I really had a lovely time here. My parents took me out for breakfast and wanted to try Marilyns. When we walked in I was impressed by how charming the inside was. It feels like a hole in the wall, but at the same time is actually very clean and thoughtfully decorated. I loved all of the pictures of old fashioned movie stars on the wall, and much preferred this ambiance to any of my local diners. Our server was a young man who we later found out was the grandson of the owners, who were sitting right at the counter table. It made Marilyn's even more charming to know that it really is just a mom-and-pop that an entire family rallys to takes great pride in. I was really excited to see cheese blintz on the menu, as this is one of my favorites but is not so common! I ordered this, along with a side of bacon, and a decaf coffee. My blintz was excellent and came loaded with fresh fruits and sour cream. It was better than the blintzes I used to order from my favorite Ukranian restaurant in NYC. The bacon was cooked perfectly (crispy!) and my coffee was awesome. I will definitely be returning to bring my husband. I am only knocking off one star (it hurts to do this because I really loved my food and experience here) because they only offer bottled water, they are cash only, and the bathroom was very VERY cramped. Otherwise this would've been a five star review! read more

Marilyn's Cafe - Cheese Blintz w/ side of Bacon - Diners Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

Small charming place with Marilyn Monroe everywhere. Looks like a family business and the super nice and polite grandson was serving us. We ordered breakfast food and it was great. My wife love their homefries she kept saying how good it was. My son devoured the bacon. I wonder if they use farm raised eggs because they taste better than whatever I get from the store. The sauce for the country fried steak is excellent. I expected it to be more fried but I guess there are different ways to make it. read more

See all

Marilyn's is your hole in the wall cafe with a certain sort of charm to it. Walls are covered, end to end with Marilyn Monroe photos and clippings, with a few others thrown in as well. Atmosphere is ultimately what you'd expect from diner. The food however, can greatly vary in quality. Some dishes (like the taco omelette) are quite good while others (crepes and some sandwiches) are really missing the mark on flavor. Portion sizes are good, but this was the only time in my life that a restaurant in the United States refused to serve tap water upon request. They actually charge $4.50 for a bottle of water, which truly feels like gouging! On top of that there was prominently displayed section of political memorabilia that made my wife uncomfortable about how welcome she was throughout her meal. Overall, the staff is friendly, the prices were a touch higher than they feel they should have been, and the in terms of food quality, your mileage will vary. Also keep in mind this is a cash-only establishment. You could do worse, but I likely won't be going back. read more

We love this very local, quaint Cafe that serves very homemade food, great service to top. As you can see Marilyn has some very interesting collectible memorabilia throughout her restaurant. A great place to visit. Enjoy some freshly prepared homemade delicious food. read more

See all

This is a cash-only, Marilyn Monroe-themed Cafe tucked away in Chester, NJ. The food was ok, though definitely on the salty side. The portions are a good size for the price. Wait staff was friendly enough. However, the biggest downside for me was the lack of free tap water. Tap water is fine to drink but they wanted to charge us $4.50 for bottled water. This is gouging, plain and simple. I won't be coming back. read more

Not sure who the woman was at the back counter.. but she was rude and unprofessional. I walked in to what I thought was a cafe, thinking maybe they had a menu of different coffee's. When I asked if they had any speciality coffee's I was looked up and down and told with a major attitude " um no mam you should go to Starbucks for that" so rude and unprofessional. I would not recommend. read more

CASH ONLY. You walk in feeling in awe by the charm and coziness of this place, but you walk out in disappointment when you realize how expensive this place is. $50 for breakfast for 2. I got eggs and scrapple (came with home fries and toast), short stack of pancakes, my husband got eggs and corned beef hash that looked canned (which I love canned) and that also came with toast and home fries, and we got 2 hot coffees. I was thinking it should have been closer to $40. Times are tough out there and businesses are struggling, I get it. If you're going to charge these prices, pancakes should be better quality. Very dry and thick pancakes. I would consider coming back if I am in the area. read more

Such a cute place with good size portions. But the of the food is at the lower end. A glass of tap New Jersey water is not available.

Marilyn's cafe is exactly the kind of hole in the wall establishment I'm seeking when searching for a breakfast spot. Good food in large proportions and coffee that's getting refilled in a timely manner in cups that are hysterical, depending on which one you get! We loved it so much the first time that we came back for Thanksgiving breakfast. It's family operated and giving grandma vibes, which creates an aura of a 70s brunch spot you'd be happy to end up at after a long night of dropping acid in the nearby woods. You gotta love maximalism to really appreciate the decor, and even though I trend towards minimalist I wouldn't have it any other way. Order a pie slice at your own peril! They serve them big read more

Marilyn's Cafe - Coffee, eclectic decor and one very happy customer! - Diners Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

This place was small and cozy but beautiful, with all the walls covered in Marilyn Monroe-inspired artwork. Keep in mind that this café only accepts cash. There's an ATM at a pizza place next door, though the fee is $6. As for drink options, they don't offer fresh-squeezed juices or smoothies, which was disappointing, but they do have typical sodas, bottled juice, tea, and coffee. The home fries and sausage were delicious and highly recommended. The pancakes were decent, though I wish they were fluffier. I asked for scrambled eggs, but they looked more like an omelette and needed more salt. Please note that this café is not wheelchair-friendly. The tables are very close together, and the aisles are not wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through to the bathroom. The bathroom itself is very small; when using the toilet, you touch the wall, which can be uncomfortable for larger individuals. read more

See all

With several tables open, the owner asked us to leave our table and move to the counter if we were going to continue to chat. It was 11 so hardly the breakfast rush, and the 2nd time this happened. I would understand if there were no tables and a line waiting to get in but that was not the case. We will find somewhere else to meet and hope for a better atmosphere. Plus you have to pay water!!!! read more

Wonderful Service. Everyone is so friendly and make you feel like you have been there for years even on your first time. Pancakes and bacon were wonderful. Bacon egg and cheese was also very tasty. Great prices. We would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good meal. Theres also lots to look at while you're eating. Fun articles and pictures on the walls. Very clean as well. read more

We love this small cozy local place. Serves homemade food and service is top notch. The walls are covered with Marilyn Monroe's memorabilia. This cafe only accepts cash. read more

See all

Everything was excellent! Owners are lovely. Food is great. Service was awesome. Highly recommend.

The food was average. The big issue was that they do not serve a glass of water. You have to buy bottled water. I have never encountered this anywhere else. read more

Food was mediocre at best. Waiter was talking to friend or known customer for some time after my coffee was poured and I asked for equal to go with it. Was told he would get it and then took someone's order and completely forgot as he talked to above customer. Lastly which I find to be a complete turn off when you're handling or working in a food setting is this. The owner has four inch plus nails. She not only was handling plates and drinks but also kept scratching her face with nails and never washed her hands. Who knows what else is under those nails! read more

Marilyn's is our local breakfast & lunch spot that has an "everybody knows your name" feeling because the owners and the staff are so nice, kind and upbeat. Marilyn's a hoot and always overseeing this smallish diner style establishment making sure orders are going out, people are being greeted and served promptly. Their courtesy is impressive and we love their diner style food! It's open 365 days a year (amazing) and friendly to all! read more

Usually I love all diners especially love Elvis as we eloped in Las Vegas this year and Marilyn Monroe! BUT to charge us for bottled water when the tap is perfectly fine is not what I expect in a fine establishment. Water is FREE. I took my parents out to brunch here after Thanksgiving and the staff was just staring at us while we were waiting to sit at a perfectly empty table . It was a mad house!! The service was fine and the waitress was kind and refilled our coffees often, but my goodness the specialty fall item of "crêpes" with apple was just disgusting for $17!! The chicken in a basket, omlettes and breakfast sandwiches look much better. The prices are high, water isn't free, but come on stick to the food that you're good at. Stay away from the crêpes, order pancakes instead. Maybe will give this place another try, but not anytime soon or during the holidays. read more

See all

Service today at 12:00 was excellent. The grilled cheese & bacon on rye was extremely skimpy, on both the cheese and bacon. The bread was soaked in butter and not that hot. On the side was a single slice of pickle, and sub par cole slaw in the tiniest plastic container. (Cabbage is cheap!!) I'd recommend they look up Robert Irvines recipe on youtube, it's fantastic. I'd also place it on a decent size ceramic bowl just to make me feel special. Plastic doesn't do it for me ever ! A bag of chips would also rock my world, but nope no chips either :( I was soooooo disappointed !! Although the ambiance and our waiter were perfect, I go out for the food. I will not be returning ever again :( read more

This place is a gem! Excellent coffee & breakfast fare, great vibe & friendly service ~ Americana at it's best!

In-laws love this place. I must say the service, staff and atmosphere is fun and friendly. Marilyn theme, hence the name. Typical diner food. No complaints on my breakfast burrito. The home fries were awesome! Coffee was above average. Seating is a bit tight and they are cash only! ENJOY! read more

Excellent service. Fun ambiance. Runny eggs. Awful crepes. High prices. Cash only. I will pay a premium for great food but not their food.

Meh! Had the Chicken Fried Steak (Country Fried steak). It was good but totally drowned in the sausage gravey. I love a good sausage gravey, but there is a balance. The 2 missing stars is because about 25 minutes after getting home, the entire meal came out in a liquid gush. I don't pay $20 for a meal that runs right through me. read more

I've had Marilyn's bookmarked for a long time. Today, my wife and I finally had the opportunity to stop in for breakfast. It was definitely worth the wait! The restaurant is located in a strip mall in Chester. The good news is there's plenty of parking. The better news is that the food is excellent! I went with an old standby of eggs over easy with bacon. My wife went for one of the specials...crepes filled with strawberries and Bavarian cream. Everything was delicious and well prepared. There are quite a few daily specials to choose from ranging from different types of French toast to avocado dishes. I'm glad we finally got there. The return trip will not take as long! One reminder...they don't take credit cards, so bring cash. read more

Marilyn's Cafe - A place we've wanted to try for a long time! - Diners Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

STAY AWAY!! $14.50 for two bottles of water?!?!?!?? "We only serve bottled water"?.?.? Cash only???? Improperly charged tax!?!?!?!?!??? Absolute racket going on here.!! *1st update* After looking over the the reviews it seems that this price gouging has been going on years. Not only has the water been historically overpriced, after looking at the reviews, I noticed a lot of comments regarding a 20 minute allotted sitting time. I get it, it's a small place, turnover is important, but 20 minutes of overpriced food? 7.50 for water? cash only? It seems like the cooks got out of the kitchen for revenge. The worst part! The worst part! Where is ownerships comments on the negative reviews? *end of 1st update* *2nd update* all of the above had me absolutely floored, but then I thought about the "cash only", "20 minute", and lack of management response to its customers being over charged. All of this indicates an improperly run business, all for the profit. I decided to look at the tax we were charged and it was also overpriced. We were charged 7% tax, *bold and underlined(I can caps)*: SINCE 2018 THE TAX RATE ON RESTAURANTS (and mostly all transactions) HAS BEEN 6.625%!!!!!I SINCE 2018 ITS 2022 *End of 2nd update* Below is my review while sitting at Marilyn's: The water cost more than three of the five things we ordered. Please; someone in management tell me the server mis-priced our water. This review was going to be a solid 4.5 prior to this swindling. Food: The hash is out of this world, I would go back and order only the hash. The breakfast potato's accompanying the omelette s were consistently the best potato's I have had (across all three omelette's we ordered). Not only did the breakfast potato's blow me out, the omelette's were heavy hitters themselves. Marilyn's doesn't give you the diced up additives, full slices baby! Thick mushrooms, full slices of avocado, chunks of asparagus, it's legit. Please get your water situation sorted, it's just not good business. I will be back so I can give Marilyn's the review it deserves. Adjusted from a two to a one. Fix it! Water $3.65 a glass, no refills, ‍ read more

See all

Great food great environment. Quick service just overpriced drinks. $4 for a cup coffee and $4.50 for one soda is a bit extreme.

Met a friend for lunch there. I hadn't been to Marilyn's since I was charged for the water during COVID. She ordered a Greek salad and I ordered a patty melt. We were both disappointed. The patty melt was piled high with onions and on a tasteless, rubbery burger. The Greek salad was finely chopped iceberg lettuce and had hardly any ingredients in it. And it was wet, with water pooled at the bottom of the bowl. My friend had ordered the dressing on the side, so it wasn't saturated in dressing. It was wet. We were in a hurry so she just shook off the water as well as she could and only ate some of it, and we got ready to leave. The waiter came over with the check. He had not come over to see how everything was since he served us, despite the fact that there was only 1 other occupied table. My friend mentioned to the waiter that the salad was terrible and showed him all the water in the bottom of the bowl, and asked him why a Greek salad was chopped up like cole slaw? He just said "I'm sorry." The owner was sitting at the counter. We just paid the bill and left. The day before I had lunch with a friend at Redwoods. Like night and day. She had salmon with fried leeks and I had an omelette with a crunchy, leafy salad. I had a glass of cranberry juice and she had a diet soda. We both had coffee. We both had glasses of water with lemon. The service was top notch. The atmosphere was elegant. The bill was about the same. And Marilyn's doesn't even take credit cards. I hate to write badly about a local business, but I really feel people should know what they could be getting for their money. read more

First off, the food is very good at the cafe. My complaint stems from the fact I was charged $3.50 for a bottle of water when we requested water with lemon with our meals. This is an absolutely ridiculous policy to have for a restaurant. I've told 10 people about this already, and they all said the same thing. Not going back...!!! You should change this policy asap. Horrible way to treat your customers...not good for local repeat transactions... read more

This review is not focused on the food which I would rate as four stars but rather on the extraction of every last $$ penny you can get from the citizens of Morris County. And by the way, this is not an inexpensive place to purchase "chipped beef on toast" at $16 for breakfast, lol. As another google reviewer pointed out "The owner will only provide $3.50 bottles of Poland spring water, no tap water..."BECAUSE OF COVID-19"...After giving it some thought, I asked the waitress what the connection was between COVID and their tap water? She seemed embarrassed and said she really couldn't explain and that it was the owner's policy. Great job Marilyn's Cafe at leveraging a global pandemic to exploit your customers!!" end quote. We had the same experience today when I asked for a glass of tap water to take my medicine. I was directed towards the sealed water at $3.50. I too inquired of my waiter and he was unable to explain. So when our coffee arrived it was in a CUP and when our syrup arrived it was in a CUP. Therefore, we have now contracted Covid according to Marilyn's reasoning !! PLEASE EXPLAIN THE WATER RELATIONSHIP TO Covid and not coffee or syrup ??? (see photos). Very disappointed in her exploitation of Covid (that has been over for a year or more). Bye, Bye Marilyn's Cafe. read more

Don't listen to anyone who loves this place. Marylin's Cafe is just one more example of how so many people willingly pay exorbitant prices for mediocre food and think they're getting value and quality. We came here about 6 years ago and I clearly forgot how lame it is when I suggested we try it again today. $16 for a pastrami Reuben would be fine if the meat was good quality and/or plentiful, it wasn't more than 60% sauerkraut, and the accompanying fries weren't sub par Great Adventure quality. I will also bet any amount of money, the ketchup in those Heinz ketchup bottles on each and every table isn't actually Heinz. (My guess is it's house recipe, which I hate). $9 for 2 unsweetened iced teas, no refills, was the icing on the cake. Stick with the breakfasts, they're probably okay. (although $16 for half a cantaloupe and cottage cheese--one of the breakfast specials--seems suspect.) hoping this review will remind me never to forget that I don't like Marylin's Cafe ever again. read more

Always great, friendly service!! Love going here for Breakfast with the family. Also great for lunch! read more

This is a local favorite, and was recommended to us by a few local families. It definitely was not the right fit for us though, starting with the literal fit. We are a family of five, but they only offered us a small booth meant for 4. Squeezing in between two young boys does not make a pleasant meal. That certainly could be forgiven, if the food had been better. Everything was ok, but kind of below average versions. I got an omelette special, which sounded really good - Avocado, scallion and horseradish cheddar. It ended up coming out with a really mushy texture and I only got through about half of it. The home fries were excellent though. My wife got a gyro, which she wasn't thrilled with either. The kids got raspberry pancakes and a miraculous thing happened - they didn't finish them. For that to happen with pancakes something had to be amiss. After trying them, I understood. The raspberries were tasty, but the underlying pancake was pretty flavorless. They were begging for IHOP next time. Saving a Star was the service and atmosphere. The service was excellent - very friendly and attentive, and I loved the small town coffee shop feel. Unfortunately, don't think this is one we'll be coming back to. read more

Marilyn's Cafe - Avocado, scallion, horseradish cheddar omelette - Diners Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

See all

Excellent food, excellent service. Also the decor was fabulous. Set up is a bit tight and we felt bad being a fairly large group right in the middle but they were so accommodating. read more

Marilyn's Cafe - Diners Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

I Wanted to really like this place because we have been searching for a good breakfast in our area. But Marilyn's was a big disappointment. The waitress was fantastic and for a crowed Saturday the wait time was about 10 minutes. We were off to a good start. I aways ask for coleslaw instead of home fried potatoes at most breakfast spots and have always been granted my request but at Marilyn's I was told "she is really picky about substitutions. Ok I'll order a side. My husband had large OJ and a breakfast burrito- no meat please. I had eggs bacon, home fries and toast and coffee. The bill was 38.00! Food was nothing special. The two stars are for the service which was very friendly and efficient. I did notice a sign on the wall at each booth that read when people are waiting please observe the 20 minute table limit. I wonder if that was after or before your food arrived. read more

The first time we came here we were *shocked* at the 4.50$ bottle water. But the food was okay so we decided to try again. Our second visit, we did not order any drinks and just got food. One omelette and another meal 2 eggs, toast and 2 sausage links. Came to a total of 28$...with no drinks !!! The real kicker is the menu states a certain price per item and then they write a different one on the check. And then it's cash only... They also have all their old menus stuffed behind the new ones. I guess bottled water used to be 2.95$ and now it's 4.50$! I can do better buying the fancy water from Starbucks for those prices. Needless to say, we can go get breakfast somewhere else from now on. Good luck to this restaurant! read more

I most recently visited Marilyn's Cafe. When I asked for a glass of water, I was told that water was not available by the glass but I could purchase a bottle. When I look at the owner and questioned her, I was told that during Covid she realized her water use had gone down significantly and that she was no longer offering free water. I would imagine her water went down significantly because she was closed. Not only was she not offering water to her paying customers, but she was not doing dishes either and along with that I would imagine her revenue had decreased as well. Do to this policy and her true lack of caring for her customers I personally will never return there. She needs to get over herself. She's just a little greasy spoon in Chester. Who should value her customers read more

Stopped by here in the area when we were on our way to a fruit picking farm nearby ... The place was one of the few in the area that seemed popular on Yelp so we gave it a whirl. One thing's for sure, this place is extremely memorable due to its crazy decor and really friendly owners. It was definitely one of those mom and pop joints you don't really see in the big cities and the menu was exactly what you'd find in a small-town diner kind of place. That being said, the food is simple and does the job. Nothing here is like what you'd find in a fine dining joint but by diner standards it was just fine. I had the fried chicken basket and the food was okay. I wouldn't drive all the way out here for the food but if I were in the area again I wouldn't mind stopping by. What makes this place special is just how friendly the owners are and they checked on us frequently. They were definitely friendly and cared a lot about their customers. Just for that, this place gets an additional star on top of the 3 I'd easily give for the food, which isn't amazing but it does the job relative to the reasonable prices on the menu. read more

Marilyn's Cafe - Diners Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

See all

This is a really cute little local spot! We stopped in on a Sunday morning and were surprised to find no wait! After dining here we realized this is because the staff is incredibly efficient in turning over the tables (but in no way do you feel rushed). The service was quick and friendly. The atmosphere is charming with tons of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia on the walls to peruse while you wait for your meal. My husband the breakfast burrito which was delicious, especially the home fries on the side! I had Chocolate Chip Banana pancakes (which were ok) and a side of bacon (which was cooked perfectly!). This will be a great addition to our collection of local spots. We'll be back! read more

Really enjoyed breakfast! Eggs Benedict was great, I definitely recommend. My boyfriend loved his omelette, and we both left stuffed! We sat at the counter, it was decorated so nicely for Christmas. Service was quick & attentive. read more

See all

Basic diner food. We had the cheeseburger, cheese fries w gravy and crepes. Nothing was exceptional, but nothing was bad either. If you're in the area or just coming from that cool farm down the road and need to fill the belly, it will do the trick. read more