I grew up in northern New Jersey and there are many things I love and miss about living up north, and especially in NJ. To me the seasons can’t be beat (and yes I don’t mind the cold or snow and ice), and it seems that in comparison FL is a “cookie-cutter” state, nothing seems to have character or that unique feel. For example, let’s discuss the aspect of unique eateries – in NJ I was lucky enough to fall in love with two unique eateries.
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First, let’s discuss some late night eating (and no I won’t even go into real diners) – picture yourself at Rutgers University late one evening, perhaps you have enjoyed the company of good friends and cheap beer and are now hungry. What would finish that night off better than some cheap greasy food (most likely to be fried) on the cheap and stuffed on a sub roll and into a paper bag? That brings me to my first unique eatery – the RU Grease Trucks!
The Grease Trucks are a group of food truck eateries that are located close to the Greek houses off of College 
Ave and Hamilton St next to the university faculty parking lot. Come around midnight on a Friday or Saturday night and you will have a hard time missing it, it’s the place with hundreds of young college kids standing in the parking lot. What could be so good that hundreds of people would stand outside waiting in line and then eating the food they just ordered? How about the “Fat Darrel” (named best sandwich in the country by Maxim Magazine in 2004)? In my opinion you haven’t ate a sandwich until you have had one that was created with the following ingredients: chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, French fries, and marinara sauce all on a sub roll and stuffed into a brown paper bag. Sure, the place isn’t five stars, but its five bucks and just what the doctor ordered for a young struggling college student on a budget, which is how the story all begins if you want to get a little history on it. Sure, I am sure there are some readers that are having heart palpitations thinking about how unhealthy the sandwich is for you, but mark me down for one, it’s just one of those things I guess.
Next let me go over something that is hard to find outside of Northeastern New Jersey – the Italian Hot Dog. A 
few places make the sandwich; I happen to like the West Orange location of Jimmy Buff’s, but you can get the sandwich at other places including Dickie Dee’s in Newark. The sandwich is pretty simple, yet something about it is hard to duplicate or not even willing to be attempted at other eateries. Ingredients include: hot dog(s) (specifically Best’s beef franks 8 dogs per 1lb), fried peppers, onions, and potatoes (sliced in some places, chunked in others and a few are rumored to use French fries –ugh) cooked in soy based oil. Some places use a deep fryer, others use a huge stainless steel deep (slanted to be deeper on one end) griddle or pan type equipment. They have doubles – which is two hot dogs or singles (for the weak hearted) which has just one hot dog. The key to the sandwich is the pizza bread roll it is served on – get it with mustard and ketchup if you want to have it “all the way”. I have been to pizzerias and suggested they attempt to make this sandwich and they look at me like I have two heads, I have attempted to make them at home using a plain sub roll, but it’s just not the same – if you are ever in Northern NJ make a stop at one of the following eateries and have one yourself – you will understand just what I mean.
Jimmy Buff’s
60 Washington Street
West Orange, NJ 07052
Dickie Dee’s
380 Bloomfield Ave
Newark, NJ 07107
Sure there are other places that offer them, but if you ask me – those are the two premier joints to get your first taste. Also, if you are ever in attendance of a NJ Devils NHL hockey game – be sure to check out the Jimmy Buff’s location in the Upper Concourse Section 118.
So there you have it, I am a simple guy from NJ that enjoys eating sandwiches that would no doubt provide a nice retirement fund for a cardiologist. You can keep your five star restaurants and Zagat guides at home, if you are in my hometown with me we will keep it unique and greasy! So let’s have it, where do you like to go in your area? Do any of your hometowns have unique eateries offering both great food and a fun one of a kind experience?