On An Island Down South...

Although I created the ‘Jersey Diner Series’ with the intention of exclusively visiting New Jersey’s finest, I couldn’t help but to write about an amazing diner experience I had this past weekend while on vacation.

Harold’s Diner, located on Route 278 in Hilton Head Island, SC, proudly flaunts their motto “Eat here, or we both will starve” and is a place coveted by locals and lucky tourists alike. Take a seat at the counter with caution…you’re likely to be criticized and ridiculed for your inability to order properly off of the “fill-out-your-own-card” style menu. But not to worry, there is not a single thing on the menu that is not worth trying.

The experience was definitely something different. Dining with my grandparents, dad and brother at a loud, hearty place was different than any of the gourmet meals we had throughout the trip. But, being the chatty and curious bunch that we are, we attempted to make friends with the tough-to-please owner while laughing over the many funny and crude bumper stickers that lined the walls (my favorites being “raising children is like nailing Jello to a tree”)

Of all the breakfast foods ordered, the hash browns stole the show. Soft and warm chunks of perfectly seasoned and griddled potatoes rounded out our plates of omelets, fried eggs and bacon. Usually, I rate the quality of my eggs and potatoes on a ketchup scale (the less ketchup used, the better the food) and I can safely say, this was a no ketchup meal. The omelets were fluffy, yet had the just-right ratio of egg to vegetable, and all of the breakfast meats were juicy and given a fresh crisp on the griddle.

The only downside? There were so many places on the island to try and so little time, that we were unable to make a trip back for lunch. However, since we dined just as the menu was switching from breakfast to lunch, I was able to check out what others were ordering. The burgers (in particular the famous H burger), the cheesesteak and onions rings all looked mouth-watering good. If I hadn’t been so full, I might have gone in for a second round.

Regrettably, I forgot to bring my camera along for the trip so all the pictures shown have been taken from online. Maybe this will give me a reason to road trip back down to Harold’s sometime soon… any takers?

The Clinton Station Diner

Location: Exit 13 off Route 78 West in Clinton, NJ

Coming from the Westfield area, Clinton is not exactly right around the corner. But to kick off the Jersey Diner Series, my cousin Dan, my brother Michael, and I, felt the 30-minute trip down Route 78 was necessary.  

The Clinton Station Diner hosts two different dining ambiances that both overlook a scenic area of 78: one half is a927 Blue Comet observation train car and the other is a much more cozy, family dining atmosphere lined with model train tracks suspended from the ceiling. The waitstaff was extremely friendly and happy to serve all their customers. We were also impressed by how quickly our rather large order was served (we did get some stares for ordering enough food for six even though there were only three of us).

Now onto the food. Clinton Station Diner had a fairly standard diner menu, with breakfast served around the clock, however, there were a few items that set this place apart from other diners.

Burgers and fries: The burger was juicy, flavorful and char-grilled to perfection. Their fries, hand cut from fresh potatoes, were wedge-sliced with a great balance of crunchy outside and soft, warm inside.

Hungry and ready for a challenge? Clinton Station Diner offers a prize of $5,000 to any ten people who can finish “The 8^th Wonder”, a burger that weighs in at 105lbs including the bun and toppings, in one hour.

If you’re interested in a small taste of their delicious burgers, try the “Nano Bites”, 0.4oz of the same ingredients in their larger burgers.

Pancakes: A perfectly portioned order of fluffy, light and buttery short stacks. 

Omelet: Greek omelet filled with feta cheese, tomatoes, onions and kalamata onions served with well-done hashbrowns that I could’ve mistaken for my grandmother’s latkes. Great way to start, or end, the day.

Greek Entrée: Spanakopita: flaky crust with the just-right balance of warm spinach and feta. Served alongside a Greek salad which on it’s own would be a delicious meal. **Best dish of the night**

Before leaving, we finished off this feast with two desserts: a chocolate mousse bomb and a vanilla shake. Although the shake was a little thin for my liking, the weight of the mousse bomb definitely compensated for it. Both desserts were amongst the many good-looking treats displaced with the other bakery selections.

If you want to check out their menu and other details before heading over:

http://www.clintonstationdiner.com/index.htm

Introducing: The Jersey Diner Series

If there’s one thing I missed about my home state, it is the diners. There are more diners in New Jersey than there are in the other 49 states combined. Each diner has its’ own distinct feel, specialty dish and waitstaff personality. This summer, I have made it my mission to find out what it is that makes Jersey diners infamous. I am prepared to travel north, south, east, west, from the shore, to the farms and the suburbs to find which diner reigns supreme.

I’ve chosen 4 diner classics: burger & fries, a Greek entrée (either spanikopita or moussaka), pancakes, and omelettes.

I’ll get to know the waitstaff and learn their personalities (every Jersey diner-goer remembers their favorite diner waitress…the one with the long fake nails, big hair, and too much makeup, who loves calling you “sweetie” or “hun”). Sure, this will only add to the workouts I have planned for this summer to keep in bikini-ready shape, but I know in the end the extra calories will be worth it.

So here it begins, my mission to find to find which diner has what it takes to be the ultimate Jersey diner.