Jersey Food, Iconic Places, All Jersey

Views: 350 2025 Research in Review 2025 was a big year for the Mr. Local History Project. It marked our 5th year in operation and a milestone we’re incredibly proud of reaching our one millionth visitor. What started as a…

Views: 878 The Debate That Divides New Jersey… And Now There’s a Third on the Rise… SPAM In New Jersey, there are a few things guaranteed to start an argument. Traffic circles. Jughandles. What exit are you from? But nothing…

Views: 24,847 Krug’s Tavern: Newark’s Burger Temple Since 1932, Krug’s Tavern on Wilson Avenue has been serving what many call the best burger in New Jersey. From the outside, it’s just a neighborhood bar, but inside, it’s a shrine to…

Views: 16,655 UPDATE:Kinda laughed when I watched THE BEAR TV series and saw they were pulling currency out of tomato cans. They claim they’re not taking from the Pizza Connection story, but it’s remarkably similar! These cans, discovered in the…

Views: 730 Four limited edition wooden keepsakes to honor New Jersey’s historic icons honoring the state’s most famous eateries that have served Jersey for almost 100 years. Congratulations to our iconic New Jersey Diner keepsake, West Orange’s Jimmy Buff’s Italian…

Views: 5,855 One thing is for sure: You can guarantee that each of these businesses in New Jersey will have lines out the door and down the block every Christmas Eve. Most are also “CASH ONLY,” so make sure you…

Views: 27,219 Start This Journey with 2 minutes of #burgerporn. Enjoy as we did! Who doesn’t love a good burger? Ah, yes, even the statement opens the door for interpretation. How big, ketchup or not, steamed, fried, broiled, with lettuce—the…

Views: 10,364 July is National Ice Cream Month, so it’s time for Mr. Local History’s look back at the history, the good fun (and some “good humor”). The first official account of ice cream in the New World dates back…

Views: 27,189 Frank McGovern opened his tavern in 1936 selecting 58 New Street right in the central ward of downtown Newark. Whether by coincidence or not, McGovern’s also opened around the same time Newark’s St. Patrick’s Day parade was reborn…

Views: 9,334 Larison’s Turkey Farm was more than just a restaurant; it was a cherished New Jersey landmark steeped in tradition. Established in 1945 on the grounds of a working turkey farm dating back to 1868, Larison’s embodied the warmth…

Views: 20,370 UPDATE: May 25, 2025 – After decades sitting in a rubble pile behind Warren’s DPW, the iconic and sole surviving Egg-O-Mat has been restored and dedicated to the residents of Warren Township, New Jersey. The Egg-O-Mat, a beloved…

Views: 1,255 Does the hot dog (not the Italian one) get a place in New Jersey’s Historic Foodie Wooden Collectible series?What about Rutt’s Hut, or any other of a handful of iconic hot dog eateries? The Mr. Local History Project…

Views: 93,639 Maybe we’re taking this too seriously, but we’ve been searching for bakeries serving New Jersey’s best crumb cake. If you’re not a fan of the cake, you might want to leave now because we’re really going to get…

Views: 35,058 Who doesn’t remember driving the car and ending up at the famed orange roof of the famed Howard Johnson motor lodge or restaurant. From Weirs Beach, New Hampshire to Daytona Beach Florida, all the way out to Anaheim,…

Views: 12,077 Distilling in Central New Jersey New Jersey has a deep history of distilling spirits that goes back to colonial times. The Somerset Hills is an area in central New Jersey’s Somerset County grouping six similar towns, villages, and…

Views: 12,504 Four limited edition wooden keepsakes to honor New Jersey’s historic icons honoring the state’s most famous eateries that have served Jersey for almost 100 years. Congratulations to our iconic New Jersey Diner keepsake, West Orange’s Jimmy Buff’s Italian…

Views: 18,054 2025 Suggestions? Drop Us a Note We dare to compare! Bedminster, Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, Far Hills, Peapack/Gladstone, also known as The Somerset Hills. It’s time for a real discussion on where to get the best things based on…

Views: 5,436 Some ask, “Why am I seeing an article about food on a history website?” History often reveals itself in unexpected places. As I sat in a new food court in Toronto, Canada, I realized that this concept was…

Views: 1,207 UPDATE:We have NOT Agreed on a Date yet – Sign Up to receive an update when we have details The Mr. Local History Project is sponsoring the first-ever “Crumb Cake Burger Flat Top Challenge,” which will introduce Jersey’s best-rated…

Views: 1,724 The Far Hills Inn along Route 31 (Now Route 202) was in Bridgewater, not Far Hills, and not Somerville. While researching the history of Far Hills, New Jersey, we found this former treasure, the Far Hills Inn. While…

Views: 20,769 UPDATE:December 24, 2025 The 78-year-old Bendix Diner in Bergen County is going to be saved, the new owner said/ It’s just going to be moved in order to be restored. Peter Meskouris, who bought the iconic diner last…

Views: 2,197 Mr. Local History Researchers have yet to find a contract, a photo, or a map showcasing what some claim was the “Diner of the Future” at the 1939 World’s Fair. Nothing on the walls, nothing digital. And we’re…

Views: 7,598 The term “dive bar” originated in the United States in the 1880s and was initially used as a derogatory term. It referred to drinking establishments often located in basements or below street level, where patrons would “dive” down into the…

Views: 3,754 People keep asking us why a non-profit is dedicated to researching New Jersey history and building food maps. The short answer is that history has what we call threads. We start researching one thing, which leads to another.…

Views: 951 Many critics say New Jersey might have the best pizza places in America. Being from New Jersey, we can’t disagree. Why there would be any Dominos, Pizza Huts or Pappa Johns is beyond comprehension. Now it’s your turn…

Views: 5,302 Do you know how Arthur’s Tavern got its name? Meet Arthur….. Arthur McGreevy. Meet Arthur McGreevy Arthur was born on Dec. 6, 1927, in Orange, N.J., and lived most of his life in Morris Plains, N.J., before moving…

Views: 4,298 As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, updates are made to this post when we learn additional information. We will continue to expand this post as information becomes available and our readers suggest additions. Mr. Local History Research Team Mr.…

Views: 11,602 UPDATE:After years of work, the Mr. Local History Project committed to five historic wooden keepsakes in Cranford to preserve and promote Cranford’s history. Art is on the front, and history is on the back on a custom-cut 3/4″…

Views: 3,543 The Mr. Local History Project is proud to announce that the board has accepted The White Manna Hamburger diner stand in Hackensack, New Jersey to be included in the New Jersey Historic Wooden Keepsake collection made by the…

Views: 5,671 OK Jersey Burger Lovers, do you dare get on the Jersey Burger Trail and take the Burger Crawl Challenge? The Mr. Local History Project is sponsoring the first ever event that brings history and appetite together alongside some…

Views: 18,712 It’s revered. It originates in Central and South America, dating back to the 1500s, and originated in the region now modern-day Mexico. Indigenous peoples in Central and South America, such as the Aztecs and Incas, were cultivating and…

Views: 11,573 HELP THIS STORY: We are still looking for photos of the beer garden or any photos taken after 1970. We are also still researching the sale date to Warren Township and the final teardown date. Contact us if you…

Views: 2,691 Again this year, we’re hoping that you will participate with the Mr. Local History Project and support #buyavetaburger is a grass- roots campaign that started years ago to bring and prepare food for formerly homeless veterans at the…

Views: 12,218 Being a Jersey native, there are so many things to love about the state, including unique Jersey food. Our researchers have written stories about the history of Jersey food for various reasons. They are uniquely New Jersey and…

Views: 16,502 EVERY TIME we try to come up with an answer, our Jersey hamburger story takes a twist. While there remain many unanswered questions, we are still here to introduce Louis, Abner “Al” A.L, and Webster Bridges, once a…

Views: 2,630 For those who love the California beach scene, the town of Pacific Beach ranks as one of the best offering sunshine, beach, boardwalks and burgers. YES, BURGERS. The pop-up burger tent shares there fantastic smash burgers and frito…

Views: 4,493 Krug’s Tavern, a shot and beer joint that’s survived through WW2, the Riots, and gentrification, the four generations continue the family legacy with this legendary New Jersey tavern. Now Krug’s has reached its 90th anniversary and the non-profit…

Views: 110,558 Those following the Mr. Local History Project know we love Jersey food and iconic food outlets. Along with the grand ethnic diversity comes food concoctions that have become iconic Jersey staples on the Jersey food scene over the…

Views: 10,165 Brush’s Deli has a long history in Basking Ridge and is the longest-standing deli in the community. Located at 35 S. Finley Avenue in the same building, the P.C. Henry general store opened in 1869 and remained until…

Views: 6,288 BASKING RIDGE UPDATE:April 1, 2025 – Since the village of Basking Ridge lost the famed creator of the Official sandwich of Basking Ridge, “the town special,” the title is up for grabs. Come back soon for the opportunity…

Views: 10,954 Peaches Peaches Everywhere Many don’t remember that New Jersey, particularly Somerset, Morris, and Hunterdon Counties, were premier peach orchards with some of the best in the United States. If you live in New Jersey, you know that summertime…

Views: 40,250 Self-guided tours of some of the most historic pubs and taverns in the tri-state area. Who doesn’t like going on an adventure? The Mr. Local History Project has been building a list of historic pubs and taverns in…

Views: 8,762 The New Jersey White Diamond chain was serving slider smash burgers as far back as the 1930s…….. As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and are sent photos from…

Views: 5,486 Nothing goes better than a fun Jersey day trip to an iconic town that starts on the Jersey shore and gives you many fun choices filled with food and history. Mr. Local History introduces you to Keyport, New…

Views: 24,591 The Mr. Local History Project (MLH) has been preserving and promoting Jersey’s local history since the non-profit was established in 2019. For this piece, we are on a mission to create the definitive online history of Krug’s Tavern,…

Views: 48,793 While watching an old Man vs. Food Nation episode, food critic and comedian Adam Richman showed some awesome sandwiches from Jersey. Adam got us thinking: What sandwiches define New Jersey? We’ve asked the public for their advice and…

Views: 7,642 Nothing goes better than a fun Jersey day trip to an iconic town that starts the Jersey shore and gives you so many fun choices to fill with food and history. The Mr. Local History introduces you to…

Views: 13,422 Or maybe we need to say: Give everyone the Disneyland Paris Café des Cascadeurs (Stuntman’s) diner update. #disneylandparisdiner As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and are sAs is…

Views: 27,115 UPDATED: Januar 1, 2026 Welcome to Lots of Jersey Comfort Food Maps, a delicious celebration of the places that define New Jersey one plate at a time. From classic roadside diners and neon lit institutions to neighborhood spots…

Views: 18,895 A gift from the WHS class of 1980 to all those who loved the Jolly Trolley. I hope you continue to send in your stories and photos. As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the…

Views: 17,051 The map below is interactive and filtered to showcase New Jersey’s Diner community! Then, we’ll discuss how the keepsake came to be. Bookmark this map on your phone. Also, note we have burgers, pizza, bakeries, hot dogs, and…

Views: 30,052 Krug’s Tavern Hits the Spot Down Neck Serving up great food and spirits with a friendly laid back attitude. Ready to take a step back in a time when life was simple and the neighborhood had a friendly active…

Views: 29,299 Krug’s Tavern Hits the Spot Down Neck NEWSFLASH: A NEW WOODEN KEEPSAKE HONORS NEWARK’S KRUG’S TAVERN Serving up great food and spirits with a friendly laid back attitude. Ready to take a step back in a time when…