Marilyn's Cafe

I was visiting NJ this past week and my cousin brought me to Pren. We just had coffee but it was…read morethe best cup ever! I had a decaf Americano with hazelnut. Very cute place and the staff was delightful. Highly recommend it.

We had lunch in this homey, charming little restaurant in Chester. The staff couldn't have been…read morenicer- they happily answered our questions about some of the items on the menu. I had the Smashed Sweet Potato Burger which was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had!!! A delicious brioche roll was filled with two patties made from sweet potatoes and spices, covered in pistachios and crispy shallots, then drizzled with honey. Even a non-Vegan will love this. The standard looking French fries were anything but- they were crispy and delicious with just the right amount of sea salt. The chicken tenders were cooked perfectly and seemed freshly made not frozen. Everyone had to have a taste. The dessert was the showstopper- citrus olive oil cake topped with whipped cream and orange zest. The texture was amazing and it was incredibly delicious. My young grandson had a dish of vanilla ice cream, which also looked standard until you tasted it- super creamy with a strong vanilla flavor that was really outstanding. Everyone enjoyed their meal, which was reasonably priced. I honestly can't wait to go there again. Located off the Main Street , it is easy to miss but be sure to seek it out- you won't be disappointed.

Inside

See all

Note: freshly made items may take longer to prepare

El Monte Coffee Roasters

4.5(78 reviews)

Stopped in the other day after a run and had a wonderful experience. Place was decorated super cute…read morefor Valentine's Day. Ordered a classic iced coffee with oat milk and vanilla and my husband got a black coffee. Both were great. Had a great taste to them. Really loved it and can proudly say this will be a regular stop for me now. They have an assortment of pastries, however we didn't purchase any this time around. Hope to try some out the next time I stop in!

El Monte Coffee Roasters is one of those solid, dependable spots that does what it's supposed to…read moredo, no fireworks, no overpromising, just good coffee and good vibes. The amaretto iced coffee is smooth, slightly sweet, and easy to drink, and the chocolate chip scone understood the assignment, buttery, loaded with chips, and gone way too fast. Inside, you've got shelves stacked with coffee jars like a caffeine apothecary, burlap coffee sacks casually flexing their single-origin credentials, and just enough cozy chaos to remind you this place is serious about beans. Outside, there's a festive little setup with lights, a giant present looking entrance (Santa clearly approves), and a tiny free library because caffeine and books are a power combo. Bonus points for enjoying the coffee from the car like a true commuter philosopher. Is this the kind of coffee that'll change your life? No. Is it the kind that makes your morning better and your drive more tolerable? Absolutely. The two baristas are elite: no small talk, no life stories, just order pour go. Morning efficiency at its finest. Bonus points for Spanish speakers, because coffee sounds better en español. Rápido, directo, sin vueltas

See all

Mini Mac Diner

4.4(61 reviews)

1.4 mi

After passing this place many times, today we stopped in for breakfast. So glad we did! The food,…read morevibe and service were all phenomenal! We definitely recommend the corn cakes, but everything we had was excellent.

(!CASH ONLY!) What a special place!!! I want to bring everyone here. The service is so comforting…read moreand sweet. You truly feel at home. The inside has 6 tables and about 5 stools at the counter. They have scrapple! My favorite breakfast meat (more of a mystery meat). I had scrambled eggs and scrapple with rye toast that came with home fries and my husband had eggs, toast, and home fries. We split the FAMOUS corn cakes. They are everything I dreamed they would be and more. Sweet, fluffy, but also melt in your mouth. They're almost better than regular pancakes. So stinkin good. If you forgot cash (like me), there's a ShopRite 4 minutes away that has a WellsFargo atm. Can't wait to go back.

Inside

Western Omelette (special) came with home fries and choice of toast, $9

See all

This would make a great tshirt!

Sally Lunns Tea Rooms & Antiques

3.4(240 reviews)

Love Sally Lunns chicken pot pie and all the bake goods are delicious. There are also a robust…read moreselection of teas.

Stopped over the weekend when we were apple picking in the area for a little tea time lunch…read more Unfortunately, it was quite busy, so the line was long. They do things a bit interestingly at Sally Lunn's; when you try to put your name down on a waiting list, they decline a phone number or name, and only ask for your party size. While I trust the front of staff have great memory, I do believe my quoted 10-15 minute wait was stretched to 40 minutes since the front of staff could recognize who spoke with her, but not who she spoke with first. Unless you are very assertive and wait right in front of the service counter, it was common for same party sizes after you to be called first. The interior was quite homely, like visiting a grandmother's house, and was charming in its own way. Service was slow during the busy weekend rush, and from seating to talking to our server was another 10 minute wait, and from ordering to when we received our food was another 45 minute wait. Food-wise, I was disappointed with what we recieved. The Sally blend and Buckingham Palace blend were great tea selections, but just about the only enjoyable hot items coming out of the kitchen. The lobster mac&cheese was super watery and bland, tasting more of milk then cheese or lobster. The cottage pie was cold in the center, and lacked any flavor beyond salty. The sausage roll was tolerable, nice and flaky pastry-wise, but the sausage was meager in serving and dry and rubbery from being overcooked. We also were unfortunate enough to see a bug come crawling out of the Caesar side salad, which along with the olives, was also something that did not belong in a Caesar. The afternoon tea had a fantastic salmon sandwich, but the cucumber and cream cheese was excessively soggy and the egg salad was overpowered by mayo. The best thing we ate was definitely the apple cinnamon scone. Save yourself the wait and hassle, get this scone to go!! It was buttery and moist, had just enough cinnammon and apples without being overpacked that the scone couldn't hold it's weight; truly a lovely autumn treat (and truly the only reason this review has more than 1 star). Parking-wise, they only have a small lot, so you may have to look for other nearby lots or street parking for a spot. There is also only 1 bathroom in the facility for both genders. Overall, I think this was a local gem that is struggling with popularity traffic. Still a great option on a weekday for a tea and pastry break, but would not recommend stopping by for a full meal.

Afternoon Tea

Seafood sandwich

See all

Pasty

Maria's

3.5(134 reviews)

Stopped in with a friend to catch up and grab some small brunch. We were impressed at the different…read moredrink options and my friend enjoyed a raspberry hot chocolate!! We also split some pastries which were delicious as well. Our barista was friendly and speedy! The obviously have a great thing going! Lots of genuine italian pasta and biscotti (of which I may have to go back for!). Cold quick to go options in the fridge as well. Seating is limited but we would've sat outside if it was nicer weather. We'll have to come back soon :)

Stopped in while shopping for a decaf and had a French vanilla bean latte and it was one of the…read morebest coffees I've had in a long time. Next time I'm in the area I will definitely stop in and also try some of their yummy looking treats.

See all

Redwoods Grill & Bar

3.5(311 reviews)

1.0 mi

I hadn't been there in ages and I was pleasantly surprised! The old favorites were still on the…read moremenu while new and exciting dishes were added! They have amazing weekly specials - Currently they have: Mondays buy one special get one special free! Thursdays they have a 3 course tasting menu for $27 *check the website for more info* The service was excellent on the weekend but a but off on Monday - but it was crazy busy when we went on Monday. It can get a bit noisy when it's busy - but not a deal breaker. This is a great place for a casual date or dinner with the family !

Had a reservation for 5:15, showed up at 5:16pm. -5:45p, we…read morehad no menus and no server had come by to greet us. Had to ask for menus ourselves. -6pm the front desk was able to flag down a server for us (to recap, this is 45 min later). Had a 2.5 yr old, 1.5 yr old, and a 1 month old with us. We ordered and asked them please to bring the kids orders out as soon as possible since we had been waiting so long already. About 4 people brought out massive trays of food, none of which were for us (they also brought some of them to our table and realized it wasnt for us, it was comical at that point). -6:30pm we asked the front desk to check on at least the kids food, and they finally brought it out. the order was wrong (how do you mess up a kids food order??). Adult food came later, after we had to ask again (at which point we said if it's not made just cancel it). It then appeared. The manager ran away from my cousin when she was trying to tell him how unacceptable this experience was. Although the server and front desk said "did the manager come by? NO? OMG i will get him" at least 3 times, he never returned. He is a coward. The server comped our drinks to say sorry. The whole experience took 2 hours, 1.75 of which was waiting for menus, server, drinks, and food. Never again. The food was good (hence the 2 stars) but not worth the insane experience we had.

Firecracker Chicken Sandwich - not great.

See all

Lava cake

Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill

4.3(148 reviews)

2.3 mi

My family and I made a trip to come here. It was a bit far of a drive about 2 hours but we wanted…read moreto check it out. There wasnt any pumpkin left in the field to pick and the apples were not event there on the trees. I would definitely have to say hand down to the cute little store - there was a bakery side and oh my gosh the donuts , the cookies and the Tik Tok famous drink was out of this world. So the 2 hour trip was definitely worth the drive. The service was okay the individuals behind the counter to order the Tik Tok drink had a bit of a attitude when I was asking about questions. Just stay patient. Other then that I would highly recommend coming here and trying a piece of all of there different donuts and cookies are soo soo good. They even had a pumpkin cider donut which I never had before. Don't forget to stop by and check them out.

I took my kids and visiting family here on a Thursday when the kids had no school. I hear it can…read moreget crowded on the weekends, but on Thursday when we arrived a little before noon, it wasn't bad. They had a steady stream of newcomers but not too crowded. It was fairly easy to find though going there, my map told me to go down a treacherous gravel road which I wasn't terribly fond of. They have a moderately sized parking lot and you'll see this large, red barn. That's where you get your goodies (there's often a line) and where their store is. We stopped by for a treat first. They sell ice cream, cider floats, and what is a "TikTok famous" coffee float with donut. We got: Cider ($4) - I didn't actually drink this. I got it for my kid with food allergies. He wanted ice cream but they do not know if the ice cream they use contains eggs or not so we played it safe. My kid thought it was okay but finally finished it later. He typically prefers regular apple juice. Cider float with donut - you have a choice of no donut for $2 less. It's like a root beer float but with cider instead of root beer, black and orange sprinkles around the time of the cup, whipped cream, and a powdered cider donut over it all. I shared this with my daughter. That donut was delicious! Warm, tender, and crisp on the outside. The drink was great! I do wish it came with a spoon because it got difficult finishing the last of it. Warning: if you have one of these, the bees are coming for you. They use some sort of caramel-like sauce to get the sprinkles to stick. Overall, quite good. Maple cider donut ($3): my sister got this and she said it was amazing, but she said she thought $3 was a bit much (the unglazed donuts are $1.25 each). She's vegan, so didn't partake in the float, but she also wasn't going to ask if there's milk in the donut. If you're getting only donuts, they are purchased in the store. They have tables and chairs nearby for you to picnic and enjoy your treats. Going through the gates, there was a table but they were busy with other people so we walked right in. There is no entrance fee, which was nice. You go through the apple orchard first. It seems like most of the apples have been picked through, though there are a lot of developing apples. Some of the nicer ones were way too tall for us; they don't provide ladders. We only managed to find one that looked nice. At the end, there used to be a sunflower field and the corn maze. It's epic but you don't know how formidable until you're past the point of return and realize it's not a kids maze. We were in there for a while! Even met other kids that thought they'd be lost forever. The corn stalks are taller than a human and they're pretty dense so you can't look over or through them. It's a true maze and I was impressed. I wish they would provide a paper maze puzzle of the corn maze because I'm so curious how it is from above. Lots of dead ends. What I can say is don't lose hope. You'll get there! (When we finally found the exit, it was almost like a dream because we had been staring at corn for so long.) In hindsight, it was good we ate something first. Once done, we explored the sunflowers and saw the pumpkin patch. As we headed out, we went to pay for our lone apple and we discovered THE CORN MAZE IS NOT FREE. It's $10 per adult and $5 per kid. They charged us $1 for the single apple. I guess they work on the honor system? I didn't mind much because that maze clearly took planning. Before we left, we visited the store full of baked goodies. I got a few cider donuts, a dumpling, and a piece of crumb cake because they just brought out a fresh tray. Plus a lattice harvest pie. The pies with crumble aren't vegan, but the lattice pies are made of vegetable shortening. Restrooms! They have a row of port-a-potties by the parking lot. They're actually the cleanest ones I've been to before. No sinks but they do have a dispenser of antibacterial hand gel. The openings are a bit large so if your kid needs to use the toilets, hold onto them. Overall, it was quite enjoyable and I definitely think everyone should go through a corn maze of this caliber at least once in their life. The apple pickings were sparse but at least you get delicious floats and donuts! Note: they have gluten free goodies in the store but they are nut based (almond flour). They also had one gluten free-vegan item.

Cider float with donut - $12

See all

Gabe’s Bagels

4.7(15 reviews)

Quick service with a smile! I got and everything bagel with butter and a pork roll egg and cheese…read moreon and everything bagel. Bagels were nice and soft and the breakfast sandwich was packed with meat. Will definitely be back!

A nice bagel. Great ingredients, simple and perfect. Reminds me of the New York bagels of my…read moremisspent youth. Better than any local ( Morris Cty) bagels because they have a better recipe at Gabe's. I'm a fan!!

Bagels and cream cheeses

Everything bagel with cream cheese

See all

Linda's Biscotti

4.9(48 reviews)

The gluten free biscotti is amazing! We also got the gluten free oreo which was outstanding. The…read moreregular crumb cake, cookies, and brookies are fabulous. The staff were knowledgeable, helpful, and extremely friendly. I live over an hour away and would travel there again.

While walking around Chester we came upon Linda's Biscotti. We were warmly greeted and offered…read morefree tastes of Biscotti. I enjoyed it. Ended up buying the soft biscotti. Also got drum cake and pumpkin fridge cookies to bring home. They were excellent. I will be coming back here next time I am in Chester.

Side view of the anise, matcha, & chai tea.

See all

Chester Diner

2.7(147 reviews)

0.1 mi

this was seriously the BEST diner food i've had in Jersey thus far - no lie. i didn't go in with…read morehigh expectations, but i was pleasantly surprised. the staff was also super kind and conversational. we kept getting checked on, and were made to feel important, without it feeling performative. i will be coming back! chill ambiance too!

Great food as usually. We ordered a cheeseburger deluxe. It was cooked perfectly. The fries were…read morehot, the burger was medium! We also ordered an open face turkey dinner. My bother said the turkey was really good and the mash potatoes had nice little chunks of potatoes. My sister in law ordered a vegetable omelette! She said the omelette was very good and the potatoes were delicious. My mom got a bowl of Matzo ball soup and one pancakes. She said it was really good.

The sign needs some TLC!

Chicken and waffles

See all

Cheeseburger deluxe

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

10 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Nick T.

4 years ago

overpriced and mediocre. if you want a glass of water you will need to buy a $5 bottle. I had overcooked eggs Benedict with bland hollandaise sauce. my wife had 2 eggs a side of bacon we shared a side of sausage. $48.50. on a positive note, if you want a laugh, The owner looks like Dog the bounty hunter. read more

Mikunt H.

11 years ago

bring it B*TCH! ;-o \m/ \m/ the owner = Bit*chTit*s, while i'm sorry I missed your A*sS on Friday March the 4th @7pm, hope i'm there next time-remember YOU OPENED THIS DOOR!! ;-} "PIGS - IN - A - BLANKET" read more

Keith I.

9 years ago

This review isnt about the food or the establishment. Its about the owner and her mulletted husband. She is rude, inconsiderate, and selfish. read more

Barb J.

15 years ago

Love this place! Great food, great service. I've never had a bad meal here. Friendly, happy people, really good food.

Karen R.

4 years ago

Friendly & fast service. Awesome breakfast spot. Don't believe the bad reviews. A cute & fun spot.

John B.

9 years ago

Great place for breakfast.... the meat lovers omelet will leave you stuffed. Great local place.

Nermi O.

5 years ago

Very good breakfast place , I am not fan of the biscuit and gravy, the place is cash only also.

NoSoupForYo U.

11 years ago

Overpriced. Overhyped. Did I mention, overpriced? read more

Liz C.

16 years ago

I loved this place! The breakfast was great!

Brandy N.

13 years ago

Best diner in NJ!

Marilyn's Cafe - diners - Updated October 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Restaurants near Marilyn's Cafe

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Coffee near Marilyn's Cafe

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Breakfast near Marilyn's Cafe

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Parking near Marilyn's Cafe

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Things to Do near Marilyn's Cafe

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Cocktail Bars near Marilyn's Cafe

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Desserts near Marilyn's Cafe

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Brunch near Marilyn's Cafe

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Shopping near Marilyn's Cafe

BEST of Chester, New Jersey Thrift Stores near Marilyn's Cafe

Best of Chester

Things to do in Chester

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Marilyn's Cafe also viewed

River Star Diner

3.0

(90 reviews)

My friend was in the mood for a burger and disco fries (it was lunch, not the middle of the…read morenight-iykyk) Disco fries come smothered in gravy and covered in mozzarella cheese. She was very happy and her craving satisfied. I opted for the Greek wrap-no onions. It was good but the tzatziki sauce was watery and Contained a lot of dill, so I didn't use it. Our server was very attentive and let us sit and chat. It's always a good place to grab a bite and if you can, sit in the back booths where you have a view of the river. Save room for desert! They look fabulous!

Those of you from the Hackettstown area are well aware of the River Star Diner. For those of you…read morejust passing through you can be reassured that your meal will be good. From omelettes to double cheeseburgers with fries you'll find something you like. Next time you're in the area and stop bye. Tell them Dr. Nick sent you. Enjoy.

The Roxbury Diner

3.6

(187 reviews)

After a track meet in Roxbury, my wife and I stopped in afterwards for a quick coffee and some…read morelight fare. The service was spot on and the ambiance was very NJ Diner look. Overall a very good experience.

This is such a solid diner…read more Amazing service, food and a bonus for the bar - my kids were being wild, and a spiked coffee totally hit the spot. I always order grilled cheese at a diner, and this one definitely delivered. The chocolate chip pancakes were also delish, and the kids 'short stack' came with an enormous portion. It's a quick review for a quick and pleasant experience. This isn't far from the Randolph diner, but it's way more low-key and less crowded which was kind of nice.

Rose's Luncheonette

4.5

(57 reviews)

Great food and service.all food cooked to order perfectly…read moreWould return in a heartbeat

We were a party of 8 and welcomed by the owner who set up tables to accommodate all of us. The food…read moreand service were excellent, deftly and swiftly served omelettes and french toasts, constantly refilled bottomless coffees. The world needs more Roses Luncheonettes. Bravo and hope you stay in business forever.and the Halloween decorations were fire.

Bex Kitchen

4.0

(71 reviews)

Loved my asparagus frittata!…read more Hubby was happy with his Scotch eggs and his (delicious) coffee. Terrific table service throughout out meal! Five stars

Cute country place for breakfast/brunch which is larger inside then you would realize. They also…read morehave a lot of tables outside on the side that is also not noticeable right away. Nice menu with creative interesting choices. My husband enjoyed an egg platter with eggs made the way he wanted, country ham, & excellent bread that was grilled instead of toasted. Eggs taste like they are from a local farm as well as the ham - score! I enjoyed a frittata with a side salad - excellent. They also have a nice bakery section with interesting enticing things to enjoy. Be sure to check this place out when in the area!

Rose's Diner

3.8

(75 reviews)

Was in the area and needed to grab some Breakfast and that's when I remembered Rose's Place so I…read moreheaded over. Many years back and long before I ever started Yelping I had stopped in here and from what I could remember it was a really good diner. Although since then there's Obviously been some changes in ownership here and they definitely aren't as nice and friendly as the previous owners were. Time has a way of changing some stuff so that's not really a big deal. Anyhow the point is I've been here a few times since and have ordered some Baked Goods and Breakfast Sandwiches to go and in every case they were always very tasty and filling. Whenever I specified that I'd like my Bacon to be cooked Extra Crispy or to put Extra Taylor Ham on there they've always came through for me. Plus add to that they make a decent cup of Coffee here and you've got yourself a returning customer. Come And Get Your Munch On!!

Cozy breakfast diner with very friendly/ welcoming staff. Menu includes a lot of options with some…read morebasic affordable ones. I personally didn't like the corned beef hash and the potatoes were a bit cold but the eggs were cooked to order and the coffee was on point.

Three Brothers Restaurant

4.4

(54 reviews)

The service and vibe was so welcoming. The food was prepared exactly how I asked and my coffee cup…read morewas always tended to.

Found this hole in the wall on yelp n went for late Breakfast w 2 girl friends this morning. Had…read moregreat reviews on yelp. In the heart of Dover n there's plenty of 2 hr free street parking. Small restaurant but has @ 5-6 tables. Friendly welcoming staff. We had 2 eggs w ham home fries n toast, 2 eggs w bacon home fries n toast n scrambled egg w home fries. The food was really good n generous portions. They had banana bread on menu n we wanted to try it. But it must be really good they ran out. Tx u will sure come back again.

Paul & Christa's Diner & Family Restaurant

4.1

(38 reviews)

This is a nice place in a good area. Their food is pretty good, and the staff is very nice! The…read moreinside looks nice, and it doesn't cost much to eat there. I would recommend you come here when your in Lake Hopatcong! :-)

It's a diner. It was ok. Small place typical diner seating. Servers were young and nice but not…read morevery attractive and they were not busy. Cash only place is a tough business model anymore. Eggs sausage and bacon were good. Tough to mess those up. I would come back just for ease of getting in and it was quiet so that was nice. Bottom line it was not bad but not great.

Lidia's Place

4.3

(28 reviews)

Met up with a friend for lunch. I've been to Lidia's several times but she never has but she loved…read moreit! It's such an easy-going place. I love how casual it is. You can sit and chat enjoy your meal. Our server Wendy checked in and ensure me we had what we wanted. I grabbed a Mediterranean wrap that I loved because they used romaine lettuce and the chicken was seasoned so well. The feta cheese and dressing were perfect. My friend for the California turkey wrap w/avocado. She said it was filling and she felt like she made a healthy choice.

When we pulled into Lidia's parking lot for brunch this past Sunday, I realized that this is the…read moreold Polo Sports bar before it moved to its new location. The inside hasn't changed much, but I like the ambience of this breakfast/lunch spot. My wife and I both went for pancakes, mine blueberry, hers banana. Pancakes were delicious! Plenty of seating here and a large parking lot. Good spot if you're in the area looking for breakfast or lunch.

Andover Diner

3.5

(106 reviews)