The Jem is a 50's diner located in East Norriton, Pennsylvania. Our family-friendly atmosphere is fun and exciting for anyone who stops by for breakfast or lunch. Our 50's theme is fun, and our restaurant is filled with memorabilia from a bygone era to look at. Since 1974, we've served delicious burgers, club sandwiches, cheesesteaks, and hoagies for everyone to love and enjoy.
We also provide catering of our regular menu or specialty dishes for events with up to 100 guests. We require at least one week's notice for these orders. Linda worked at this diner when she was a teenager. Tony bought the restaurant in 1974, and they were later married and have run the diner together ever since.
We also provide catering of our regular menu or specialty dishes for events with up to 100 guests. We require at least one week's notice for these orders. Linda worked at this diner when she was a teenager. Tony bought the restaurant in 1974, and they were later married and have run the diner together ever since.
Services
We hope that you look around and find yourself taken back to another time, back to the "good old days" when "surfing" was done in the ocean and the "web" was something a spider built. Back to a time when there were no cell phones or electronic devices and friends and family had conversations with each other across the table.
Reviews (30)
Timothy Jenkins
Feb 01, 2022
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Had the opportunity to go have breakfast there over the weekend. Overall Jems food was amazing. Our only dissatisfaction was with the wait staff, our waitress was not very pleasant. Aside from her dirty appearance, she looked less than thrilled to be serving us. I understand everyone isn’t always having a good day. But we were drug into her life’s financial situation by overhearing her complaints about pay or lack there of and her personal health issues. This would deter me and my family from coming back again. food 5/5 service 1/5 ⭐️
Courtney Tomasello
Jan 26, 2022
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Stella L.
Jan 24, 2022
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Today, after a long winter's morning, I found myself near Jem Restaurant. I was cold, hungry, and longing for breakfast. However, nothing could have prepared me for the dining experience I was about to encounter. As I entered the first door, I felt a jolt of warm air and heard a loud hissing sound. Then, when I walked through the next door, I had to do a double take. I was greeted by black and white tile, vinyl booths and chairs, and the post-World War II era of optimism and family. I instantly felt out of place and was afraid the staff and other diners were about to catch that I was an outsider
C. Arena Dryslewski
Nov 17, 2021
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Last time I went there the place was filthy.I was given a cup of coffee with lipstick on it. The food was so awful I didn't eat it. The table was sticky along with the floor. When I sent the coffee and food back & just asked for just new coffee the next cup was just dirty. Don't know how they don't get shut down. AVOID THE PLACE. You get even less than you pay for...
Thomas Anderson
Nov 14, 2021
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The guy running this place is friendly, helpful and seemingly a good dude. He has the same problem all businesses do lately, which is good workers are hard to find and that's unfortunately who your customers have to deal with. I'd go here a 1000 times if his staff was at his level, the few I dealt with weren't.
Craig A. Baker Jr
Nov 02, 2021
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Ashley Wertz
Oct 30, 2021
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Daniel Urban
Oct 15, 2021
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This is the perfect breakfast nook. The best diner-style breakfast-lunch-brunch menu to suit all tastes. The classic bacon egg pancake coffee and hash brown options are there and they're delicious, no worries. The biggest charm of the place is Tony the owner who visits customers at the tables and chats with them about the history of the family owned and operated restaurant. The stories are very genuine and heartwarming. Tony's a storyteller with the food the keeps you coming back for both. I love supporting this local business and recommend it to anyone.
Greg
Sep 28, 2021
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Nina J.
Jul 07, 2021
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Travelling back to the 50's -- not only the décor or the setup, but the entire atmosphere, including the regulars sipping coffee and chat at the breakfast far. It's not pretentious, but the real deal.
Food is no fuss, well priced, delicious comfort food. All your traditional breakfast items, nothing fancy, nothing is more than $11. If you need some old fashioned, comfort family breakfast, this is the place.
Tony walks around the room and great all the guests. His kids are either cooking or waiting tables. There aren't many true family restaurants left in the area. It's comforting
Food is no fuss, well priced, delicious comfort food. All your traditional breakfast items, nothing fancy, nothing is more than $11. If you need some old fashioned, comfort family breakfast, this is the place.
Tony walks around the room and great all the guests. His kids are either cooking or waiting tables. There aren't many true family restaurants left in the area. It's comforting
Veronica E.
Jun 29, 2021
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Landed in PA at 7:00am and stopped by for an early breakfast on a Saturday morning. The dining room resembles an original 80's diner and has a family feel. The menu has a large variety of options, all traditional plates. The food came out promptly and tasted very consistent with what you would expect from a small town restaurant. Service was very friendly. The BEST part of my experience: the owner, Tony, stopped by each table and greeted the guests. We had a wonderful conversation and he shared how he started in the restaurant business. I'm from Los Angeles, and you just don't get
Josh R.
Feb 14, 2021
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Enjoyed this restaurant while on a mini vacation with friends. Staff were very kind and service was excellent. The owner was friendly and assured that your service was proper. Very happy we stopped in to this restaurant for breakfast. Prices are fair and portions are appropriate. Thank you to the staff for taking care of us!
Jessica J.
Nov 22, 2020
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Joe S.
Oct 15, 2020
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Scott L.
Sep 07, 2020
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Daniel W.
Jul 18, 2020
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Samantha Taggart
Jul 03, 2020
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We found this place while staying at the Hyatt hotel down the street. The food is really good, but they might not always get your order correct. They ignored my table after giving us drinks,not ordering for 20+ mins. I almost walked out. I am happy my boyfriend made us stay because the food was good. Also the place is really cute. I have been to a 1950's diner downtown Los Angeles. If only this place could have gotten my order correct it would probably be the closest thing to being at that dinner in LA.
Frank K.
Jun 03, 2020
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Paul E.
Feb 15, 2020
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Nicole U.
Feb 08, 2020
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It's in a strip mall, and looks a little cluttered when you walk in, but my Mommom always said you can judge a diner by the cars in the lot and the lot is always full. Good coffee, amazing bacon, love the "Fonz" and the "Elvis" (pro tip, order a side of hollandaise!) established for decades and loved by locals. The Phillies loving owner checks in with everyone to ensure they are enjoying their meals. A real "jem" if you will.
Adrian K.
Dec 31, 2019
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Mary Cresseveur-Reed
Nov 17, 2019
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Hannah K.
Oct 05, 2019
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I gave this place one star cause their home fries came out well done like I asked. When we walked in, the girl at the counter was on her phone and just said "anywhere that's cleaned and plated". Didn't even know she was talking to us cause she was looking at her phone. So we picked a table and ordered our food- Husband got a buffalo chicken cheesesteak with fries, and I got a Western omelette and added spinach in it. After what seemed like forever, our food finally came out. My husband's food tasted okay, but it was super runny with the juices coming out of the sandwich
Rob O.
Apr 21, 2019
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Gerald S.
Feb 10, 2019
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If mid 20th Century Archie & Veronica malt shops and Back to the Future big fin American road steel move your imagination, then Jem's Restaurant in East Norristown, PA, may be for you.
What from the outside looks like another shopping center fast food luncheonette constrained by its surroundings to be a boring food dealer, is in fact a real trip down memory lane. The joint is a museum of cultural artifacts from the early days of television, with large posters of Rebel Without a Cause, James Dean, and Seven Year Itch, Marilyn Monroe. Perhaps that's why the room was full with retirees
What from the outside looks like another shopping center fast food luncheonette constrained by its surroundings to be a boring food dealer, is in fact a real trip down memory lane. The joint is a museum of cultural artifacts from the early days of television, with large posters of Rebel Without a Cause, James Dean, and Seven Year Itch, Marilyn Monroe. Perhaps that's why the room was full with retirees
Mark M.
Jan 20, 2019
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4 star for not accepting credit cards and you seat yourself.
Besides that, you walk in and it's a jungle of old school nostalgic things on the walls, the smell of the grill and the noise of families enjoying their meals.
Sat ourselves, waitress was prompt with the booster seats for the kids. Had to wait a bit for our drinks but it was Saturday morning and the place was packed!!
Would have been nice with all the 1950s stuff to give the kids some crayons or something.
They have a kids menu which is nice. Kids got pancakes and sausage. Which I must say, the sausage links look incredible.
Besides that, you walk in and it's a jungle of old school nostalgic things on the walls, the smell of the grill and the noise of families enjoying their meals.
Sat ourselves, waitress was prompt with the booster seats for the kids. Had to wait a bit for our drinks but it was Saturday morning and the place was packed!!
Would have been nice with all the 1950s stuff to give the kids some crayons or something.
They have a kids menu which is nice. Kids got pancakes and sausage. Which I must say, the sausage links look incredible.
Daniel S.
Nov 28, 2018
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Dave H.
Oct 15, 2018
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I walked in and was able sit down right away. It was around 10 am on Sunday. Instead of getting just one cup of coffee, they leave a whole pot. I got the SOS, aka, cream chipped beef. It was great! Didn't get 5 stars since their shredded hash browns were not browned and crispy like you would normally expect from a diner. Super fast service at an affordable price. I would certainly go back.
Jake D.
Jun 06, 2018
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Jason L.
Oct 19, 2016
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A great small local breakfast restaurant that I have been missing out at. After I have been to Norristown for about a month now I went to the gym almost everyday next to the Gem Restaurant lol I didn't even realize it. Until today.
This place is very affordable and the food is amazing! I ordered one of the "Western Omelette" it taste excellent, I haven't have a good omelette restaurant I like since I left Seattle. The omelette is at the prefect temperature. Every bite you eat the white cheese just melt in your mouth with the prefect blend of green/red peppers to go with the
This place is very affordable and the food is amazing! I ordered one of the "Western Omelette" it taste excellent, I haven't have a good omelette restaurant I like since I left Seattle. The omelette is at the prefect temperature. Every bite you eat the white cheese just melt in your mouth with the prefect blend of green/red peppers to go with the
