While New Jersey’s best known for orange celebrities and the loathing it inspires in New Yorkers, the state does have one redeeming quality: its diners. Yes, New York has its share of imitators borough-wide — the beloved Court Square Diner, the price-gouging Cozy’s Soup ‘n’ Burger, the pour-yourself-into-a-booth-at-2am Kellogg’s Diner — but they never quite reach the quality or authenticity of New Jersey’s greasy spoons. My bias might stem from my dad’s half of my family hailing from Caldwell, but honestly, there’s something absent from New York diners. Maybe it’s the accent. The Midwest, always the youngest child playing catch-up to its elders, tries its damndest to do diners. But, like most things middle America attempts, it gets it wrong … and turns it into a franchise with a drivethru. Ladies and … Read entire article »