Tops Diner

I’m not big on reviewing restaurants but I feel compelled to write about this one. That said this establishment is without a doubt the best diner I have been to in recent years. I have been a chef for over 30 years so I understand what effort it takes to run an operation of magnitude and put out such a high quality product. These guys do it right! Keep up the good work.

This is some good late night eating. They’re customer services is excellent and I love how they text you when your table is ready.

Food here can never go wrong. Portions are huge.
Love the strawberry cheesecake at this place!

I don’t know where to start ! Let’s just say that I stalked this place and my fellow Unilocalers reviews and pictures for about 3 days before I finally decided to give this place a chance. My boyfriend came down from Brooklyn, New York as he does every weekend and we always find a different restaurant to try. This weekend we chose TOPS DINER! First off, let me just say we haven’t had any good luck the past two weekends, So when we tasted the food here, not only did it make up for the terrible restaurants we experience two weekends in a row, but the food was ABSOLUTELY BEYOND AMAZING !
Okay, about Tops Diner & our experience.
When we walked in at 11:08 we were checked in by a lovely polite gentlemen. He asked for my name & telephone number. I received a greeting text from the diner. I then asked how long is the wait and I was told the wait was around 15 – 20 minutes. I wasn’t surprised because most of the Unilocalers mentioned that but said it was worth it. So we sat at the bench across from the doorway. To my surprise at 11:17 we received a text saying they were ready to seat us! We’re we just lucky that within 9 minutes we got a seat opposed to the 20 minute time we were given? We didn’t care. We were just happy because we were hungry lol. When we sat our waitress, Vianney introduced herself and asked us what we wanted to drink. My boyfriend got 151 Bacardi and I got a strawberry mango daiquiri. We LOVED OUR DRINKS. Seated fast and the drinks were amazing, so far we said «we are definitely off to a good start»! She came back we asked questions about different food on the menu and we finally decided. We got the STEAK EGG ROLLS & LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE for starters. The PORTION WAS HUGE ! And boy were We in love when we tasted it. THEY WERE DELICIOUS! We then ordered CHICKEN & WAFFLES & RIBS & PULLED PORK w/​SWEET PLANTAINS & MASH POTATOES at the side. When that came we were in HEAVEN. The pull pork and ribs were OUT OF THIS WORLD DELICIOUS! He finished in 6minutes literally. I struggled with my chicken and waffles because I was full so he moved in to that lol. Vianney checked on us often making sure everything was okay. She kept asking if the food was good and if we like it. I think that is absolutely amazing coming from an employee when most establishments don’t care weather you like it or not. She was very patient, warm, kind and honest about all the dishes we inquired about. At the end, we were very, VERY PLEASED WITH TOPS DINER SERVICE & FOOD. My boyfriend and I plan to be back and we plan on coming on the day’s Vianney works so she can be our waitress again.
Overall, I give TOPS DINER A 100 out of 100! They surpassed our expectations with EXCEPTIONAL FOOD, THE FOODS QUALITY & CUSTOMER SERVICE from the guy who stands at the front to check us in to our BEAUTIFUL, POLITE, KIND, WAITRESS VIANNEY! There’s nothing better than a great dining experience with an employee who genuinely cared.
I’ve read reviews where people ding them a star or two because of the long lines and the price of the food because it’s in a «diner.» To me, that’s not fair to do to a business who has no control over their lines. People will gravitate to a business with exceptional food and service. So if anything that should be an indication that this diner is superb. Lastly, the prices are not high. I feel like you’re paying for quality. I have been to other diners that were horrible. The food was disgusting and the quality of the food you can taste was cheap. This diner although, yes, it’s a diner, has superb tasting food, huge portions and the quality is outstanding. For example, their lobster Mac & cheese you can tell they use quality cheese like Cracker Barrel or Kraft cheese and fresh lobster not the canned or flakey cheap one.
All in all, if you don’t like quality food with generous portions, then this place is not for you because their prices are a minimal reflection of their superb, grand, delicious dishes.
I attached videos and photos of our dishes. I hope this helps someone who is considering coming here.
THANK YOU TOPS DINER! THANK YOU VIANNEY!

«Believe the hype!!» First time here. First time in New Jersey and this place put a smile on my face and Jersey in my heart. Awesome service and AMAZING food at a great price. The House salad was delicious and the Lobster Mac-​N-​Cheese O.M.G!!! It’s a starter meal, but the portion is so big it’s dinner!
This place is a must try if you are ever in the Newark area. A MUST!!!

Have gone here twice. The service is excellent, the prices are a bit high but the portions are generous. The food is good, in some cases very good, but I’ve never really been knocked out and felt that it was truly delicious. In that sense… this place was so talked up and so highly reviewed that I feel it was kind of set up to fall short of such high expectations despite it being quite good.
So let me put it this way to help you fully enjoy it for what it is: you probably won’t find it to be the most amazing restaurant in that general price range that you’ve ever been to. That’s ridiculous. However, so far as diners go, it’s without question one of the best around, and definitely worth a try. Careful around busy hours, especially on the weekends, because you may very well find there’s a wait. If anything, that’s testament to the popularity its quality has drawn.

went here on memorial weekend. it was packed, waiting list for like 30 min.
good service, efficient, quick and professional.
food is a little pricey for a diner but plenty of delicious food, so you do the math.

Came here for brunch on MDW. They were super on point with their wait times, I got seated within the guaranteed time of 25 mins. They text you when your table is ready so you can wander outside and hang.
I got the corn beef hash with poached eggs because they wouldn’t allow me to get the eggs Benedict with a sub of corn beef hash because of the price difference even though all their other bennys were with pork and I’m not a pork eater. So it would have costed me like 18.50 $ for a benny, which was a bit shitty in my opinion.
The food was ok. I wasn’t crazy about it. The corn beef was decent, not too salty. But it wasn’t anything I would rave about either. My SO got the farmers wrap and again it was decent.
Food is def a but pricy but it was worth a try. I’ll def eat here again if I was in the area. Wouldn’t drive out my way or anything.

L O V E tops diner. I’ve been coming here for awhile since a kid actually. Some say they are pricy but you get quality food here.
They have such a large menu it’s really hard to decipher what you want but everything’s good. I usually get their pancakes which give IHop a run for their money.
Last time my cousin got one of their milkshakes SO YUMMY with REAL ice cream!
The only bad thing was the cheesy grits wet horrible. It tasted like a owl of cheese. I mean I love my grits cheesy but that was way too much.
They should have a plain grits option, that’s would really be everything.
But besides that LOVE TOPS!

You know why I’m here & you know what I’m going to say.
This is my favorite diner in Jersey by far! Every time I have visited this diner there has been a line out the door. (There were folks waiting with blankets outside the last time I went) Don’t fret the line moves quick and the staff has a very efficient system.
Food:
Penne alla Vodka — ⁵⁄₅
Housemade Veggie Burger — 3.5÷5
Red Velvet Cheesecake — ¹⁰⁄₅
Chocolate Cheesecake — ⁵⁄₅
Portion sizes: Come here on a cheat day
Service: friendly, with a smile, and efficient.
Request: Please bring back the Tiramisu Cheesecake!

Was in the area, found this place bc of the volume of positive Unilocal reviews. My rating? meh. I’m assuming that college kids are coming to this place and comparing it to their cafeteria. That’s the only thing I can think of that explains the volume of 5 star reviews.
Food: 2 stars
Service: 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Value: 2 stars
Overall 3 stars
Will I be back? No.
Food:
Firstly the food. The wife and I ordered a lot for 2 people, but we were hungry. Shakes were very expensive and about as good as a McDonald’s McFlurry, that is to say, not so good. Calamari was bland, and marinara sauce tasted like ragu. Burger (I had) was decent, but how do you mess up a burger. Wife’s chicken was dry. Fries were soggy
Service:
Sat at the bar cause of the crowds. Bartender was awesome, friendly. But it’s easy to get great service when your server is standing in front of you the whole time. Still I’ll give him 5 stars. It was fun watching him work and crank out the «adult» shakes and other beverages.
Atmosphere. Pretty cool looking diner. I’m not usually swayed by atmosphere or décor, but it was cool. Tables are a tad close together (as I found out on my way to the restroom), but that’s forgivable.
Value: Too expensive. usually portion sizes at diners are substantial, if they were here, I would forgive. but alas, no.
Overall: 3 stars, heavily influenced by the bartender server. Will I go back? no.

Service. Value. Quality. Tops get top marks on all three.
I’m usually not a diner fan, mainly because I feel there are often better quality at non-​diner establishments at around the same price point. However, I would have to say that Tops is outside the norm in that regard.
I have been here a couple times, and they are extremely consistent in all three areas.
Service is prompt and effective once you’re seated. The food offering is of the usual diner array, but what sets them about from others is the flavor.
Nothing is overly greasy where it shouldn’t be. The salt profile is not overwhelming like many other diners out there. The food preparation is on point. I ordered various chicken and protein entrees, and both taste and texture are well above average. (Once again, using other diners as benchmarks.)
They also have lunch specials prices in the teens that comes with soup choices. The portion on these are phenomenal.
Haven’t been here on the weekend due to the distance from home, but may well consider it in the near future.

Always a great experience coming here. It’s by far my favorite diner that I’ve ever been to. There is sooo many items on the menu and everything that I’ve ever gotten tasted delicious. Honestly, I don’t know how many people are working in the kitchen but it’s amazing how they remember every single recipe and make it taste so delicious.
I always do a soup when I come here and they have never let me down

Thanks to the Weekly Unilocal from last week featuring the Jersey Disco Fries from Tops Diner, I got the munchies for them. Boy, were they delish! Giant plate of fries smothered with melted cheese and gravy… this could’ve been a meal by itself. Instead, we shared it as a group of 6 as an appetizer, and still had tons left over.
I also ordered the Pesto Chicken in a spinach wrap, which was served warm, and so tasty. The salad greens within the wrap made me feel better about eating fries. We also got the Upside Down Pineapple Cheesecake, which was nice and light, not overly sweet, except for the frosting around the outside.
They take your phone number and text you when the table is ready. Make sure your entire party is here, otherwise you won’t be seated.

**My #1 Diner in NJ**
I’m upset it took me this long to write a review about this place. I have been going here for many years. It is in my opinion the best Diner in NJ and maybe the country. I have had many dishes here and to name them I would be repeating myself. What ever it is I order the food is always delicious and fresh. There is a wide rage of food to eat there and it’s not your typical diner food. Tops Diner feeds you the right way. There is love in the kitchen and it pours out on your plate.
The staff is very friendly and attentive and is there to make you have a wonderful dining experience. And they do get crowded I have waited for a table a few times there but it’s definitely worth the wait. Try to go off peak dining hours if you don’t feel like waiting. It’s open late every day so if you have a late night craving for some good eats or a big delicious breakfast. Anytime you eat here would be a perfect meal. And save room for the desert cakes r made daily and the portions r huge.
Tops is the way to go.

I eat lunch here most days out the week since it’s close to work and convenient. Overall the staff is extremely accommodating and understanding of my large orders for the office.
I adore most of the girls who work the pick up station (you girls know who you are), on occasion there are mishaps because of the large order status but easily fixed.
The specials are usually pretty decent but can repeat often times losing its appeal. The selection of salads range from healthy (kale and quinoa) to more on the heavier not as healthy side (Mexi-​cali); all of which are delicious with all the fixings! The size of the salads are amazing, truly close to Harold’s size in ratio. Ingredients are very fresh most of the time.
The décor of the diner is a little more upscale to go with the fact that they serve alcohol! The diners near me don’t serve it but will allow BYOB. This part is amazing since they have a small bar area to grab a drink for lunch or after work.
This place can get busy to the point that you may be waiting outside because the whole entry way is filled with patrons.
Overall this diner is one of the nicer places!
Food is really good especially the lunch specials, staff is personable, and the ambiance is well done.

Even The Donald would agree this is the classiest diner in New Jersey, and makes the list as the only diner I will ever genuinely look forward to revisiting. There was a 20 minute wait at 10 pm on a Sunday, totally justifiable and worth the wait.
It’s slightly on the expensive side for a diner, but this is no ordinary diner. You totally get at least what you pay for. I started with lobster bisque, the special soup of the day and running out. Well duh, at $ 4.49 I see why it’s popular. I was expecting a small cup and got a huge bowl. This soup had more huge chunks of lobster in it than I’ve ever seen before, by a mile. Maybe they all sank to the bottom at the end of the night; lucky me! Portions for everything are vast.
Service: superb. Customer oriented seems to be the culture here. Talkative, friendly, helpful with the menu. My waitress chose to refill my nearly empty drink before clearing my spot. I value that. My iced tea refill came with a fresh lemon. The little things matter. Everything came out quickly despite the packed house. They have achieved service perfection.
For entrees, my friend had Navajo chicken and I had the special braised beef ravioli. Again, portion size. Giant slab of beef in there too, unannounced but welcome. The pasta bowl was nearly infinite. The beef melted in my mouth. The sauce was pure crack. I wanted to lick the entire dinner off my plate.
So for all of this, I had to try dessert. Just look at my photo. Gigantic and delicious. Heated. The crust is very unusual but delicious. Something about the flour? Save room for EVERYTHING here.

Oh em gee, Tops Diner.
After a casual kayaking session in the pool at NJIT in Newark, I was starving. As a classic Jersey girl, I obviously decided that the perfect dinner at 10pm would be none other than delicious diner food. Now, we weren’t looking for anything fancy, we just stumbled upon Tops by searching for a high-​rated diner in the area. And my god it exceeded expectations.
10 pm on a Tuesday night and there’s a wait. I repeat. 10pm on a Tuesday night and there’s a wait for a table for 2 people. I’m starting to be overtaken with hanger so we grabbed some seats at the counter. I think diner counter seats are so underrated — you get the most attentive service and you get to mouth drool over all of the cakes while you wait for your food.
Started with mozzarella sticks — I think they actually make them, these were not like usual frozen mozzarella sticks at a diner. My boyfriend got the tuna avocado cheese melt sandwich with fries, which he loved. It’s also huge and comes on Texas toast.
I decided to be super adventurous. I usually stick to usual diner food — fried or breakfast. But since this place was seriously hopping and had steak frites for $ 30 on their specials for the night… I figured they had to know how to cook. So I ordered something I don’t think I’d ever order from any other diner… Ahi tuna salad. 1) it was the largest salad I have ever challenged myself to eat 2) it was so delicious and fresh 3) I ate raw fish at a diner… never thought I’d see the day.
Living in downtown JC, I might just suggest we always go to Harrison to go to Tops when craving some late night food or some diner fare. The food is SOOoo good.

Tops Diner has changed over the years. While I do wax nostalgic for how it used to be — say, maybe five years ago — the diner is still very good and brings in many a hungry patron. The food is consistently good and the people who work at the diner are very friendly.
You’ll see two dining areas when you enter — to the left are the booths and the diner counter, and to the right are table seating (with a few booths) and the bar. If you do not specify where you want to go, the host or hostess will take you to whichever side has the first availability. These days, Tops now utilizes a text waitlist management tool. So you can give the host/​hostess your mobile number and you’ll get a text when your table/​booth is ready (you’ll also receive a ‘thanks for dining with us’ text after you’ve left). It’s really efficient and I’m a fan. Though, I’d still wait for my name to be called the old school way because the food and service are so top notch. Again, this is a GREAT diner.
Even if the menu has changed, the breakfasts for the most part are still just as hearty and tasty as they’ve always been. You can get a great egg breakfast here (you know, egg, [insert meat of choice], home fries, and toast). There are some new breakfast dishes that are good, too (e.g. Eggs from Heaven and Huevos Rancheros). For lunch or dinner, I’ll go for their pastas (all of them are very good — plus you’ll have leftovers for later). Not often do I have room for dessert, but the cheesecakes are really good here also.
If you are hungry, come to Tops!

On one of my many excursions to my home of New York I try to experience as many different restaurants as humanly possible. Mary told me about Tops so after I checked out the pictures we had to check it out. What an experience!!!
The menu has a little something for everyone. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch. There were so many descriptions that looked delectable to eat right off the menu that I had a hard time deciding but in the end I opted for the chicken & waffles.
It hit the table within ten minutes and looked just as delicious as described on the menu. The waffle was hot and soft and the chicken was a perfect crunch… much better than a famous Atlanta staple famous for Chicken and waffles. Also it was SO MUCH FOOD! More times than not I finish my meal at restaurants but I took home about half of this meal. It was approximately $ 10 but I would have been comfortable paying around $ 15 based off of service, taste, and speed.
Tops Diner gets eight thumbs up from myself and the three people whom accompanied me.