Roadside Diner – Wall Township, NJ

A vintage diner on the the New Jersey roadside - and its called the Roadside Diner - how meta is that?

This Silk City built diner (see the tags above the sliding door entry and kitchen door) is thought to have been here since 1932 according to current owner Demetris Gerakaris. He has owned the diner for almost 20 years and if you’re lucky you’ll meet him as he emerges from his post in the kitchen if there’s a break in the cooking.

Smaller diners like this - with “school bus style / sit up straight” booths (Mod Betty’s term) are a rarity here in Jersey, where bigger is often thought of as better. You and I know the charm of these tiny diners, but we’re not the only ones who dig this authentic blasts from the past location, as the cover of notable Jersey rocker Bon Jovi’s Cross Road album features the band sitting in the diner.

Even those of us who are not famous are welcomed with a smile here 7 days a week. And wow, do they start those 7 days early - 5:30am opening time means a stream of early risers and truck drivers pull in next to the bright green “diner-saur” for a quick on a hard roll.

Speaking of roll - this is pork roll country, so if you’re feeling adventurous, include that as your breakfast meat. The lunch / early dinner menu (they close between 4-5:30 depending on the day) is laden with sandwiches, specialty burgers, and platters.

Check out the yellow rotary phone - legit old school!

Mod Betty loves the sunflowers that bloom here in the summer

Note you’ve got your choice of 2 kinds of fries - how cool is that?