The Diner Camden

The Camden branch of this popular chain was packed when we went for lunch, and the loud soundtrack (Johnny Cash, the Stones) made conversation difficult. Even more difficult was figuring out the appeal of the place, with its dark walls distinctly un-diner-like and its menu that reads like nothing you’ll see in US diners.

This chain is basically about burgers, breakfast and booze – with a section of hot dogs and a few sandwiches and salads thrown in. We could live without the authenticity if the Diner’s food were better. In our two sandwiches, grilled cajun chicken breast and the ‘Diner Po Boy’, made with soft-shell crab, execution was woeful: stiffly breaded crabs had little taste of their own, and the fillings of swiss cheese (leathery), dill pickles and ‘heirloom’ tomatoes (both wilted) didn’t make much impact.

The chicken sandwich was marginally better, but again the filling were lacklustre. Coleslaw was way too sweet. Fries were the high point, crisp and hot, and service is sweet and smiling. Perhaps the burgers and dogs are better, but in all it’s hard to see how someone who had eaten in a good American diner would want to eat at this Diner.