New Monmouth Diner — Restaurant in Middletown Township

Me and my wife went in to the diner. I’ve been here before this time the food and service was so bad I feel I need to leave a review. I do leave reviews when things are good not just bad reviews. I know how Google reviews can impact a business, but let me start with we were seated by a gentleman who smells like he took a bath and some really cheap cologne, after he walked away, our waitress walked up and asked us and I “what do you want to drink? We told her what we wanted to drink and has the words were coming out of my mouth she walked away. I am assuming that they were switching shifts, and she probably was there longer than she should have been because someone else brought us the drinks over and said that she would be taking over for the previous lady. She asked us if we were ready to order so my wife said I would like chicken fingers with barbecue sauce I said can I have an order of buffalo wings with extra sauce on them she then said extra sauce on the side or on them I said on them she said no problem while riding in town And then said, can I get the cheeseburger medium with lettuce and tomato she said no problem now mind you the menu says that the burger is fresh ground beef when our food came to the table she brought everything out together and said what a meal my wife is planning on having the appetizer chicken fingers, and I was planning on having the appetizer buffalo wings, then we were going to split the burger, but since she brought everything out at one time and the burger looked disgusting. We only ate the appetizers when waiting for the lady to come back because we couldn’t get her attention cause she was talking to a table clear on the other side of the restaurant when she actually did come over we asked her for extra buffalo sauce. She said no problem a few minutes later, after waiting for her to get back, she handed me the buffalo sauce, and then proceeded to tell me that I did write it down for them to put extra wing sauce on them making it out so it was not her fault, that the buffalo wings did not come out with no buffalo sauce, but it was kind of confusing, because if she knew I wanted the buffalo sauce extra on my wings, then when she picked the plate up and brought it from the kitchen, clear across the restaurant should she not have made sure that the extra buffalo sauce was on it so her pointing at the fact that it wasn’t her fault that the wings were dry kind of got under my skin then to boot we had to sit there for a few more minutes after she gave us boxes to take the chicken fingers home and the burger for my dog she comes back with the bill, and how every restaurant in the world works on the bottom of the receipt it gives you the percentages of tips for the bill and it actually starts out with 20% I think restaurants and wait staff need to get the thought out of their mind that they don’t make enough money that they were both I need to start working for the tips, because even though the food was disgusting If it would have come out the way we wanted it which was her responsibility than her tip would have been better than it was.

And just so it’s not skipped over people who work in the food service industry should not be wearing cologne or perfume or smelling like cigarette smoke when serving people food disgusting and we will have to pay our bill. I actually had to leave my wife in there and walk outside because the guys cologne was so strong, I could taste it in the back...

Well, I guess I am the ONLY person in the world who doesn't rave about this diner. But how can I? My wife and I ate here last night during HURRICANE DEBBY. The place had a few customers but the service was not nearly as SPEEDY as all the other reviewers mention; no different than any other local place we eat (such as Yellow Rose Diner rt 36, Park Place Diner rt 34, Brass Rail rt 79).

But what absolutely shocked us was how expensive this place is. $55 for fried chicken, Monte Cristo sandwich and 2 cokes. Are you kidding me? That is more then we would have spent at HOULIHANS with drinks, or any chain restaurant in the area. And the portions are not HUGE as everyone else explains; they are exactly the same size as we get at every other diner in the area. Only we never pay this kind of money.

In fact, we had two MEALS last week at the PERKINS on rt 36, and with 2 sodas, and soup/salads, bread basket, etc. it only cost $37.

I always wanted to try this place as it always gets rated highly. We have lived in the area for 30+ years and we finally made it. But we decided last night that there is no reason to come back here. NJ is KNOWN for diners. There is nothing special here at New Monmouth, except MAYBE the fact that it doesn't look like a typical diner inside. All chrome etc. But the exciting nostalgic drawings on the menu do not reflect at all what New Monmouth Diner looks like inside. There aren't tons of Retro 50s memorabilia or pictures inside, nor is there 50s music playing on the jukebox. It's just a diner.

Restaurant quality food? NOPE. Huge portion? Nope. Reasonable prices? Nope. Where is the GREEK food they claim to have? I guess it's just the location, and maybe the fact that being closer to Holmdel and Red Bank, people don't mind paying exorbitant prices for a regular old diner.

You want a diner? Head down to rt 206, for PANDORA, VINCENTOWN, RED LION, etc. Those places are phenomenal, have HUGE menus with exciting choices, and are even open 24hr day. Some even have bars inside! That's having a restaurant experience with diner prices. You want a LOCAL diner? Yellow Rose on rt 36 where you get THREE eggs with fresh fruit cup for eggs Benedict.

So again, in an area of the country where there is a diner every mile, I don't see what the fuss is with New Monmouth. The choice...

I have lived in Hazlet, NJ since 1973 and never visited the New Monmouth Diner until last year. It is now one of our favorite eateries in our area. We got tired of the chain restaurants or the ones that offer all sorts of coupon deals that end up costing you more after your tip.

Once we discovered New Monmouth, we keep going back. They know us because we have a small service dog that we take with us and because we have now become regulars.

The food is exceptional with very large, I mean very large portions. Because we are in our mid 70's now my wife and I had to share one order. As you get older you simply can't eat as much I suppose because you lose your appetite and you are not as active.

That said, they are happy to split the order with no extra charge, unlike some other places I won't mention. This gives up the opportunity to order soup and dessert.

Even with sharing we often have to take some home. We love their Chicken Marsala over pasta, huge plate full of great food.

I have had their Philly Cheese steak sandwich take half home. Beef or chicken with loads of cheese. Yesterday we shared their Chicken Bruschetta Open sandwich with tomato, onion and fresh slices of mozzarella with a drizzle of a balsamic reduction. Our side was sweet potato fries and for $1 a cup of soup.

We loved it and finished it all and than had room for a nice slice of Lemon Meringue. The waiter was so nice, I asked if he could get us a slice that wasn't in their showcase for hours. The Meringue starts to get rubbery. So he went to the kitchen and they cut a fresh slice for us.

Great dinner and we didn't have to take anything home. All for around $16 total. Of course we leave a generous tip and because we are seniors and pay in cash rather than a credit card, we saved 10% from our check.

I also found out the have a club card and if you spend $250 you get a $50 credit. That is another 20% savings.

I can't rate this place high enough, we get a warm welcome probably because we have the cutest little service dog who is in his bag and sits quietly by my side as we dine. Most people don't know our names but they all know Georgie.

We have stopped cooking as we used to, too much work for just the two of us, and the New Monmouth Diner is our Go...