Sparkys Diner - Garnerville

This is the best local restaurant in the area! The food is excellent, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the prices are very reasonable. Food: 5/5, Service:... read more This is the best local restaurant in the area! The food is excellent, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the prices are very reasonable. Food: 5/5, Service: 5/5, Atmosphere: 5/5. Highly recommend!

Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 read more Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

I suspected I might be the youngest patron by at least 20 years, and that was confirmed right away—this place feels like the restaurant equivalent of watching a... read more I suspected I might be the youngest patron by at least 20 years, and that was confirmed right away—this place feels like the restaurant equivalent of watching a Judi Dench film in theaters. It’s a charming time capsule that brought me back to the cozy diner down the street from my childhood in Hunterdon County, NJ, called Ma Dee's, which is still in operation. This is quintessential small-town America at its best. After passing by a few times during lunch, I finally decided to stop for a meal yesterday afternoon. The one downside to my experience was definitely the parking situation. You'd think that after 40 years, they would have expanded beyond the small front lot where you have to back out directly onto a county highway. At the very least, they could paint some lines to create actual parking spots instead of allowing customers to park haphazardly at odd angles. I ended up parking in the back, nervously hoping my car wouldn’t get towed for any reason, and I had to maneuver carefully to avoid hitting nearby cars. Luckily, I made it out unscathed. An employee coming from the kitchen greeted me and told me to sit wherever I liked, so I settled down at a smaller counter off to the side. It was surprisingly not crowded for lunchtime, but everyone else seemed to be of retirement age and likely lived in the area. I definitely stood out—my puffer vest didn’t help with that! Usually, I stick to breakfast at diners, but I opted for two scrambled eggs with hash browns, sausage, and toast for just $8! It hit the spot. This isn’t Michelin-star cuisine, but that’s not why you come to a diner like this. The eggs were a bit bland and definitely needed the pepper I added, but overall, everything was perfectly fine, and I'm not exaggerating when I say my food came out in under two minutes. That might just be a record for a place where meals are supposed to be cooked to order. Although I was pretty full afterward, I couldn’t resist checking out the dessert options and ended up getting a highly recommended slice of chocolate cake. It was delicious! I didn’t confirm if it was homemade, but that was the impression I got. The service was absolutely perfect. It was clear to everyone that I was a newcomer at Sparky's, and the staff made me feel right at home. They told me about the various celebrities who have visited the diner over the years (apparently, Denzel is very nice) and were surprised to learn that I traveled for lunch all the way from Pomona, which is literally just five minutes away—no matter, though! As for the prices? They would honestly have been competitive during the Carter administration, and I wouldn’t be shocked if they haven’t adjusted them since then. I’ll definitely be coming back with a bigger appetite and hope to find a more spacious parking spot! Food: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

The staff at this restaurant are absolutely wonderful. The food is outstanding, earning a perfect score of 5. The service is also impeccable, with a rating of 5... read more The staff at this restaurant are absolutely wonderful. The food is outstanding, earning a perfect score of 5. The service is also impeccable, with a rating of 5 as well. The atmosphere is delightful, contributing to an overall experience that deserves a 5 as well.

First time there, lovely atmosphere, friendly attentive staff. Really good food at very reasonable prices. Service: Dine in Meal type: Breakfast Price per perso... read more First time there, lovely atmosphere, friendly attentive staff. Really good food at very reasonable prices. Service: Dine in Meal type: Breakfast Price per person: $1–10 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dishes: Pancake Breakfast, Toast