Most food shows reward fine dining, plates that double as art, esteemed culinary training and celebrity chefs.
But perhaps the reason “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” has appealed to the masses for nearly two decades is because the Food Network hit praises just the opposite — under the jolly gaze of just one celebrity chef.
Throughout 49 seasons and more than 500 episodes, Guy Fieri has introduced viewers to local pitstops, food trucks, dive bars and other locales full of unsuspectingly delicious eats — no white tablecloth or city parking spot required. And in the culinary mecca that is Central Jersey, it’s no surprise that he’s made quite a few flights to the Garden State for the show lovingly referred to as “Triple D.”
Here are all of the Central Jersey restaurants Fieri has featured on his iconic show.
Bagel Street Grill, Plainsboro
Nobody knows bagels like Jersey knows bagels, and Fieri discovered that in 2016 when he visited Plainsboro’s Bagel Street Grill, which churns out 15,000 bagels per week.
At the shop founded by two brothers who have been making bagels since they were teenagers, Fieri sampled the jalapeno cheddar bagel.
Fieri also opted for a burger with chunks of pork roll cooked inside the patty, served on an asiago bagel and topped with tater tots and housemade Thousand Island dressing. “This should be illegal,” he said.
Go: 660 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro; 609-936-1755, order.toasttab.com/online/bagelstreetgrill.
Big Pinks BBQ, Bridgewater
Big Pinks BBQ may have been a “broken-down food truck,” as Guy Fieri said on the “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” episode featuring the truck in 2022, but at least its smoker worked before it closed in November after it was unable to find a new spot to park. However, it is still offering catering as it searches for a new location.
The truck was known for its smoked meats and sandwiches, as well as 13 different sauces. The menu was inspired by different cities and flavors throughout the country.
On “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” Fieri tried the Abe Frohman, a house-made sausage sandwich on a potato roll topped with American cheese, onion rings and sauces, inspired by Gleason’s favorite movie, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
He also went for the Big Pink, a towering 8-inch sandwich filled with various truck-made meats including brisket, pulled chicken, pulled pork and sausage, topped with several sauces, a blend of four Italian cheeses, and onion rings on an onion roll.
Go: 908-334-5685, bigpinksbbq.com.
More: We bid goodbye to these NJ restaurants this year
Joe’s Meat Market, South Bound Brook
Just weeks after Fieri headed to Big Pinks BBQ and Turf Surf & Earth in 2022, he went to 33-year-old Joe’s Meat Market, a South Bound Brook deli and butcher shop.
“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” made a milestone of its own that day, as then-18-year-old Giovanni LaCorte was the youngest chef ever featured on the show. Giovanni is now opening his own restaurant next to the deli.
During the episode, Giovanni served Nick’s Overstuffed Antipasto Bread with prosciutto, ham, salami, pepperoni and cheese; as well as Sloppy Joe triple-decker sandwiches on rye bread with homemade Russian dressing, turkey, corned beef, roast beef and Swiss cheese.
Go: 28 Main St., South Bound Brook; 732-356-4557, joes-meatmarket.com.
More: Youngest chef ever on ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ to open Central Jersey restaurant
Johnny Prince’s Bayway Diner, Linden
A hot dog from the Bayway Diner.
With just seven red stools inside a building that looks more like a garage than a restaurant, Johnny Prince’s Bayway Diner epitomizes what Triple D is all about: You can never judge a book by its cover.
And Fieri tasted that at the closet-sized Linden landmark early on, as he visited the diner on the 11th-ever episode of the show.
A classic Jersey diner, the old-school spot serves all-day breakfast; all-beef chili dogs made from a family recipe; the colossal Monster Burger with two burger patties, Taylor ham, bacon, cheese, onion rings, lettuce and tomatoes; and Philly cheesesteak.
Go: 2019 S. Wood Ave., Linden; 908-583-5585, johnnyprincesbaywaydinerlinden.com.
Rocky Hill Inn, Rocky Hill
The fried green tomato burger at the Rocky Hill Inn.
The only reason many New Jerseyans have ever heard of sleepy Somerset County enclave Rocky Hill is because they’ve made the drive to the Rocky Hill Inn for the gastropub’s famous burgers and pub fare.
Fieri helped put the tavern’s inventive burgers on the map when he visited in 2017, taking more than a few bites of the fried green tomato burger with goat cheese, bacon jam and mixed greens.
But Fieri isn’t the Rocky Hill Inn’s most famous guest. The restaurant dates at least back to 1763, making it one of the oldest restaurants in Central Jersey. It was likely frequented by George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
Go: 137 Washington St., Rocky Hill; 609-683-8930, rockyhilltavern.com.
More: Dating back nearly 300 years, these are the oldest restaurants in Central Jersey
Skylark Diner, Edison
Fieri liked this spot with retro ambiance and a full bar — so much that he visited twice.
He first headed there for the second season of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” (when Skylark had been opened less than two years), returning in 2022.
During his first visit, Fieri sampled the Orange Martini made with Tang. In 2022, he went for the pancetta, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich; as well as the bacon-onion jam turkey burger.
The turkey burgers are made fresh at the diner using house-brined turkey, as well as bacon-onion jam, lettuce, mozzarella and Dijon mustard. The sandwich features smoked and brined pancetta.
Go: 17 Wooding Ave., Edison; 732-777-7878, skylarkdiner.com.
Turf Surf & Earth, Somerville
“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” isn’t all about grease and cheat meals.
Fieri showcased that in 2022 when he visited Turf Surf & Earth, a fast-casual Somerville restaurant featuring customizable sandwiches, salads, tacos and rice platters with healthy and plant-based twists.
Take, for example, the Grandma’s Boy, a riff on a Louisiana po’ boy sandwich made with fried oyster mushrooms, red cabbage, pickles, vegan pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo and horseradish sauce on a bun.
Go: 46 E. Main St., Somerville; 908-393-9272, turfsurfandearth.toast.site.
More: How ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ helped Somerset County restaurants
Jenna Intersimone.
Contact: [email protected]
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, although she’s a lifetime Jersey girl who considers herself an expert in everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State’s buzzing downtowns. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: Central NJ restaurants on the show
