Breakfast is a compound word, combining the words "break" and "fast." It is often advertised as the most important meal of the day. It sets the tone for whatever one's day holds. It wasn't until the 17th century that this meal became a more common practice, especially among the wealthy, who would have rich dishes like scrambled eggs alongside coffee and tea in the morning. The Garden State is still known as the diner capital of the world. Located off Essex Street in Hackensack, this establishment is one of the handful of 24-hour diners. With its unique harlequin decor, Chit Chat remains a chic, upscale diner that we frequent often with friends and family. Upon arrival this morning, my partner, his family, and I were greeted by the staff at the host station, and we were able to get a table quickly. The menu was extensive, and we took our time looking but did not feel rushed. Their menu includes a lot of things one may not find on a regular menu. We decided on their brunch menu and ordered Raspberry & Brie Stuffed French Toast, Santorini Benedict, Bro-Nana Cocoa-Nuts Multigrain Pancakes, and Chorizo Hash & Eggs with a choice of a complimentary mimosa, bloody Mary, or Bellini. The food is always fresh and tastes delicious. The portion is healthy and the prices reasonable. The service is consistently fast and friendly. Our server was Ashley. Today, breakfast isn't just about nutrition; it's a cultural ritual. read more

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Great find! The food was good, portions were ENORMOUS, service was friendly and quick, and the decor was fun. So happy to find this place. read more

Chit Chat Diner - Cherry pie! - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Oh my god I would never go here again. We went for a family celebration early in the morning so I had a cup of coffee from 7Eleven in my hand. The hostess came up to me and said something about my cup and changing it. NEVER having something like this happen before, I thought she was going to replace the 7Eleven cup with one of thier cups. Well I was dumbfounded they pur my coffee in two cups with a saucer at the table. I was stunned, the food was horrible too, I did'nt even eat it. When anyone mentions going there I say h*ll no!! read more

THE GOOD ---------------- + Good, solid diner food. ++++ Complimentary bread was surprisingly VERRRY good. ++++ Norweigian Benny - Delicious benny dish. Fresh smoked salmon, perfectly poached eggs and verrrry good hash browns. ++++ Churrasco Salad - Excellent salad with delicously tender slices of churrasco steak, good yucca and lots of fresh avocado mixed in with plenty of baby greens. ++++ Classic Cheese Steak - Soft hoagie roll and juicy steak. Steak didn't seem sliced though and was more of the grounded up variety. + Spacious interior with lots of booths. + Big private parking lot. + Service was good - food came out fast and waiters removed finished dishes quickly. + No extra charge for credit card transactions. THE NOT SO GOOD ---------------------------- - Nada. MIXED THOUGHTS --------------------------- = Nada. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = Was very busy on a February Friday evening from 5:45 - 7:15, but there were still plenty of open tables and bar seats. read more

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- As expected for a Friday evening, the restaurant was very busy--both the parking lot and dining room were nearly full when we arrived just before 6pm; we were seated right away, and despite the steady flow of guests, table turnover seemed efficient and well managed - Spacious, clean, and comfortable with relaxed vibes; felt open without being loud or chaotic, making it easy to settle in and enjoy dinner - Service was friendly and efficient throughout our meal; there was a slight mix-up with one of our entrées, but it was corrected quickly and without issue; we also appreciated that they offered to split an entrée into two plates for our kiddos who were sharing--small gesture, but thoughtful and helpful - Overall, the food was enjoyable, though a few dishes could use some refinement: Churrasco Salad was generously portioned with fresh, lightly dressed leafy greens and topped with well-seasoned, tender steak cooked to a perfect medium--flavor was solid, but the dish could have benefited from more texture for contrast; Norwegian Benny came with perfectly poached eggs over a generous layer of smoked salmon--rich and satisfying, though the hash browns could have been crispier; Classic Cheese Steak was huge and very tasty, but the steak resembled ground beef more than the traditional thinly sliced steak; the complimentary toasted bread was a standout, especially with the parmesan olive oil dip--simple, but delicious read more

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Definitely recommend coming back here for breakfast... man, it was tasty. The Crab Hash? Everything. Perfect balance of flavor and texture; rich but not heavy, seasoned just right. The whole place has that cool, easy morning energy; staff keeps the smiles flowing, coffee stays hot, and plates hit the table quick. This spot earned a permanent spot in the rotation. Live, Love & Laugh - Sha read more

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No clue what the negative reviews are talking about cause the people were friendly, the place was super clean and neat. The food was fast and delicious. I can't say affordable cause the area itself is a bit pricey. But for the amount you get and the quality . It's delicious! Overall I got eggs, has browns, corn beef , bacon, a bagel and an iced latte all for $30. Yea I was super stuffed and had to take food home. I absolutely recommend this to anyone in the area or driving by read more

Chit Chat Diner - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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What a fun diner! All the food is fresh and the portion size is large. They even give you little cards to start conversations while you are waiting or eating. The service is super quick. I ordered the turkey burger with sweet potato fries. I would give it an 8/10. The burger was fresh and the sweet potato fries were really delicious and filling. It's busy especially on a Sunday so you do have a bit of wait. They move quickly. The Short Rib and Egg Tacos were like a 6/10. The refried beans gave it a different flavor profile. read more

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Good food and lots of options. I enjoyed many of their dishes like egg omelets and pancakes but my favorite is the arepas Benedict made with corn arepas instead of English muffin and chorizo instead of bacon. It comes with a side of plantain chips but I switch it for potatoes. I feel my breakfast needs it. It is absolutely delicious. Service is always great and everyone is very helpful. Definitely my place to go for breakfast when I am in town. read more

A friend came from Taiwan so i decided to take her to an American diner for true experience. We have egg benny and chicken/waffle. Wonderful flavor. Big portion. The staff was very helpful and attentive. Nice and clean inside the restaurant. Spacious for the booth and regular tables. read more

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Why does Chit Chat Diner have a 3.3 star rating? I have no clue b/c their food was pretty good. Our friends vouched for this place, so we came here after church not expecting much b/c of the rating, but the food was so much better than expected! Well, at least my Bourbon St. Burger ($17.95) was! I got the patty medium, and it was super tender and juicy. Cheese was infused within the patty, and it satisfied the craving I've had for a while for a good burger. Comes with thin fries, a small coleslaw, and half a pickle. I was worried I might not like how it has no veggies, but the flavor was well-balanced and not greasy or too meaty. I didn't see it on the menu, so just ask for it if you want to try it! Service was great. Our waitress was super kind, quick, and answered all of our questions well. It's a super chill environment. They're apparently open 24/7, but it was super crowded and busy when we came... We had to wait 15 minutes to be seated. Thankfully, we were able to find parking without too much hassle as someone was leaving when we arrived. I would definitely come back again! Giving them 5 stars instead of 4 (not that they need the support; they're doing pretty dang well by themselves) so that others can give this place a chance. read more

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Decent food but prices are frankly outrageous. A large juice for almost 8 dollars and no free refills? Iced coffees for almost 9 dollars? lol read more

PROS: the pasta and calamari were good, atmosphere was great, parking was plentiful and menu variety and prices were fine. Fast service as well CONS: they don't split checks when the party is 6 or more people. The waitress also had an attitude with us despite us behaving properly. The chicken was also soggy OVERALL: not my favorite place to eat but if I'm there with less than 6 people and the server is different I'll consider it again read more

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Can't believe this is my 1st review of a diner we've been to over a dozens of times! Decor is fun & bright. Extensive classic diner menu some very unique twists - check the hubbies pancake sandwich! Always a good meal , good coffee & no surcharge for credit cards ( but they do not take Discover) service is friendly & fast. read more

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We arrived around 1pm on a Saturday. It was a holiday weekend. We were a party of 6 and got seated right away. Everyone in my family enjoyed their food. The pancakes were really good (I tasted my son's). I ordered the Jamaican Jerk Wrap. It sounded amazing on the menu. It was drenched in sauce which made the wrap way too soggy to pick up. I ended up just eating the inside with a fork. It was pretty good but I don't know if I would order it again. I love the little conversation starters on the table. I'd like to return to try something different. read more

Chit Chat Diner - Jamaican Jerk Wrap & Yucca Fries - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Listen, if you need late night crumby food - sure. Otherwise, everything is pretty poorly cooked, the flavors are off (too salty, too sweet, just not right, missing something), and insanely overpriced. For this price, take your family out to a nice dinner. Don't bother going here. Also, apart from this last time, I haven't have the best experiences with the wait staff. All of them seem genuinely annoyed that they have to be there. And, I get it. It's always overcrowded and somehow it looks like everyone is moving around. It's a lot. Just not enough space, and visually it's a lot going on. Again, great at 2 AM when they're the only ones still open, no one is there, and you want some diner food. Otherwise, you can do better. read more

Food is wonderful and of all the diners in a 15 mile radius this has the most diver selection since NJ seems not to be big on chicken fried steak. I like the food and it flavorful and as mentioned diverse. Service is solid and just right where it is not annoying. Ambiance is nice with tall ceilings so it feels spacious. It is one of the better diners for sure and thankfully it is close enough. I do have 3 other diners closer and that makes this place and inconvenience but at the same time, it is also worth the effort to go here. read more

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Would have given 3 stars but am giving 4 stars as the staff was very friendly to my 1 year old grandson. The problem was it took forever for our waiter to take our order...when dining with a 1 year old speed is critical. The restaurant was not overly busy at that time either. My son had to take his meal as a takeout as the delay in taking our order was not good and he had to tend to his son who was getting fussy because of the slow service. The food was fine...I had a pastrami on rye which is pretty hard to goof up. My husband got the gyro...it was ok...needed more tzatziki sauce. read more

Chit Chat Diner - Pastrami on rye - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Went here and grabbed some breakfast after DMV. Nice diner, good coffee, good eggs. What more is there to say? A great place for a quick bite. read more

EXCELLENT Food and Service. Great Brunch on weekends. They have really good cooks. They really do it right

I absolutely love Chit Chat Diner. Their burgers and French fries are hands down my favorite. I've also ordered their salads, which were delicious. It's definitely more upscale than your usual diner, with noticeably better quality food and ingredients. Everything feels elevated while still giving you that classic diner comfort. A great spot when you want diner food done really well. read more

Delicious menu options and one of a few 24 hour diners I can find in New Jersey! Great service all times of day especially when I need it and always providing a classic diner experience. read more

Chit Chat Diner - Matzo Ball Soup - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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We went for a weekend lunch. The place was packed. We had to wait about 10 minutes to get a table. I got a pastrami sandwich. It tasted fine but I would have like to have a bigger sandwich. I got 2 eggs on the side. They were cooked nicely. The strawberry lemonade was good. There was some delay in preparing the food. We had to wait a while to get our food. But overall we had a nice family lunch. Our server was really nice. She didn't rush us and did a wonderful job. read more

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A classic casual diner with plenty of mouth watering options. Service was on top of clearing out plates and cleaning. I miss the seasonal ube icecream waffles, as the icecream melted on the crispy and hot waffles creating a warm yummy sensation that I highly recommend whenever it is back on the menu. The eggs benedict was poached perfectly and well garnished. We left no scraps or had leftovers with how delicious everything was! read more

Chit Chat Diner - Original Eggs Benedict - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

It was a packed Sunday morning, but our wait was not long. A warning if you want a brunch special that comes with the mimosa, you have to wait until 12 pm. No drinks before that time on Sundays. I was pleasantly surprised by the 3 baked eggs. The Tomatoe sauce was not over powering. The potatoes were well cooked. Most of my party ordered the pancake deluxe. They ate it all. I did miss the conversation cards they use to have on the table. I didn't see any around. read more

Chit Chat Diner - Pancake deluxe with tea - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Solid breakfast spot with great staff, large portions and tasty food. They have breakfast items you don't see at other diners. I think the only thing I've ever tried here that I did not like were their biscuits, they were dry and tasteless. read more

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Came here 3am after my trip from Costa Rica. Found this place searching for any diners that were open. The place has a classic diner vibe to it. - Calamari ($15.95) - solid - Gyro ($19.95) - really good. Fries and Greek salad included. I usually get the white sauce on the side, forgot to mention to waitstaff.. - Fountain soda ($3.50) - Coca Cola :) Not too many diners are open 24 hours, so if you're out late and want good diner food, this is the spot. * Open 24/7 * Parking on premise * Good service read more

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I hadn't been to this place in a few years, but a friend visiting from out of town wanted a classic New Jersey diner experience, so I brought him here. Unfortunately, I was genuinely at a loss for words. What was once a beloved neighborhood staple has become nearly unrecognizable -- the quality has dropped significantly, and prices have skyrocketed. I understand that times are tough and costs have gone up, but when a restaurant starts cutting corners on portions and quality while simultaneously tripling prices, it's hard to justify coming back. The food was, frankly, borderline inedible. It's really disappointing to see such a decline. I feel bad for anyone who never got to experience this place 10 years ago, because back then it was the real deal. On a positive note, the service was decent -- no complaints there -- but sadly that's about the only bright spot. read more

First visit to dinner. The atmosphere was pleasant and clean. We were promptly seated. The brunch was okay. But to our surprise, we were overcharged for individual items on breakfast menu, despite ordering the deluxe meal. Instead of correcting their mistake, the manager was an arrogant misogynist who blamed me in a loud voice. I believe this tactic to overcharge unsuspecting customers bears closer scrutiny. I advise any customer to closely review their tab before paying. read more

This past Monday, after my cousin's funeral, we (sister, niece, husband, me) went to the ChitCha Diner on the recommendation of an usher at the Gutterman Funeral Home. (All of whom were MORE than professional!) A few turns, and we entered a space that was very "Alice In Wonderland!" Just what we needed . Our waiter, Sergio was incredible! Four people with very different orders, which were amended several times (no tomato on turkey sandwhich e.g.) before settling on preferences. He wrote nothing down! I did not predict success...but WOW! Was I wrong. In very short order, everything arrived...piping hot and perfect and delicious! Shout out to SERGIO and the staff at the ChitChat Diner! Can't recommend them highly enough! Dr. Carol Friedland, NYC read more

Late night diner food, overall everything was OK, came out piping hot, but taste wise everything was a little lackluster. We got the pulled pork tots and french onion soup to start. Soup was good, can't complain but the pulled pork on the tots was pretty dry. Basically are the tots and some of the pork and then moved on. Also got a cheese steak which was also pretty dry and the cheese wasn't melted all the way through, so that was a bummer. Cheese steaks should be melty goodness and the wife's meatloaf was... Not good. Ended up paying about $75 with drinks and tip, so prices have definitely risen lol. Overall it was ok for late night, wish the food was a bit tastier. Service was great though. read more

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This is more than just a diner, it's a hot spot! This diner is a classic that was reinvented many years ago to suit the hungriest and pickiest of eaters. With a vast menu and options it will not disappoint. I could have picked one of everything, but I'm old school. When I go to a diner I like my classics: lamb/beef gyro with cheap tzatziki sauce on the side is my go-to. Besides that I would venture in the burger world, if one suits my hunger. Lastly, venturing into the fancy pancake world would be the icing on the cake. The service is awesome and the quickness of your food getting to your table is world record speed. So don't think of coming here and wasting lots of time waiting to feed your hunger. You will be quite surprised how quickly your order comes to your table. There is plenty of parking, but this is a "hot spot" so it will get packed very quickly. read more

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Love this place! Pancakes and waffles are always a hit with the kids and the leo omelet ( with smoked salmon) was the best omelet ive had outside! Would definitely recommend! read more

Was in Jersey and hungry late at night so we sought out the nearest diner. Ended up here. The place is absolutely adorable with an Alice in Wonderland type theme with lots of black and white checkerboard everywhere. We were seated in a comfortable booth, just across from the counter seating. As we walked past the dessert display, I was drooling. My husband ordered Pad Thai Eggrolls. the order came with 4 rolls and peanut sauce. They had thai flavor and were tasty, but they weren't pad thai. I had matzo ball soup that came in a cute little tureen with 2 matzo balls floating in chicken broth. I enjoyed it. Ii also had some disco fries- french fries with gravy and cheese. The fries could have been crispier. My husband had sweet potato fries covered with shredded short rib meat, melted cheese and teriyaki sauce, It was listed under Snacks on their menu and called "Short and Sweet." That was really, really tasty and unique. It was Halloween night, so they were busy but our service was excellent and attentive. I would definitely come back here when in the area. read more

Food not bad but come on. Won't split a check? They should be happy a table for 11 came in. Why is it so hard to split the check?? That is not good service. Edited to one star. Owner came over and expected a party of 11 to pay on ONE CARD. No flexibility whatsoever. Our party of 11 got up, walked past busboys standing around doing nothing and took our business up the road to coach house diner. See ya! read more

The service here is excellent. Love the decor and ambiance, there is so much to choose from and all of it excellent.

I was meeting a large group for a weekday brunch, and not much on the menu appealed to me. It either sounded too heavy or too basic, but some of their breakfast specialties intrigued me. I ordered the Three Baked Eggs, and I was pleasantly surprised. Their Italian spin on shakshouka/eggs in purgatory was delicious. It was a hearty portion, but didn't feel too heavy given the use of chicken sausage, and thin crispy strips of prosciutto. I loved the hot olive bread, which pairs so well with this dish. The serving size was generous, and my leftovers tasted just as good the next day. I'd give this dish 5 stars, but the hash browns others ordered were pretty bland and bordering on burnt as they didn't seem to be mixed around enough on the griddle. Prices are high, but probably not out of line with other area establishments. Service was solid and did their best to keep coffee refilled and get us out promptly to our appointment. read more

Chit Chat Diner - Three Baked Eggs - a great spin on shakshouka/eggs in purgatory. Would definitely order again and again. - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

10/8/23 Chitchat never fails us. They are there after a late movie. They are there when we come home from a late flight. They are there when we have an insanely early flight. Our go to when we just can't decide what we want to eat LOL Thank you! We've lived in Hackensack for 14 years now and it was one of the first restaurant we checked out. Food is always good. Service is on point. My go to is the LEO omelet for breakfast or late night. If we do at normal meal times, then i always try their specials. Which means sometimes we forgot what we ordered but we know the food was good! LOL read more

Chit Chat Diner - Salmon - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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It was such a cute place, it reminded me of Alice in wonderland, the food was 10/10, the French toast was so yummy & it was soft, I love that, the service was great, I didn't catch the ladies name but she definitely made sure our mugs never ran out of coffee!! read more

Chit Chat Diner - French Toast Deluxe Pancakes Deluxe - Diners Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Went here with a friend who was visiting from out of state on Sunday at 10am for brunch. Their menu states it includes a free mimosa or other drink. I have not been living in NJ for that long, but I am still learning the Blue Laws. When i inquired about a drink, the male server (could not get his name) was quite rude at telling me no. I inquire, then he looks at me like I am crazy and states just 'Blue Laws.' I can respect the reasoning and the law, but you could have been more tactful. Also, if you are adhering to blue law, maybe note that the brunch menu that starts at 9am should be modified. I noticed after that, that same server was more attentive to other tables than ours. Luckily waiting staff were coming around go check on us. The food was good, continued coffee refills by the nice lady staff, and they had gluten free options, so it averages out to 2 stars. read more