This Fourth of July was dreamily warm and sunny in the Lehigh Valley. Huge puffs of clouds drifted across the blue sky. 
Perfect weather for a road trip. So, on a holiday outing to New Jersey, we stopped for breakfast at a noted area landmark – the Key City Diner in Phillipsburg.
The restaurant’s hostess showed us to an isolated corner booth in the half-filled restaurant. (We would regret not asking for a more noticeable table.) From the large menu of appealing breakfast entrees, we chose quickly then turned our attention to the morning newspaper. Well over ten minutes had passed when we realized a waitress had not yet made an appearance. We were about to go searching when a red-shirted young woman appeared. In apology she said, “I didn’t know you were here.” We asked for coffee and water then placed our orders.
As we waited for our drinks, M. continued skimming the newspaper while I glanced around at the classic diner decor. 
Roomy and bright, Key City is surrounded by windows. Established in 1955, it sparkles with mirrored walls, formica and shiny stainless. An airy, traditional New Jersey diner.
Another five minutes passed before our water finally arrived, followed by our coffee. Scattered across the dining room, two larger parties and several couples talked, laughed, and enjoyed their meals. A more experienced waitress efficiently handled their orders.
When our food came – steak and eggs for M., scrambled eggs for me – our waitress said she forgot our toast and would bring it right away. 
After she’d left, I realized she’d also forgotten the sausage links I had ordered. Meanwhile, M. began eating. The homefries were well browned, crisp and tasty. M.’s large steak was juicy and medium rare, as he’d asked. My sausage links, once they arrived, were superb.
Mid-way through our meal, our coffee cups were empty; we awaited a refill. Through the mirrored wall, I spied our waitress gazing out the window. I motioned but she wandered away. Finally, we signaled to the other waitress for more coffee. She left to call our server then returned with a coffee pot. Just then our waitress also showed up, pot in hand.
The Key City has a fine reputation. The atmosphere is appealing and our food was very good. Based on past experience for lunch, service has generally been friendly and quick. Whatever the reason on this visit, service was sufficiently lacking that I felt it should be commented on.
Our total bill for a large breakfast steak, two eggs, homefries and toast, and two scrambled eggs, homefries, two sausage links and toast, and two cups of coffee (one refill each), came to just under $22 (plus tip).
The Key City Diner & Restaurant is located at the junction of Routes 22 and 57 in Phillipsburg, NJ. 908-859-2373. They offer take-out, and are open 24 hours.
Sara
landscape a hundred shades of green. We might have stayed indoors but it seemed to be the perfect morning to enjoy breakfast at The Bístro on Main in Nazareth.
found a lone table that seemed to be waiting for our arrival. Our server, a tall young man, efficiently dropped off the breakfast menu then returned with two cups of steaming black coffee. Delicious! The one-page menu had a nice variety including omelets and other egg dishes, pancakes, and crepes! Not a dish always found in the Valley. Of course I had to try them. I’ve been a crepe lover since a visit to Quebec a few years ago. M. chose a hearty breakfast platter.
Its black ceiling, checkerboard black and white border, gold painted walls, and subdued lighting make it a delightful place to enjoy a meal.
but very close. M. also enjoyed his meal. He’d ordered a platter that included three eggs, two meats, homefries, and wheat toast. His eggs were exceptionally well-prepared and the meat was tasty.
recommended we try it. “It’s reasonably priced,” he said. “Great service!” As always, his assessment was accurate.
Interesting that they offer both thin and thick French Toast (for a few pennies more). M. ordered his favorite, Eggs Benedict.
Quite tasty, and the perfect amount. M.’s Eggs Benedict were well prepared with nicely poached eggs, and a good quality Hollandaise sauce. The lone drawback, quite minor, was that his home fries were more buttery and less crisp than he likes. Otherwise our meals, and the atmosphere, were fine in every way.
NUTTY CHOCOLATE CHIP SCONES
the City Diner is more than an old standby – it’s a landmark and, to some, almost a home away from home. According to the
Still, I browsed through the menu. It contained the usual diner fare. Not sure why but I chose simple bacon and eggs, as did M.
– eggs, bacon, homefries. Our bacon was crispy, as requested, with a nice salty flavor. My eggs were well scrambled, moist, and delicious! M.’s poached eggs were fine, although close to being overcooked. Still, he said he recognizes restaurants’ concerns over the egg police and problems that arise from undercooked eggs. Our homefries were crispy, as requested; flavor was diner average. Toast was perfect, and still hot when delivered.
drive out Highway 248. We’d stop at the first diner we came to west of Bath. Ten minutes went by. Good conversation. Fifteen minutes. We passed a pizza restaurant; doubtful it served eggs and bacon so we kept driving. Twenty minutes. Lots of trees and fields but we didn’t really feel like hunting for our breakfast. Twenty-two minutes. We drove by signs for towns we’d never heard of. At twenty-six minutes, his stomach began to growl. Mine had been grumbling for the past few miles. That’s when we decided to exit at the next town to seek out a diner, whether it was on 248 or not. And that is how we found Beacon 443 Diner/Restaurant in Lehighton.
A waitress offered us our choice of seats in the half-filled diner. We chose a window booth. She gave us menus to look through while she brought our coffee. I’ve noticed there are two types of diner menus: 1) large, heavily laminated, colorful menus that seem to have been printed by the same printer, and 2) those that are unique, more homegrown. Generally, though not always, the more personalized menus have better food. Beacon’s menu was of the homegrown type, a good sign. The front cover noted that they’d been in business since 1941. As our visit progressed we saw their secret for such longevity.
It’s obviously been tastefully redecorated through the years. Given their easy chatter with the staff, many of the customers seemed to be regulars who enjoy the friendliness and warm atmosphere.
“My husband and I discovered a unique and charming breakfast and lunch eatery, 
Answering took a few minutes. Sometimes it’s geography, based on a morning’s errands. Or we might pull a name from others’ suggestions. On occasion, it’s pure happenstance. That’s how we ended up at the Westgate Diner this morning. We just sort of happened upon it. A happy surprise.
Catasauqua Roads in Bethlehem, catty-corner from the Westgate Mall. Not a huge parking lot, but adequate for the seating inside. The southwest theme is carried into the dining room in color and style.
Soon our food arrived on heated plates. Almost immediately, we knew we’d found a jewel.
. The breakfast menu held a wonderful variety; well worth reading through. I opted for a croissant sandwich, although I was sorely tempted by the cinnamon roll sandwich with vanilla ice cream. Sometime.
As we chatted and browsed through the newspaper, still more folks arrived. Soon the servers were bustling. Our smiling waitress brought our order. As mentioned, I’d chosen the croissant sandwich – fried eggs, cheese and bacon on a croissant. It came with homefries, browned, just as I’d requested. M. ordered eggs, homefries, and a large order of bacon.
especially when served at home. Our favorite is to serve a savory quiche with muffins, fresh fruit and, of course, hot coffee. Over the years the quiche recipes have varied but the basics remain the same.
