Finding a good diner is like hitting the lottery. While new jersey, especially north jersey, is infamous for diners, not all diners are created equally. I’d heard good things about Tops Diner (technically not in Newark but Harrison–shhh, don’t tell my editor!) from friends who attended Rutgers Newark, and had been trying to test them out since I moved here in January. My opportunity arose this weekend-twice! Imagine that.
The first thing I noticed about Tops was that parking would be no easy task. Parking in the lot right behind the entrance wasn’t really an option, but they have an additional parking lot to make up for it on President Street. When I walked in to Top’s the thing that caught my eye was the bar. Only one other diner I’ve ever been to has had a bar, and that was the Skylark Lounge in Edison. I really do enjoy having the option to have a glass of wine with my dinner. The decor was nice with wooden booths on one side and I saw tables on the other side.
My friend and I arrived at Tops on Saturday for a round of delicious desserts. We arrive there around 3pm and noticed there would more than likely be a wait judging from the lack of parking. To avoid the this we sat at the counter and ordered 2 deserts to go. We ordered a slice of strawberry shortcake and strawberry short cheesecake (something I never saw before). Together two huge slices were 9.10, not bad at all. Anyone who can merge cheesecake and strawberry shortcake is genius! The cheesecake was creamy and delicious. They also have Carrot Cheesecake and Red Velvet Cheesecake among their choices. I can’t wait to go back and sample those. The shortcake was soft and moist. The strawberries were fresh and the cream not too heavy. Both deserts get an A in my book.
Sunday I had the opportunity to go out for breakfast and I wanted to get a taste of the service there since the deserts had me itching for more. It was around 10:30 am on Sunday morning and the wait was about 15 minutes. I tried to bypass it again by sitting at the counter, but they were all full too! The breakfast menu was so enticing, but I had it in my head that I wanted an egg white omelet before I left home. So that’s what I got, an egg white omelet with spinach, tomatoes and jack cheddar cheese. Omelets are served with hash browns and toast. I also got a side order of turkey sausage, which was amazing in itself since not many diners where I’m from serve turkey sausage. Its a hot commodity apparently. My cohort in crime opted for blueberry pancakes and corn beef hash. His blueberry pancakes looked delicious and he said they were great, served with blueberry compote. He said the corn beef hash wasn’t as good as others but the pancakes made up for it. I wanted to sneak a sample so bad, but he brushed my fork away. I will have to go back just so I can get those. They also had Bacon Bits pancakes on the menu, which isn’t my taste at all, but some people really love their bacon. I can’t wait to go back and try some dinner next!
Tops Diner
500 Passaic Av.
Harrison, NJ 07029
Tel. (973) 481-0490
March 24th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I heart Tops. After a long night of poor decisions at the bars, a 3am gyro always hits the spot.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Sounds yummmy….makes me want to go for pancakes!
March 24th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Yeah Tops gets an A in my book Food, Decor, and Adult Beverages. I just wish they were 24 hours.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:27 am
I’ve had tops for late night meals and the food wasn’t all that great. I orderd lasagna and it was disgusting. It was just a big bowl of cheese and watery sauce. My friend had steak and that was great but my good was gross!
March 25th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Hey Cleo Sunshine update city it’s incorrect. It’s East Newark not Harrison. The city is not part of Newark nor Harrison it’s if im not mistaken its only 1 mile long around. Warning don’t do anything stupid like driving fast or making illegal turns East Newark cops are A-Holes. Tops is easily the best diner I have ever been to bar none. Always worth the wait.
LQ probably just had that rare luck of a bad plate. 99.9 percent of the time there are right on.
March 25th, 2009 at 10:47 am
IronboundA – on the Tops Diner website they have it listed as Harrison, so to be true to the establishment, I think its best to leave it as the address they have posted. Although I never knew that East Newark was a totally separate town, I thought it was a division of Newark. I love learning something new!
March 25th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I always thought it was East Newark too (though East Newark consists of all of 5 or 6 blocks)… sounds like Tops has gotten a lot fancier than it was back in the day when I used to go there as an NJIT undergrad. Haven’t been there in years, at least since before they got the shiny new outside renovations. Always remembered it as decent diner fare, but nothing above that. Might have to go back to check it out again.
March 25th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Are you sure Cleo. Im on it right now and all of contact information says East Newark. I know one of the Owners and he even tells me how Tops is the Jewel of East Newark. Check it out yourself. http://www.thetopsdiner.com/home/
March 26th, 2009 at 8:11 am
The website has both addresses actually. On the contact us page, http://thetopsdiner.com/home/contact2.asp it says Harrison. But if you click on the locations button it says East Newark. Interesting error.
March 26th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Yea that’s weird. Im 100% sure it’s in East Newark and even the owner said so himself but either way still the best diner I have ever been to. LOL!!!
March 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
One question. Who orders lasagna at a diner?!? That was probably the first lasagna they served in years! haha.
Stick to burgers, taylor ham and cheese, Disco fries and gyros (or any breakfast stuff)….your safe at any Dirty Jerz diner with any of these staples…
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