My husband and I are driving with my mother-in-law to Maine next weekend. She's been making this trip at least once a year for forever (she's originally from Maine). Her habit is to stop for lunch at the Clara Barton service center (mp 5?). Old habits die hard, but I am not looking forward to another bad turnpike meal.

Are there any good, quick and cheap lunch places anywhere in the area that I could suggest as an alternative? It has to be easy to get off and back on the Turnpike. We ususally reach Clara Barton around 11 am, so we could drive a little farther north, and eat alittle later, but I also wouldn't want to get too tied up with a busy lunch crowd.

(Bless this woman's soul -- when we make this trip we stop exactly three times between Richmond and Bath. Two 'pit stops' where we actually get out of the car, one of which is lunch, and then once again to fill the gas tank just before we leave NJ. She doesn't want to take the time to stop any more than that, and on a really good trip, it's 13 hours in the car! )

You're in luck. You should try Mastori's Diner in Bordentown. When you cross the Delaware Bridge, instead of getting on the Turnpike, take 295N, it runs parallel to the Turnpike and you can get back on after your meal without a hassle.

Follow 295N until you get to the RT 130N exit. Continue north for about 2 miles, and the diner is on the left. After you eat continue on 130N for a couple of miles until you reach 195 and take it east a couple of miles to get back on the turnpike.

Mastoris Diner-Restaurant - (609) 298-4650 - 144 Us Highway 130, Bordentown, NJ 08505.
Great Jersey diner. Fantastic food, great portions and the service is tops. The bakery is out of this world.

Yeh, I will second Mastori's. The food is very good. It's not the cheapest place on the planet but most things are under 12 bucks.

Please, just don't eat at a Roy Rogers.

We stop at Exit 5, which has a Cracker Barrel and a Charlie Brown's. I like CB's salad bar.

Don't know which ones they are in, but the rest stops that have the BBQ places are edible, way better then roy's, though they close quite early.

To me, Nathan's Hot Dogs are almost sacred.

They are available at 5 rest stops on the Turnpike:

Near Exit 7A

Near Milepost 60

Near Exit 17

Near Mile Post 92

One other but I am not certain exactly where it is.

You are taking your mother in law to Maine.....how wonderful! :-:

That said, when you cross the Delaware Memorial Bridge into New Jersey, instead of getting on the Turnpike right away, take 295 North instead. You can drive this about 50 miles north to the McGuire Airforce base exit where you can get to the Turnpike easily. You'll see the signs for the NJT as well. By driving on 295, you'll hit less traffic and have more exits from which you can choose restaurants.

CBs? Which?

I am reminded of the Charlie Brown Valentine Day cartoon, where no one is giving a valentine to Charlie Brown. The little red-headed girl (I think -- maybe it was Lucy) drops a valentine on the ground labeled to "C.B." Charlie Brown picks it up and gives it back to her, saying you don't want to lose THIS one, surely whoever it's for will REALLY want it, etc. etc. To which the girl says, "yes, Craig Bauerman would be very disappointed."

"Cracker Barrel" Homophobic and racist restaurant.