Bill's Luncheonette — Restaurant in Plainfield

This quaint diner has a great atmospheric charm and serves up one of the best breakfasts or quick bites that Plainfield has to offer. Their menu leaves very little to be desired and Bill’s will always perk you up with some of the freshest and freely flowing coffee around. Between the good food and the neighborly company, this diner should be a constant on your list of places to go regularly while in the area. There’s only one problem, however, which is that you will have to inevitably interact with the staff in order to be served. I’ve spent most of my career managing and working in restaurants and there are more than a few things I have learned along the way which are absolutely unacceptable. To my dismay, I have cited many of these “practices” by the staff- different servers, different days, different issues, but each instance shares one common denominator- HORRIFIC customer service. It is not only bad for business, but also destroying the established mainstay of restaurant service, which is to CREATE REGULARS- as in the consistent base of business that you can guarantee on for sales. I went to Bill’s one afternoon to grab a coffee and quick sandwich and was pleased with my experience. So I decided to return one weekday morning with my whole family and a guaranteed good sized check. My wife made a not-so-special request for Splenda and our server actually said that if we were going to be picky we were going to have to wait since she was “busy”. Aside from the tacky and rude answer we let it go, since I had talked up the food and they were excited to order. Then, when we ordered, my timid and polite son who suffers from mild Tourette’s syndrome inquired about the bread as he explained he was allergic to gluten and nuts. Well, that’s when our “waitress”, a term I think is too good to describe her, turned to my son and asked him if he had PURPOSELY come in to RUIN HER DAY because apparently she did not know her job well enough and would have had to spend an entire 3 min checking with the kitchen staff, since after all, it was his 6TH BIRTHDAY that she RUINED with NO REMORSE nor ANY APOLOGY. And as if I don’t know how things are run in restaurants, she then had her fellow waitress pick up our table and finished us out, all the while my son crying on his mother’s shoulder for ruining THAT lady’s day. Outraged as I was, it was not the day or time to confront management since my son was terribly upset and nothing good would have come from it. Interestingly enough, I have returned several times since, disgusted each time that I gave one more cent to their staff or business. Twice since I was served by the same waitress that destroyed my son’s birthday, not as if she remembered me, seeing as that is one of the hallmark qualities of a good server- REMEMBERING your past customers. Then again, she may very well remember me as she continuously smiles in my face and tells me that the manager is not in. So now, according to their own staff there is no manager present on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays. Not one day a week? Just a fair warning to all employees out there working in restaurants- you may be slacking on your jobs, dismissing regulars, lying to customers, maybe even breaking the law inside and outside the business- but I never slacked when it came to doing my job all those years and certainly not now. So I remember all your names and the poor excuse you do for a job while your manager “isn’t in”. Do they know that’s what you tell your customers that want to speak with them? Just remember ladies, you never know who you are waiting on, especially when you don’t try to grow a larger body of customers for your employer! Management- one day we will meet and I’ll tell you face to face to CLEAN HOUSE before these lazy, irresponsible waitresses rob you of your business. I just have enough tact not to name them in open- they are not hard to miss though. And your customers surely will not miss them either. I know countless people that could double your sales within a month. You shouldn’t be so...

Old School Diner type of joint with a very big menu. Plenty of options to satisfy your hunger at any level. Prices are decent for the quality you receive.

This is a NO FRILLS type of location. If you are looking to "set the mood" or trying to impress a cute ladyyyyy friend like your the bachelor then this may not be your scene. 🥀

The food is the real star here at this location. With genuine recipes that have been handed down for generations. Portion sizes are very good. I've never felt like I've been cheated on the amount of food ever. Insider tip would be to stick to the breakfast menu. If you are really hungry go with one of the main platters they offer. I can't guarantee how good the lunch or any other type of food that is offered. For example the burger they make is okay but it's not winning any gourmet awards or will make your cry with joy. Avoid the tap water ! It's gross it tastes like water you clean hands with in a bathroom. Also the drinks they have available on "tap" extremely expensive ! And the sizes here are ridiculous. A "large orange juice is more like a small. And if you ask for a small it's like a tea cup for a doll house ! If you are looking to save money avoid the drinks. Also nothing really special about the beverages offered.

In terms of decor on inside, it's highly dated. I fell like I stepped back in the late 70's or early 80's.. Kind of depressing to be quite honest. With the money they have made over the years you would think they invest just a tiny bit in throwing some paint or updating. One of the reasons for a deduction of a star.

The other glaring reason that not too many people being up is the general service received. I fully understand that this is Jersey and people can be inheritanly a bit rough around the edges but when it comes to food service I expect a certain level of Postive attitudes with the staff. Just about every single time I come here I don't feel the "love" from the cashier lady or her daughter or family members. (I think they are from Greece) They always have kind of a hurry up mentality with a frowns on their faces. They are polite of course but they don't give me this warm sense of customer service. They can be a bit rude and one thing that really annoys me is that they ALWAYS ask if you want to put tip (if you pay by card) This is the only place besides the Edison Diner near Menlo Park Mall that I can think of that asks this question. Don't mind if they ask after sit down service but to suggest I would pay tip when it's a pickup food order that took 5 min to make and I never sat down or took up space then I'm sorry you are out of pocket !

Again coming back to the food. This is one of the best breakfast spots with some of the shakiest service. This place is excellent for pickup. Avoid the sit-down service at all costs !

Final Verdict: Four Stars ! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (their food saved the low rating I would have...

I read the other reviews how good the food was. I ordered whiting eggs and grits with cofee & OJ. Everything was pretty good except the whiting tasted as tbough it was from out a box.. Went to the restroom and came back and happened to look unde my table. After I did that I almost left the restaurant. I know it was close to closing, but the floor looked liked it hadden been sweeped all day. There was a torn up napkins, a face mask someone had dropped and looks like someone toy as well as some food. The table accross from me also had a few items under it as well. I gave three stars, for the grits, eggs and coffe was good. Would have given four stars if under the tables did not have trash on it. Pleaae sweep in...