Jersey Food, Iconic Places with Great History

Views: 1,000 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsEating Your Way Through New Jersey History Long before New Jersey had diners, highways, turnpikes, or even became a state, the local tavern often served as the center of community life.…

Views: 918 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsBig News in the Jersey Burger World! Hackensack’s historic White Manna is going for it and made the decision to relocate one of New Jersey’s most iconic burger joints, lifting it…

Views: 2,111 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsNational Burger Day is Thursday, May 28, 2026For Us – It’s EVERYDAY! If you live in New Jersey, there is no doubt you are in one of the best burger environments…

Views: 2,890 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsNew Jersey does not just have great food; it has a habit of turning everyday favorites into something bigger, messier, and more over-the-top than anyone expects. From stacked deli sandwiches and…

Views: 1,308 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsFrom the griddle sizzle at White Manna to the no-nonsense classics that built the state’s diner reputation, the Garden State has long treated the hamburger as something close to sacred. Thin…

Views: 1,046 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 Comments2025 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…

Views: 3,385 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsThe 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.…

Views: 29,875 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: 28,119 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsUPDATE: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…

Views: 1,458 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsFour 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…

Views: 7,683 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsOne 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…

Views: 33,127 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsStart This Journey with 2 minutes of #burgerporn. Enjoy as we did! UPDATE:March 2026 – This Arch is a problem to the crappy chain burger wars….. Who doesn’t love a good…

Views: 12,388 💬 Leave a Comment | View 1 CommentJuly 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…

Views: 31,955 💬 Leave a Comment | View 16 CommentsFrank 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…

Views: 13,758 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsLarison’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…

Views: 25,023 💬 Leave a Comment | View 3 CommentsUPDATE: After decades of sitting in a pile of rubble behind Warren’s DPW, the iconic and sole surviving Egg-O-Mat has been restored and dedicated to the residents of Warren Township, New…

Views: 2,061 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsDoes 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…

Views: 106,196 💬 Leave a Comment | View 19 CommentsMaybe 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…

Views: 44,075 💬 Leave a Comment | View 3 CommentsWho 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…

Views: 14,663 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsDistilling Revival across New Jersey and a Renaissance New Jersey has a deep history of distilling spirits that goes back to colonial times. The Somerset Hills is an area in central…

Views: 16,779 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsFour 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…

Views: 21,740 💬 Leave a Comment | View 1 Comment 2026 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 about…

Views: 6,650 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsSome 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,…

Views: 2,748 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 Comments 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…

Views: 4,034 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsThe 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…

Views: 26,094 💬 Leave a Comment | View 6 CommentsUPDATE: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…

Views: 4,506 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsMr. 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…

Views: 12,591 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsThe 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,…

Views: 7,730 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 Comments 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…

Views: 1,571 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsMany 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…

Views: 8,480 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsDo 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…

Views: 15,334 💬 Leave a Comment | View 2 CommentsUPDATE: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…

Views: 5,936 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsThe 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…

Views: 8,125 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsOK 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…

Views: 25,292 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsIt’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…

Views: 15,931 💬 Leave a Comment | View 10 CommentsHELP 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…

Views: 3,410 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsAgain 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…

Views: 14,955 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 Comments 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…

Views: 22,595 💬 Leave a Comment | View 4 CommentsWhite Manna, White Mana, and White Diamond are just a few that the Bridge’s family was involved with. But EVERY TIME we try to come up with an answer, our Jersey…

Views: 4,377 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsFor 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…

Views: 6,370 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsKrug’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…

Views: 120,723 💬 Leave a Comment | View 2 CommentsThose 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…

Views: 13,160 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 Comments 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…

Views: 7,611 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsUPDATE:Since the village of Basking Ridge lost the famed deli selling the Official Sandwich of Basking Ridge, “the town special,” the title is up for grabs. Come back soon to meet…

Views: 14,330 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 Comments 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…

Views: 44,202 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsSelf-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…

Views: 7,667 💬 Leave a Comment | View 2 CommentsMr. Local History has fallen in love with what history has deemed nothing more than a ripoff of the famous White Castle brand, called White Tower. Now, we know all sorts…

Views: 12,974 💬 Leave a Comment | View 4 CommentsThe New Jersey White Diamond chain served slider smash burgers as far back as the 1930s… As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn…

Views: 8,126 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 CommentsNothing 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.…

Views: 28,207 💬 Leave a Comment | View 2 CommentsThe Mr. Local History Project (MLH) has been preserving and promoting Jersey’s local history since the nonprofit was established in 2019. For this piece, we are on a mission to create…

Views: 58,686 💬 Leave a Comment | View 3 CommentsWhile 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…

Views: 10,714 💬 Leave a Comment | View 4 CommentsNothing 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.…

Views: 17,204 💬 Leave a Comment | View 3 CommentsOr 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…

Views: 34,216 💬 Leave a Comment | View 0 Comments Welcome to our Mr. Local History “Lots of Jersey Comfort Food Maps“, a delicious celebration of the places that define New Jersey one plate at a time. From classic roadside…