By Matt Dwyer & Damian Priestner
This week the Food Bros. found themselves across the Passaic River, at Tops Diner. Tops Diner is open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and from 6 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. They also offer online ordering for pickup from the restaurant until a half hour before closing, which is perfect for those late college nights.
Tops Diner also offers catering of their whole menu, including party sandwiches, for any event. For those long days, they also offer a fully stocked bar (if you’re 21, of course). Furthermore, the diner does its best to cater to its college crowd by offering plenty of job positions.
Food Bro 1: The Tops Diner was founded in 1972 by George Golemis, yet by looking at the interior, one could not tell that the building is 40 years old. Inside Tops everything looks very contemporary and updated. It still gave me the classic diner-feel without giving me the outdated fear.
The service was great; everyone looked like they actually didn’t completely hate their jobs. Our order was taken promptly and our food came out almost as quickly, which made me a smidge concerned. However, once I took my first couple bites, I was greatly relieved. I’d ordered an omelet with a side of homemade hash browns and three buttermilk pancakes.
Everything was cooked very well but I found myself trying to finish everything else first so I could savor each bite of my pancakes. I’m not saying that the omelet and hash browns were bad, but the pancakes stole the show of the entire meal. All in all, I can’t wait to go back; this may be due to my soft spot for diner food, but I know good food when I eat it.
Food Bro 2: Tops definitely has the old school diner feel, with retro seating and placemats on each table. The servers are prompt when you sit down and come over to take your drink and meal orders if you are ready.
The meal is delicious. My order of a bacon cheeseburger came out with the bun warmed, a touch of fanciness sprinkled on top and was cooked to my rarity likeness. The fries were placed nicely in a cup which added a very nice touch to the look of the plate.
When I took a bite, the juices started flowing and the meat was perfectly tender. The actual burger itself was very good. I just could not stop eating it, it was so delicious that I couldn’t put it down! With alternative music playing in the background, the retro atmosphere, and good food, this place is “Tops” notch.
Price: $$—
Distance: A short drive over the Passaic River
