By Isiah Christie
With summer around the corner, outings will be frequent between holidays, family get-togethers, and potential birthdays. Tops Diner, located in Harrison and adjacent to Newark, is a place of note to prioritize as a hosting location – a restaurant in business since 1942, it has asserted itself as one of North Jersey’s premier diners and family-friendly meet-up places. Tops, which operates between 8:00 A.M. and 11:00 P.M. provides a wide variety of dishes that cater to a wide range of tastes and palettes. Their motto is to “serve what our customers want, exactly when and how they want it”.
They strive to recreate the essence of the 1920s diner renaissance that is synonymous with American cuisine, and do such excellently – Tops’ interior aesthetic is reminiscent of the vintage, intimate energy that defined a variety of culinary locations in the 20th century. They particularly embrace the energy and visual characteristics of hip-hop and other African-American music forms, utilizing photos of associated artists, boomboxes that decorate the bar, and record players set up with vinyl for extra flair. The music is loud yet endearing, with a mix of pop, hip-hop, dance, R&B and more from a live DJ set that captures the ears of various customers. Tops knows how to pander to their audience, and earn a reputation of great energy as a result.
The food is their greatest asset – with a menu spanning over one-hundred items, feelings of overwhelm or skepticism could naturally flood over a patron. Large menus do not typically deliver on a consistent basis, but Tops Diner is on a completely different wavelength – they are a kitchen of colorful flavors, creative dishes, and high-quality specialties. The breakfast is nicely designed with hearty, sweet dishes that will leave a customer satisfied – from fruit and waffles to savory omelettes, there is no “wrong choice” for an early bite or collective brunch. A tasteful variety of sweet drinks also occupy their selection, from visually appealing coffees to freshly-squeezed fruit juices. Their specialty holiday menus also have some of their most captivating dishes, including a Jerk Chicken & Waffles dish with Caribbean flair or Salmon Avocado Toast for healthier eaters.
With all the praise for breakfast, however, their lunch and dinner menu is just as great. With an even wider variety of selections, including a deep assortment of meats, crafty pasta ensembles, and classic sandwich creations, a proper sit-and-dine experience is inevitable with Tops’ approach. They also have an exceptional bar with a wide variety of drinks, immaculate response time, and accompanying TV screens to view local sports games, news, and more. The service from their waiters and waitresses is also incredible, with devotion to perfecting the customer experience and accommodating for any needs. It’s easy to tell that their staff are well-trained and have been in the industry for an extended time, with little mistakes to be noted and a noticeable attention to order detail. Despite Tops’ large volume of seating, their staff bounce between different tables swiftly and efficiently as well. It’s an admirable dedication to the art of cuisine and entertainment.
With Fathers’ Day recently passing, Tops’ continues to prove their worth for communal occasions. It’s certainly a location worth booking a reservation in case of celebration or future holidays, although it’s imperative to be prompt – they’re highly requested and fill the house up quickly!
They are located on 500 Passaic Avenue, Harrison, NJ 07029 and operate all seven days of the week.
