Carnegie Diner & Cafe — Restaurant in Secaucus

Update- 3rd. Visit yesterday 8-18-22 So I returned to treat my friend for their Birthday coming up. We both ordered burgers. I was not a fan of the salad that comes on the side. I also was not a huge fan of the taste of the burger only because it needed seasoning. The size of the burger was good. The patty was thick but the meat itself had really no taste. If you put ketchup and mustard on it you have upped the flavor. The pickle was good and the fries ofcourse tasted good. Still haven't found anything I can say will knock your socks off flavor wise. I will return and try either their mac and cheese or corned beef on rye but that one costs some cash so need to save my pennies. Also hope to save enough to get a dessert as well one day. They look amazing when you walk in.

I have visited this place twice so far. I had the chicken soup and mozzarella sticks my 1st visit and the bolegnese the second time. I can't say they were the best tasting dishes, but the environment was nice and the service was ok. Some servers are friendlier than others. Overall they seem attentive and they do greet you throughout your meal. I think the prices are a little high for me so I can't go as often as I would like, to continue to try out the menu. They do have a whole plant based section for people who like vegan and organic choices. They also have pretty good sized dessert options as well. But a $15 shake is still quite a lot for me. So that may have to be on a day where I want to treat myself and only order the shake for my meal. I do want to go back and try other items before I can say that all their dishes are a little bland so I will do more research on the flavor side. But the restaurant is nice and a positive vibe. I did think that the fries were good and the mozzarella sticks were good to order again. My friends also enjoyed their meal overall but when you order the same meal a second time and make a sad face because it didn't taste good anymore it can be a little disappointing. The wings as per my friend were excellent on the first trip there. But the second trip he was highly disappointed so that tells me it can be a hit or miss on some of their dish items. Like I said I will continue to research on the flavor and update on my next visit. I forgot to take photos on my 1st visit so these are from my second visit. As always I only report the facts and I recommend everyone check it out and taste...

I visited Carnegie Deli in Secaucus with high expectations, hoping to experience the legendary New York deli tradition. Unfortunately, this location falls far short of what made the original Carnegie Deli famous. The Good The food presentation matches what you see in the menu photos, so there’s no false advertising there. The portions appear generous at first glance, maintaining that classic deli aesthetic. The Disappointing Reality While the food looks the part, it’s severely lacking in flavor. For a deli that built its reputation on bold, satisfying tastes, the bland execution is particularly disappointing. The sandwiches feel like they’re going through the motions without any of the soul that made Carnegie Deli a New York institution. The side portions are laughably small - tiny servings of pickles and coleslaw that pale in comparison to the generous helpings you’d expect from a proper deli. These sides are supposed to be part of the experience, not an afterthought. Poor Service Experience The most frustrating part of my visit was the complete lack of care from the staff. I ordered coffee to go, and the cup was so flimsy it collapsed as I lifted it from the table, spilling hot coffee all over the floor and my shoes. When I brought this to the staff’s attention, I received nothing more than a dismissive “oh sorry” - no replacement cup, no napkins or paper towels to clean up the mess, and certainly no concern for a customer who just had hot coffee spill on them. This kind of indifferent service is unacceptable anywhere, but especially at a restaurant trading on a beloved name and reputation. Bottom Line Carnegie Deli Secaucus feels like a hollow imitation of what once was. The food lacks character, the portions disappoint, and the service shows no pride in the establishment. Save your money and seek out an authentic local deli instead - you’ll get better food, better service, and better value for your dollar. Would I return? No. Would I recommend?...

My two stars go strictly to the service and atmosphere. Will be entirely honest while this place is beautiful in terms of decor and service but the food was so bland. My boyfriend and I usually have pretty simple expectations trying anything new so we were ready either way. We ordered calamari as an appetizer - the calamari came fried per usual with a tartar sauce, however, when it was brought over there was a strong fishy smell coming from them. We ignored it and pushed through eating our first bite we already knew this was a mistake the calamari was so tough and hard to chew through having absolutely no flavor even after we doused it in lemon juice and salt and pepper. We decided let’s get a drink take the edge off of the appetizer we just had and get excited for what we assumed to be the star of the show - the burgers. We ordered some wine, one red and one white, this was the worst wine I ever had. It tasted like it had been sitting out open for a while with kind of a vomit aftertaste (no exaggeration and this is my honest opinion I am in NO WAY a wine connoisseur and I pride myself in the cheaper the better but it was awful). Burgers show up and we already knew we were going to be disappointed we ordered the late night and the Columbus (something like that). As expected it was awful again even after we added so much salt, pepper and ketchup, the avocado was just plopped on top and it was maybe like one or two slices (please don’t advertise avocados if your going to give me one little piece). Anyways if you like your food unseasoned and bland this is the place for you. Can’t speak on anything else but what I experienced - beautiful atmosphere but...