Mustache Bill's Diner

"There’s going to be a wait at Mustache Bill’s, but whether you need to rock, paper, scissors for who has to go early and put a name in or you plan to kill time by cheating at mini-golf across the street, you should find a way to eat here. This cash-only diner near the lighthouse in Barnegat Light feels like it probably hasn’t changed much since it opened in the ’50s, with simple green swivel stools at the counter and a few booths lining the wall of the narrow space. It’s open from 6am-3pm, with a huge menu that ranges from eggs and pancakes to cheesesteaks and fried seafood platters, but no matter what you order, you’re going to leave full and happy." - Matt Tervooren, Tonya Russell

"There’s going to be a wait at Mustache Bill’s, but whether you need to rock, paper, scissors for who has to go early and put a name in or you plan to kill time by cheating at mini-golf across the street, you should find a way to eat here. This cash-only diner near the lighthouse in Barnegat Light feels like it probably hasn’t changed much since it opened in the ’50s, with simple green swivel stools at the counter and a few booths lining the wall of the narrow space. It’s open from 6am-3pm, with a huge menu that ranges from eggs and pancakes to cheesesteaks and fried seafood platters, but no matter what you order, you’re going to leave full and happy. You can maximize both of those feelings by getting the “bombed eggs,” a massive plate of grits, gravy, and chipped beef topped with a few over-easy eggs." - Matt Tervooren

"Mustache Bill’s has an accolade that only three other Jersey Shore restaurants can claim: a highly regarded James Beard Award (and a Guy Fieri visit). This no-frills diner was named an America’s Classic in 2009 by the restaurant-celebrating organization for its “straight-from-the-heart cooking” of local seafood, pancakes, and hearty dinner platters. The restaurant manages to do 1,000 covers on a typical summer day, so it’s always packed." - Stefanie Tuder