46 Best Diners near Elizabeth

“OMG THE MEATLOAF WITH MASHED POTATO'S AND GRAVY WITH BREAD AND BUTTER TO DIP IN THE GRAVY. 😋. AND THE FISH CRISPY FRIED FISH WITH MACARONI AND CHEESE. 😋 😋 😋“

“My breakfast was great this morning.“

“Delicious food and authentic NJ diner experience at Seaport Diner!! I got the Reuben sandwich with fries, it was huge and had amazing flavor - the corned beef was tender, the cheese melty, rye bread was toasty, and the sauerkraut with Russian dressing made it perfect. Plus it was open face, a really unique touch, served with crunchy pickles, sauerkraut and yummy fries. A feast for sure! My family for sunny side eggs (perfectly cooked) with crispy bacon and pancakes. They were super happy, said it was delicious. The location is perfect for a meal near Newark airport. The service was great, food was served nice and hot, place was clean. And you get that cool New Jersey diner vibe with leather booths and cool bar seating. I definitely recommend Seaport Diner - we will be back!!“

“Haven’t had a bad meal yet!“

“The food is amazing my family and I love it“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Must-Visit Gem—Years of Great Memories and Consistency

I’ve been coming to Tops Diner since 2011, back when it was still in the old building. Over the years, it’s grown and evolved, but the heart of what makes it special has always remained the same. Tonight, I returned again with my family to celebrate a birthday dinner and once again, it did not disappoint.

Right from the moment we walked in, I felt that familiar buzz of energy. Tops Diner is always alive and moving, yet warm and inviting. It truly earns its title as the No. 1 diner in New Jersey.

As usual, I ordered Cuban coffee—a personal favorite. Being part Cuban myself, I appreciate the richness and quality of it here. It’s something I treat myself to every time I visit. And of course, I couldn’t pass up my go-to dish: the Pasta Bolognese. This meal has become a tradition for me—comforting, flavorful and always perfectly prepared.

What stood out this visit was the beautiful presentation of all the dishes. My relatives ordered a mix of different entrees and I took a moment to really admire the design and artistry that went into each plate. As someone who appreciates the small details—especially from a diner—this matters. It’s rare and refreshing to see a place care this much about aesthetics without losing the generous, down-to-earth portions diners are known for.

The bathrooms were spotless, which I always take as a reflection of a place’s deeper standards. The wait staff was professional, respectful and very present. Not once did I see anyone on their phones or distracted—every staff member was alert, attentive and working with each other to keep things flowing smoothly. That kind of team energy is rare and deserves serious credit.

Now, I always give honest feedback and my only very minor critique was that I noticed the manager (who was incredibly sweet and attentive, I must say) had his shirt untucked and pants riding a little low, which felt slightly unprofessional for a place of such high standard. That said, it didn’t take away from the overall excellence of the evening—just something to note as a small room-for-improvement detail.

The appetizers were delicious, the energy was vibrant and as always, the food spoke for itself. Tops Diner is one of those must-visit spots—not just for locals, but for anyone coming in from out of state. It’s absolutely on my list of “Hot Spots” to hit when I’m back in NJ.

There may not have been birthday singing (which was totally fine by us!), but there was a shared sense of joy, celebration and satisfaction from every table around us.

With that, I stand by this review with pride: a full 5 stars. The service, food, environment and consistency through the years continue to earn it.

Can’t wait to return again.
Much love and gratitude to the Tops Diner team!“

“Very clean and well-kept inside, despite the slightly ragged condition outside. Very reasonably priced, good diner food.“

“Great service every time I’ve been there“

“What a great and convenient place to have lunch or breakfast. I truly enjoy the sandwiches and soups. My favorite is beef barley on Tuesdays. Chicken noodle fills the bill any day with different pastas to satisfy your palate. Friendly service and just a great place to eat. Come and enjoy your meal, it will truly be worth it.!!!“

“I can't say enough good things. Food was awesome and hot, service was exceptional... ate there because of Facebook posts! Definitely Not Disappointed!“

“Great chili dogs and fries from The Prince of Bayway!“

“Such a great place with a wonderful atmosphere and great food we love it 😊“

“Found Legends because we were coming from out of state to Jets game and taking local train to stadium from Secaucus. Very friendly staff and terrific home fries!“

“Best waitresses around! Great Greek burger Gyros excellent Great fries Eggs fast and perfect The cooks can make anything And make it perfect!! Dessert are the best around!! Cakes are to die for“

“It’s always a great little stop . Today I only had time for a hot chocolate ☕️ and homemade delicious blueberry 🫐 muffin .
Last month I had the veggie burger and fries . Delicious
Thank you

Parking: The bakery across the street is delicious 😋 also .“

“Good breakfast friendly staff“

“We went tonight, 1/11/23 after work at around 4:30 and we’re very pleased not only with our food, but our waitress was great! She listened to everything we wanted and we got everything exactly how we wanted it….she was very good! Thank you to Martha for excellent service…..👍“

“Got me a chicken bacon ranch wrap from this little joint today. Phenomenal food, phenomenal atmosphere. With the diner recently shut down nearby, this is the spot to take it’s place. Tommy is an amazing guy, and the staff is full of amazing people with amazing service. Definitely check this place out“

“The place has gone down hill,the waiter look like a homeless person!!! I will never go back and the food was trouble“

“Generous amount of food. I ordered Turkey, which is one of the dishes I rate diners on. Compared to other diners, this is a bit above average. However, even with loads of gravy (they gave me a bowl full) and with a mild stuffing, I felt it was a little bland. Good for people on a low-salt diet? I needed to add a lot of pepper and some salt. I still would have liked a more savory taste. Nevertheless, the portion was big and the "side salad" was more like a mini salad entree. Take a look at the pictures. Wait staff was very nice. Lots of people there on a Sunday morning, so you may have to wait. Price is slightly high, but then everything is compared to a few years ago. BUT I'd rather pay more for this kind of quality. I will go back when I am in the area again.“

“The food and the service. Always good!“

“Ate there yesterday mid-afternoon. Good and service was superior. Attention to detail about our order, pleasant helpful staff and courteous host made our visit even more enjoyable. We were stuffed from our meal, but had to try their tempting desserts. Delicious. Highly recommend this long standing establishment.“

“I am so happy to have a place like this in my area. Small, friendly, comfortable and welcoming and the food is great. Proud to say I am a regular.“

“Food was good, we had a mix of lunch items and breakfast. Service was outstanding! There were some regulars that came in and out and they treated them all like family. So kind. And we felt just as taken care of (they just didn't know our names or favorite items). They were also very fast getting the food out. Great stop if you're in the area!“

“We were in the area and stopped for a late lunch at the Park Wood Diner. I felt like a burger and ordered the blue burger supreme. Was not impressed as the burger was well done and not by order of medium. The burger itself was not seasoned so a bit disappointing. Decided to have dessert and ordered a slice of plain cheesecake and it was delicious. I would recommend it highly. My wife ordered the chocolate cream pie which was also delicious.“

“Mike's Diner is my most favorite restaurant to eat at; every once in a while. They have lots of food options, and can accommodate those with dietary restrictions. All of which are clearly made with care and high quality ingredients! The prices of each meal are reasonable. Most are around $20 per person, despite the big portion sizes and high quality cooking.

I've come here a few times before going to the YMCA, and I've mainly ordered the breakfast meals. And, sometimes I come for lunch. I rarely write reviews for businesses and restaurants, but Mike's Diner is such a great restaurant!

Dietary restrictions: They can remove certain ingredients if necessary.

Kid-friendliness: It's for everyone!“

“The food is always amazing and the services is always the best ! Great food at great prices“

“Saw this place for years and finally went in just recently. Nice place, bigger than I thought. The food portions are very big as well. Breakfast food was excellent. Very good pancakes. Crispy bacon. Very good coffee too. It's not inexpensive, but I guess nothing is these days. Thanks Obama.“

“Wow a 5 star diner.Amazing food and great service.My favorite diner in NJ.“

“I don’t know what I would do without George and his staff. Anyone who says they are rude and they waited 45 minutes for food, obviously has never been to a local establishment where everything is cooked to order. It’s not McDonald’s. I literally eat here between 4 and 6 times a week. Sometimes alone, sometimes with my family. I know everyone by name and they know mine. They even sit and have conversations with me if it’s not busy! This place is a true gem, which is why you might wait to sit on a weekend or at dinner time. There is nowhere better. Just the atmosphere makes me not want to leave every time I’m there. And again, George, the owner, and his staff are the most dedicated, friendly, and loyal people around!“

“Fast and courteous service. Delicious food and fairly priced.“

“Growing up in Staten Island, I spent a lot of my highschool and college years here with friends always getting food .. since moving to the city I haven’t had a chance to go but I’m
Making a visit again very soon to catch up with old friends ..“

“Today I had a Mediterranean Wrap... ooo it was so good! Eggs with black olives, feta & tomatoes. The waiter is always coming around with coffee & tea refills & the waitress we had was super friendly! Delicious wrap, piping hot and over-stuffed!“

“The Gyro platter is delicious!“

“Any place you can go where the food is really good. The service is great, they are very attentive. And everyone that is there is vibing, you can sit down in the dining room or in the front. I've been there twice in both times we're good times. Breakfast lunch or dinner...This is my spot“

“Every time I come here the food is great...Thanks Rich.“

“Always fresh coffee and good food. Check out: NYCRhythm.com. Advertise on Internet Radio. Karpathos will hear your commercials too.“

“Food is always great and on time“

“Good place to eat, located on the main street in the city of Maplewood. Outside there are several tables and chairs to sit in the summer. The atmosphere is good and the service too. The food served is satisfactory to the customer's taste.“

“food was delicious 😋 will come back again“

“My children and I were on a stop over in New Jersey recently, making our way back from a holiday in South Africa, when we needed breakfast as we tried to adjust to the time change. Central Restaurant was a little bit of a drive from our airport hotel (about 5 miles), but they were open at 6:00 am and the online menu showed promise. The restaurant is a neighborhood greasy spoon, with all the cast of characters you would expect of such a place. The owners are Greek transplants, the clientele is mostly the black neighbors who live nearby, a line up of police officers and construction workers waiting for to-go orders, and travelers like us who may or may not know what they are in for. I saw grits on the menu which told me everything I needed to know about this place. They did not disappoint. First thing - to the restroom. If it’s clean you know the kitchen will be in order also. It was tiny, but clean and smelled good. My son ordered the Denver omelet with grits, I ordered fish and grits, and my daughter ordered the French toast breakfast with a side of grits. The grits were on point - creamy with that pat of butter pooling on the top. The French toast was just the right amount of crunchy (on the edges) and tender with a tiny bit more cinnamon for enhanced flavor. The Denver omelet was well cooked with just a bit of browning on top, but a tender and medium soft interior. The fish was unexpected as it had a coating and it was fried. But, the exterior was crunchy with a flaky tender flesh interior. I can’t speak to the rest of the menu, but our orders were all A-plus calibre for a neighborhood greasy spoon. If you like this kind of atmosphere and breakfast food, don’t miss out if you happen to be in town!“

“This place is amazing. The food is great and they treat you like family. The cook knows his customers so well he can tell which order goes with who. It's a family-owned business. The real boss is Mamá. Funniest lady ever. You will end up calling her "Mom" because she really makes you feel at home.“

“We always Enjoy our meals at the diner! They never disappoint no matter what we order. Don’t forget to try their cheesecake!! It’s soooooo yummy!“

“Food is always great! The staff is even better. ❤️“

“Best Onion Rings ever! Friendly service and a great place to dine.“

“La mejor y deliciosa panaderia Ecuatoriana en Newark New Jersey.“