Diners are famous for long hours and vast menus that cover countless cultures and multiple meals — in a way, they defy time and space. There is no wrong order at a New Jersey diner, per se, but there are some questionable decisions to be made while seated in a cozy — fine, sticky — vinyl booth. And you order can be very telling. That’s where we come in. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jersey City-based comedian Nick Fierro to analyze what your diner order says about you. From classics like turkey clubs, omelettes and coffee to more adventurous orders like seafood and eggs Benedict, Jersey's Best Podcast has a breakdown for it all. Then Nick is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, diner order edition.

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This week, Jersey’s Best Podcast is paying homage to one of New Jersey’s greatest actresses.  A Golden Globe winner. An Emmy winner. An Oscar winner. Most importantly, a native of Millburn, New Jersey — that’s right people, this is the Anne Hathaway episode! There's really no bad time to talk about Mrs. Hathaway. But this is the perfect time, because 2026 is shaping up to be a hell of a year for the pride of Millburn High School. She has five movies coming out this year, including "The Devil Wears Prada 2" which hits theaters on Friday. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by New Jersey pop culture obsessive and Anne Hathaway expert Tom Gawronski to break down Anne Hathaway's career, what makes her such a star, watching "The Devil Wears Prada" in 2026 and finally erecting the Anne Hathaway Mount Rushmore. Then Tom is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Jersey movie edition!

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Episode artwork: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images | Canva illustration

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It’s always been hard to operate a restaurant in New Jersey. But in 2026? It's damn near impossible. The COVID-19 pandemic rocked the industry to the core — and in many ways it never recovered. With everything becoming more expensive in 2026 as inflation spikes prices, dining habits are changing across the board. NJ.com food and culture reporter Lauren Musni just documented this in her story on how middle-class dining is disappearing in New Jersey. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Laura Brahn, owner of Cardinal Provisions in Asbury Park and Mabel in Holmdel, who was quoted in the story. Jeremy and Laura break down the post-COVID dining landscape, why middle-class restaurants are taking the brunt of the crisis, why chain restaurants are thriving and why owning a restaurant is so hard in general. Then Laura is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, restaurant-owner edition!

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This week Jersey’s Best Podcast is getting on my NERVES. Because while we spend most episodes detailing the spectacular, bizarre and beautiful aspects of life in the Garden State, this week we’re breaking down the sometimes annoying components of being a New Jerseyan. That’s right, I’m talking about Garden State pet peeves.  For all this state’s beauty and wonder, living in the most densely populated does have its drawbacks. Stressful and frustrating moments are simply part of everyday life in New Jersey, engrained in our daily routine — ironically, they often happen in the places we love the most! Restaurants. Beaches. Highways. Okay, we don’t always love highways, but you get the point. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture reporter Chris Burch to break down what really grinds their gears in the Garden State. From drivers obeying the speed limit on the Garden State Parkway and Central Jersey drivers to restaurants that pretend they're in New York and Bruce Springsteen fans who don't pay attention to his lyrics, the complaints run the gamut. Then Jeremy and Chris update NJ.com's best cheesesteak list, including yet another steak taste test.

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Jersey’s Best Podcast is taking you out to the ballgame! Baseball season is here — and even though New Jersey doesn’t have any Major League Baseball teams, the state is deeply connected to our nation’s pastime. The first officially recorded baseball game in United States history took place in Hoboken. New Jersey was also a major hub for the Negro Leagues, with iconic teams like the Newark Eagles and historic venues like Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson calling the Garden State home. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Dave Kaplan, the founding director of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center and lead consultant for the Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium to discuss if baseball was technically invented in New Jersey, how multiple trailblazing baseball moments happened in the Garden State and longtime New Jersey resident Yogi Berra’s Yankee legacy. Then Dave goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Jersey baseball edition!

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Jersey's Best Podcast is officially one year old, and to celebrate we took over Pet Shop in Jersey City for our first-ever live show! Jersey's Best Podcast's First Birthday Party was an absolute blast — and if you couldn't make it, now you can listen to it! Host Jeremy Schneider was joined by Jersey City comedian and frequent JBP guest Nick Fierro to discuss the 11 weirdos you meet in New Jersey before welcoming the Statue of Liberty to the podcast to discuss her New Jersey roots, what it's like living in the Hudson River and if she listens to Bruce Springsteen on Liberty Island. Then party guests gave us their Garden State hot takes — including why New Jersey should take back Staten Island, why breakfast sandwiches don't need saltpepperketchup and which team jilted New Jersey Nets fans should root for.

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Concert season is rapidly approaching in the Garden State — and there are few better experiences in New Jersey than going to a concert at one of our myriad music venues. From massive stages like MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, Prudential Center in Newark and PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel to more intimate spots like The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, White Eagle Hall in Jersey City and Crossroads in Garwood, New Jersey’s venues truly run the gamut. Host Jeremy Schneider is once again joined by NJ.com music master Bobby Olivier to talk about why live music is so ingrained in New Jersey's DNA, break down the 11 best music venues in the state and reminisce about the now-closed concert spaces we miss the most. Then Bobby goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, concert venue edition!

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Here on Jersey’s Best Podcast and at NJ.com, we are devoted year-round to highlighting New Jersey's exceedingly diverse food and dining scene. But with March being Women’s History Month, we wanted to spend an episode specifically on not just female chefs, but female chefs making arguably New Jersey’s favorite food — pizza! There are thousands of pizzerias in New Jersey and hundreds of thousands of pizza-makers across the country. And according to job search platform Zippia, less than 40% of them are female. But there are women pizza chefs across the Garden State not just making some of New Jersey’s best pizzas, but pushing to dispel the notion that pizza-making is only for men. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture writer Lauren Musni to discuss her upcoming story on the women of New Jersey pizza. Listen in as they break down the obstacles some of New Jersey’s top pizza chefs have overcome to make some of the Garden State’s top pies. Then Lauren is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, pizza edition!  

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The 98th annual Academy Awards are this Sunday. And while they’re taking place 3,000 miles away across the country in Los Angeles, Jersey’s impact will be felt all the way in Hollywood. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Men’s Health culture editor and New Jersey native Evan Romano to discuss if Newark native Michael B. Jordan’s chances at Best Actor for his role in “Sinners,” why more and more movies are being filmed in the Garden State and what Netflix’s presence in the state means for the movie business and New Jersey.. Then Jeremy and Evan break down their Letterboxd Top 4 New Jersey movies before Evan is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, movie edition!  

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It’s time for March Madness! But we’re less interested in talking about college basketball and more worried about food. Even for non-basketball fans, filling out a bracket is incredibly fun. Which is why we’re taking all of New Jersey’s best foods, and putting them in a bracket to decide the Garden State’s culinary king. After days of consideration (and years of eating across New Jersey) we built a bracket featuring 64 of New Jersey’s most beloved and iconic foods. These aren’t specific restaurants being considered but rather dishes that are found throughout the Garden State. We broke them down into four regions — Italian, New Jersey classics, sweet treats and international foods. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Mike Bergemann, owner of revered pizzeria Corner Slice in Maplewood, to fill out the bracket while discussing the glory of Texas wieners, if cannolis are overrated, which type of pizza reigns supreme, the proper way to serve a chicken parm and more before crowning a Jersey Food Madness champion! Then Mike goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, Jersey Food Madness edition!

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