This Is New Jersey’s Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant
It’s never an easy decision when selecting the right place to bring the kids out for a meal. You aim to find great food with the right environment. The Food Network recently named the most kid-friendly restaurant in each state, and a diner was highlighted in New Jersey.
The Food Network took many of the small details into consideration when compiling their list. Everything from the design of the kid’s menu to food choices to the service staff factored into the selection process. In the Garden State, the featured establishment is a family-owned small business. In fact, they have been featured on the “Diner, Drive-In’s and Dives.”
The Jefferson Diner
“Jefferson Diner is the place where friends and family come together,” they say on their social media pages. This roadside Lake Hopatcong mainstay has been open since 1985. “The retro diner atmosphere is family-friendly, but the staff is particularly adept at catering to kids and keeping them entertained while parents finish their meal,” Food Network describes.
In addition, their location attracts many New York City and Philadelphia tourists visiting Lake Hopatcong. They offer a true New Jersey diner experience. Furthermore, their new outdoor seating area has made the atmosphere even more accommodating for families.
The Kid’s Menu
The Jefferson Diner menu is colorful (and 20 pages long). Before getting to the kid-friendly options, you will see family-themed photos highlighting their rich New Jersey restaurant history. In addition, it’s hard to skim past the “Voted Best Diner” accolades printed.
The kid’s menu then has 12 options to pick from. They are each named after an animal. For example, if you order the “Tiger” you’ll have a jumbo hot dog with fries. Each option comes with an ice cream or jello and a small drink.
Lastly, if the animal options are not appealing to the little ones, they always have the option to order pancakes. The breakfast menu is available at all times. It includes infamous stacks of pancakes that come in 14 different variations.
So, if you are looking for a traditional New Jersey restaurant that is also kid-friendly, the Jefferson Diner has you covered.
New Jersey Seatbelt Crackdown Launches In 134 Communities
New Jersey is cracking down on drivers and passengers who are not wearing seatbelts. The annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign began today (May 22) and runs through June 4. According to The Patch, $800,000 is awarded to local police for enhanced seat belt enforcement.
“Law enforcement agencies take a ‘no-excuses’ approach to seat belt enforcement,” the Attorney General’s office said. The maximum penalty for a seat belt violation in New Jersey is a $46 fine, added AG Matthew Platkin’s office.
“Click It or Ticket” is aimed to help with senseless driving and the safety of drivers and passengers. According to data from the Division of Highway and Traffic Safety, 47% of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing a seat belt. In 2021, 160 unrestrained people died in New Jersey roadway crashes.
“Too many New Jerseyans needlessly lose their lives due to motor vehicle-related fatalities, and reducing these preventable deaths is a top priority for my office,” said Platkin. “Our campaign will help raise awareness of this critical and proven way of preventing serious injury or death in the event of a motor vehicle crash. Seat belts save lives – it’s that simple.”
How Is “Click It or Ticket” funded?
A grant from The Division of Highway and Traffic Safety (HTS) goes to 134 New Jersey law enforcement agencies to fund the campaign, said Attorney General Matthew Platkin, per the outlet. The funds are used for “increased road patrols, seat belt checkpoints, and other enforcement initiatives during the campaign.”
According to officials, last year’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign garnered 8,373 seatbelt violations across the state. 3,315 summonses for speeding were written up, as well as 278 arrests for impaired driving.
“New Jerseyans need to grasp how important it is to buckle up, every time, anywhere you are going,” said Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Taking a few seconds to buckle yourself in reduces your risk of fatal injury in a serious crash by fifty percent. There is no excuse for making the wrong decision, and if you do, you can expect to be pulled over and ticketed.”
Take a look below at which communities are receiving grant money and how much per the AG office:
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
