Good eats and a good time, right around here

April 12, 9:08 PMNewark City Buzz ExaminerWalter H. Allen

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Alton, Junior, the writer, Ronnie (seated) and Preston (Don has the camera) at The Grill.

Whaddaya' get when you put six hungry men together at a table with large, flat screens all over the place, in an energetic atmosphere just a short ride from downtown Newark? You get a lotta' laughs, and a simple, fun night out. Where?

Old- timers used to call the place "Willie's." Today, the refurbished diner (Jersey's famous for 'em) operates as a really fine restaurant under the banner "The State Street Grill" at the same location, in Bloomfield Center (you figured out it's on State Street in Bloomfield, right?). Walls that used to divide the room into two sections are gone. Now, there's one main dining room that on the night we were there, was filled to the brim. Our party of six waited about 15 minutes to be seated.

"The Crew" (as Donnie put it) stopped in for some grub one recent evening and came away pretty pleased (except for poor Don -- he never got to eat). Ronnie had a broiled seafood combination that wasn't there when he was finished (meaning he ate the whole thing). Preston had a Shrimp/Chicken Parmesan and linguine deal that looked pretty good to me, (judging by the way he inhaled the plate). Alton had the Blackened Salmon fillet. Junior threw back the classic Cheeseburger Deluxe (a dig sucker, too) and I had the Jersey diner specialty, breakfast. At 9:30. PM.

Generally, we had a good time, and The Grill isn't hurting for business. The seafood combo was the most expensive item at our table, but no one was broke when we left. The setting included families with small babies and tables of friends and acquaintances everywhere. I mentioned Don didn't eat, though.

He ordered a steak cooked medium well, but it came out well done. He sent it back. By the time the rest of us were done eating, Don's steak still hadn't come out. I don't know if this is a common mistake in the restaurant industry, but the manager did fess up that Don's medium well went to the wrong table. Still, I'm guessing we'll be back there again, for some good food, reasonable prices and a great environment.