I stood in a quaint restaurant perched above the Passaic River with my peepers puzzledly peeping a…read moresign that read "Gene the Pinning Machine." The interior was a quirky mix of hand-painted nautical scenes and a shrine to -- who I presumed was -- a wildly successful collegiate wrestler, Mean Gene Mills. "Do you like spicy food?" a voice piped up from behind me. "Yeah, sure." I replied, turning to see a sprightly older man sporting wide glasses and a leather jacket. I'd noticed him earlier rolling up on a three-wheeled motorcycle as I approached the place, parking it neatly around the side. "I'd go for the Chili Dog and the Big Kahuna," he suggested with a grin, adding, "The chili's not spicy but it's damn good." As it happened, I'd already ordered a pair of chili dogs but I nodded appreciatively. "I'll have to try the Kahuna next time." I said. The man introduced himself as the owner and brother of the locally lionized Gene the Pinning Machine. I could see he was proud of his brother's legacy and this hotdog spot he seemed to view as a hobby. "I'm in real estate mostly," he explained. "The hotdog stand is just for fun. I always wanted a spot by the river, saw this place and snapped it up." And he spoke of it like a hobbyist. He told me about his sausage guy up in upstate New York who hand-makes the dogs, sausages, and casings fuel his culinary creations. While some joints boil or fry their hot dogs, he opts for a series of convection ovens--air-frying them. A quirky and distinctive twist I haven't seen before. It's that hobbyist's eye, as I am saying. We chatted a bit longer before he ducked behind the counter to check in with the kids working the line. He greeted each one with a warm chummy hug and their faces lit up at the sight of him. It was clear from the easy banter that he's a boss who's genuinely well-liked. Now, about that dog: An air-fried hot dog feels a little out there--like baking one, you'd figure it'd dry out. But honestly? It wasn't half bad. Crisp on the outside, yet still decently average on the hot-dog-o-meter. Definitely a step up from the boiled variety. The chili, though? Hands down, phenomenal. That, along with the sausage, comes from his guy up in Syracuse -- the same one crafting those hot dogs. Is it worth hauling a box truck to upstate New York for? Hard to say. But it's absolutely worth my five-minute drive to Woodlandd Park to eat. The prices feel right in line with what you'd expect from a boutique roadside spot like this. The interior's compact--think a pair of small tables and a counter. Out back back there's a small deck with a few tables and chairs overlooking the river. Could be a sweet spot when the weather's kind. The menu is substantial with the addition of an ice cream bar, all Gelotti which is a North Jersey staple. The hotdog is a pretty humble food-stuff, if you like them then you won't be disappointed here. It's worth a stop for lunch if you're ever in town.

I have been hearing about Lover Dogs for quite some time and I visited recently for the first time…read more These hot dogs surprised me and I can honestly say that they might well be the best all the way hot dogs in the area. I went back a few days after my first visit because they were THAT good. When I walked in, I was greeted by the owner, Wayne Mills. We had a lovely conversation about how he opened Lover Dogs and how Lover Dogs has been his dream retirement. On the walls, there are photos of his brother Gene who was a renowned wrestler in the 80s. Wayne gave me a tour of the outdoor patio and the downstairs area that he plans to expand for breakfast/brunch. The patio area overlooks a nice view of the Passaic River. After the little tour, I ate my all the way hot dog. Lover Dogs hot dogs are air-fried which I thought was very unique. The chilli sauce is out of this world. Super flavorful and perfectly seasoned. Wayne explained that he spent a long time perfecting the recipe and worked with several people to develop. The hot dogs are Hoffman brand which he discovered when he visited his brother many years ago at Syracuse University. It was really nice to see Wayne pay homage to the previous building owners with a framed collage on the wall. I am a local history nerd so I really loved seeing all of the old photos dating back to the early 1900s. Please visit this awesome local business!

Food and service is always great. Right off a main road so it can get pretty busy…read more Establishment is always very generous with their servings and usually pretty quick. The only thing I dislike about this place is that their bread is very soft. I usually like my subs on a crispy roll. This is my go-to option when Cappelluti's Deli in Kearny is closed

An extremely solid sub shop in the area. They do both hot and cold subs and I've yet to be…read moredisappointed. Quality vs cost is phenomenal. I usually go with the Big Bite but yesterday I went with the tuna melt and that was pretty solid as well. My son has been going with the Buffalo Chicken sandwich and he's said it's one of the best. We both get a half size and he usually winds up saving half of that. So it is a solid meal. Decent amount of parking with options to eat in as well. Interior is very basic and everything is made right in front of you.... fresh. Only downfall is that they are cash only. Which I used to understand, but now you can order online via food delivery apps, so the ability is obviously there to take other forms of payment. In an era of everything being electronic, including our paychecks, cash has gone from King to inconvenient when you need to use it. All in all, by far one of the best in the area and you'll be full until the next day.

Quite delicious. The meat was full of good flavor for each item we got. My husband's chopped cheese…read morecame with a hefty side of fries; mine was a chopped beef fries. My husband enjoyed his meal; I took a bite of his sandwich and it was yummy. My fries were delicious, just a tad heavy on the sauce for my liking but appreciated that there was a lot of meat at least. The prices were a tad hefty but the food was of good quality. This order was ordered for delivery; I am unsure about the ambience but got our food fast and still hot.

Pretty good nothing to go crazy about the only thing I didn't like is the fries smelled like the…read moreoil was VERY OLD so I threw them out !! The sandwich was good though!!!

While chicken with rice and fries My go to meal for family…read moredinner Very good and is easy on your pockets

This is the second time this restaurant has gotten our order wrong, but the way the owner handled…read moreit this time is why I'm leaving a bad review. We placed our order over the phone, I went in to pick it up, gave the name the order was under, paid, and left. Nobody went over the order with me or asked me to confirm what was in it. When we got all the way home and realized the order was wrong, my wife called to have it corrected. The owner got on the phone and actually tried to argue that it doesn't matter what you order over the phone--it matters what you confirm when you pick it up. That is an absolutely ridiculous excuse. I wasn't asked to confirm the order. I was asked who I was picking up for, and I trusted that the food they handed me was the food we ordered. What made it even worse was that the owner made me drive the incorrect food all the way back to the restaurant before correcting the order. Why exactly do you need food back after a customer has already taken it home? I certainly hope it was thrown away, because the thought of returned food potentially being given to another customer is concerning. Mistakes happen, and I can understand an order being wrong once. But twice, followed by an owner trying to shift the blame onto the customer instead of simply fixing the mistake, is terrible customer service. I had to waste my time and gas driving back because of their mistake, only to be argued with about it. That's what turned a wrong order into a 2-star experience.

Everything is so good here. Made with authenticity, flavor, and love…read more On a late night randomly was working late in Lyndhurst, decided to order from this place as I was looking for barbecue chicken. Once I looked at the menu, I was intrigued and ended up ordering the barbecue half chicken, tripe soup, mix, barbecue platter combo, eggplant salad, potato salad, side of roasted mashed vegetables, and cannellini bean salad. It was a ton of food but so glad I ordered and had enough for leftover for days because the food is so good. The chicken was tender and flavorful. Good seasoning with crispy skin. The stand out where the salads and side dishes, the eggplant salad was flavorful, rich creamy, and just the most amazing thing I've ever eaten. The cannellini bean paste was like a richer version of hummus, same texture, but better flavor in my opinion. The grandma's potato salad was light and flavorful, love that they put pickles and eggs in it as well. I'm so full and have not gone into the fried cheese, nor the mixed grill platter. But based on what I've had so far tonight, I am very much looking forward to the rest. Run don't walk to Ryan's barbecue, a true gem.

We ordered take out from this restaurant. This restaurant serves Romanian food (although I don't…read morethink we ordered anything that was traditionally Romanian). We ordered the fried Asiago cheese as an appetizer. It was crispy but had no flavor. I wish it came with a sauce or something (like a sweet drizzle would have made it better). We also tried two sandwiches, the beef brisket and cheesesteak sandwiches. The beef brisket was good, the sauce was a little sweet, and the beef wasn't too dry. The bread tasted fresh and I like the amount of ingredients in the sandwich. The cheesesteak wasn't the best. It had a cucumber wasabi sauce that wasn't the best. The meat was well cooked though. I just think the sauce isn't for everybody. I think I would order again from here. The prices were decent. Each sandwich came with a large amount of fries and the sandwiches were pretty filling.

I love me a good old school Jersey Diner and this is a gem. Old school decor, friendly service,…read moregood food and generous portions. Latest visit was breakfast but have had all 3 meals here over time. Fed me like I was going to the electric chair. Best rice pudding ever, not today but from previous visits. If you find yourself near the NJ Meadowlands, it's a must stop.

Loved the Willingness to Suggest Things to Eat and Welcoming Attitude. It Really Didnt feel like a…read moretypical Diner because You Still Got One on One Service. The Kept Each Table Clean As SoonAs People Stood Up. Bisque was DELICIOUS!!! The Caprese would've Been Better if the Chicken wasn't Overcooked but Overall the Sandwich Wasn't Bad. I would Definitely Recommend and Visit Again.

The breakfast is really good. Our server, Kayla, was very attentive and great! The Taylor ham egg…read moreand cheese is the best!

Im updating my review! This place went down FAST ! Today came for breakfast with my dad ! Ordee…read morewaffle with fruit a gyro and 2 egg platter with sausage hm fries... not once but 3 times i chew on something hard like plastic or shell .... I told the staff and they were very apologetic about it but the Owner had the audacity to bring back the Piece to me and told me it was probably my own tooth and that has nothing to do with the kitchen! Not a very nice thing to say! Wonder why this place its slow that kind Of approach is Bad for business! Ive been a customer here for Over 15 years missed the old owners! Feel bad for the servers they re great anyways i Paid for the food No more MD for Us !

PROS: Food is amazing and the menu variety is plentiful. Prices are nice and there is a good amount…read moreof parking. They also clean the tables in a timely manner CONS: One hostess and one waitress was are a bit rude (I posted a pic of the two of them. you'll see the image next to this review and in the business's photo album). The bathrooms are tiny which can cause a line up OVERALL: I would recommend going here as the food and atmosphere are great and the prices are okay. However, they do need to improve on hospitality with some people

Very typical diner Large selection of food and great service…read more I got a gyro and it was large Fresh My friend got a fish sandwich and she loved it