Just for fun, I randomly asked about 10 people on the streets of Jersey City where I could find a diner. Almost all of them told me about “that diner over on Sip Avenue.” Of course, I already knew what the consensus would be since V.I.P. Diner is the most popular diner in Jersey City.

V.I.P. Diner has even garnered the attention of a certain HBO mob show from the past. One late night, a few years ago, I was driving home and saw a familiar face sitting in one of the window seats, chatting away at a woman sitting across from him. It was Michael Imperioli, who played Christoper Moltisanti on the Sopranos. And sure enough, some months later, that scene briefly appeared on the show.

So, why is V.I.P. Diner so popular? Many reasons…For one, it’s quite spacious, which makes it great for large groups of people. When you first walk in, you see the usual trappings of a diner: a long marble counter with swivel seats, squishy booths, and mini jukeboxes on the tables. Then off to the right, there is another large dining section that has a darker, nightclub-ish feel to it. Most likely, that part of the building was added much later.

Another reason to love V.I.P. Diner is that it’s open 24-hours. If you wake up ravenous at 3am, you can simply stroll over and choose from an extensive menu, offering just about anything you could possibly ever want to eat: breakfast, burgers, pizza, steak, sandwiches, soups, and on and on. The desserts are fresh and baked daily on the premises. The beverages and food portions are oversized, which is typical of most American-style restaurants, so I can’t imagine anyone ever leaving this place still hungry.

V.I.P. Diner

174 Sip Avenue

201.792.1400