Romeo's Famous Pizzeria
Wildwood, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Need a slice while cruising through downtown Wildwood? Just look for the neon pizza man outside Romeo's Famous
Pizzeria on Pacific Avenue. Carrying a pie and glowing above the sidewalk, he's become a familiar sight around this part of town.
Romeo's has been serving pizza here since 1975, but don't bother stopping by for lunch. The place is famous for keeping almost vampire hours, opening in the evening and serving the late-night Wildwood crowd until 5 in the morning. Their slogan pretty much says it all, “We Don't Do Lunch!”
Thin crust, Sicilian, calzones, cheesesteaks and hoagies keep the night owls fed. But it's that colorful old neon chef that makes Romeo's worth another look while wandering Pacific Avenue after dark.
UPDATE: Romeo's Famous Pizzeria remains open in Wildwood, and its familiar neon pizza man is still glowing above Pacific Avenue. 08-26
Americana Diner
Hightstown, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Now this is what a Jersey diner should look like after dark. The Americana Diner along Route 130 had plenty of stainless steel, glowing neon and that great “Time to Dine” clock out front telling hungry travelers it was time to pull over.
Despite the classic '50s appearance, the diner was actually built by the Musi Dining Car Company in 1968. With all that polished metal and glass glowing beneath the nighttime lights, it certainly looked the part.
For years the Americana was a familiar Route 130 stop, serving up the usual Jersey diner fare around the clock. And really, when you've got a roadside clock telling you it's “Time to Dine,” who are we to argue?
UPDATE: The old Americana Diner was extensively remodeled and today operates as the upscale Americana Kitchen & Bar. The classic stainless steel diner appearance and familiar “Time to Dine” roadside sign are gone. 08-26
Club Diner
Bellmawr, NJ Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf
Here's the Club Diner of Bellmawr with its neon lettering all lit up along the Black Horse Pike. Stainless steel, big windows and glowing red letters overhead, just about everything you want to see when an old Jersey diner comes into view.
The Club Diner actually traces its roots back to 1946, when Ralph and Edna Weed started serving hungry customers from a converted club car. The business eventually grew into this classic Kullman diner, which was rolled into place and became a familiar roadside stop for generations.
The diner has seen a few remodels over the years, but it still has that unmistakable Jersey diner look. Pull in for breakfast, lunch or dinner and save a little room for something from the dessert case.
UPDATE: The Club Diner remains open seven days a week in Bellmawr, still serving customers beneath its familiar roadside lettering. 08-26
Rosebud Diner (Closed)
Somerville, MA Photo courtesy Joyce Kerrigan
Here's one old diner that really comes alive after dark. The Rosebud Diner in Somerville's Davis Square has plenty of neon glowing around its classic black porcelain front, with that wonderful old ROSEBUD lettering stretching across the little lunch car. Add the neighboring signs and nighttime traffic and you've got one great diner scene.
The Rosebud was built in 1941 by the Worcester Lunch Car Company as car No. 773. With its stainless trim, porcelain panels and compact shape, the original diner is still easy to pick out even after decades of additions and changes around it.
As Davis Square changed, so did the Rosebud. The little diner expanded into more of a restaurant and lounge, and the neon became a big part of its nighttime personality. For a while the place even operated as the Cuckoo's Nest before eventually returning to the familiar Rosebud name.
Rosebud Diner
Somerville, MA Photo courtesy Joyce Kerrigan
And what a name for a neon sign. Over the years different versions of ROSEBUD and FOOD & SPIRITS glowed above Summer Street, turning the place into the sort of neighborhood landmark where you didn't really need the address. Just look for the lights.
The old diner was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, but that didn't keep things frozen in time. The interior was substantially changed in 2013, and several different restaurant concepts followed, including barbecue, whiskey and most recently an Indian-inspired menu. Through all those changes, the old Worcester diner remained tucked right out front.
UPDATE: The Rosebud closed again in May 2026 for what was announced as renovations. As of 08-26, the restaurant remains closed, but the historic 1941 diner exterior and its familiar signage still survive in Davis Square. 08-26
Olga Diner (Gone)
Marlton, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
In New Jersey, the sign atop Olga's
Diner on US Route 30 boasts its bakery. Check out the neon lettering
that can be seen for blocks. Many thanks to Paul Bauke for info.
The big neon Olga's Diner sign was hard to miss as you rolled toward the Marlton Circle. With OLGA'S glowing above the roof and BAKERY advertised underneath, this was classic Jersey roadside dining.
Olga's got its start in Camden in 1946 before moving to the busy intersection of Routes 70 and 73 in 1959. The diner became a South Jersey landmark, known for its bakery as much as its meals. In fact, Olga's even baked a celebration cake for the 1989 inauguration of President George H.W. Bush.
The old diner closed in 2008 and sat vacant for years.
UPDATE: The original Olga's was demolished in 2017, and its familiar rooftop neon was removed. The name returned in 2019 when a new Olga's Diner opened nearby on Route 73. 08-26
Freehold Grill
Freehold, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
The Freehold Grill in Freehold welcomes hungry shoppers strolling along Main Street. Bruce Springsteen attended grade school in Freehold. Hmm, could he have ever eaten here? Many thanks to Paul Bauke for info.
Walking along Main Street in downtown Freehold, here's one of those little Jersey diners that seems to fit perfectly between the surrounding storefronts. Tony's Freehold Grill has been feeding the local crowd for decades from a genuine Jerry O'Mahoney diner built in 1947. The stainless steel front, old lettering and neon give it just enough roadside flash to catch the eye of anyone passing through town.
And what about that Bruce Springsteen connection? Turns out The Boss really has eaten here. Springsteen grew up just blocks away and attended nearby St. Rose of Lima school before eventually trading Freehold for somewhat larger stages. Over the years he's been a familiar customer at the diner and has continued to stop in for lunch while visiting his old hometown. So yes, there's a pretty good chance Bruce has occupied one of these seats and grabbed a bite here more than once.
Freehold Grill
Freehold, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
The diner itself is a survivor. Jerry O'Mahoney built thousands of diners in nearby Elizabeth, New Jersey, and this 1947 example still sits right along Main Street serving the breakfast and lunch crowd. It's not a giant highway diner with acres of parking, just an old-fashioned neighborhood grill that has managed to hang around while downtown Freehold changed around it.
UPDATE: In 2022, longtime chef Roberto took over the restaurant and the name changed to Roberto's Freehold Grill. The old O'Mahoney diner remains open, the familiar sign was updated with the new name, and Bruce still occasionally drops by for lunch. 08-26
