" ambiance, family | | | | This 50's style diner has the "Joizy" ambiance with |
| friendly, in-expensive, offer a huge variety of food, and | | | | very good food and service. It's one of the few diners |
| are usually open when other eateries are closed. | | | | that are still open 24 hours a day |
| The Jersey Diner is Changing | | | | Mastoris |
| The Jersey diner ranges from the shiny chrome rail-like | | | | Routes 130 & 206 |
| cars with neon signs and lighting to the more modern | | | | Bordentown |
| stone-walled structures that are replacing the rail-like | | | | Mastoris is a very popular and huge diner with many |
| car, brightly lit buildings. Many of the original diners were | | | | dining rooms. During normal dining hours, a wait is not |
| long and narrow, one room eateries with a long | | | | uncommon. While many of the rooms do not resemble |
| counter and booths with juke boxes on the tables. | | | | a diner, there is one room that looks like a traditional |
| Today they are giving way to multi-room structures | | | | diner with booths opposite a counter with stools. |
| with multiple dining areas with some large enough to | | | | Before all meals, including breakfasts, they serve |
| host a private party or banquet. | | | | cheese bread and cinnamon bread, one small loaf per |
| The ownership of diners is also undergoing change. | | | | person. These are soft, warm white bread-based |
| Anyone who has eaten in a diner associates the | | | | loaves filled with either a cinnamon-sugar filling of Italian |
| ownership with first generation Greek immigrants. | | | | cheesecake-like filling. |
| Today, many of the children of the Greek immigrant | | | | Summit Diner |
| diner owners have been through college and have | | | | 1 Union Place |
| become non-restaurant professionals and are not | | | | Summit |
| interested in the long workdays and limited vacations. | | | | The atmosphere alone is worth coming for. It's an old |
| With this, the Greek owners with no children to pass | | | | time railroad car diner, with limited seating, loud, and |
| their business to, are selling out to other immigrants, | | | | packed. |
| mostly Asian, who are willing to endure the sacrifices | | | | The diner has not been renovated probably since it |
| of time. | | | | went into business - the ceiling looks like it's crusted |
| Another change in the traditional diner is the hours of | | | | over with years of cooking grease, the tiled floor is |
| operation. | | | | vintage, wood paneled walls. It's such a throwback. |
| In the past many diners in New Jersey were open 24 | | | | It's the kind of diner you love to hate. It has wood |
| hours a day and now there are probably no more than | | | | paneled walls, eight booths and 20 stools. |
| a dozen diners in NJ open 24 hours a day. | | | | Lines are now formed outside the diner door especially |
| The Definition of the Jersey Diner | | | | on Saturdays. They are noted for their sliced ham, |
| There is considerable debate on what the definition of | | | | baked on the premises. |
| a diner is. | | | | White Rose |
| The most popular view of the definition of a diner is a | | | | 1301 East Elizabeth Avenue |
| place where you can get cheap eats, with a very | | | | Linden |
| large menu, and open 7 days a week for breakfast, | | | | White Rose's distinctive bands of bright white and |
| lunch, and dinner. They also have at least one room | | | | gleaming chrome can't be missed. It sits along a Linden |
| with a long counter and booths. Refrigerated glass | | | | street lined with small industry. |
| displays with dessert trays are usually located at the | | | | |