Tony's Freehold Grill: Classic Main Street Charm With A New Menu

FREEHOLD, NJ — The name on the sign of Tony's Freehold Grill maintains the legacy of the family who founded the Monmouth County business decades ago. While the diner still touts the same classic look as yesteryear, more recent changes in management has brought a new life to the Main Street favorite.

For starters, the menu now includes choices like breakfast quesadillas and they have become a favorite.

"People love them," said Fernando Bravo, 41, current owner of the diner.

Costumers can also now choose from a variety of over 60 omelets and even order breakfast pizza.

Almost two decades have passed since Bravo started working at the diner — first washing dishes and then eventually moving to line cook. About four years ago, Tom Iliadis (son of the founder Anthony Iliadis) let him take over the reins.

"I got a proposal from somebody else to open a restaurant in Pennsylvania," Bravo recalled.

Instead of taking it, he went to Tom and suggested they make an arrangement so that we could start running the business.

"I think he trusts me, more than anything, and let me go free and do my own thing. For many years I worked for him," Bravo said.

Iliadis still owns the property where the diner stands and a house next to it.

Anyone who steps into the diner will be met with the portrait of Bruce Springsteen. Bravo has grown used to seeing the rockstar come in once in a while — "maybe three times a year."

"That makes people excited," Bravo said. "That's the main conversation when people come over here."

Like many businesses, the diner is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The last year is a terrible situation. We're trying to survive, this is a tough time for restaurants," Bravo said. "Now it's going better, but it's not the way we wish — let's say 60 percent better than before... I'm not complaining, because I'm glad with whatever I have."