By Dennis Chu on August 5, 2011 • ( 1 Comment )

NEW MONMOUTH DINER

Address: 1887 State Route 35, Middletown, NJ 07748

Diners are really quite a staple when it comes to New Jersey. They have a different atmosphere, a different array of food offerings, and are typically open very late, if not 24 hours. The New Monmouth Diner has been the destination of me and a couple of my friends for some late-night dining on multiple occasions, especially after the entire diner got renovated when it came under new ownership (it used to be the Middletown Diner).

The menu features things that would be typical of diner food: breakfast items, sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps, burgers, desserts, just to name a few. I have only seen a small selection of their dishes from when my friends and I order, but it all really looks (and sounds) appetizing. I ordered the Chicken Bruschetta sandwich, which was grilled chicken, mozzarella cheese, tomato basil, and balsamic vinaigrette all served over a toasted hoagie roll, and it tasted fairly good, with an interesting flavor combination. In past times, I’ve ordered their Irish Nachos, which I have really come to love. Crispy waffle fries layered with melted cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, corned beef, and a bit of jalapeño peppers for some kick, and it’s an explosion of amazing in your mouth (or perhaps it’s because of the fact that I was extremely hungry every time I went to the diner late at night!)

But all kidding aside, the diner’s food is really quite good, even better than the former Middletown Diner’s. The service is also very quick and the restaurant is extremely clean. The interior feels very bright with a lot more lights and the open space setup of a dining room. A great plus is that the New Monmouth Diner is open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, which is a great option for those looking to have some really late-night (or early-morning?) dining options, which are rare in the Middletown area. With it’s convenient location right on the highway, the diner is a great stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a late-night outing.

Here are my rankings for the New Monmouth Diner:

Food: 4.5 / 5
A great menu selection and the food has always tasted great each visit.

Atmosphere: 4.5 / 5
The open dining area really makes this diner a comfortable place to be in, and the decor still gives you that retro feel of a diner establishment.

Service: 4 / 5
The waitresses have always been very attentive and pleasant. They consistently came back to check on how our food was throughout the meal.

Price: 4 / 5
Some food options are priced just right, some are priced a tad on the higher side. But overall, I felt the portion of food they gave you matched up with the price very well.

Overall: 17 / 20 (85%)