Saturday 11/8/2025 around noonish Party of 2 and we were sat quickly. We ordered 2 coffee which took a bit as our waitress had to brew a new/ fresh pot. Shrimp and Grits were okay could have added some peppers and onions to shrimp. Crispy Cobb Salad was good no complaints. This is a nice spot for a quick chat n chew. Our waitress was amazing. Friendly, Courteous, and Attentive without being overbearing. read more

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Disappointing experience from start to finish. We arrived as a party of four and were initially told to wait. We were eventually seated at a table that could accommodate five people, only to have the host immediately mention that the table was normally saved for parties of five -- but that we could stay anyway. It was an odd and unnecessarily uncomfortable way to start a meal. We considered leaving at that point but decided to give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning. We waited more than 20 minutes before anyone came to take our order. The restaurant was fairly empty, which made the delay even harder to understand. The coffee arrived tasting burnt. Our food then took more than 30 additional minutes to come out, and when it finally reached the table, it was cold. I ordered an omelette with fries. The fries were noticeably undercooked, so I sent them back. The replacement order came out cold and still not properly cooked. At that point, there really wasn't much reason to send anything else back. What stood out most was that we weren't the only customers having issues. We watched other parties become frustrated and leave because they had been sitting too long without anyone attending to their table. I understand restaurants can have difficult days, especially when they are busy or understaffed. But this was a fairly empty dining room with extremely slow service, burnt coffee, cold food, and improperly cooked sides. A diner should be able to consistently deliver three basic things: welcoming service, hot coffee, and properly prepared food. Unfortunately, this visit missed on all three. Management should seriously review both front-of-house service and kitchen execution. Based on this experience, I would have a difficult time returning. read more

Came here on a Tuesday morning and it was fairly empty when we got in at around 9 AM, but by 9:20 it got very busy. We were not greeted right away, and it took a while for our order to be taken, which seemed inconvenient considering that when we walked in, there was only one other table . I order their make your own omelette, which was OK. It didn't have much flavor and the mushrooms were a bit hard. The toast was very buttery, which was in bad, but it did feel like they had put a lot more than one may want on it. The coffee was also OK, a bit bitter for my liking and they didn't have any milk just the creamer that comes in the prepackaged cups . They have a lot of seating and pretty good light as well as decorations near the window. Unfortunately, one of the glasses we were given, was very chipped and it looked dirty - thankfully it wasn't dirty, but it was still not great that we were given a chipped glass. Overall, I unfortunately, will not be coming back here as the quality of the food was not what I would've liked. read more

Montclair Diner - 20. (3) Combo Omelette - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Remove the eggplant panini out the menu . This dish was so oily I couldn't eat it . This 300lbs guy was hungry and didn't even eat the food.the coffee is not even good . Sorry but I'll pass on this one . read more

Came here on the reference of a friend who said she had a great brunch. I was in the mood for waffle so I stopped to through. When I walked in, there were a few patrons and I was greeted warmly by the hostess. Since I was alone I got choice of seating in any of the 2 seated booths. I ordered the waffle but customized it and my waitress was very patient and attentive. Never said something wasn't available or couldn't be substituted. My food came and I enjoyed it. Didn't think I would like the lemon curd but it was quite tasty and the tartness balanced out the sweet from the strawberries and syrup. The atmosphere was chill as a diner has that vibe. I enjoyed my time. Only negative I would say is the addle wasn't as hot as I'd like it. Otherwise I would return for another Sunday brunch. Seems like some tasty items on the extensive menu. read more

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Great experience and food. This is a French toast flight. Lemon curd, cheese cake, and berries. Delicious. Try the crab cake Benedict or the chicken and waffles. read more

Montclair Diner - Menu shot - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I mean listen the staff was super funny and friendly, but let's get down to the nitty gritty where what actually matters, the food. I ordered a patty melt, it came over cooked, and completely dried out.. and topped with YELLOW AMERICAN CHEESE. i'm sorry, what? Thick yellow american.. absolutely terrible! also, Came with no pickle no coleslaw ( I had to ask for it to go once we were ready to leave) to take it to go.. and still didn't get the pickle, just a few coleslaws lol...my party made the mistake of getting grilled cheese and it was like they took a craft single and layed it on the worst & thinnest bread i've ever seen. the bacon, on the grilled cheese, which was asked to be well done, was service rubbery and undercooked. I can't imagine running a diner and knowing this was how my food was being served .. would not recommend this spot when there are so much better choices. read more

This is a cool spot to grab breakfast. I was invited here and I expected typical dinner food. I ordered western omelette w/ homefries and a side of short stack pancakes. Everything was decent. I wasn't a fan of the pancakes, however the other items were good. Coffee was on point and that was so appreciated. Staff was attentive and they brought fun and positivity energy to the table. read more

The food was delicious and well seasoned. I ordered the chicken and waffles and was very surprised that it was a large portion of food for the price. All of the prices are decent and there is a large selection of menu items. I found out later on that this is a black-owned business, which is definitely a plus! The waitress Nayla was very attentive. read more

Montclair Diner - Great location! - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Ordered Easter Meals to go at Montclair Diner on Easter. The fried chicken meals cost around $55 for 2. Fried chickens were tiny & dry. Only 1 side dish included instead of 2. Fried chicken TV dinner probably tastes better & more filling. Thank you Montclair diner for ruining my Easter. read more

Montclair Diner - Easter Meals for 2 - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

The fried chicken here is top tier!! The waffles were a bust imo, but the fried chicken totally made up for it! I've heard nothing but great things about Montclair Diner so I decided to meet a friend for brunch. The diner is located in the heart of upper Montclair! There's street parking which can be a pain but I was lucky enough to find a spot right across the street. The inside is old and dated but hey it's a jersey diner so I didn't expect anything else. We went on a Saturday and surprisingly there was no wait. The waitress we had was patient and answered all of the many questions we had about the menu. There's so much on the menu to choose from so it was very hard to decide on what to get. This is not your average diner!! She highly suggested the chicken & waffles so that's what I went with. If you decide to order fried chicken, keep in mind that it's cooked to order and will take time to come out. Trust me- IT IS WORTH THE WAIT! Sadly I didn't enjoy my waffle. My friend ordered French toast and it was absolutely amazing! I'll be sure to order that next time. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at MD & look forward to returning! read more

Montclair Diner - Chicken & Waffles - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Server had a great personality and was very helpful. The piece of fried chicken I had from my aunt's plate was crispy and flavorful. What I ordered was not tasty at all. I order the pick any 2 fry basket. I ordered the shrimp and fish and asked for mashed potatoes instead of French fries. The presentation was awful. It looked like they just slapped the food on the platter. The shrimp was over cooked and the took one small piece of fish and cut it into 4 smaller pieces and was undercooked. I was able to get it recooked but it only was reheated and not still not fully cooked. read more

Breakfast was especially good. Prices are reasonable and above is comfortable and intimate.

Awful Never going back Cold food that was like it was sitting for a week. Wait service was poor at best. Stay away read more

Food was okay, I ordered an omelet with home fries because they don't have hash browns. Server recommended the french -toast sticks I believe that's what their known for and honestly iv had way better else where unfortunately. My boyfriend got a hamburger he said that was good. The lemonade was freshly made and that was great it was refreshing. The server was really cool and recommended a lot of the food, he seemed to take pride in his lemonade hahaha I gave him credit because it was delicious. The reason why I'm giving it 2stars is because the place was absolutely filthy dirty and I'll probably never come back to eat here. It was so dirty that it seemed like they are just starting to neglect the place. The baby seats were so nasty I left my baby in the stroller. The floor was filled with black idk what it was .... And the tables were cleaned with dirty towels because of the stains on the table it was just horrible. I can't imagine the kitchen. they really let their gaurd down. read more

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Hate to update with bad news. But this diner is sooooo inconsistent. It was really amazing the first few times I went. So good I brought more and more people to try the food. But it's just gone down hill from there. Multiple occasions I have ordered the same breakfast to go - egg, corn beef hash, potatoes. The portion sizes are highly variable. And they put anything in your box if you order to go. Dried up food. Burnt food. And don't call back to complain sassy mr rican has the nerve to catch attitude instead of trying to make sure the customer is taken care of. I ventured out of my comfort diner food once to try the meatloaf dinner that's highly praised and the only thing missing in the reviews was the trash can. Yuck. The diner itself is always freezing freezing cold too. Servers are always trying to kick people out. I went during the pandemic months and the server legit told was we had to leave, although the diner was empty, while my friend and I were still drinking our coffees. Complained to Elliott and he just said o sorry to hear that. Decided last weekend to give this place one more try. -_- My bestie and I ordered a simple breakfast. Eggs bacon potatoes. Food came out pretty quickly. but it was sooooooo soooo dry. The eggs were cooked to hell. And the potatoes omg. Seemed like they cooked those potatoes at the start of the pandemic and just decided to serve them that day. Like who is the "chef"? Why would you think serving a heaping lump of extremely dry, crunchy breakfast potatoes would be ok? No quality control of their food. They just serve anything. We complained and the waitress brings out one serving of new potatoes and says we can share them! The hell, we ordered two breakfast with eggs bacon and potatoes and both were dry as hell. So therefore you should bring out potatoes for both meals. Ridic. And the ones they brought out were no better than the first. Done with Montclair diner. TOPs will keep my money. Better quality food. Better service. Not inconsistent. read more

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My buddy and I had brunch Saturday and as expected, all went well. The yummy french toast was delicious. The service was great and the location is ideal. I will be returning with friends and family regularly. read more

Montclair Diner - Yummy French Toast Almond "Coconut" Joy w/ Chocolate Chips - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

The only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is because they were under staffed. But even with just two servers on a busy Friday morning, they got the job done! We tried both the Classic French Toast and Yummy French Toast. Both were to die for! The perfect amount of sweetness and flavor! The parfait was also surprisingly good. While it was not aesthetically pleasing, the ingredients tasted super fresh and delicious! Definitely a must try in Montclair! read more

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Came here on a cold winter day in the evening to grab a quick bite as we were in the area and wanted to try this diner. Place is not huge but not super tight either and has comfortable booth seating. Staff is super nice and helpful. We ordered a few things off the menu, everything was just okay: shrimp and grits was missing the flavor, my pancakes weren't flaky at all and the only thing which stood out was their sausage bug apart from that food didn't impress us. read more

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A friend told me about this diner so we went yesterday. She raved about their breakfast items, I will have to try that another time. I ordered the garlic parmesan pasta with salmon (i wanted the shrimp, but i asked the server if it comes w/the tail on and sadly, yes they do - which is annoying, to me). Anyway, the garlic parmesan cream sauce was excellent, salmon cooked to perfection (not dry or undercooked at all), the broccoli was delicious but not generous, i could have used more broccoli and maybe add in some sautéed onions. The lemon chicken soup that came with my meal was absolutely awful - TOO much lemon flavoring, it was just completely inedible. My friend ordered chicken & pancakes as a combo and seemed to enjoy it! The service was good - a bit pushy leaving a hint that they need/want your table for the next patrons. Otherwise, it was a good experience. I am not in a hurry to go again but I LOVE the menu options. Glad I went! read more

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I've lived in Montclair for 20 years and go here from time to time. Recent visit was just no fun. Service was inattentive and slow, even though we were the only ones in the restaurant. Server was oddly hostile when we asked for normal stuff like mayonnaise, or our bill. No water refills. Wrap was supposed to include avocado but there was no avocado. Dirty plates left sitting forever after we finished. Had to get charge removed for a drink we didn't order. There is a 3.5% surcharge for credit (offer a discount for cash if you want to play this game, business owner). I want to support our local businesses but please improve the food and service. read more

Prior to writing this review I looked to see what others were saying recently..."inconsistent" is the common word I saw...we like Montclair diner and have been there before. We don't live close by. Last time we went prior to today December 17 was last yr. We arrived a little before noon. Diner was busy but there were tables available and we were seated quickly. As we sat down we noticed the smell of something burning...it did take about 10 mins before our waiter came over to take our order...wifey really likes the diner's specialty "Yummy French Toast" that uses challah bread and is topped with this cheesecake whipped topping as one of their options...Very rich and delicious. Along with that we each got typical egg plates, 2 eggs, meat, home fries, and toast. We waited approx 25 mins before the food arrived...almost as long as my drive there and long for short order cooking but...we rolled with it...food came out...Home fries were tepid to cold, my pork roll was cold. The over medium eggs I asked for came out over hard. My wife's food wasn't that hot either and the scrambled eggs were overcooked/browned...I didn't want to send anything back and wait further. We had already driven 35+ mins to get there...as I was eating I saw no less than 3 plates go back to the kitchen. I also heard other people say "smells like something is burning"...during the time we ate I did request water. Never got it. The waiter checked to on us but it was when we were completely done with our meal...what diner doesn't have a waiter walking around topping off coffee??? I never was asked and no one was topping off...I didn't notice it right away but my wife saw we only got 1 slice of toast that was cut in half...most diners you get 2 slices of toast cut in half...but this wasn't a huge deal to me...I don't need the carbs anyway but it's the principle...before we left we ordered an additional french toast to go...I checked the bag because I had a hunch there would be an issue based on how the whole experience had gone up to that point and I was correct...the french toast was missing the cheesecake topping. I signaled the owner who was next table over helping bring food out and he got the topping for us and graciously apologized. He did ask how the service was and I gave him that "eh" facial expression...I think he was aware that today wasn't the smoothest...and that's the thing...I am not sure if today was an anomaly or the new state of affairs at Montclair Diner. I like supporting BO businesses, our past experiences were generally good, even when the diner was busy...but my experience today and some of the reviews in the past yr have me concerned that things may be slipping. I paid $60 for breakfast and paid a toll in each direction and unfortunately didn't feel like it was worth it...as we got the bill the waiter did apologize for "anything I may have done wrong"...so he was conscious there were mishaps. Appreciate the apology though...experience felt less like a feel good meal at a mom and pops and more like the problems I have had at an iHop...I am hopeful that my next visit will be better...if not I may have to skip the extended drive in the future and go to Park Ave Diner...Tina always takes care of us there and the egg creams are on point. read more

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Went here for brunch on a Monday. Good, friendly, fast service. GF got three pancakes and Taylor ham. I got a turkey triple decker and subbed home fries for the french fries. Standard fare for a diner but they were both really good. We will definitely back to try more of the menu. read more

Montclair Diner - Three pancakes with Taylor ham - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Pricing is not what is reflected on the menu, almost $13 for mozzie sticks? WHAT The wait staff brings you food and then they disappear to talk to each other. They never ask if you would like a refill and the food is nothing great. I asked for a well done burger and it's red inside! Happened a few times here. Won't return!! read more

I just stopped by here for lunch a few days ago while I was in the area and so happy I did!! Finally, a restaurant that went that extra mile for us low carb / keto followers! First, the food - Only place in the surrounding area that truly caters to low carb / keto diets by baking daily fresh no carb bread (I was told it was made with almond flour and parmesan cheese as some of the ingredients). You can then opt to have the no carb bread as a replacement for every meal on the menu. I can't remember the last time I've had a philly cheese steak, but I basically licked that plate clean. It wasn't just the bread, but the steak they used was good as well. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying their keto benedict or a bacon cheeseburger! Another huge plus - the staff was actually one of the friendliest I have encountered in a very long time. Very happy and engaging, helping me with suggestions on the menu, explaining what their keto options were. Not only that, but while I was there, I watched them interact with all of their customers coming and going, and it all felt very homey, like visiting your favorite aunt or grandma's house and everyone was welcomed as a friend. The location - it's a diner, not huge, not modern looking or fancy like some of the other places in Montclair, but as I mentioned above, has that welcoming vibe you feel the instant you walk in. Probably my only complaint here was street parking only. Definitely coming back! read more

Montclair Diner - Philly cheesesteak on keto fresh baked bread! - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Montclair Diner has 4 stars for the friendliest staff, service, and serving "keto" food. If you are keto and want bread and you are way too lazy to cook... come here and have their keto bread with whatever you want.... I had the cheesesteak and it was pretty good... I should of asked them to toast the bread to a crisp. I spoke to one of the Co Owner's Eliot and he said they are working on keto pancakes and waffles WOO HOO!!!!! There's metered parking in the front and parking lot in the back. I'm definitely coming back. read more

Montclair Diner - Kids had a Belgian waffle with bacon - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Their breakfast specials sounded intriguing, but unfortunately I came for dinner which I don't think is their time to shine. My boyfriend ordered a Coke and got a can of Coke, which I thought was odd as I saw a sofa fountain machine. I guess it's because he specified Coke instead of Pepsi? His meal also came with a soup so he got a lemon chicken, but it was SO lemony instead of a pleasant hint. I got the Santa Barbara wrap (Grilled Chicken, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomatoes & Swiss Cheese) and it was fine, nothing amazing. BF's chicken dish was pretty good but the broccoli was flavorless. They didn't have any pie displays like I enjoy seeing in diners so we didn't get any dessert. For a diner, they are only open until 8. I like my diners 24 hours or at least late into the night. The food was average, but it was pretty reasonably priced, so if you were in the area, it's an okay place to stop. I would consider coming back for their breakfast (they listed fall flavors for French toast like pumpkin/hot chocolate/etc) but the dinner was mediocre but it did the job. read more

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The food was good when I finally got it. The waiter originally gave my food to the table in front of me, maybe because she was an older lady who was also alone and he got confused as to which one was to get that dish. And after I had to get out of my seat to order coffee from the greeter. Because once I got my food I asked if I could get a coffee. He never came back. I saw him playing around at the register and tried to get his attention. Needless to say that didn't happen.He must have forgotten about me because I was seated in a dark corner at a table that barely fit my plate. Woopie must have been their friend. Because I never got any feelings of warmth. read more

The order was delivered but the shrimp and grits were awesome. The shrimp are jumbo I believe and the seasoning is spot on! read more

Montclair Diner - Shrimp & Grits - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Came on a Sunday. Very clean and friendly diner. Went with family, and all our portions were generous and filling. Definitely a level above your regular diner. Next time, I will try their waffles or French toast! read more

Been coming here for the past 7 years and it's my go-to diner even though I live on the South End. Mainly because they have a parking lot and it's easy to find street parking but also because of the owner Gus' friendly welcome each and every time. Everything here is good. The breakfast pancakes, waffles, corn beef hash, sausage, bacon, etc. The lunch is very good too. The portions are a good size (they don't skimp) so you always leave full here. read more

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Classic breakfast spot with wonderful and prompt service. The portions are generous - we had a 9 am breakfast and I felt full through the early afternoon. Recommend the Chicken & Waffles and French Toast. Everyone is super friendly - it's a nice place to go in the morning. Puts you in a great mood for the rest of the day! They have a nice outdoor seating area with plants and a colorful mural. read more

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First time here and loved the feel of the place. The staff was very friendly and our server was willing to accommodate our requests. The menu has a large variety and options to satisfy everyone in your party and I love that it's breakfast all day. Our meals were delicious! Look forward to coming here again next time I'm in town! read more

Montclair Diner - Strawberry Yummy French Toast (Choose Your Flavor) - Diners Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I discovered Montclair Diner through DoorDash and I have ordered from here many times and I am very satisfied with the quality of all the items relative to the price. DoorDash pricing is getting out of control and Montclair Diner is one of the few spots that still have reasonable prices and good quality. I usually order breakfast like pancakes, omelettes, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee and I have been happy with the orders. There are a few more items on the menu that I really want to try out including the crab cakes Benedict, shrimp and grits, and burgers and I look forward to that. read more

Super friendly service and my delicious breakfast was served promptly. Did I mention the great coffee? Awesome!

Everything that I've ordered there has been cooked well. The servers are very polite and know what they're doing. I highly recommend this place! read more

A Montclair gem my husband and are Foodies that never have food in the house. Starving Sunday morning, we wanted a hearty breakfast. Montclair diner did not disappoint. The decor represents the love for Montclair and my childhood diner. Knick knacks and newspapers. I ordered the shrimp and grits and my husband ordered feta, spinach omelette, beef sausage and toast. A large bowl of smooth grits mixed with garlic butter, topped with a lot of shrimp, and a garnish. The carrot, corn, pepper and onion garnish was a game changer. I got a complimentary mimosa with my breakfast and endless refills on our coffee. The staff makes you feel more like a great friend/family than a customer. It was a great way to start the day after a red eye flight. We will become regulars. read more

Went to the Montclair Diner for a quick Sunday brunch and was pleasantly surprised. We were seated promptly and attended to right away. We go the Chicken and Spicy Waffle as well as a Lemon Curd French Toast. Both were absolutely delicious. The music was great and everyone was so attentive and nice. Definitely would recommend read more

The quest continues of trying to hit every diner in Jersey with a stop in Upper Montclair. All the staples you'd expect - from the battered booths to the beaten up menus (including pictures taken from when Kodak were first introducing color photography) to the busboy that materializes out of nowhere to clean up a table and then immediately disappears. The stuff worth hyping: the nicest staff from top to bottom... each one couldn't have been warmer or more welcoming. The food came out fast (a bonus since my kids were starving and cranky) and fairly priced (especially considering we're in the upper part of Montclair... this is where someone like Stephen Colbert might be milling about, ya know!). The bad news: only the Mrs. really dug her meal, the rest of us were disappointed. My dish had a lot of interesting components (chicken, avocado, etc.) but it reminded me of hospital food... bland and underseasoned. The Montclair Diner has been chugging for 96 years and I hope they continue another 96 but 'one and done' is where this one gets filed for me. read more

5/5 - exceptionally friendly staff 4/5 - food is pretty good and very big menu 4.5/5 - nice bathrooms read more