George’s Family Restaurant Opens In Pitman, Bringing a 50+ Year Diner History

George’s Family Restaurant has opened in Pitman NJ, taking over a free-standing building across from Alcyon Lake… offering a smalltown diner cafe experience with a large menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Located at 466 W Holly Ave, the building was previously home to a Mediterranean restaurant, and over the prior years was a variety of pizza shops and delis.

I stopped in today to catch up with owner George who has a 50+ year career in the South Jersey diner industry, which has had him owning and operating diners in Deptford, Collingswood, Rio Grande and more!

George realized retirement wasn’t the thing for him, and wanting to stay busy took over the cozy restaurant space which seats about 30 people.

Closed on Tuesday, they are open the rest of the week 7am to 9pm! (Hours may adjust due to customer feedback)

The 1940s era building sits in the center of the paved lot, with parking around the perimeter.

Inside the restaurant, George’s Family Restaurant offers a smalltown comfortable dining experience with tables seating two and four persons (can be combined). Everything is updated… but yet it still has that small town “local café” vibe… it just feels like George’s has been a thriving part of the community for years!

George’s is the kind of restaurant that the kids and families will feel at home in, but if you bring Grandma in for Sunday breakfast, she’s going to fall in love with the place!

The menu at George’s is somewhat extensive especially considering it’s not a full size diner.

The day starts off with a breakfast menu including three egg omelets, breakfast sandwiches and griddle items such as pancakes and Belgian waffles.

More casual lunch items include delicious 8 oz burgers, a variety of George’s famous hoagies, grilled and Italian sandwiches including chicken cutlets and Italian sausages… and of course cheesesteaks!

While it seems the entire menu is available all day, larger entree portions for a evening dinner include Roasted California Turkey, New York Strip Steak, Breaded Chicken Cutlet Parmesan and even a selection of seafood items including Golden Fried Flounder.

I asked George what were some of his recommended dishes were and he went true classic South Jersey diner by suggesting the French Dip and Monte Cristo sandwiches… as well as the Greek Gyro Platter.

For my lunchtime visit I went with something from the daily special menu, a meatball parmesan sandwich with fries. Delicious house-made meatballs with marinara… and without prompting our server provided a extra portion of marinara to add in if I chose.

George is using Deluxe bakery for the rolls and it was an incredibly fresh and soft roll, perfect match for his seasoned meatballs and mozzarella. Delicious!

They even have you covered for dessert… ice cream and milkshakes, cakes and pastries… and of course freshly brewed coffee!

For those that have been visiting South Jersey diners for decades, George shared with me his very interesting history which starts with the Deptford Diner in the New Sharon section of Deptford!

Today the property on Delsea Drive where his original diner stood is now a convenience store (was developed as a Wawa).

He also owned the Four Seasons Diner at the Collingswood Circle for 20 years, where he found a following with Vietnam Veterans who would regularly visit him.

Later on George took over a diner in Rio Grande… also calling it the Four Seasons. Sadly in 2013 the Rio Grande Four Seasons Diner experienced a devastating fire.

While I did not fully catch what George has been up to for the last 12 years or so… he said he is not a man who can simply relax around the house and was eager to get back into the restaurant business… and Pitman is luck he chose the quaint town as home for his George’s Family Restaurant.

I enjoyed my visit chatting with George, server Kristin and the rest of the team.. I’ll be back soon!