Al's Luncheonette is a friendly neighborhood spot in Manalapan that's worth checking out. It has a…read morecomfortable, old-school feel that gives it a lot of character. The service was quick and welcoming, and everyone made us feel at ease right away. The food was tasty and came out hot and fresh. Nothing fancy, just good, solid cooking done well. Portions were generous without being over the top, and everything we tried was good. My son got the French toast special which comes with 2 eggs, 2 bacon. Sausage and hash browns. He took on the challenge and tried to finish the plate but he simply couldn't. It's the kind of place that feels familiar, even if it's your first time there. Simple, friendly, and reliable--just what you want from a local luncheonette. I'll definitely be stopping back in the next time I'm in town.

Hubs and I were looking for a breakfast place to go to that we haven't been and we found this…read moreplace through Yelp. After reading the reviews, we decided to check it out. There was a slight wait when we arrived , but we got seated almost immediately. Hubs ordered the Englishtown skillet, which has peppers, onion, potatoes, mushroom, broccoli, scramble, cheddar jack cheese. He said that this is one of the better skillets that he's had so far. It isn't frozen potatoes tossed in there. Hubs said that they put in so many vegetables that he didn't know what kind of potatoes they used. He was very happy with it. LOL. I ordered the 3 Golden brown griddle cakes with 2 eggs over easy. I liked it and this is my usual go to. But, hubs thought that it could be a little bit better. Service was quick and friendly. Will return to try other items on the menu.

Great Food, Great Service, Great Ambiance…read more Always walk Out of Restaurant feeling full, Happy and satisfied. Service is superior says I, whose was a waitress for 30 years. Never heard anyone complain about small portions because Everyone walks out with a "doggie bag" Great restaurant.

Please stay open late on weekends!! Would be a hit with all kids and parents alike! For a local…read moredinner , food is great! wish they stayed open late on weekends! would be GREAT to have local diner open till 12am weekends! late night diners were always a hit and staple in my local neighborhoods! food VERY TASTY! i've had the pastrami rubin, grilled cheese, breakfast sandwiches as well as hamburgers/cheese burgers , etc and enjoyed them all! Never any issues with food. always hot and prepared wonderful! staff and service always friendly and attentive! ambience is appropriate for a small local dinner with fair prices. great local "joint" for this neighborhood! only thing i'd wish is that they stayed open later! would be great on weekends to have a diner open till 12am instead of just local pizza. Teens and parents I think would love to have diner food late nights on weekends!!

After reading the reviews, Hubs and I decided to give this place a try. We were immediately seated…read moreafter arriving. This place is an old luncheonette and minimalist, at best. Place is frequented by local workers stopping by for breakfast or lunch. We got here a little after 11:30, so the breakfast menu wasn't available. The lunch menu was limited. Hubs ordered the fish and tomato sandwich with raw onions. It was served in a kaiser roll and he liked it. I got the California cheeseburger with macaroni salad and this was pretty good as well. I liked the macaroni salad. It was't vinegary. Everything was served on a kaiser roll. Price was inexpensive. There was one server working the place. Service was quick and friendly. Glad we got to give this place a try!

Within the small town of Englishtown, you will find the luncheonette that represents Manalapan with…read moreits omelets. Brand: 4/5 Manalapan Luncheonette has served Manalapan Township for about 50 years. It manages to retain its relevance to this very day. I will say that the Western aesthetics only fit a small diner like this for so much. Is it a Western-themed or Western-inspired eatery? I cannot say. Nonetheless, I did like the inspiration, from the square building to the menu items. I also liked the ceramic plates that come in any color, and the wall décor from the banjo to the small, quote canvases. Website: 4/5 It has a simple design, with the basic scroll from the opening image to the basic description to the Google map of Manalapan Luncheonette's location. I cannot say the brown color matches the aesthetics of the sign above the establishment. Nonetheless, it shows menus, both physical and text. It does not have an app to order meals nor have images of the menu items. I find the former more forgivable, since I do not expect a high-quality website for every eatery, but it should let potential customers know what they are ordering. Wait Time: 5/5 I experienced no interruptions or delays while awaiting my order. Ambiance: 4/5 It does have the tendency to get noisy, though it mostly comes from the corner of the establishment where the bar area is at and the television is about. I found it tolerable to sit at the opposite corner with a view of the outside. Strangely enough, I did not expect the metal chairs to be an issue, even in December, since the well-heated establishment and the well-spaced tables accommodated me. Food: 5/5 I ordered the Cowboy Jim's Omelet, which consists of three eggs, ham, peppers, onions, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and American cheese; with sides of home fries and toast. It definitely filled me up throughout the day, with its soft yet delicate form holding together the cheese, eggs, meat, and vegetables. While the fresh vegetables gave this omelet its distinct flavor, the ham and eggs provided the robust, meaty flavor; and the cheese melted into one had the sharp taste and stringy stretch. I did think the toast had an unassuming taste, but they were outweighed by the hearty home fries. Service: 5/5 The cordial staff managed to make the experience worth it. Worth The Money?: 5/5 Since the Battle of Monmouth, the most pivotal moment in the American Revolution, took place in Manalapan Township, I would like to see the brand shift more towards that era in terms of cuisine. Despite the simple look of the website, it delivers on its promises. Referencing the website, I agree that the Manalapan Luncheonette is a hidden gem, and it offers hearty, comfort food. The website definitely matches the toned-down atmosphere of the eatery as well. The meal managed to equate to the wait time, since it clearly steamed throughout the time I ate. Throughout that time, nothing about the ambiance distracted me. I appreciate the fact that Manalapan Luncheonette encapsulates the small town charm like the rest of Englishtown. The staff practically bring that small town hospitality to every part of their jobs. As someone outside of Manalapan Township, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and explore areas that I rarely or never been to. I found myself impressed by Manalapan Luncheonette, and if I do go through Manalapan Township, I would consider it my first option. The price for the Cowboy Jim's Omelet and the experience was absolutely worth it. Rating: 5/5 Stars I can see how this eatery might last longer than 50 years, since it makes the most out of what little it has. Recommend To... Anyone looking for small town eateries from 20+ minutes away, or are embarking on a type of vacation involving hopping from one small town to another.

Incredible lunch spot. Been going to his dad's original location for decades. Now the son expanded…read morethe business and it does not disappoint!!!. Everything is so incredibly fresh and well portioned. Gotta try if you're a Howell resident or visitor :)

Came here for lunch. And at 238 pm was told they were closed. Disappointing…read more Hard to eat at a place with unreliable/not posted hours.

The chicken and beef ribs are very good. They come with the rice and fries. The empanadas are ok…read moretoo but not my favorite.

This place has great Portuguese style BBQ. The pork ribs and chicken are my favorites. Simple…read moreseasoning and perfectly cooked. The meats are very juicy, not dry like many other BBQ shops. The entrees comes with rice, beans or fries. Portions are large, enough to share. The homemade empanadas are very tasty as well.

I try the pork stick's and shrimp rice it was so so good people there were friendly and cool food…read morewas good if you go there you should try it

Holy crap was this good. My buddy knew about this place and had to go when he visited. I had no…read moreidea, and now I feel like I've been missing out. Meat sticks are bomb. I'm going next weekend for sure.

Came here on a late afternoon and service was quick, friendly and efficient. Food was delicious and…read morebest of its kind in the far area. We ordered phyllo stuffed with meat, a fish platter and a kofta platter. The phyllo was light, packed with stuffing, and cooked to perfection. Both platters came with rice, which was cooked well and seasoned nicely, and a side salad which had fresh lettuce and vegetables. The kofta and fish were flavorful and paired perfectly with the rice and salad. Overall a great place with kind staff and owners -- definitely a must try.

Let's get the elephant out of the room first…read more Ambience: Non-existent. Interior looks bare. It has a few seating. This is not a spot for a romantic date. We got takeout and were very satisfied. Food: I've had Egyptian before in NYC and I liked this much more. Here's what we ordered: Dolmas (stuffed grapeleaves). They were served hot. Never had them hot and I was surprised by how much I liked them. The stuffing was soft inside with a hint of sourness. Completely different from the typical cold pickled versions we had. I usually have 2-3 pieces but this time we ate the whole pound of it. Stuffed Cornish hen. This order takes a while, so order ahead. At first, we were not impressed by the meat. Not bad, very moist and meat fell off the bone. But, then we ate it with the stuffed rice. Rich umami. All the flavor went into the rice. Very rich flavor and together it was delicious. I would add hot sauce to the mix. Chicken kabob. All breast meat. Decent portion. It was not dry and very well spiced. My in-laws loved it. I'm not a fan of white meat but recognize that it was done well. Stuffed eggplant. Indian eggplant. Also hot version. Firm exterior, soft interior. Cuts through really well to share. Definitely like it more than the cold appetizer i've had elsewhere. More on the milder side so other dishes tasted better. Biftek (fried breaded thin steak). Fried very well. Didn't get soggy in the container so the kitchen knew to let it cool and stay crispy. Nothing bad but also not special. Many different cuisine does the same thing. Needs a dip. I would order it again and I imagine kids with a tunnel vision palate would like it too because it's like chicken nugget and french fries to them. Meat shawarma. This was disappointing. It's not bad but boring compared to all the other dishes. It's pretty much meat over rice but since I come from the city, it doesn't stack up against the lamb/chicken over rice from halal carts. It was a little dry and came with tahini (hummus based). Pretty sure this version is more authentic but I'm biased to the lamb over rice covered in white sauce. If you never had Egyptian before, it's in between Mediterranean and Middle Eastern because it is both but at the same time different enough to be its own category. There's a Greek restaurant in the same plaza and I would say the fare is completely different although their dishes overlap in the menu. They are not comparable. Verdict: We ordered more food the very next day. Until we try other restaurants in the area, this is currently my favorite Egyptian restaurant.

We had such an amazing experience here! Our server, Brooke, was absolutely wonderful and made us…read morefeel right at home. We tried a bit of everything: the Chicken Tzatziki Wrap (which came with perfectly seasoned fries), the Kushary as a delicious vegetarian option, and the Alfredo Kids Pasta--which was a surprisingly huge portion! We finished off with the Om Ali for dessert, and it was the perfect end to the meal. While it's a little pricey, the high quality, beautiful presentation, and fantastic flavors make it well worth the spend. Highly recommend!

Such an amazing find! I stopped here after work and this family owned, halal spot was incredible…read more The inside is decorated so beautifully, with a warm and modern feel and the staff was so sweet! I ordered two Chicken Shawarma wraps with tahini sauce and a piece of baklava. The chicken was so flavorful and the tahini enhanced the wrap! The baklava was SOO good and they even gave me extra piece (': Such an amazing experience overall and I need to go back asap!