The other day, a friend and I got into a discussion about New Jersey diners. She, being a recent transplant from Missouri, has been scouting out diners in the area, and I have had a healthy obsession with diners since I was in high school. My favorites are the 1950s silver ones, the way we know diners to be. She mentioned a few in the area that she had been to, and I started ticking off some of our favorites, both near and far. The Broadway Diner in Summit was one of the diners on our list. The Husband and I haven’t been there in awhile, but my short conversation about it the other day was more than enough to get us there 
this weekend.
The phrase, “The World’s Best Pancakes,” is proudly displayed on their street sign outside and their menu, and they have been featured in New Jersey Monthly magazine more than once, for, of course, their pancakes, and other their traditional diner fare.
I’m not sure what their secret recipe is, but their pancakes taste very different than the norm. They’re lighter, fluffier, and spongier. They almost taste a bit cake-like. Are they the world’s best? I don’t know. That’s a pretty bold statement, but they certainly hit the 
spot when you want pancakes made by someone else. They’re just different.
Nicholas opted for the M&Ms pancakes, taking it as his opportunity to have candy with his meal without argument, and I went for my old favorite, French Apple. Instead of butter, the pancakes are all served with a small container of whipped cream. They don’t need butter, trust me. They barely need maple syrup, and oftentimes, I do without it.
All kudos aside, the service is fickle. It’s either great or it makes you swear you’ll never go back. Today, although the service was brisk, the waiter originally served me a French Dip Sandwich, instead of the French Apple Pancakes I ordered. Hey, it happens, and it was fixed within minutes. I’ll gladly take an easily fixable mistake over a rude waitress any day. I’d suggest staying away on Saturday and Sunday mornings as the place gets crazybusy.
If you happen to be in the area, or are up for a road-trip to try “The World’s Best Pancakes,” you might want to put The Broadway Diner on your list. Then you can be the judge.
The Broadway Dinner
55 River Road
Summit, NJ 07901
(908) 273-4353
I haven’t been there since last summer but the service was TERRIBLE. Food was okay but I never tried their pancakes. Our diner in town – the Caldwell Diner – was named best pancakes by The Star Ledger, and they are really good. Also The Original Pancake House in town was voted top 10 breakfasts by NJ Monthly Magazine and that is by far my husband’s fave place… so if you’re ever in the neighborhood try them out!
I’d have to see a photo of the diner itself, but I think I was there once long, long ago when I lived in N.J. and worked for the Associated Press so I was driving (in those 50 cent a gallon days — boy, does that date me) around N.J. a lot.
I love diners, even wrote 3,000 words about the history and future of them for a book once!