Salem Oak Diner

I get the impression that locals love this place. It was not for me. When I walked in, there were some customers sitting down to chat with the wait staff, they were all still sitting there after I left.
The salad that I ordered was nothing special, and I get the impression that salad is not the thing to order here. However, there doesn’t seem to be a good place to get a salad in Salem. There wasn’t anything interesting about, mostly just iceberg lettuce and some meat.
What I disliked about the Oak Diner is how long everything took for the food that I got. The salad did not have anything cooked in it, and it took forever to get my food. It also took forever to get something to drink. The conversation that I mentioned earlier seemed to take precedent over my lunch.

I loved this place. The food was good and the portions were also large. I was surprised because of the location.
I also love the little corner nook with the retro cards and stuff. We will be back.

Stopped in for lunch today but ordered breakfast. The prices were amazing! I got a cup of great tasting chicken noodle soup a western omlette with home fries and rye bread for 7.50. Cannot beat that! My co-​diner had a Reuben, which was open faced. We both left satisfied. It’s yummy dinner food.

The Salem Oak Diner is BACK!!!
Once the PRIDE of Salem starting in the 1950’s through the 1990’s, the «OAK» has had its «Ups & Downs». Living in the area, I have seen this place undergo Ownership & Management changes, mostly having a negative result. HOWEVER, the most recent management change is producing results. The Manager «Mike», has a New, Fresh, approach to the way this «Classic Diner» should be run, and values his customers opinions! He has recently upgraded the booths, window treatments, and holds weekly meetings with his staff on how to make this diner the «Best in Salem County».
Now for the «Meat & Potatoes», pardon the «Pun». Service has done a total 180 degree change from before. Service is «EXCELLENT»! Let’s face it, diner food is «Classic», and the «Oak» is committed to improving the quality of their meals. No More breakfast platters with 5lbs of tasteless home fries on your plate. I suggest «Mikes Famous Classic Cheeseburger», a Huge, Classic Cheeseburger, with French Fries! Most changes occur via baby steps, this manager and staff are making giant steps to improve the «OAK». I’m giving the «OAK» a 4 star review for it’s service, and a 3 for food. I’m hoping to update this review 6 months from now with a 5 star review! Remember, you can bring your favorite spirits here! Come visit one of the «Few Original Classic Diners in New Jersey». Located in Historic Salem, New Jersey, a great place to eat while attending one of Salem County’s Many Cultural Events, such as the upcoming «Arts N Bloom» Festival!
Bring a Bottle of your Favorite Bubbly, or Ice Cold Brew, and slip back into the 50’s with a «Mike’s Famous Classic Cheeseburger»!!
ENJOY!
CHEF GARY CURRY

It was cleaner than I thought, but I wasn’t expecting much. Dirty dishes at every open table and it got worst from there. Took over an hour to deliver some club sandwiches and an omelet. Waitress was not interested in keeping us informed as to why it was taking so long. I tried every disappointed face I had, but she wasn’t getting it. My kids both had turkey bacon clubs and one didn’t have bacon, my wife had a burn omelet and they replaced home-​fries with french fries and asked if that was okay as she set the plate down. My roast beef club was dried up meat and I was so mad I didn’t eat it. Just stay away this place has NO redeeming qualities. Service and food are sub par.

Never again. That’s just how I’ll start this review. My wife and I went here the first time, and the place was dirty, smelled, and the waitress was terrible. I got the Asian chicken wrap though and it was OK. The soup was vomit. The waitress, however, ignored my wife, a black woman, countless times as all she wanted was some peppers for her hoagie. This while listening to the other customers and myself who were all white. This definitely raised eyebrows and we were furious.
But we chalked this up to the one waitress and so we came back as the Asian chicken wrap was ok. Not bad to give a place a second try. We shouldn’t have. My wife’s chicken wrap was RAW. They did take it off the bill, but she was so disgusted she didn’t even eat. They also did something to me I haven’t seen. I got the chicken wrap with no veggies as I don’t trust diner vegetables… They charged me a 2 dollar no vegetable fee!!! They took something OFF the dish!!! How could they charge me MORE? And not tell me this would happen!!!
Avoid avoid avoid. If you need a good diner the Quinton diner is not too far away. Edible food and nice staff.