Pat’s Original Diner

My sister and I were looking for a local joint for breakfast one weekend. We settled on Pat’s Original Diner, and I was looking forward to the meal given the number of people sitting in the restaurant and on a rainy Sunday morning. The hostess was also quite welcoming as she ushered us in from the storm.
The food also was solid. I ended up getting their pancakes with a side of bacon. The pancakes were fluffy and more than enough food for 1 person; my sister ended up finishing the last one for me because I was stuffed! The side of bacon was also quite hefty, but I’ll never complain about too much bacon!
Unfortunately, it seemed like our sever was having an off day. My sister ended up ordering one of the specials that comes with eggs, a side of meat, toast, and a beverage of your choosing. She ended up not bring my sister’s bacon (which, to give her the benefit of the doubt, might have gotten missed somehow when my sister was giving her order), and when it was brought to her attention, she was somewhat snippy about it. One mistake is fine, but then when you also forget to bring the ordered tea, it seems like maybe the server’s mind is elsewhere. I would definitely give Pat’s another try, but I hope the service is improved next time I visit.

Good food and service highly recommended, but neighborhood is rough if your not used to or raised in that environment like I was. Thomas «G»

What happened?!
Pat’s was always the place to go for a decent breakfast at budget prices. Something is amiss.
Today’s breakfast was still inexpensive, but the quality of the meal was really unacceptable.
I ordered one of the breakfast specials on the back of the breakfast menu. Two slices of French Toast, Bacon and Coffee @ $ 5.20. This is what was served by the pleasantly attentive server:
~ Yellow dyed bread with barely any egg absorbed into it, grilled and tasteless, but for the Smucker’s packaged syrup that had to used completely as it continually disappeared into the thick slices. No sugar added to induce caramelization. No vanilla added for flavor.
~ The two bread slices stuck together on the plate edge to edge, as it must have grilled, with no effort by the kitchen to separate them for better cooking or more attractive display on the plate.
~ Bacon deep fried rather than placed on the grill, so that it was tough to chew and tasted of the oil it cooked in.
~ Decent coffee.
Maybe it was a mistake to order a breakfast special because management sees it as a loss leader and puts almost no effort into preparing it correctly, or it wants to discourage people ordering it a second time. Regardless, it was a major disappointment, and showed a true dismissiveness toward the patrons.
But for the fact that I have gone to Pat’s over many years, I would not choose to return. If I find myself there again, I will order a la carte and see what I get.

Silver at pancakes were yummy and my daughter loved her sunny side up eggs. Staff is very friendly.

I’m not a fan of the Trenton area due to the crime rate but I don’t mind risking myself coming to this diner. What a great hole in the wall 24hr diner. I work the grave yard shift and was so in need of a good home meal. This place satisfied my hunger! I had the pork on a croissant and my oh my was this place delish!

Great place to eat — onsite parking and very lovely staff to accommodate a large group!

Never going back again until I see an «under new management «sign posted. i went with my 11 year old daughter and the grumpy old manager attended us, very unfriendly customer service. I went to pick up take out and instead of a thank you come again, I got a asked for a tip. Why should I give a tip when I’m picking up my food? not only I was missing items, It was not delivery.
There are much more friendlier places nearby.

This place is a gem in the heart of Trenton for the longest time. For practically nothing you get two meals in one. Great staff and excellent quality not to be missed!

Awesome food and reasonable prices … You get a lot of food for what they charge you … They have lots of sweets as well… They are open ²⁴⁄₇ and you can get breakfast any time you want

In a land before time :) This is how it must have been all around Trenton back in the days when the ‘Burg still was the restaurant district. I call this a blue collar type, original dinner and really liked it. The food is what I expect from a dinner, good size portions, home style cooking; real comfort food. I probably digested enough grease and calories for a week but that’s what it’s all about when going to a dinner. The place was full on this beautiful Saturday Morning. A mixed crowed of black, white & a surprising latino portion. The same people that you find at lunch and dinner in the many Guatemalan/​Ecuadorian eateries apparently also come here for breakfast. A good and solid diner, go there to experience the atmosphere of the old times of manufacturing that have long past in Trenton.

While visiting relatives in Trenton, had breakfast on Thursday with 2 seniors and they asked me to take them back on Friday. Excellent non-​stop coffee, large portions, and very reasonable prices. Friendly locals make this a great spot to try when in the area.

Great food at a very reasonable price. I have been here for breakfast lunch and diner several times and never had a bad meal. The service is always very good as well. The stuffed chicken cordon bleu is the best!

It is rare for me to visit a diner, and even rarer for me to say that I’m a fan. But I will acquiesce to Pat’s. This spot has been in operation in this same location for at least 70 years. Truly an achievement in this day and age. I have probably only dined here 3 times, today being the most recent. Each time I left satisfied and bewildered as to how the prices can be so low. Today for example, a 3 course lunch was $ 8 and change, non alcoholic beverage included. Portion size was large, so much so that my senior dining companion took half of his home. We both had different fish dishes, and both were easily worth the cost. It is easy to see how this restaurant makes and keeps loyal customers. My next visit here will probably be for a breakfast, and I am sure that after the meal I will still be a fan.

wow!!! where do i began… drove from scranton pa… how in hell can you put the seafood combo on the table for that price??? that was «AWESOME» we’ll be back!!! and the staff is very friendly… christina is one great person her & priscilla hit it off «GRAND» fellow country men!!! christina thank you for making us feel so welcome… see you thursday… the bread is heavenly…

I’ve been back about 4 more times, twice for dinner and twice for breakfast. I have yet to have a bad meal or service. The waitresses are super friendly and attentive.

Great Breakfast but not really thrilled about their dinners and are a bit pricey for grade «B» diner food. Always is busy every time I go and mostly because the waiter/​waitresses are very outgoing & friendly

Before diners had their own shows on cable TV, and even before we had «themed» diners in NJ selling semi-​upscale food, there were many, many local diners like Pat’s. No frills, no cocktails, no sushi bar, nothing with truffle oil — just good basic food at very reasonable prices. You want to pig out on breakfast with a friend for under $ 20, incl tip? Pat’s is your place. And you never have to ask for coffee refills, because they just keep coming until you say «no mas».

Pretty decent food. Portions are big and staff quite friendly. There’s a parking lot at the back of the diner.

Easily the best diner in the area. Huge portions that taste great.

Don’t know what’s more amazing: how reasonable my delicious Athenian chicken lunch was, or how huge the piece of cherry pie that was included in the price. When in south Trenton, you cannot beat lunch Pat’s for quality, service and value.