Cuisine: Diner / Breakfast
The Nevada Diner was our go-to Jersey diner for years. To this day, it provides respite from from of the other, sadder options in the area. As it is almost always bustling, bright and consistent. I suppose it doesn’t hurt that it has a literal bar up front (at which I’ve never seen anyone imbibing) and a bizarro teddy bear diorama of some sort in the lobby, which is generally set up as a bear couple in some sort of anthropomorphic siesta that is maybe meant to mirror the time you’ll be having inside. Honestly, it’s all a little creepy, but I’m sure there are some grannies rolling in after church on Sunday who think it’s adorable. We’ve been coming here since Hipster Jr. was a baby, so perhaps we were inured to the cutesiness until both he and we were aware of the seasonal Christmas bearnanza that we were being subjected to.
Ignoring the ursidae tea party, the next quizzical thing about Nevada Diner is why it’s called the Nevada Diner. We are in New Jersey, after all, thousands of miles from that desert state. There is no gambling on premises and Mel Torme ain’t performing in the dining room. I suppose there is some neon and there are a few murals that show the Las Vegas strip and whatnot, but it’s unclear what either this joint or diners in general have to do with Nevada. Other than someone in 1981, when the diner first opened, thought that some Bloomfield rube might be fooled into thinking they’d somehow driven through a wormhole and ended up near the Gold Nugget or something. It was pre-Internet and GPS, so it could happen.
Now, assuming you’re not coming here for a sidecar or greyhound or whatever ancient dudes who order drinks off a placemat might drink at a bar inside a diner, you’ll most likely be interested in breakfast or one of the many, many food items on their giant menu. You know, everything from eggs and pancakes to steaks and pasta. Which, again, not to pick on the olds, but I’ve never seen anyone but the early bird ancients eating the pork chops, chicken marsala or shrimp Francaise. No, for us it’s a default destination. When we’re tired of “ethnic” food or have just overeaten in some classic way, this is where we come. It’s a place to get that omelette dinner. My usual, a cheddar omelette with home fries and rye toast. They do a nice job with it, the service is always brisk and efficient and the food generally comes out quickly. The place is also open until midnight, so I’ve been there late with Ms. Hipster and some hungry ladies looking for way too many late-night carbs after an evening of imbibing. Don’t ask.
While it’s difficult for me not the get the eggs, I do sometimes go crazy and get the chicken gyro, which is basically just some grilled chicken stuffed in a pita with lettuce, tomato, onion and some tzatziki. It’s not bad, but at $18.50 seems a little steep for what it is. So, omelette it is. We all mostly stick to breakfast food, with variations of pancakes, bagels, eggs and bacon (Hipster Jr. Jr. loves a diner bagel for some unknown reason), but Hipster Jr. swears by their chicken wings and Hipster Jr. Jr. is also a fan of their burgers. She’s just a meat and American cheese gal, so nothing fancy, but they apparently do a decent job of it. I’m honestly a little shocked at how some places — even some that have been around for decades — can’t make a decent pile of eggs and cheese. But Nevada has nailed it. Granted, it’s not going to be one of those fancy, fluffy French things with a little sprig of chive on top like at Raymond’s, but it’s a solid version. It’s a little disconcerting how prices have spiked across the board in the last couple of years — and Nevada hasn’t been immune to those increases — but if you can stomach a normal diner meal now costing between $85 – $100 for a family of four I guess you’re good to go.
293 Broad St. – Bloomfield
973/743-9393
nevadadiner.com
