Budd Lake Diner

Not just a typical "Jersey Diner" all the comforts you can enjoy. Clean and comfortable. Service was great. Our server was so super sweet. The loaded potato super was incredible. The Gyro fresh hot and plentiful. Pickle and cole slaw was amazing. Not pricey very fair in prices. And Holy Jumping Jesus the desserts was extremely amazing to look at ... was a good girl but very tempted to grab those mile high cakes 🎂

We were passing through, on our way to Wildwood and we decided to stop. We had both seating. My Nane and I had the avacado toast. It was served with a tomato caprese salad. It was so fresh. The portions are huge. My oldest got a burner and it was a big as his head.. I love that the kids meals came with ice cream or jello. The prices were incredible. I think it was $68.00 for 5 of us! The server was friendly and super attentive!

One of my favorite places to go on the way back home from New York. Large menu with many choices, fast friendly service, and food quality is top notch!

Excellent food! Try the prime rib, it's amazing. Then end with their famous cheesecake--it never disappoints! We've had many different dishes and we always leave happily full and content with leftovers for lunch.

Don’t let the simple outside fool you, delicious food inside!! We visited Budd Lake Diner as part of the Somerset Patriots Diner Passport and had a great meal. We were warmly greeted by the hostess and shown to a booth quickly. Lots of locals dining. Our waitress, Wendy, was great. Patient and friendly, she was happy to answer questions about the menu and was attentive throughout the meal. The menu is flavored, with lots of diner fare but also some new and fun choices. The yogurt banana cake special was delicious, and enough for two! Portions are generous. Lots of healthy choices. Accessible ♿️ Lots of families with kids. Four boys, after a game, sitting in the booth behind us having a great time eating and enjoying their Shirley Temples. What fun! Plenty of parking. Will definitely return… and soon because they make a great burger 🍔 just as burgers are supposed to be… juicy and tasty! So good!

Nice, classic diner in style and menu options. Quick and friendly service providing tasty food and good prices.

Had a cheeseburger deluxe for lunch yesterday. It was very good. It was a large burger with tons of exceptional fries. More than I could eat. The burger was perfect. It was not greasy or cooked until it was dry. The waitress did a great job. She stopped by frequently to make sure everything was ok. The food came out quickly and was hot. They have a new owner. Service still seems to be friendly and the food good.

Great waiting staff, very friendly and funny. You always get a good plate of food for breakfast. Good meaty crisp bacon. Good coffee too.

While on the road, we stopped for a quick bite and stumbled upon this diner. It's your typical diner with a large menu of breakfast items to burgers. We didn't want to get too full and ordered two appetizers to share, but ended up pretty full anyways. We had the Appetizer Combo ($15.95) and Cheeseburger Sliders with Fries ($11.95) paired with an Apple Milkshake ($8.95). The appetizer came with tenders, mozzarella sticks, wings, and loaded potato skins. This was really basic and essentially just lots of fried food with some variety. It did come with lots of sauce to dip each item into though. As for the sliders, they were pretty standard as well paired with some crunchy fries. The food is your standard diner food to satiate any hunger on the road. The milkshake was pretty good though, but pricey at that.

7 years ago I rated this place with 5 stars. It truly was worth it. After the original owners sold the diner, the new owners came in and made serious changes to the menu. Hey, it's their place, why not? At first glance, they have some good options. Then you taste and it's just ok. And that's saying a lot for diner food. Then you get the bill and it's like wow, this is not gourmet food. C'mon! How do you mess up, then pay so much for mozzarella sticks? Lmao! I've given them the benefit of the doubt and gone there several times, but now BLD gets only 3 stars. It's a shame, because at one time they were a gem in the area.

We passed by on the way back from getting a tree from a nearby tree farm. There was a line to get in, which was a good sign, and we were hungry for some diner comfort food. We were seated after some time understanding there was a lot of people waiting and place was packed. Typical NJ diner design and menu. Not as big as it looked from the outside. We ordered avocado toast and a chicken parm sandwich. Took a bit of time to come out but again, busy. But our server was kind and friendly. She came back to check on us a few times. The toast was good, fries were hot but not over cooked. The chicken parm was thin and too dry for me. Not enough sauce but the bread was soft. But overall it was good. Will try again if we get a tree next year. Recommended!

The only reason the Budd Lake Diner is getting second star is because they were flexible and able to accommodate our large party that arrived slowly over 30-45 minutes. Other than that, the food was quite terrible. The Monte Cristo was not good. The chicken and waffles had non-stick grease all over it and was chicken tenders they recently deep fried. Their corn hash beef comes from a can as well. Just not great all around.

I was very disappointed at the roast turkey dinner. The turkey was like cold cuts. What happened to the real roasted turkey the other owners served. I felt like I was at a I HOP.

A vintage roadside diner with an ambitious menu and an unpretentious atmosphere. Had a tasty chicken dinner with lovely, mashed potatoes and perhaps the best stewed zucchini that I've ever had. The homemade split pea soup was nicely prepared, and the Greek salad was fresh and well composed. BLD is a pretty large space. There's lots of booths of various sizes. The wait staff and host were friendly. Service was somewhat slow however my experience here was positive. After driving for quite a long stretch of highway, I was happy to have landed on this spot.

Not even worth going. How can breakfast at a diner be so bad? Ordered a few option and literally nothing was worth eating...

I was not feeling the best when I wrote this. This place is actually great, they are personable, and they ensure you get the best experience possible with their friendly atmosphere.

Not so good everyone. Maybe they will pick up the phone when you call to order. Maybe your food will come out ok on some occasion. Its definitely not consistant. They will charge extra for every nook and cranny. Example: to go orders, cheese...everything is extra. Just so done with what seems like a lack of care and concern for customers and there reputation.

It's a good diner. Probably better than anything around here. Decent menu, good portions, nice staff. Added this to my go to list.

Service was fine and food was good to very good. Unfortunately we got sat at the last table next to the bathroom and it was non stop traffic of people coming in and out. Didn't try the cheesecake, but had yummy crab cake Benedict. I ordered my eggs over poached (over hard) and they came out runny. But that happens all the time. Extra hollandaise sauce was server without asking, which was a a nice touch and the crab cakes were fantastic. The home fries weren't great and they didn't have yellow lemonade. However overall good to very good for standard diner fair.

I think good! New owners are making a strong effort, and I find no fault here. My orders have been prompt, accurate, fresh, and tasty the way a diner should be. I say go to the Budd Lake diner and try it for yourself, I believe you'll leave happy!

First time in New Jersey and my first time at this diner for brunch. Plenty of parking all around the diner. We were a party of 12 on a Sunday. Unfortunately we weren't able to all sit 1 table, but they gave us 2 tables back to back. Since it was my first time in New Jersey, I was told I had to get the Taylor Ham (with egg & cheese). I'm so glad I did because it was a delicious meal. Our waitresses were extremely patient with our orders and constantly checked on us.

It's a clean and polished NJ diner. Interesting menu - something for everyone. Food was ok Fries were great! Limit refills to 3. Staff was very attentive

We visited for a family gathering. The waitress was great. The food came out hot and tasted good. The pancakes were just ok though. The overall place is very dated as well.

Fantastic food fantastic service and an amazing hot chocolate!! Prices were very reasonable and the portion size is very generous!! Fast & friendly staff. Adding this to my diner rotation!!

They Shouldn't charge you for pick up and using the credit card. Burger was good. Need some updating but overall not bad for a diner.

Ordered a steak and blue cheese panini. Well it came on a cheap flatbread that was so soggy that the insides fell out. The steak was chunks of meat which were obviously too big to be in any kind of "sandwich". The onions and mushrooms were over greasy. I couldn't even pick it up without it flopping open and everything falling out. If a place doesn't know that a focaccia or ciabatta bread should be used for a panini they should be ashamed.

Been there many times since the '80's. Not as good since new owners. This evening I ordered the chopped sirloin. In three attempts, they couldn't get it past raw. The menu stated served with mushroom gravy. Instead there was no gravy and the meat sat in a tomato juice from the string bean side that usually comes in a side dish. In the old days I believe the server would not have served the dish that was not cooked properly. It took management way too long to figure how to use pencil and paper for our bill as the "computer was down". Altogether a disappointing experience that will be remembered.

We have dined here several times and both the food and service is also consistent. I recently heard that they have the BEST cheese cake so we ordered and picked one up today. Well... this certainly is. It is huge and seriously creamy. Highly recommend. Kind staff too!

The Budd Lake Diner has been part of our regular breakfast rotation for years. We went there this morning, and had such a terrible experience we won't be coming back anytime soon. The service was extremely poor. It took an hour to get our food. The waitress never came back to check to see if we needed coffee refills while we waited. I understand that it was a busy morning, but if you can't get the food out on time, at least make sure the coffee/tea cups aren't empty. We asked for boxes to bring home leftovers, and we didn't get them until we asked a bus boy who was clearing our table. The service was just about the worst we've ever experienced.

This diner is THE BOMB!!! From an ALL DAY BREAKFAST menu to servers who LISTEN?!! THIS IS THE PLACE!! I ordered the Budd Lake Burger - it was cooked perfectly - and my fries?? I like my fries WELL DONE - and they were done right the first time! YAHOO!! My son had the breakfast burrito and he loved it! The downfall for me? No Coca-Cola - only Pepsi. But their tea is good. Had the Shrimp Cocktail appetizer and mozzarella sticks - they were DELISH!

Pleasant surprise! Long drive to a Family Wedding from (South Carolina to NEW Jersey). Our Metre De Gianna was very friendly in seating us, and answering our questions. Our Server Linda was polite, friendly, down to earth, empathic, and very efficient. I asked for basil and oregano and got it 3 minutes later. The was food was good and the prices were very reasonable. The Veal Parisian was two real veal medallions, breaded with a side of linguini. While the veal medallions could have used more seasoning, they were good. My wife had the Ruben which she enjoyed. I will have to tell you about the Raspberry Truffle cake later as my wife took it to go! We highly recommend the Bud Lake Diner if you prefer friendly service, good food, and a very reasonable price for dinner.

While the Wait staff were very nice 2 out of 9 meals were raw and took very long time to come out.

Do not place an order for pickup from there. They will tell you one time and it will be ten minutes more than they said. Additionally, they are not customer friendly. If you do not have an order when it is supposed to be done the first words out of your mouth should be I'm sorry, but not here. Finally in the year 2024 they are still depending on Facebook for a menu for this restaurant.

Very disappointing. Coffee was luke warm and was watered down. Food was basic and unnecessarily greasy. Service was super duper slow.

Since the changing of the owners, with whom I was close with, I have only gotten Budd Lake Diner for breakfast. This evening I decided to order from Door Dash and get my classic Greek favorite, the Souvlaki Platter. Mind you, on Door dash, this particular meal costs $21. IT WAS NOT WORTH 12 DOLLARS. The chicken came bare and in strips rather than chopped chunks like it's supposed to. There were no tomatoes or onions and the tzatiki sauce was in a side container smaller than their free side of coleslaw which came in a size bigger. The fries were mixed in the container with the chicken and were soggy by the time I got them. Overall their packaging was sloppy and poor, their portions were NOT WORTH $21, and the food itself is waaaaaaay sub-par from the original owners. Advice: just take it off the menu cuz I threw it away. I couldn't bring myself to sully the memory of the family that introduced me to that meal. Sincerely, a lost customer

We stopped in for brunch this weekend while visiting family, our waitress Susan was super funny! We can't wait to stop back in on our next trip! Glad we stumbled upon this old school diner!

This place is great if you're looking for a true diner experience. My husband and I had a lovely breakfast with great and attentive service. The food was excellent and well priced.

Budd Lake Diner competes with the best small town dines accept you will enter and leave with full service customer service. The varied menu was a wide swath of cultural and local aperitif. Taste and portion size has large value, but again the customer service is not only uncommon, but reminiscent of Great America...

My wife and I stopped in for a Sunday morning breakfast today. We really liked this diner. It was like a step back in time to the '80's when it opened, even with Billy Joel singing Piano Man on radio. The food was very good. My wife had cheese blintzes with cinnamon toast and I had corned beef hash with eggs. Coffee was good too! The diner was packed on this Sunday morning, but there was plenty of parking nearby. We had a short wait, but staff was very attentive. Prices were reasonable. Bathroom clean...all good!

The new owners do a great job of keeping the menu fresh and rotating always. Every time you go you can find something new. Service is typically fast with no issues and the diner is always clean.

New owners seem great. But the up charge on a meal I treat myself to once every couple of months went up from 15.95 to 21.50 in 2 months. So kind of disappointed and no bread with it either. Time to look for a different diner I hear Andover diner a good one.

Are here after completing a Ragnar relay and it was the perfect way to start the day!

Stopped by with a group of 7 just a few days ago and enjoyed a late-night dinner at this diner. They were accommodating, had great service and the food was pretty good! I tried their pizza burger and rice pudding and the burger was surprisingly good for a diner. Others in my group ordered, omelets, steak n' eggs, chicken wrap, and classic burger and no one had any complaints. I'd say it's a solid diner and would go back if I'm ever in the area again.

The BLD is my go to place for eating out. Great options and great food, I think the place has overall gone a bit downhill since COVID (I've heard several people say it's the management, I think it's just coincidence coinciding with the pandemic) and the prices have raised just like every where else unfortunately. If you want to come here with a party of 2 or a party of 10, it'll be a great time for everyone and of any age. And try the cheesecake!! It's the best! Enjoy the small business and family owned atmosphere.

A great old time diner, wish it was closer to home. Real old time diner food and cooked to perfection. Great prices too.

I love this restaurant. Every time my husband and I come here, the atmosphere is nice and cozy, you feel like family. Delicious and fresh food for any type of occasion. Quality and 100% recommendation.

Miserable breakfast experience. First, they didn't have a very wide selection of breakfast options. When our food arrived, they forgot and messed up more than half of our plates, like bringing the wrong drinks, wrong plates overall, forgetting condiments, the list goes on... Budd Lake Diner is not somewhere I would recommend to anyone in the area. There are so many better options in just a short distance.

I did take out, chicken in a basket. Chicken was sooo overcooked and dry. The onion ring almost broke a tooth it was so hard and dry. The onion inside apparently evaporated while it was being way over cooked. No plans to go back! Unedible!

The Budd Lake Diner used to be very good. However, since they've been sold, the new owners don't seem to care about customers as much as the previous owners. Take out there is horrible to say the least. Over the course of a week we ordered from there twice. The first time we were told it would be 20 minutes for eggs and a burger. I got there and I waited another 10 minutes. The second time we gave them more time and they gave our order away without any thought about telling us that they would comp us the meal. We had waited 40 minutes and they wanted us to wait another 20 to get our order right. After living in the area for over 20 years, I will never ever go back to the Budd Lake Diner.

I called to place an order from this establishment on Friday night after a wedding. At the end of the call I said delivery to my hotel and they took my information and then said they could not deliver. I told them okay and said never mind and an hour later I am getting calls from someone at the restaurant saying they are outside and calling the police if I don't get the food and pay for it. They also wouldn't allow us to pay by credit card over the phone so I had to find an ATM to take out cash for an order I cancelled. Poor customer service and bad attitudes.

This is our regular breakfast place and honestly, it is "just" a diner, but the staff is usually friendly and the breakfast is reasonably priced so I think it warrants 3.5 stars. We often get the western omelette and french toast, which is ever so wonderfully slightly crispy every time. Together this runs us about $15. As for their lunch options, the triple decker seems to be my husband's favorite and I typically get the gyro. If you're going to get fries, upgrade to curly fries. For some reason, their regular french fries are quite bland.

We were driving through and saw the diner so we decided to stop. The waitress wasn't the friendliest. We had to practically beg for drink refills. I ordered scrambled eggs, pork roll and toast. The food was nothing to write home about and for a diner, it was one of the smallest portions I've had. I've never been hungry after leaving a diner. The diner wasn't terrible and the food was edible but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

Go to place after flight back to NJ. I rarely get a bad meal here. It could be midnight or five n the morning. Eggs are great, BLT is wonderful. This is classic New Jersey Diner food. Rita's cheesecake, don't miss it! One thing, usually soup is good, today, not so much.

Used to go there with original owners. Changed for the worst. No long go there to meet local friends. Compare to Roxbury diner. Vast diff in quality and quantity for the price.

One very rude waitress. When I told the management about it nothing was done. They actually told me they needed her more than me. So after many years of being a loyal customer I had to stop going. As far as the food is concerned it was what you would expect at a diner. Big portions and pretty average quality. They should rethink how they treat their customers.

I try a different diner every time I visit North Jersey. Budd Lake Diner was my pick this time. It wasn't far from the hotel and it looked like a well-established local joint. The dining area was comfortable and it was good that they had both smaller and larger booths to accommodate groups of different sizes. Menu prices seemed on the high side but the meatballs parmigiana I ordered turned out to be a big portion. Still, I wish they had some lower-priced dinner entrees. Service was good and fairly efficient. Dining area and restrooms were clean enough. Menu pricing aside, I'd say it's the quintessential Jersey diner experience.

I've only been here twice but the food here seems to be pretty good. The first time there, I got the Eggplant Parmesan and it was so good!! The second time there, I just got the chicken salad sandwich and it's really bland. I won't get it again. The cole slaw is really good. I'll definitely be going back here to eat!