The Omega Diner in North Brunswick NJ: On the Way to Princeton!

Actually, the Omega Diner, at 1337 Route 1 South, North Brunswick, NJ, 08902 (732- 745-2628) is on the way from Princeton, NJ, where boy # 2 had a hockey game at 7 AM (!) this morning. After surviving the game, we headed back to NY. Last year, after a non-game in Princeton (a long, ugly story), we stopped at the Omega Diner. It may have been the dissapointment of not having a game after a long drive, or the driving snow, but both boy #2 and I had quite fond memories of the food. So back we went, with five others. From a pure location point of view, its not bad if you are heading from Princeton to NY...its close enough but still beyond the heck that is traveling on route 1 back to the Turnpike. The place is huge, and, for a NJ diner, rather bright and airy. If you can sit on the left side as you walk in: its nicer looking.

The food is fine. Tons, and cheap, of course. I had eggs with bacon, the boy pancakes. Worked fine. Friends tried a "smoked salmon" omelette and a bagel (plain only, and clearly diner bagel and not bagel store bagel) with smoked salmon: this was a mistake. The home fries were fine, and the bacon plentiful and good. The service was good, and we were in and out of there in a timely manner. The only weird thing, and we blamed the economy, is that the place was less busy at 10 AM on a sunny Sunday than it was during the snow last December.

So, if life takes you away from Princeton, the Omega diner, while not the "end," is clearly fine. Just stick to the basics!

Rincon de Espana: A Good Place To Eat In Bayone, NJ

I'm sorry I haven't written much recently: I have been working a bit too much during the week and spending my weekends at peewee hockey and therefore haven't had a chance to cook or go out much. I have now memorized the menu at Land Thai Kitchen.

This weekend has been no exception. I have just returned from Bayonne, NJ, where boy number one played 7 hockey games in a day a half. I was there till almost 11 PM last night. Fortunately, the tournament, and the hockey season, is now over (for now).

When you are stuck in a place all day, it makes some sense to find out the best places to eat. For lunch, we were steered to a diner, which was appropriately called "The Bayonne Diner." While the space is a little cramped, with very low ceilings, the food was perfectly adequate. Its nothing you haven't eaten before, for better and for worse.

I was not going back to the Bayonne Diner for dinner. Fortunately, one of the guys at the rink told me that there was a good Spanish place a few blocks away. Thus, me, two other dads, boy #1 and three other 11 year old boys ended up at Rincon de Espana, which is located at 616 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002 (201-823-0660). We were not disappointed, and, if you need to have dinner in Bayonne, neither will you.

The place reminds me of the restaurants that used to line 23rd street in Chelsea back in the day: a bar in front with a few tables scattered about and a large dining room decorated in early twentieth century Spanish Restaurant. There was no problem seating 7 of us quickly, although the restaurant did fill by 7:30 or so.

There is a large collection of traditional Spanish dishes such as paella. There is an extensive collection of meat and fish dishes. For a little over $20, you can get a 2 pound sirloin steak. The restaurant happily allowed us to order two of these for the four boys and even split them up for us prior to serving it to them. I had the Paella, which I thought was quite good. One other adult had the fillet mignon, which looked good and was a huge portion. In fact, all portions were huge, even the chorizo appetizer I was told was "small." Ha. We also had mussels and a shrimp dish, all of which were good. You get soup, vegetables and fried potato slices with your meal as well. They also wrap to go when you have been beaten by the meal. But you can't beat the price!

We didn't have time for dessert: hockey called us back. But when I end up back for an evening in Bayonne, and I will, I will be thinking of Rincon de Espana. And so will the boys.

Link: Staten Island Live has a review, which includes a pretty good picture of the steak the boys had in it as well a a more detailed review of the available dishes.