Johnny Prince's Bayway Diner

Found this place after quick search coming from Newark airport. Fantastic people! Down to earth makes you feel right at home. Food was delicious! I had French toast cooked perfectly my husband had an omelet which was amazing as well. Highly recommend . Will definitely make a trip back!

Super yummy food and coffee, space to eat inside and out!

Really tiny old school diner. Only 7 counter seats in an old 50s style airstream looking trailer. Best cuban sandwich I've ever had. The shredded pork instead of sliced really made a difference. I've eaten them all over jersey so thats really saying something. Reasonable prices. Food was delicious and I'll definitely be back to try the jersey burger when I'm in the area again

I have been to this restaurant a few times in my life and their breakfast is super good. This time I got the Chicken Black Jack and though it was tasty I have to say the quality of the ingredients were a little lacking. The chicken was overcooked and very dry. I would definitely return but I’m not sure if I would get this sandwich again.

I stopped by during a work visit to try their chili hot dogs. The owner himself gave me his recommendations and they did not disappoint. I felt like part of their family eating there. Great spot to check out.

A local customer told me try their burgers, dogs & chili so I stopped in today. Waited only about 10 minutes in all. Chili dog was great, good flavor on the chili, the deep fried then grilled dog was bigger than the bun and had good snap. The bun though didn't hold up under the weight of everything. The burger on a roll was an 8oz patty placed between a hard roll. I should've specified toppings as I didn't get any. The bread was fresh and the meat juicy, maybe underseasoned a bit. All that and a can of diet coke was $13.24. Not bad at all.

Tight spacing but takes outside to eat. Portions are big and has good flavor. The hot dog with the works is surprisingly good. I was impressed with the chili and saurkraut. But can't go wrong with a breakfast player either. Very affordable eats

This place is the bomb! Hot dogs are better than Hiram’s and Rutt’s. Santa Fe salad is ridiculous. Chili is awesome!

Just had the best experience at this place! Wonderful friendly people, amazing food! Will definitely be making a trip back. Super clean and cozy. French toast was perfect! Omelet was amazing. Can't say enough positive things highly highly recommend!

I feel like I'm not adding much with my review because I also choose four stars and that is the current rating for this diner. But like a lot of us on yelp, I just have to give my two cents. :-) The diner is situated in what seems to be an area with a lot of trucking industry. And so the diner, the size of your master bedroom closet, caters to a lot of men getting to-go orders. Inside, expect a couple of friendly young waitresses mere feet from the griddle where a couple of seasoned griddle masters produce volumes of orders. Don't expect super high quality here. You probably won't get real butter, pure maple syrup, or housemade corned beef and hash. What you WILL get is food the way they make it. A sense of camaraderie and the feeling that everyone's already your friend from the moment you walk in. It's a great New Jersey vibe that was well appreciated for someone just stopping in on my way to other places.

Let's start w. the food. Got the 2 for $35 deal. Turns out it's not a deal when the food is bad. Started with a salad that had brown edges on all the lettuce and the house dressing w. no flavor. Then the entree's, one was Chicken parm. the other Chicken francese - on both dishes the cutlets that were very tough, almost as if they were from another day and reheated - regardless of why, they were tough and definitely not a good cut of chicken, the red sauce for the Chicken parm. was so BAD tasting that I only ate the bad tough chicken part of my meal. On a positive note, the French waiter wound up being a nice guy, and the portions were generous - but since the meals were bad, it really didn't matter the portion size because neither of us finished our meals or planned to take leftovers home. I will never go back to this place.

I just had to come on Yelp and write this review because I never experienced something like this before!!! My coworker and I pull up after yelping this spot the place is tiny so we sat at the counter got our menus and I'm the type that needs a minute every person that walks into your establishment doesn't have to know exactly what they want rite off the bat !!! With that being said the woman serving at the counter asks what we want and I said I need a few minutes and BAM her attitude changed !! Whatever I order my food and a few minutes later she brings me a breakfast platter it's huge and looks delicious but I ordered a hot dog and a egg sandwich so I say that's not mine ...Well you could see in her face she was pissed but I try to make lite of it by saying I didn't order that but I'll take it no problem she sends the plate back attitude just festering few minutes later brings me another platter again I say no that's not mine she takes out her pad and proceeds to tell me yes you did order this now getting more annoyed with me and someone sitting 2 seats from me says that's my platter and she snatched the plate brought it over to her and says I'm so sorry for the mistake and under her breath tells the woman I didn't know what I ordered !!! Lady I've been a waitress for 35 yrs so I know exactly what you were doing cause I seen other raggedy servers who pick and choose who they are gonna be nice too because they think those people will tip better !!! I received no apology and she asked another girl to serve me cause I guess now since she brought me 2 wrong orders and looked stupid when she finally found my order she just couldn't be woman enough to apologize to me !!! My coworker steps in and lets her know about her rude behavior and a few minutes later her coworker apologized to me and looked stunned at her behavior... if your the owner of this establishment and need a experienced professional to show your employee how to serve ALL people with respect let me know I'll come in and train her .........

Amazing! There is no way your entire group won't find a great option. Healthy or decadent stacked pancakes with fresh strawberries topped with cream. Coffee and espresso bar none is quality. My nephew picked this because it was central location. Best breakfast offerings, quality, well staffed so you get immediate service!!

This place was awesome. I've been trying to get here for some time. It is an authentic dining car(one of few left anywhere in the country , so major nostalgia points there! It has a simple jersey diner menu inclusive of Greek foods and is only open for breakfast and lunch. 3.5% Cash discount in effect. The turkey club was fresh and delicious, perfectly crisp bacon in every bite. I would have preferred hand cut fries and the macaroni salad needed vinegar and salt/pepper BUT it was all in all a true jersey diner experience and an exceptional one at that. Waitress Lisa was kind, attentive and knowledgeable. This place was definitely I worth the wait !

Prices aren't bad. I've eaten there a few times. It's a hit or miss kind of situation. Sometimes the French toast isn't cooked enough sometimes it is. Not sure if the chef changes on certain days. Other than that the service is nice.

My wife and I had breakfast here. Little out of the way place off the main road. A true "old fashioned " diner. Food was good and the employees were very friendly. Recommend if you're in the area. Would go there again if I had the chance

Great place! I highly recommended it! They have the best BLT. Small business vibes it's very rare to find it now a days

Best BLT I've had in a while, fairly priced and staff was great. Only downside is how tight it is inside. If you can get to go, you're golden!!! Definitely going back soon!!

My friend wanted to try this place after seeing it on DDD. Its a fairly small hole in the wall type place with counter seating indoors and some outdoor tables. We came a little early expecting it to be crowded, but the only traffic during a weekday lunch was people coming to collect takeout orders. Most notable is the pricing... prices are quite reasonable versus diners and other options. Food was tasty. I wasn't the biggest fan of the chilli dog, but I did enjoy my italian sandwich. Parking is available right in front. Staff was friendly

Food was mid and they did not give me any utensils for my delivery order of pancakes and an omelette

It's a small restaurant, but big on atmosphere, food and service. We took our youth hockey team after a morning game and everyone thought it was the best breakfast!

This is a little remote diner in the middle of this commercial Zone. If you looked at it from the outside you would doubt it was any good but trust me looks can be deceiving. My wife and I ordered two breakfast platters and they were spectacular. The waitress , or owner not sure if she was, was so nice and helpful..the service was exceptional and the home fries were amazing..I had a side of turkey bacon and it had to be up there in terms of best I have had. If you're in the area try them out.:I wanted to do lunch there but could t make it...they look like they have amazing hot dogs and burgers

Highly caffeinated gnome and hair gel enthusiast Guy Fieri of The Food Network made this place a thing a few years back and fortunately, it didn't need the help. Calling Johnny Prince's Famous Bayway Diner in Linden small is being kind but this classic aluminum clad building is an inventive, comfort food gem. Reasonable prices and delicious fare make it worth the shoehorn to get inside. The omelettes are magnificent as is the classic BLT or Blackjack sandwich. Great food with flair is where you find it. Johnny Prince's challenges you to impress someone without trying to impress them. Five easy stars and definitely worth the hike from anywhere in New Jersey.

Had the Cuban sandwich special. It was great Staff was very friendly and attentive Chicken wrap was great too All the hot sauces and condiments to choose from was great! Fun and tasty little spot

The food was a amazing and breakfast sandwich was A-1! I looked up country potatoes and this picture of a big Ole breakfast sandwich popped up! I confirmed they had country potatoes and I was good to go!

Great chili dogs. Great service. A total lunchtime winner. Retro diner feel on the inside adds to the experience

Love this place.... Ordered Monster Burger and french fries. Two fresh burger pattie's, pork roll, onion ring, bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomato on a kaiser. Can't get any better than this! Breakfast is also amazing.

The pictures may not look appetizing. But this place was so good. I definitely will come back here for food again. The chili was amazinggggg on the hot dog. The fish and grits were tasty, fish was perfectly fried. Service is quick and the people who work there are nice. The women at the counter was very nice. I also got an egg and cheese sandwich I didn't get a picture of it but it was good I wish I just asked to toast the bread but I forgot. Also, the women charged me 3.00 for it when on the menu it said 3.50 so that was nice. For a local spot that's not on a main road technically, it's safe to say it's a hidden gem.

If you are looking for an out-of-the-way Jersey diner with loads of character, this is the place. On the morning that I visited, Johnny Prince himself was around (as he apparently often is) to provide conversation, for those that want it. It was all appropriate, which can't be easy for a guy from Jersey. Roxy, the server behind the counter, is a Dominican beauty who can charm even the most hardened customer. I enjoyed the 3 Meat Omelette, which features a tasty triad of sausage, bacon and Taylor ham. For the out-of-staters, Taylor ham is a New Jersey speciality, marketed as pork roll in other parts of the country. Only NJ gets to call it "ham," since it is technically not ham. When you look at what it is made of, it shouldn't taste so good, but it does. Anyway, I had a perfect breakfast, with engaging conversation from Johnny and so many smiles from Roxy. Check it out, you'll be glad you did.

The Best, friendliest, tiny old school diner! The food was great and came fast. Great portions at realistic prices. John was welcoming and has a good sense of humor. It's a 40 minute drive with no traffic, from me. But it was my first time and not my last!

Johnny, it was a pleasure talking to you and enjoying your hotdogs with that unbelievable homemade chili, a real taste treat, you get the slight sweetness at first and then the ever slow slight afterburner sensation, fantastic. similar to the umami sensation you get from Szechwan Chinese. As an aside I noticed in a few early comments a few people complained about "good food lousy service" yesterday your crew took care of over 70 people so efficiently it was incredible. I will make it a point to come and see you the on my list for quite a while, it was the very first establishment on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives.

Fast friendly hot dog service served flaming hot. Can't get better or more healthy. I'd go back!

I've been meaning to go here for maybe a year plus and it's legit up the road from me. So today I finally pulled the trigger and man I should've gone earlier. I got the Belly Buster breakfast sandwich as I was fiending for some hearty in the morning and it did the did the trick. It comes on a 6" sandwich roll, which I'm typically not a fan of, I prefer bagels or croissants for the bread, but I am now a firm believer and will never turn back. The bread was soft, the meats were succulent, the cheese was oozing, and heavens were opening. The sandwich was massive and came out to $7 and change. I took it to go so didn't get to hang out in the diner for long. It's a pretty tiny spot and it closes at 4PM on weekdays and 3 on weekends. So you need to get there early. Typical greasy spoon diner environment. They sell snacks on a rack in addition to what's on the menu. They also had a sign inside the diner with Dominican breakfast dishes like tostones (fried plantains), mangú, fried cheese, amongst others. There is a boast on the menu of them having the "absolute best coffee in town." As their competition looks to be bodegas and gas stations....maybe a Dunkin....there's a good chance this boast is on point. A lot of trucker type hard living dudes hanging out there, but if you don't care this place seems pretty special in a sea of chain franchise restaurants that NJ is riddled with. The staff was kind and though it's not my usual crowd I didn't feel out of place. The food was excellent with very reasonable prices. New yet cool environment. I will be coming back!i

I love any type of Southwestern salad and always order for lunch wherever they have it. I saw the Santa Fe Salad and figured I would try it. I debated getting large or small but I was really hungry so I got the large. As you'll see in the photo it was HUGE. Could probably feed 3-4 people or one person for 3-4 days. The kitchen was delicious and had a really peppery flavor, the beans, tomatoes, onions and corn were great as well. I'd love to try more at this diner, next time I'll get a small salad instead though!

Awesome breakfast! Good service, the location is a bit small but it work out for the time we went by. Highly recommend this place!

Based in overall impression the Bay way is great! The counter girl was very good at her job, she was fun and friendly and helpful with selecting an item. I heard her taking phone orders and she covered every base with a pleasant and efficient manner. The grill cook worked like a Swiss watch. And for the recover for my order perfect! Medium rare burger and extra crispy fries. Free refills of you sit at the counter, that's a bonus. The place was clean there was lots of parking and the proves were fair. At face value you get more than your money's worth at the Bayway diner!

I am a fan and both times I ordered food they almost put me into a comatose state at work, a lot of food and not to shabby for a diner. I will order from here again. **Try the johnny belly buster sandwich, there is a lot going on in there but it is delicious. DISCLAIMER: THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE YOU WILL GET VERY SLEEPY FROM EATING THIS BEAST, ENJOY.

Saw a post on Facebook about this place so we had to try it. It is very cute inside lots of pictures and personality. The owner was very kind and helpful when looking over the menu (which has so many good options). After making some difficult decisions (cause everything sounded so good) I ordered a California burger and wow. It was perfect. Mayo, ketchup , lettuce, pickles (a beautiful layer) salt and pepper with cheese fries on the side and I can 100% say I found my new place to eat. Was absolutely amazing and would definitely recommend.

It's a cool local BBQ place with great BBQ! corn bread needs a new recipe but that's not what you go there for.

Cute little diner that made me feel like a regular, great service and prices you can't beat. Roxy was very nice to us! Will come again

I've been looking for a good diner in linden for the year that I've been living here. IM SO GLAD I FOUND IT! It's a teeny tiny classic looking diner and seats about 8 people. It's absolutely adorable. The food is amazing and the service is super friendly. I ordered a cheese burger and it was so fresh and delicious. I also ordered an black and white milkshake and it really put Shake shack to shame all around. This place is the bees knees. I can't wait to come back for breakfast.

Craving breakfast food for our brunch, sis and I searched "top rated diners near me", found this gem in the rough and now have a great place to eat while on roadtrips from NYC. Owner John, other patrons and That chef made a simple meal a joyful experience. And, YES, our food was great, (fluffy pancakes, turkey bacon, home fries, grits, over easy eggs, sausage patties and, yes John, really good coffee)!!! We're looking forward to our next trip there. Again, Thanks!!!!

This place was small and out of the way. Had to get a bite for breakfast. The ham, egg and cheese on a roll was outstanding. OMG! I bought two and they were huge! Could only eat one. Great Job guys!!!!!

I had lunch at the Bayway Diner last Thursday. Yes, the operation is super tiny and only seats 8, but it is worth it. I don't know about previous management or quality issues, I'm just speaking from my own perspective. First of all, the place has a true 50s vibe, really small and classy. We were just two people and we had chili dogs and chicken quesadilla. I have to surrender to the awesome dogs, quality sausage and amazing home-made chili sauce. The guacamole that came with the quesadillas was killer. Two people, and we paid 18$ for the whole set. Amazingly cheap IMHO, and nice service. The place is not in the best or easiest location, but I feel that is a great detour to take if you are travelling around the area.

Home fries were soggy and bland even after requesting extra crispy. Had to take the bacon off of my breakfast sandwich because it was not edible- shoe leather. Skip.

The fish was overcooked. It was really dry and the food had no seasoning. It was not that great and can use a lot of improvement.

If you're looking for a great chili dog, this is the place to be. A unique chili recipe that is second to none. All of Johnnies other items are great as well. The burgers are huge juicy and delicious. Everything is freshly made. Delicious French toast, pancakes, perfectly cooked bacon and other breakfast items will make you want to come back every day. Great outdoor seating as well. Get a quart of chili to go while you were there as well. Because you'll be wanting more. Great to use for your outdoor barbecues and parties. Johnny Prince is a great host, say hello to him when you're there.

Why is my corned beef hash sour???? Wth??? And I ordered fish and grits with eggs over easy. No egg. I am completely unsatisfied and I'm sure this cornes beef hash will have me calling out of work if I eat it.

I always get the single burger medium rare with cheese and pickles and ketchup, nothing else, and it's perfect every time! Cooked right, juicy, and the buns are on point as well. Never disappointed with a Johnny Prince burger

The food was delicious. Plenty of options to choose from. I thoroughly enjoyed the "how you doin" sandwich. There was so much to it that I had leftovers, the chili cheese fries probably assisted with that a bit. My friends all were stuffed and ready for a nap after eating. The "small" salad was huge and a great value.

Walked in starving, waddled out full. The food was delicious! Great mom & pop diner. Friendly staff. CLEAN kitchen! Extensive menu- lots to choose from. We had the fish and grits, pancakes, eggs and turkey sausage. The food was very tasty! Even sampled the chili- very tasty; ordered some to take home. We will be back. We highly recommend! Oh yeah, they offer turkey bacon, turkey sausage & turkey burgers-a big plus for me.

While visting the Rosedale/Rosehill Cemetery, we were hungry and looking for a diner. The closest diner was The Bayway Diner...Driving up, I was like wow, how tiny, wonder how the food is. We were hungry. Do not let the outside fool you, food is good. Walking in, there was only about 8-10 seats ONLY counter seating. OK, we're staying, fingers crossed. Husband ordered his usual, bacon egg and cheese..I ordered cheeseburger, medium with fried onions and french fries with gravy. I have to say both our order came out quickly and they were DELICIOUS. The fries were crispy and the gravy very good...Burger and onions were definetly cooked to my liking. When it's nice out I noticed there are tables with umbrellas set up on the side... I woud def. recommend this to anyone....

A small diner across the street from the Linden power plant (refinery plant). It only seats about 6 at a small counter, and the griddle is right behind the counter so you can see them cook. I was working across the street so for this reason I've gone in this place 3 times so far. I heard co workers saying this place was on diners drive ins and dives, so I said to myself I definitely have to try it out. On my 3 visits I've had a bacon egg and cheese on a roll, an Italian hot dog, and a cheese burger. All 3 where standard diner fare. Nothing great and not bad. The hot dog was huge with potatoes, onions and peppers, and 2 hot dog links on a 12in roll. 5.50$ very filling. The burger was ok, I felt the roll they used was way too big with too much bread. The burger was juicy but could've used some salt and pepper. Bec was good, you cant mess up a bacon egg and cheese. I will return again the next time I'm hungry after work for the drive home. I just hope the next meal is a home run.

i gave the bayway diner 5 stars and its one of thr best examples of what a real new jersey diner shoukd have on its menu and if you see it listed just ask

Chili is perfect. Sweet and slowly hot! The way chili should be...and no beans!!! I love it!!! Cheese steaks are off the chain here...they use real steak. Nuff said. Belly Buster is pound for pound best breakfast sandwich I ever had. Anywhere.

I stopped in on my way home from a trip today. I was looking for a quick meal and settled in this tiny hole in the wall place. It was incredible! The place is super tiny and there were only two people working. I asked the owner (who was serving) for a recommendation and he suggested the black jack sandwich. It was amazing! Everyone there was so funny and welcoming. I highly recommend stopping in! We had such a great experience.

Just ordered delivery from this place and it arrived after an hour and 20 minutes. Needless to say the food was cold but I wasn't going to make a fuss about it, I have a microwave. Then I realized my toast was missing, again... not the biggest of issues, still had the main meal. Then I found not a single hair, but a strand of hair in the omelette. That was the last straw, called the restaurant and they were apologetic but not really, they had a "what do you want to do about it" attitude. Completely unprofessional and told me delivery was busy so it would take longer to reorder. They offered to redeliver the order but made no effort to expedite it. It is very likely I'll be waiting an hour and 20 minutes again for hopefully not a hair and cheese omelette. Truly disappointed by the lack of empathy and service from the place.