Crystal Diner 2 New Jersey 37, Toms River, NJ 08753

"TLDR; Everything was bland. The steak is not steak, it is just chop meat molded together. My partner and I went here for our anniversary. I had one miserable, somewhat traumatic experience here around 10 years ago. My partner has never been here though, and was the one to suggest it, so I went with it thinking that after a decade, I could have a different experience. I got the broiled steak with onions and gravy, and my partner got the penne pasta. Both of our meals came with a chicken noodle soups as a little appetizer. The soup was definitely reheated, the veggies were extremely soft and the chicken was leathery. It also had zero flavour. My partner literally salted every spoon to make it even taste like anything. I don't have much to say about the pasta since it wasn't my order and I didn't eat any, but my partner says that it was mediocre. From what they told me, the sauce was very watery, and both the noodles and sauce had little to no flavour. I orded my steak as a medium rare, but it came to me well done. I was going to take it as it was, but it practically crumbled when I attempted to cut into it and tasted gross in general. The onions seemed to be sauteed, but I couldnt guess how because the flavour seemed to be sucked out of them. Making an onion flavourless is amost impressive to me. I asked for my steak to be remade, I assumed that it being well-done was the reason it was so gross to me. The waitress went and talked about my request to a man who I believe was a manager, before she came back and took it. She came back about 10 minutes later with a new plate that looked almost much the same. I was thinking that based off the taste and texture that it mightve been ground beef that was molded into a steak shape. I was tempted to ask the waitress if that was the case, but I thought it was rude to ask about so was just gonna leave it alone. Instead, when she came back and asked how the remade "steak" was and I told her it was still disappointing, in response the waitress said herself that its just chop meat put together. I ordered my steak without the gravy, so I cant make any comment on it."

"I gave it one star since they had home fries and not hash potatoes. The place is clean. Food not the best. Had to ask for thing to be warmed up. Ordered a western omelet everything is just tossed on the plate toast and all. Toast should be on its own plate ... I shouldn't have to ask for butter or syrup which my son had too. Why is your syrup in little container this isn't take out. Syrup should be in a bottle so I can pour what I want. They only best thing my son stated was the coffee. 1st plate of bacon was over cooked second plate was undercooked. The cook shouldn't be upset if someone isn't pleased with over cooked or under cooked food. I am paying good money for my food."

"07/01/2022: Friday night dinner for 2. We enjoyed French Onion & Chicken Noodle soups. Entree's were Mediterranean Salad and a Chicken Panini. Service was prompt and food was good. I ate here last Friday 06/24/2022 and the food was quite good then too. Well Done! ed (PS: The Dessert assortment is outstanding but I passed on this today...next time.)"