Jersey Diners

There is nothing more "Jersey" than a diner. Adorning the highways and byways of fully half of the state's 567 municipalities, no one in New Jersey lives far from one. There are more diners here than in any other state, and on top of that, two of the three remaining diner manufacturers are located in the Garden State. In a year of roadside research, Peter Genovese talked to owners, employees, and customers, and ate more bacon and egg sandwiches than he cares to remember. The result is a funny, revealing book about a beloved American institution. Whether you want to know where and how diners started, who invented eggs served in a skillet, why these twenty-four-hours-a-day eateries are so popular, or, most important, which one has the best French toast, Jersey Diners has the answers. Packed with facts, trivia, and stories about the owners, employees, and clientele, the book is also complemented with over three hundred evocative, beautiful photos of the buildings, their distinctive decor, the food, and the people who love it from Sussex to Salem counties. In addition, this newly revised edition includes a fully updated directory that details where you can find every diner throughout the state.

All that's missing is the smell of the burgers and sound of Bruce Springsteen pouring from the jukebox. This book seems to offer everything anyone would want to know about that great institution, the roadside diner. Peter Genovese, a writer for a New Jersey newspaper, concentrates on diners in his home state. The many illustrations--photos of diners, patrons, and all sorts of diner memorabilia--reflect the loving attitude and sense of humor that pervade this book.