Metro Diner

Check out these swivel chairs at the bar! 

The Metro Diner in Brooklawn, New Jersey seems to exist at the crossroads of traditional (Italian) diner and modern Americana eatery. It looks like a fortress from the outside, with multiple parking lots and (faux) stone walls. It reminds me of mega-diner Ponzios in Cherry Hill. The place was all spruced up for the holidays with Christmas-y window art, garland, and a white Xmas tree in the foyer.

The attention to visual detail doesn't stop there. This place is what I could call a diner deluxe with (what I assume is) a type of closed circuit tv screen at each booth as well as several big screen televisions mounted on the walls. It is one of the few diners that look like they spent a lot of time thinking about the interior design of things and have kept things clean in the 3 years they've been open. AND, the entire place is a wifi hot spot! This being said...they seem to have one advert on their menu upside down...

They have giant menus with plenty of inserts. It looks like they've had a hard time editing their items. Part of it includes a couple pages of specials as well as a 'light' menu with items ranging from baked lamb to swordfish. Most specials seem to range around the $9.99 area.

First came the calamari that we ordered. It was battered in onion-ring batter, so it was thick and shell-like. The squid itself was chewy, but fresh tasking. The marinara that was provided was a little watery and lacked acidity to balance out the salted calamari.


I ordered the crab cake special that came with the freshest salad I've ever had at a diner. However, I should really start secret santa-ing these places with some salad spinners because people keep giving me drenched greens. Anyways, once I got past the water, the lettuce was crisp and the tomatoes were sweet, despite the fact that they're not in season anymore.


My entree itself was actually surprisingly good. They gave me more than two (!) and despite the fact that they were a little oily, they were pretty rich in flavor. The cakes seemed to be comprised of a decent ratio of filler:crab and the crab was combo of both jump lump and claw. I actually found a piece of shell in mine (always just my luck), but because I enjoyed my meal, I just let it go.

I went for the double potato sides because I love potatoes and excess. My mashed potatoes were delicious, creamy and steaming hot. My rosemary potatoes were the grossest rendition of (roasted?) potatoes I've ever had. Super duper oily, chewy, and cold- a disappointing and stark contrast to the rest of the food.

Overall a fun, but oily, meal with a higher than average flavors. Between the food and being diligent about refilling my water (and eventually giving us a carafe), I would definitely come back again and try something else.

With the super-diner vibe that Metro Diner was giving off, I was compelled to try something a little out of the ordinary. I don't usually have cheese steaks outside of Philly, but they had a Buffalo Chicken Cheese Steak and I was curious to see what this place could do. Reflecting back, I now realize how ridiculous the name "Buffalo Chicken Cheese Steak" actually is. There's no steak and none of the ingredients, besides the roll, are the same as what is on a regular cheese steak. Take a regular chicken cheese steak for example, that name is fine because if you were to substitute steak back in for the chicken you would be back at a regular cheese steak. However, if you put steak into a Buffalo Chicken Cheese Steak, you would end up with a buffalo steak sandwich. Buffalo Chicken Cheese Steaks should, from now on, be called Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches.

Now that I have that out of my system, the sandwich was tasty. The buffalo sauce was medium heat and I don't think it would be unbearable for any person. The blue cheese sauce that they put on the bread, not over the buffalo chicken, was not overpowering, which is always a fear when blue cheese is involved. I also applaud Metro Diner for providing me with a solid roll. A good roll prevents the sandwich from being a messy, fall-apart, greasy, heap of food and instead, keeps your hands clean and the filling between the bread. The Metro does need to fill the delicious roll, though. The picture shows the lack of filling in proportion to the amount of bread given. The fries (which cost extra!) where pretty delicious I must admit. They don't salt them for you, but they're cooked perfectly. I tried to bites of the coleslaw and was not impressed. It was more like more soup and less like slaw.

Pat's Diner

First thing you notice about Pat's Diner is that it's super small, especially because the back room (by the tiny bar) was closed. The prep station is right in the middle of the room so you can see your waitress make/pour coffee, toast your bread, and scoop your pudding. Not only can you keep tabs on your waitress (I'm sure the purpose was to do the opposite) but you can also see everyone else which could be awkward if you're looking for a more private dining experience.

Our waitress, who I'll call Tiana (from Princess and the Frog), was super professional, and had a sweet, hardworking demeanor. She was accommodating not only to us but to a difficult table next to us with three rowdy children who all DEMANDED dessert that they couldn't share.

Soup and Salad

 Let me just say- $8.25 goes a long way at Pat's Diner. I don't think I'll ever not appreciate how cheap NJ Diner's are, and how much you can get for your money. I ordered the fish and chips, because I wanted something hearty but not saucy. I was given an extensive choice of sides (multiple ways of doing potato, rice, veggies,etc.) and I chose broccoli because I was a little apprehensive. Not only was there that, but it came with soup AND salad. Most places give you the option of one or the other, so I was totally taken aback by this generosity.

Fish and Delicious Chips

My soup, lima bean, was surprisingly tasty and flavorful. It was more than just salty or brothy, and I appreciated the effort that was put into it. It was a bit watery, but I liked that the beans themselves were big and full. My salad, was basic as I expected, but clearly fresh and colorful with big, even slices of tomato which I appreciated. It wasn't drowning in water like previous diner salads that I've had, and was generally pleasant to pick at (even without dressing).

My main entree did not disappoint me either, although it was a little strange. Fish and chips has a very distinctive look to it, slightly thicker filet cuts of white fish, battered and then fried. You know the drill. These came out more like wide pieces of fish sticks. Granted, they were tastier than the ones you'd expect from the grade school cafeteria...I felt like un tres chic 4th grader. Nevertheless, the breading was decent, it wasn't that oily, and it stayed crispy throughout the duration of the meal. My 'chips' were amazing. Who'd a thunk that this little diner hidden in a nook of a not-so-great looking part of Trenton, NJ would make delicious, delicious, French fries that were hot, crispy, well-salted and never got that weird hollow density that happens when they get cold.

The Best Side of Broccoli I Have Ever Seen

Places like Pat's Diner is why I love this blog. I had never heard of this place, didn't know exactly where it was, and was completely unfamiliar with the area. As we drove through Trenton I admit I was getting a little nervous since some of the other shops and stores on the block seemed dirty and not well kept. But, then we saw the small building on the corner and I parked the car in a smaller lot around the back. Pat's certainly does not boast lavishness; the walls were not plated with chrome, but the place was clean.

Chicken Salad Sandwich Done Right

We were seated in a corner of the main dining room and were handed an extensive menu. I thumbed through the pages until I found the sandwich section. Pat's diner has a great list of double-decker sandwiches and they're all priced around six dollars. Like Chi said earlier, a little money goes a long way. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich and it was huge, which was great since I had a long night of lessons ahead of me. The chicken salad itself was refreshing and loaded with white meat. They throw in celery for the nice crunchy texture as you bite your way through the four triangles. The mayo was definitely present, but not overwhelming. Also, if you look closely, those are thick-cut bacon strips thrown in above the tomatoes, awesome. I think my favorite part of the meal, though, was the fries. The sandwich was good, but the fries pulled everything together. Each one was crispy on the outside and filled with soft, steamy, potato-y goodness. And, every once in a while I could take a little bite of tasty, non-soupy, coleslaw. I'm excited to visit Pat's again and maybe try their Reuben, or maybe their pastrami. Here's to looking forward.