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    Garden State Diner

    3.1 (316 reviews)
    ModerateDiners
    Closed 5:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Garden State Diner Photos

    GARDEN STATE DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Reviews With Photos

    Maria B.

    Not much is open at 4:30 in the morning, at the airport. But when the Garden State Diner opened at 5:00 am it made so many people happy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Their seating for about 60 people was filled within minutes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor was all set for Easter and adorable![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server Yessica was super attentive and provided flavors for my daughter's iced caffe latte. I normally like flavored coffee but their regular was so fresh, hot and perfect. I split a "frequent flyer" sandwich (egg, cheese, bacon) with my hubby and also a corn muffin. I didn't get pictures because I was a bit sleep deprived. But trust me, the prices were great, the food perfect and the service top notch. For an airport diner, this was a pleasant surprise.

    Banana & Honey Shake
    Helen C.

    On the scale of normal food options, it's not great, but for an airport option, Garden State Diner is pretty good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Grabbed an early dinner on a Sunday and the place was fairly empty, though it looked like only the tables against the walls had any outlets.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food is expensive as hell as expected with what is effectively a side salad with no protein dropping you $20. I did appreciate that no one rushed us and the food is classic diner; nothing life changing, but sometimes getting exactly what you expect is just what you want. Just got a bunch of food to share and everything is exactly what you would expect. Berry waffle was sweet, light, and paired great with the whipped cream. Greek salad was pretty small for a serving size and lettuce was a little sad, but passable. Fries were also just fine, could be amped up more on the salt and crunch. Now, the rockstar at the table was definitely the Banana & Honey shake. This is made with real banana and tons of honey. Super sweet, but it was actually a great shake, definitely restaurant quality! TLDR: Banana & Honey Shake is a winner, everything else is fine. Pricing is exactly what you'd expect for an airport.

    The Nutella Nut Job Shake
    Roxanne B.

    The bagel with BEC was delicious!!! The Cuban with coleslaw also delicious!!! The fruit parfait I would skip and it's way overpriced. The Nutella shake was good too. The service was below par, once they take your order you never see your waitress again:( They also add on a 3% employee retention to your tab not sure if it's NJ thing or not. Overall I would eat again but get it to go.

    Suzette S.

    Wow! Nostalgic "Happy Day" vibes!! From the decor, Doo wop music , Counter seating And of course milk shakes! Loved the desserts stated "Dish of ice cream" Our Server Eric was friendly, attentive and checked in on us! Thank you Eric! Hubby and I ordered the frequent flyer breakfast sandwich! Hubby ordered coffee , Complimentary refills. I loved my cafe latte! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Steady stream of take out orders and dine in customers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Awesome way to start our getaway!

    Garden State Diner yum
    Geneen G.

    The coffee was awesome and the toasted bagel was on point. The gal at the register was friendly and kind which made it THAT much better. Sometimes going out of your Starbucks comfort zone does pay off

    Stephy S.

    Restaurant located in the Newark airport. Opens 5am for those who are there for 7am international flights! Good decent. Prices reasonable. Nice service. There is also a to-go kiosk.

    BLT with fries
    Katy C.

    I stumbled upon the Garden State Diner and decided to stop in for lunch before making my connecting flight back to GRR. I was seated right away and my server was very polite. It was bustling and busy when I was there. I ordered the BLT with fries and it came out quickly. The lettuce and tomato were fresh, and the bacon was crispy. The fries were better than I was expecting - not my personal favorite style (the thicker diner style fries) but they were hot and fresh too. Overall a decent version of a classic diner plate. My total including tip was just over $20, which I thought was pretty reasonable for an airport restaurant. It took a little bit to get my check, but I wasn't in a hurry. You can also get an order to go.

    Turkey melt and fries
    Monyca M.

    My turkey melt was so good!! Fresh and crispy. Fries could be better. But I had the nicest server.

    Patricia Z.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute retro diner in Terminal C at Newark Airport.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service is great. Everyone wss so friendly. Food was delicious. Great way to start the vacation coffee made fresh!

    Pepper Jack Turkey Melt
    Kevin C.

    Looking for a place to eat and this was near our gate. Didn't bother to check Yelp as we saw many patrons, although wish I did as I would've since had second thoughts after the meal. This place is pretty average, and with the expensive prices... below average. Ambiance does give you a bustling diner feel. Service was on the slower end and had to get servers attention more water. Wish they asked when our flight was as we cut it pretty close to boarding time. Also, could not substitute side salad for fries. Frequent Flyer Breakfast Sandwich - 2.5/5 - No frills and made just how it was described. Skimpy on the bacon. Would've been better if it came with atleast one side. Pepper Jack Turkey Melt - 2/5 - Looked generous with the cheese but soon after one bite the sandwich was just OK. Turkey had a fresh taste, pepper jack was extremely mild in both spice and taste. Once I started to eat, the sandwich felt very dry. Needed ranch, ketchup, and hot sauce (lol). Coleslaw was smothered in mayo. Chili Cheese Fries - 3.5/5 - Filled up a whole plate and became a highlight of the meal with lots of cheese and decent chili. Fries were lightly crisp and starchy but went well with the heartiness of the chili.

    The Hungry Traveler and hot Lipton tea
    G. S.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]3.5 stars for food; 5 stars for service, cleanliness, and their amazing Banana and Honey Shake![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you're like my hubby who likes to get to the airport at least 3.5 hrs before our flight, then you have plenty of time to walk around or eat. There were 3 in our party. Hubby and Sis thought their burgers were average, I had the Hungry Traveler breakfast, also average tasting pancakes (somewhat overcooked), 2 eggs, bacon & sausage. Service was good for a busy lunch crowd. I believe Ivette took our order and was nice. She gives a lot of thumbs up when checking on us. There is an older salt n pepper haired host/waiter and a young head-shaven w/a black beard guy who really stood out as friendly and hard-working. No one was slacking off, it's just that those two guys were very welcoming, apologized for the wait or thanked customers for their patience and seemed to like their job.

    BLT

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    4 months ago

    Never again! Food was OK, but the Manager was horrible to his employees. Some people should just not be in charge. SMH

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    Ask the Community - Garden State Diner

    Kind of a stupid question but can you go to this diner if you're not flying out of the airport?

    Yes but only if you can get past security and for that you normally need a boarding pass.

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    Blueprint Cafe Lounge

    Blueprint Cafe Lounge

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    (216 reviews)
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    Loved the vibe here…read more Had a business lunch here and honestly it was a great choice. I can't take credit for choosing it. A super comfortable, not too loud or busy atmosphere. I got the Matcha pineapple juice and a Cesar salmon salad. The dressing was super different. It was a tomato Caesar which I've never encountered in the wild. That was absolutely delicious. I'd love to stop back and try some other things. If you're around here you gotta check it out.

    My bestie requested Blueprint Cafe Lounge as her post Cherry Blossom Festival 10k meal. I put the…read morecoordinates in my GPS but couldn't understand why it was going to take me nearly 30 minutes to get to. Follow me here: do you remember club Love in DC (early 2000s)? The location is similar - a place that wouldn't be on your radar unless you know. I say all that to say, upon pulling up I remembered attending a private birthday party and some community networking events at Blueprint Cafe! We selected our own seating upon entry. What became our waiter offered a high chair for the baby. I get easily overwhelmed by large menus so I just glanced at the board but focused primarily on the brunch menu. I ordered the Irish Cream French toast which came with chicken. I also ordered a pineapple matcha lemonade. The pineapple matcha lemonade came in a bottle, which met my needs (juggling the baby and myself). I loved how refreshing and sweet it was! I really wanted another but didn't want to see greedy. The French toast was perfect. Not too sweet, light and fluffy. It paired well with the savory strips of chicken which came with a secret sauce. I forgot how nice of an addition Blueprint Cafe Lounge was to the Ironbound section. I'm looking forward to returning this summer and using the outdoor seating!

    Photos
    Inside restaurant
    Inside restaurant
    Vegan Mac and cheese.
    Vegan Mac and cheese.
    Lavender mocha macchiato with Oatmilk!

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    Lavender mocha macchiato with Oatmilk!
    Chit Chat Diner

    Chit Chat Diner

    3.6
    (758 reviews)
    8.1 mi
    $$

    I've come here many times and they never disappoint The…read morespecials menu changes often and they come with a starter soup, I've gotten the Matzo Ball soup, split pea and this time I got the Clam Chowder. I absolutely loved the teriyaki Salmon salad last time and switched it up for the Ahi Tuna Sandwich this time. Portions are decent and after the soup you will be full. The ambiance of the place is definitely the best part. You get an Alice in Wonderland kind of vibe. It can get busy during lunch hours but if are able to get window seatings you'll get a view of the New York skyline (if the city pollution allows) The only negative is they're drinks are more on the pricier side that. I get the alcoholic ones but I'm referring to soda, coffee, etc

    First time here and I love the decor! The outside and it are pretty unique. To start, I ordered the…read moreNutella cold brew which was a bit too sweet for my preference but it was tasty. To eat, I ordered the Greek omelet with a side of avocado and it was yummy! Not too heavy or light just the right amount of flavor and texture. Hash browns were partly crispy which I loved. I wasn't too fond for the multigrain bread but I'm a bread snob who makes their own sourdough so that may be why . We ended our visit with a slice of cherry pie with ice cream and loved how light and not too sweet it was! Service was great, attentive, friendly and pleasant. Would come again!

    Photos
    The line
    The line
    Greek Yogurt
    Greek Yogurt
    Pancakes

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    Pancakes

    Garden State Diner - diners - Updated July 2026

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