Diner Round Up – Americana Diner in East Windsor

Oh…the Americana Diner…

When I went to the Americana Diner and posted a picture on Instagram, I got a lot of interesting feedback.

Some people love this diner, and some people had a lot to say regarding it’s validity as a diner.

The owners of this diner also own the Skylark Diner in Edison and the Colonial Diner in East Brunswick. I have joked in the past to friends when I have been to these diners that I should create a new hashtag called #notarealdiner. However, I would like to backtrack on that joke and actually defend the Americana Diner for what it’s worth.

The diner itself is very nice. It’s trendy, it’s big, it even has it’s own lounge. Wait? A lounge in a diner? Yes, I know…it’s not traditional. Nothing really about this diner would be considered “traditional” in terms of how most people would perceive a New Jersey Diner. Does that mean it’s not a real diner? That (apparently) is up for debate and 100% your call. The diner itself considers itself a diner, which means that if my mission is to review EVERY diner in NJ, then I will be going and doing a fair review.

Their menu is somewhat on the expensive side, but honestly it’s not that much more than some other diners I’ve been to. I paid $12 for a salmon burger with a side (I choose mashed potatoes).  I would argue that I’d rather pay $6 to $10 dollars for the same thing, but this diner is mainly “farm to table” so their prices are a little bit higher.

My meal was great. I ordered the St. Louis Burger (with a salmon burger) which was grilled onions, mushrooms and mozzarella served on a fresh bun. It was filling, and the mashed potatoes were not only great but also looked beautiful.

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Would I agree this isn’t a traditional diner – yes. Is it a diner? Yes.

If you’re looking for a trendier, classier diner, where you can grab a specialty cocktail…this is your place. New Jersey is diverse, therefore I think it’s appropriate that our diners should be diverse as well. Route 130 is FULL of diners, so if this isn’t your thing, go to the Town Diner which is a little further South.

ALSO, something that I didn’t love was that they don’t offer breakfast on their menu all day. However, if you ask, you can order breakfast whenever. I saw some people in the diner who were clearly eating breakfast for dinner, aka brinner.

Personally, I enjoyed my meal and the service was great. But, haters gonna hate.