Diners near West Orange

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

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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.“

“Delicious cakes and other items ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️“

“unbelievable this was our 1st time at Ray's! The atmosphere, service, menu and food all outstanding! We'll be back over and over.“

“Always good & good specials“

“Definitely one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever eaten! I had the Crab Cakes Benedict, with a side of bacon! The food was so incredibly delicious, I didn’t want it to to end! So worth the 30 minute drive from Bergen County! I’m already planning on a return visit!“

“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.!!!“

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

“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 .“

“This diner is worth going. We do not live in NJ but we stop in on the way back from NYC. The food is delicious, the service is spot on. The owners are very welcoming. Keep it going Caldwell Diner!“

“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!!“

“Good breakfast friendly staff“

“Ok, Grant Plater u fukn idiot it's obvious u don't get out to eat much... So d*** f*** any diner in the fun word u go to u get a waffle that can be cut into 4 sections. As far as chicken n Waffles d*** fuk unless u specify fried chicken and waffles, u will get tenders as for the gravy stupid for ur chicken, ur supposed to use syrup with this plate. If you did get fried chicken the cost would go up, duhh let me guess u would b**** about that to. Unless u no how a dish is served u should not complain because u sound like a fukn d*** a** who doesn't have a clue about dining out.. you wud be the type to go to a classy astablishment and say wats all the forks and spoons for by one plate.. ask before u comment and make a a** out of urself“

“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!“

“Great food, fast service. Been coming here for years. Don’t mind the 80’s music but they have it CRANKED. Came in for breakfast and couldn’t even have a conversation with my wife as Journey played in the background.“

“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.“

“My fiance and I went here for the first time this past weekend and loved it! We loved the oldies style vibe, decor and music. The food was very good, decently priced, and our waitress, Denise, was awesome! We will definitely be back!“

“Haven’t had a bad meal yet!“

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

“I had the most amazing breakfast with my daughter there, and then I went back for a burger after work one night and it was incredible. Medium rare, delicious and yummy fries with got brown gravy on the side for Dippin.

Same wonderful older gentleman working therr who is so pleasant,“

“Great Spinach pie and quality baked goods, Have become a regular customer as well.“

“My breakfast was great this morning.“

“Great food great waitress my sister school friends were right this place is amazing to eat at“

“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. 😋 😋 😋“

“Great place to eat with lots of options and the dishes served are amazing!“

“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.“

“Great food, atmosphere, and service. There are very few Diners in NJ that serve food with such a care and such quality and flavor that other places compromise, not here. Food , and coffee was superb. 100 % recommended. From Clifton to Summit for Tick Tock route 3 is no longer the best in my area. I love Diners so I needed to try this one even if it meant taking the ride to visit a small town vibe. A must visit my followers.“

“Food is always great and on time“

“We always have excellent food here. Breakfast specials… Eggs, toast, home fries, sausage, juice and coffee! They are very generous here! Service is friendly and accurate! Totally recommend the East Hanover Diner! And reasonable!“

“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.“

“I hesitated to come here because I saw negative reviews somewhere about the food, but I’m happy that I did because it was delicious. The people were really nice, the food was great (huge portions), and it was clean. I will absolutely come here again and again.

Parking: Easy to get into and plenty of parking“

“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!“

“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. ❤️“

“We used to go to Park West quite often, but stopped when we were tired of having to check the bill carefully for overcharging. Happened again yesterday when we called in a pick up and 2 of the 3 items ordered were wrong and the wrong higher price was still charged. And, we didn't get two items we ordered, nor the coleslaw and pickle that was requested. Not happy at all“

“Great disco fries!!! Delicious!“

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

“Food was very good, portions and pricing are also great!
The atmosphere is also interesting and nice!
Unfortunately, they forgot the salad that was supposed to come with the chicken sandwich I had gotten. I just got 3 bags of balsamic vinaigrette dressing and no salad.“

“If it were up to my children, we would be eating at the Hillary Street restaurant and Grill every single day. We love it here, and the staff is the kindest and friendly as ever. The food is always absolutely delicious. Five stars from us.“

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