State Line Diner: What it means to be from Jerz
Thursday, January 8, 2009“I’m from New Jersey. I don’t pump my gas, I pump my fist.”
No matter how far I stray, there will always be love for the dirty jerz. And there will always be room in my stomach for some dinerage – even if I literally just had dinner an hour ago.
Now, if you are fortunate enough to have knowledge of the glorious Garden State, you no doubt are aware of our notorious diner culture. Open 24 hours, a dessert case full of Italian pastries and cheesecake, and a dizzying menu that includes anything you would ever want (…and some you really don’t).
If you grew up along Route 17, you had your pick of diners to call your own. The Suburban or Twin Oaks if you’re down in the Paramus neck of the woods, Horizon (where Ramsey High and Highlands kids put aside their rivalries to share in late night munchies), Tiffany’s (I actually don’t know anyone who ever ate here), The Ridge, Matthew’s, and the mother of them all if you ask me, State Line up in Mahwah.
Ahh the diner. When we were little, it’s where we went for dinner when Mom didn’t feel like cooking. When we got older, it’s where we spent teenage nights counting down the curfew, drinking bad coffee, shooting the shit, and getting philosophical about life over something good that was fried, cheesy, or made with ice cream. Always dependable. Always satisfying.
Whenever I’m back in town, late night State Line is on the agenda. My go-to is Grilled Cheese with Tomato, served with a pickle half and some slaw. Buttery and crispy with about a quarter inch of cheese.
Grilled Cheese Standard
Stephen’s order is Cheese Fries – with American – and a Coke. Always. Except for that time we felt young and adventurous and took the ride all the way down to The Bendix. He got served fries with gravy by accident from the blind waiter and felt too bad to say anything. Remember that, Stephen?
Stephen “take the picture already” Vanore
Stephen is a connoisseur of cheese fries if you will, and is convinced there is only one true method of consuming them. He’s perfected it really.
How to eat cheese fries, based on years of research:
- Eat all the fries without cheese on them first.
- Ketchup should be on a separate plate for optimal even dippage.
- Don’t be alarmed if the cheese hardens to a plastic consistency – the easier to create a cave-like structure to get all those non-cheese suckers out.
- Deconstruct the square of cheesy, starchy goodness and eat without ketchup so as not to bastardize the sublime flavor combination.
- Try not to let your accompanying friends steal too many of the good pieces.
Michele is the wild card of the bunch. Sometimes it’s half a canteloupe. Sometimes it’s tapioca pudding. On this particular night, she kept it classic and completed the Holy Cheese Trinity by ordering Mozzarella Sticks.
Can't go wrong here
You’ll know it’s authentic if the cheese stretches when you bite and pull away only within the first 30 seconds of the plate hitting the table. If you’re able to do this past two sticks in, send them back. Something’s not right.
Shell demonstrates eating of mozzarella sticks
By now you probably understand, the Diner is not necessarily about “good” food. It’s more than that. It’s about the chat that comes with it. It’s about loitering being A-OK. It’s about ordering the usual. It’s about being home. In Jerz.
State Line Diner
375 State Route 17
Mahwah, NJ 07430
201-529-3353
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I’m sure the people watching that happens late at night is also entertaining. Jersey people are interesting…
I love cheese fries.
I am from Texas, and have learned about the Diner culture here in NJ, and find it fun and actually good, btw those cheese sticks look good, where are mine? I tell friends in Texas about it, and they say yuck, because the diners in the south really suck…
Open-faced tuna melt w/ fries from Horizon is what Jesus would eat if he showed up shit-faced on a Saturday night. It’s about as heavy and as healthy as a bag of flour.
Steph,
You really nailed it with this one. Seriously, my go-to diner meal has always been grilled cheese and mozarella sticks… and, no doubt, there’s always someone in my party who can’t pass up the cheese fries.
While my diner experience has always been on the other side of the tri-state area (CT), it is exactly like what you’ve described. For all of your amazing posts, this one is definitely my fave – it takes me back, and I thank you for that
xoxo
Thanks for the tribute to New Jersey and diners. Stateline and Matthew’s are my favorites, although you can count me as someone you know who ate at Tiffany’s, too. Happy New Year! Hope it is filled with good food.
Cheese fries are BOMB
We didn’t do a lot of dinering (the verb meaning to go to a diner) growing up in New Hampshire, but when I got to college and started hanging out with some Jersey kids I definitely realized the wonder that is a great diner. When ever I go to a diner, no matter what time it is, I HAVE to have breakfast food.
I love the design of the page now. Very pretty!
I’m going home to PA next week maybe I will hit up some diners
I’ve never eaten cheese fries but now I know how to eat them. Thanks! Thanks for accepting my friend request on Foodbuzz. I can’t wait to read more of your stuff!
aww miss you guys! loved the Stateline breakdown…craving all of the above right NOW!
hua: i’m gonna go ahead and assume you mean “interesting” in a good way
xo
Chef E: have you heard of the Hullabaloo Diner in Wellborn, TX? This vintage diner was originally Albany and when it was scheduled to be demolished, a diner-lover purchased it and trucked it out all the way to TX. Guess you’re not the only one out there who knows what’s up
Jim: and no doubt he would show up with some hooligan apostles to boot
Sarah: thanks, girl! i’m glad to have brought a little diner nostalgia your way
Fran: haha yes! I always wondered about Tiffany’s…but never wanted to risk it since I would pretty much have to pass State Line to get to it, and I’ve heard it just doesn’t live up…
Zain: they are indeed!
Anna B: mmm yes…breakfast any time!
Dana: thanks darlin! i’m eagerly awaiting Squash Blossom. have fun in PA!
Joie de vivre: gasp! never eaten cheese fries?! honey, get on that! you won’t be disappointed
Vanessa: haha i know…it was good for the soul being back
I LOVE diners! Just as you say, there’s something about diner dining which just calls out as one passes such a joint… I drove through New Jersey once but did not sample the diner culture, though I will have to do so now. As for cheese fries, here’s a take on them which you may enjoy: http://greekgourmand.blogspot.com/2008/07/feta-fries.html
Sam: thanks for the recipe! feta fries sound dee-lish!
I love the quote! I have a friend from NJ and I SWEAR that is HIM for real. Great post girl
Dskco: haha yeah, i saw it and was like, this is SO perfect
thanks for the love!
ooo what about the tick tock diner in clifton nj? that seems to be a pretty famous stop for politicians running up and down the state
interesting! i’ve driven by it a thousand times but have never stopped in! (as you can see from my post, i’m pretty bergen county centric). my list is going to have to expand though! thanks for the tip.
yes. Stateline!
GC w/T was always my meal… way to steal! Although, sadly, as the years passed at stateline (which is sooo much better than horizon!) there were a few times that the GCTs started to taste like bleach!
While I appreciated the clean grill at 3am, I’m not sure how great ingesting chemicals is for the system.
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