Great diner. Take my kids here for breakfast on weekends. Fast, friendly and courteous. Kids love their pancakes, which are so light and fluffy... moms fave is their greek omelette. Thanks for always being an easy decision on whats for dinner! :) read more

Food is pretty good & Trista my server was very pleasant. She was a sweet waitress. Can't complain.

Very sad. This use to be a great diner. We went here for years. Horrible clam chowder. Used to be good. Complain and they do did not do anything. One cracker pack on side for one soup order, the other person we were with did no get any. They were very stingy and only give one. Ordered turkey burger. Everything else was average to bad. read more

New Jersey essentially created the diner culture so any one that is here is held to a much higher standard. With that in mind, this place is decent but by no means anything special. Typical diner fare (as expected) and typically greasy (as all diners are). The service is very sub-par (it appears they higher all the elder family members to be waitresses). Our waitress forgot parts of our order 4 times and even brought things out sparatically and on a plate by plate basis even though you could tell they were all ready at once as the later plates came out cold. With that said, it's the only real diner in the area so it's always a solid choice. read more

I've been frequenting the Pilgrim for many years. It really needs these upgrades to get back to where it once was: cleanliness is bad, and it's always a problem; the furniture is falling apart, with duct tape holding it together; staff often dismissive. Get with the program. It's a great location, and it used to be a superior diner. read more

My husband got home late from work last night, and I wasn't really feeling a dinner of leftovers so I asked if he wanted to find a diner. We're new to the area so I searched through Yelp and some message board recommendations for a few options. We settled on Pilgrim. This is your basic 24-hour diner. It looks like it hasn't been updated since the 1970s. The place had maybe five other parties eating, so we were seated right away. The table was a little dirty but someone came after a couple minutes to clean it. The staff we encountered - host, waitress, busboys, cashier - were all nice. I ordered chicken fingers with honey mustard and fries, and Husband got a cheeseburger deluxe. It took maybe 10 minutes for the food to come out. He said the burger was fine, and it was cooked to order. My chicken was good, basic frozen tenders I guess. I was surprised to see that the honey mustard came in little containers rather than in a bowl like other diners, but there's nothing wrong with that. The chicken fingers were plated on a bed of really wilted and brown bagged salad mix - I don't even need miniscule scraps of lettuce under my food, so why bother if you're just going to put brown lettuce bits on the plate? The fries were really good - nice and crispy and not limp or soggy. I had a Coke and Husband had water. A waitress came by to ask me for a refill but never asked Husband if he wanted more water ... although, in fairness, he never asked for a refill. And I heard another waiter tell the people behind us that there was a water main break or something and their water was brown ... although there was nothing wrong with Husband's water or my two fountain Cokes. Final bill before tip was $20. Pretty standard. In my opinion, if a diner can do the "staples" right - chicken soup, french fries, chicken fingers, Buffalo wings, burgers, disco fries, grilled chicken sandwich, and breakfast - it's O.K. in my book. A good diner needs to have a good pickle and cole slaw, which Pilgrim has (Husband commented that the cole slaw tasted like it may have had honeydew melon in it). Serving an awesome gyro or hot dinner plate is a nice bonus. We knocked a few things off the list last night and we were satisfied, so maybe next time I'll try the other items and make my final verdict. It certainly wasn't a bad experience by any means, but it was nothing special. I won't be opposed to coming back but I think I'd like to try a few other places first. read more

The food was excellent and our waitress was wonderful. Unfortunately I'm giving a one star rating due to the cashier who yelled at me. Our table only had cards and the waitress said we could have it separated at the register. Well this simple request rubbed the man the wrong way and by the time he got to me, HE had charged my meal to someone else's card. I immediately said I would just pay for the remainder of the bill and that it was not a big deal. But he felt the need to yell at a 5 foot tall young woman. I told him calmly that I would pay the bill, but I did not appreciate the poor customer service and that he could read all about this on Yelp. Learn how to listen sir and enjoy 5 less customers. read more

The 'Grim has been for sale for at least a year (since the manager died) and you can tell they have no desire to maintain it at this point. The booths are duct taped together and it needs a thorough redo. Even the food has gotten sloppy and the staff is probably low on morale at this point. Too bad because this is our local diner and it was always a decent stop for breakfast lunch or dinner. I hope someone buys it soon and gives it a total overhaul. read more

This is the best place ever in the world the food is the best and also the kitchen is very very clean and their is a mascot and also there are so many types of food u can pick from and the waitresses are great so I give this 5 stars read more

Went with friend for lunch. Disappointing overall. Exchanged meal for alternative which was just okay. Food was not tasty nor the service pleasant. I got the feeling everything was done by rote. Prior to leaving, there was a verbal fight between staff which was NOT welcomed. read more

Awful. We used to come here all the time, but most recently it has gone downhill. The menus are falling apart, tables and seats all in bad shape. Ordered breakfast the other day and everything tasted of grease....including the coffee. read more

A decent diner that has what yer lookin for. Friendly staff. If you disagree you should probably rethink how you live your life.

Been back a few times since my last review. Food is below average the coffee is often stale. The place is old and tired and the waitstaff just is not that good. Besides that. the prices are ridiculously high for a diner. If it wasn't open almost all night and the only place in town I'd never go back. read more

Possibly the worst Diner I've eaten in and it's a pity coz it looks beautiful from outside! Twice I've been there and twice they through away full (& I mean full) meals while I brought my daughter to the toilet!!! (Twice) I wouldn't mine if the food were good but it isn't! And to finish it off they tried to charge me full price even tho I didn't get one of the meals again, and nooooooooo sorry!!! Never again. I wish it was better news coz it's my home town diner....... read more

One star reviews are just as biased as 5 star reviews and after reading some of the one star reviews I felt the need to present a bit more of an unbiased perspective. I have been coming here for years, not much could keep me away. Yes, it is rough around the edges, it's a friggin diner and it's been here forever (insert joke here)Late night diner food is NOT intended to be "cuisine" however I have loved the Sophia Loren (a grilled chicken parm sandwich served open face - I ditch the bread to be healthy LOL) and an order of poppers since I can remember. I love waffle fries. My opinion? Give it a shot (with 30 booths, I'm certain you'd have options if you didn't like your seat) roll with the service and the occasional drama (they are good hearted ladies!! Ask for Karen or Joan if it's Late) and RELAX people - not every Yelp review should be designed to destroy a business. read more

Good diner food! Large portions. Very nice staff. Took time to make my 6 yo feel special.

Decent diner experience food wise, great friendly service.

For my husband and I, this is our go-to diner and very close to were we live. We've been going here for years and we now know quite a few of the staff. It's a nice size for me because I'm not a fan of huge diners. The decor leaves a lot to be desired, but that's not why you visit a diner anyway and because it's so familiar to us now, we count the drapes and plastic plants all part of the experience :) Service is almost always great, even the bus boys are always really friendly. Occasionally we get the odd moody waitress but hey... I normally order breakfast and I admit I'm particular about my eggs but they're always fresh and cooked perfectly. My husband is a fan of the burgers and we both find they're always cooked to your liking and presented on a huge plate with all the trimmings - salad, fries, coleslaw, pickle and onion rings if you so choose. Really good for about $15 for 2 people. If you can see past the family pictures scattered around and the dusty decor, you'll find it's a sweet, charming place to enjoy a lazy Sunday morning. Recommended! read more

I had an amazing breakfast. The service was quick and the waitstaff were all very friendly! I would definitely eat here all the time if I lived in close by read more

i have been going to this dinner a long time ago before the nick passed away. the food is good and the waitress, vita, maxin, kathy, tom, jasmin are customers please and good. the only thing is the new owner is very rude and he needs to update the interior of the diner it is going down the hill. what a shame. read more

Awful. Ordered Giant shrimp with crabmeat stuffing. Under 3 inches of breading (not a trace of crabmeat) they were 3 rather small shrimps. my child had children macaroni and cheese and it was the Kraft $0.99 version from the supermarket that we make at home Can only make a 1st impression once and this was not a good one. read more

Young P! Always stoked to get a bacon cheeseburger with disco fries here. Definitely has the hometown feel and reminds me of memories with old friends. Definitely would love to come here again. Nostal read more

This has been my childhood diner and I'm very upset that the quality of the food and service has gone down drastically. Order gyros and a medium burger deluxe. Got home and the burger is burnt to a crisp. The cashier did not apologize when I called in and then told me she couldn't do anything about it. Of course at midnight I leave my house to return the inedible food and they played games for almost 30 min and stated they couldn't give me a refund. Finally their system was "working again" and I got my money back. I'm very disappointed as this is not the 1st time and we continue to patronize the business. Unfortunately I would not be surprised if I drive by and see that the diner has closed. If they are good financially then they need to do better. read more

The Pilgrim Diner was our favorite diner for Saturday afternoons. But recently the place has not been up to it's high marks in cleaness. The men's bathroom is awful and should be attended to. Families shoud be aware of this. The food is sometimes great and the music is sensational. The busboys do stand around whispering when they should be attending to services like customers and the bathrooms. The service is fine and their are friendly faces that smooth over the faults with good cheer and assistance.But we will return when things get better. read more

Very poor service, long wait for the food and it comes cold. The worse aspect of the dinning experience is the neglectful and negative attitude by the waitresses. For example, we had to ask for coffee three times with no success. When my wife was there with her friends for lunch they reported similar experience and will not go back. My friends and I tried the place three times and the experience had the same results. We are also not going there again. read more

With it's reasonable prices, open-twenty-four-seven hours, and excellent breakfast food (especially any pancakes or waffles) , the Pilgrim Diner is a great place to eat. But be prepared for its faults. Because it tries to offer anything and everything, some menu items are not the best. Items like the calamari and some of the dinner dishes leave you wondering who thought that tasted good. Do not count on the service being consistent. Some days the waitresses are grouchy, forgetful and seem to avoid your table. Yet some days they are cheery, mindful, and caring. So in conclusion, it's not perfect but accept its in faults and you'll have an excellent dining experience. read more

EXCELLENT Food! EXCELLENT Service! Exceptional Place. Diners are such a great part of NJ and this place is without any exception one of the finest one could ever attend. Until our recent move, out of State (NH), we went there *every* week and never had anything less than A++ in terms of food and service. read more

This is the worst diner I have experienced. This morning, I sat down and my spoon was filthy. My fork had dried egg. I ordered a spinach and cheese omelet, which had a horrible taste. They use some sort cheese product and frozen spinach. Don't waste your time and money. For a few extra dollars, drive over to Raymonds or Toast. read more

If you are in the area and need some Chow, this is not a bad place to go. OK Diner nothing special.

We used to like the Pilgrim Diner until last night! The waitress who took my son's phone order was very rude and obnoxious. We understand that she has a strange sense of humor and usually find her funny but last night she was totally inappropriate! When I called the diner she picked up the phone screaming at me!! Too many other nice diners in the area with good food, nice servers who actually like their jobs and nice decor to put up with that! read more

I should have just walked out when my juice came with stuff floating in it... But then when I told the waitress & she didn't seem surprised or apologetic... I really should have run. Hubby & I both ate different things but neither of us had felt well since our meals. We won't be back! read more

The Pilgrim Diner used to be the premier diner in the area for close to 30 years. Recently, the primary owner passed away and his partner apparently took over operational control. In short, he has let the place go to the point I was embarrassed for the staff when I took my granddaughter for breakfast yesterday. The seats are torn, the tables are worn down, the equipment is in disrepair and they even ran out of dishes. I had to request my coffee in a paper cup, rather than have to wait for the dishes they still had to be washed. I expected a long wait from past experience on a Sunday morning. We were immediately seated and I noticed many more empty tables than I would have imagined. Our waitress quickly greeted us and took our order. However, we waited over 45 minutes from the time our order was taken until the food came out; and that was for a simple breakfast! The waitress kept apologizing and told us they were way behind in the kitchen due to short help and the lack of dishes and utensils. Many customers were walking out due to the long wait after ordering. The wait staff lost out on their tips and most customers didn't offer to pay for the beverages they had before walking out. I suggested they could use the help of one of those TV restaurant rescue shows. I was shocked when the waitress told me they actually had one there previously and the managing owner said he was not interested. I feel terrible for the staff. They are, for the most part long time friendly employees who try to do the right thing for their customers. This owner needs to sell or close up the place. It is not fair to the workers or the patrons to keep operating the way he currently does. I will not step foot in this place again until there are some drastic changes made. It's a shame because the food is still pretty good and we really enjoyed our breakfasts. read more

This has been a regular spot for years since I only live around the block but the property has gone down hill. It is dirty and falling apart. read more

Stop . go somewhere else..This was a place i would stop in 2 times a week on way home from work as a last resort ,. This was the LAST . I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich to go .I got home ready to eat my $10 sandwich and that was it Just a piece of dry chiken on a stale roll nothing else no not a thing but dry chicken and stale bread . Now i'm not one to complain at all but i figured i'll call since they know me by face and i alway order the same thing maybe it was a mistake just let them know . WELL after I tell her she said thats what you ordered and I should of oredered a "lady godiva" then put me on hold ..of course now i wait just to hear again the dry chicken was my fault .When she comes back on saying "yea what do you want" I just told her I expected at least a tomato maybe lettuce ,again she repeated "well thats a godiva you should of ordered that" then hung up.. Okay so I ask how does any place even serve that nevermind charging a ridiculous price for it . My advice to anyone that thinks of going there .DON'T . there are 3 other diners within 5miles go its worth the drive . This place is run down and so is the staff . read more

New Jersey native so I love diners...food was ok... this place wasn't well kept or modern at all. Service was pretty fast and waitress was nice. Late night and going by I would probably go back....NOT somewhere I would wait for a table. read more

This diner has gone down hill fast... The ceiling in the men's room has had a leak and hole in it for like 2 years and they still haven't fixed it. The waitresses remind me of chain smoking Roseanne Barr types. And the burgers are undercooked and the the overall is over priced! read more

I know many people love this diner because they grew up coming here - but if not, STAY AWAY. Servers are obviously very unhappy and the food is actually awful. Booths and decor are decrepit. Many other amazing diners in NJ, this is NOT one of them. read more

I love good diners, and this is one if them. It's a good solid, old-school diner that ascribes to the "we never close" ethic. The food is fantastic and extremely plentiful. The service is friendly and top-notch. It's one of those places where you watch dishes being taken to other tables and you say, "ooohhh...look at that!" read more

I feel like proverbially beating a dead horse on this issue, but this diner absolutely fails in its purpose, to serve "guests" in a professional manner. Case in point, as we were eating, one of the servers calls another server over and starts showing her pictures of her trailer. Notwithstanding the fact that they should be tending to their tables, the conversation was extremely LOUD. They didn't even have the courtesy to speak at a normal volume or heck, take it somewhere else. After seeing the annoyed faces of my group, I asked the servers if they could please not speak so loudly while we were eating. They dispersed but with a snarky comment about it "not being a 5 star restaurant." I let the comment pass without escalating the matter, but it's clearly a reflection of how poorly run and managed this place is. On top of that, and I suspect this was in response to my confrontation, our bill was miscalculated to be much higher than what we actually purchased. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs, as noted by many other reviewers. The lack of professionalism of the staff is an indication of how much the ownership cares about its customers. And yes, it certainly is not a 5 star restaurant, we can all agree on that. read more

I will never offer this place a dollar or a second of my time again. My family and I went there on a Sunday for brunch. We were seated in good timing, and gave our ENTIRE order to our waitress. We ordered water and coffee -- pretty simple for a diner huh? Nope. We waited 20 minutes and did not even see our waitress. Then a couple sat next to us and were greeted by our waitress with coffee.. Like really?? When we confronted her she said "well I know them!" With a snarky attitude. She went back to get our waters and disappeared for another 10 minutes. I asked another waiter for water which he replied to with "um im not your waiter." Yes sir I'm aware but could you relay your message to your fellow co-worker??" We never got our water and left to go to another diner. read more