Jefferson Diner sits on Bowling Green Parkway in Lake Hopatcong, a lakeside community in Morris County, and it has been the community’s go-to diner for decades. It carries a 1950s-style design — chrome accents, neon touches, comfortable booths — and a menu that extends well beyond typical diner fare into Greek specialties, including moussaka and spanakopita that reflect the ownership’s heritage. It appeared in Season 2, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives — “The New Jersey Diner Tour,” aired January 28, 2008 — and Guy Fieri highlighted the homemade moussaka. The diner has been voted #1 in Morris County for seven years and named a Top 5 New Jersey diner by the Star Ledger’s Munchmobile. It has also appeared on Food Network’s Unwrapped and the Today Show.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Jefferson Diner
City: Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
Cuisine: Classic Diner Fare / Greek
DDD Season: 2
DDD Episode: 13
Episode Title: The New Jersey Diner Tour
Original Air Date: January 28, 2008
Address: 5 Bowling Green Pkwy., Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
Phone: 973-663-0233
Website: https://www.jeffersondiner.com/
Status: Open
About Jefferson Diner
Jefferson Diner sets itself apart from the standard New Jersey diner template by weaving Greek culinary tradition into the menu alongside all the American classics. The moussaka and spanakopita sit on the same menu as lobster bisque and the daily specials, and the kitchen handles both with equal care. Portions are legendarily large — humongous is the word that appears consistently in reviews — and the full bar means dinner at Jefferson Diner is a proper sit-down experience rather than a quick counter meal.
What to Eat at Jefferson Diner
The Moussaka is the Greek specialty that earned the DDD segment — layered eggplant, ground meat, and béchamel sauce, the kind of dish that earns its own regulars. The Spanakopita, Lobster Bisque, and the rotating daily specials are the other highlights worth knowing about. The full bar with wine and cocktails makes Jefferson Diner a legitimate dinner destination alongside its diner credentials.
Plan Your Visit
Jefferson Diner is open Monday through Thursday 7:00 AM to midnight, Friday and Saturday 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM, Sunday 7:00 AM to midnight.
Address: 5 Bowling Green Pkwy., Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
Phone: 973-663-0233
Website: https://www.jeffersondiner.com/
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Jefferson Diner’s Greek-American menu mashup is exactly the kind of surprise the show was built to find. Stream the New Jersey Diner Tour episode on Amazon, and pick up More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for 60 more stops worth mapping out.
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Jefferson Diner appeared in Season 2, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “The New Jersey Diner Tour,” originally aired January 28, 2008.