Category Archives: Restaurants

The Red Hen – Swedesboro, NJ

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

The Red Hen – Swedesboro, NJ

Once you travel outside the cities of Philadelphia, Collingswood, and Haddonfield, which I call the Triangle of Tasty, the list of notable dining destinations seems to dwindle quite considerably. I decided to take a trip to the historic town of Swedesboro, New Jersey for some fun at the beautiful Swedesboro Lake Park also known as Lake Narraticon Park and a bit of shopping along the main street.  After an afternoon of fun, the need to eat hit. I saw The Red Hen (TRH) and remember hearing of a new spot called Travo 13 when Terence Feury was cooking there, but TRH looked much more appealing with my two year old son in tow and advertised as a family friendly establishment, so I decided to give them a try. Family friendly TRH is indeed. Besides the bar area, eighty percent of the diners present had a family in tow, games and toys for purchase as soon as you step inside and kids eat free Monday thru Thursday. The décor is modern, hip and fun with the right mix of music playing. Service was friendly and efficient. The menu is a bit eclectic and they have a very nice craft beer selection. I would start things out with French Onion Soup.

The French Onion Soup was your standard variety and better than average, with a nice amount of cheese and bread throughout the bowl, but the onions could have been caramelized a little more. Next up would be calamari.

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TRH would serve one of the better calamari dishes I have had in a long time. The calamari was so fresh, moist and cooked perfectly. Every bite was heavenly and was seasoned with Parmesan, pickled hot pepper, and lemon aioli. This dish alone paired with the Shock Top Banana Spiced Wheat beer I was drinking, I could leave TRH happy, but I pushed through for an entrée of grilled shrimp.

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The dish consisted of shrimp marinated in a light teriyaki, lime and chili sauce accompanied with fresh summer vegetables. The dish had a great concept and flavor profile, but was executed terribly. The taste of sauce and rub on the shrimp was fabulous, but sadly the shrimp were so overcooked I could have used them as bouncy balls. The veggies were overcooked as well. The broccoli had no snap, while the squash and peppers were mush. Also, besides the top layer of broccoli, squash and peppers the rest of the pile was onions, onions, and more onions not cooked well. I can see where they were going with this dish and respected the combination except for the amount of onions, but was very disappointed after eating the perfectly prepared calamari.

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TRH had a bump in the road with my main entrée, but I was so pleased with every other aspect of service, ambiance, menu, drinks, and meal, I will happily return. Hopefully next time they will just be a little more careful to pay attention to what they are serving for each course. Two out of three ain’t bad, but the with the shrimp dish it made them go from OMG to SMH IDK.

Overall

Three out of Five Stars

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Cameron’s Seafood Market – Philadelphia, PA (Broad Street Location)

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

2015-01-22_12-41-17_414Cameron’s Seafood Market – Philadelphia, PA (Broad Street Location)

Seafood is by far one of my favorite categories of food. It has so much variety and flavor. Yet it is probably the most ruined type of food around by poor execution, lack of freshness, and most times small portions due to its high costs. With a few locations in Maryland and two in Philadelphia, I decided to give Cameron’s Seafood Market’s (CSM) Broad Street location a try. As soon as you step inside CSM you are welcomed with a beautiful array of fresh looking seafood with decent prices on display in ice at the tiny market section of their store. I did not want to cook myself, so I decided to order a bowl of lobster bisque, fried scallops and shrimp, with a side of fries at the restaurant side of things.

As dreamy and wonderful as the market seemed, those few steps away into the restaurant side was more of a nightmare with what I was served.  The lobster bisque lacked any sort of flavor except salt, extremely thick and pasty, did not seem fresh at all, and I have had better lobster bisque come out of a can from my local supermarket. The scallops were beyond over cooked, dripping with grease, and were so rubbery they would have been better suited to be a child’s bouncy ball then anything resembling something to eat. The shrimp were of decent size, but were overcooked as well causing them to be dry. Also, the stiff and tasteless breading was three times the size of the shrimp negating anything the shrimp could have offered if they were cooked properly. To add injury to insult, CSM then threw double-breaded fries to my meal, which everyone already knows my feelings on this atrocity done to potates and is the bottom of the barrel French fry with the only reason to buy them is because you are cheap and worried about your bottom line.

Would I ever go back to CSM? Never to eat, but the market did look nice and service was friendly so at least that had that going for them.

Overall

One Star out of Five

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Woksabi – Collingswood, NJ

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Woksabi – Collingswood, NJ

The streets of Collingswood are always a treat to stroll with all of their fun shops and eateries. I happened to be there around lunch time and happened to be right in front of Woksabi  (WOK) which I had never been to before. The interior of WOK is very nice and set me at ease with a relaxing vibe that was felt immediately. They had a decent sized crowd for lunch, but everyone seemed to be on a Zen level as it appeared you could hear a pin drop it as it was that peaceful in there. The order of the day would be their sushi lunch platter.

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The presentation of the lunch was quite appealing, everything I had to eat had a nice quality and freshness to it, and to top it all off it was very affordable. The service was attentive and friendly and I would definitely recommend giving WOK a try for a decent sushi lunch. WOK caught me by surprise, but they will be in thoughts for another visit and to try a wider array of their offerings next time. They did the basics well and have gained a fan.

Overall

Four out of Five Stars

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George’s Famous Roast Pork and Beef – George’s Luncheonette – Italian Market – 1007 S 9th Street – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

George’s Famous Roast Pork and Beef – George’s Luncheonette – Italian Market – 1007 S 9th Street – Philadelphia, PA

This is one of the few times I have to be very specific where I ate since this one block of the Italian Market has two of same named spots. George’s Famous Roast Pork and Beef – George’s Luncheonette (GFR) which is the one I went to and George’s Sandwich Shop up the other end of the street. GFR is a no frills, old school, but my kind service place. They do not mess around with any modern trends, deal with cash only, and has a charm that the Italian Market is losing every day. I would go with the pork sandwich with provolone.

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The pork was chopped nicely, sat in a nice gravy, just the right amount of cheese, and the roll did the job quite nicely. The pork was fresh and all the tasty fatty parts were included, which is the way all pork sandwiches should be served.

I like atmosphere in GFR, even though it is extremely dated and worn down. I just miss this kind of neighborhood eatery which was very common in my youth growing up in Philadelphia, but is going the way of newspapers and corded telephones. You are not going to get gourmet at GFR, but you will be nostalgic for the past when you are done eating.

Overall

Three Stars out of Five

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Don Peppe’s – Ozone Park, NY

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Don Peppe’s – Ozone Park, NY

With windows on the outside tinted completely dark, it took the “open” and “cash only” signs in the window to convince to even try to see if the door was unlocked. The door opened and after stepping into the actual restaurant I was transported to a quasi-Godfather/horse racing mecca mix called Don Peppe’s (DP). I was seated and instead of being given a menu or told about specials, all you have to do is look at the back wall as DP’s menu is hanging there and does not change daily. In this day and age, you have to have pretty good stuff not to have a rotating or seasonal menu. DP certainly played the part in ambiance, but it is the food that matters to me. The waiter was polite, but stoic. Friendly, but someone I would not want to get on their bad side. Absent at times, but always showing up exactly when needed or expected. I would start things out with their stuffed mushrooms.

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These were no ordinary stuffed mushrooms. They were fresh, gigantic, flavorful, and meaty. Cooked just right and juicy throughout I really liked them and one of the better stuffed mushrooms I have had. I think I would die and go to heaven if they ever thought of adding a little lump crab meat to these gems. Next up would be fettuccine al prosciutto

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This dish would be amazing. The nice pieces of prosciutto floating throughout added a beautiful salty punch to a nice sweet tomato sauce with pasta that was spot on. I have never had fettuccine al prosciutto and will be on the lookout for this in the future, but whoever serves it to me with have a high standard to live up to. As if that was not enough, next would be a dish of chicken lemon and butter.

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What sounded like a possible plain platter ended being a highlight of the night. The chicken served to me was cooked perfectly and sautéed in a lemon and butter sauce that I soaked up each and every drop of with the Italian bread provided. The chicken was just the right size as it was not too thick or thin and was able to cut through each piece with just my fork. I was stuffed, but left just enough room for dessert. I would get the pistachio Tartufo.

The dessert consisted of a ball of ice cream with pistachios and covered in a delicious chocolate shell. It was the perfect way to end a perfect meal in each and every way. DP provided an Italian meal that excited me from start to finish and did not miss a beat. DP is said to have strong ties to the mob, but as I stated early on, all I care about is the food and I will call anyone that eats at DP a wiseguy for knowing where good Italian food is.

Overall

Five out of Five Stars

 

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Banh Mi Cali – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Bluejeanfood
Banh Mi Cali – Philadelphia, PA
Sitting on the corner of 9th and Arch Streets is Banh Mi Cali (BMC). The interior of BMC is the size of a walk-in closet, but has an unmeasurable charm. The service was very friendly and homely. I would go with an order of Bbq pork with crispy onions, steamed white rice, fresh veggies, spring rolls, and Vietnamese yogurt.
bahn mi
The sauce was sweet and tangy, pork sliced thin with a decent amount in the platter, and rice was nice. The spring roll was better than most places, but have had better. The yogurt was slightly below average flavor wise, but everything was very tasty and fresh. They offer quite a nice variety of menu items and I would glady give BMC another visit.

Overall

Three and Half Stars

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Steve’s Prince of Steaks – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Steve’s Prince of Steaks – Philadelphia, PA

The word Philadelphia to many people around the world just means to them cheesesteak. They may not know where in America Philadelphia is or its history, because to them, all we are is just a cheesesteak. I know this for a fact by the many people around the world I have met. The only thing they know about where I am from is this sandwich. With this being said, competition is tight and everyone claims to have the best cheesesteak. Strolling around City Hall one day had me stop by Steve’s Prince of Steaks (SPS). I found the name to be amusing, as you would assume they would want to be king, but who I am to argue. The interior is a basic as it comes, crowded the day I visited, and music was loud.

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I would go with a cheesesteak with fried onions, mushrooms, and American cheese with an order of spicy fries. The one thing that threw me for a whirl were the different windows to order sandwiches and French fries. I ordered my sandwich and then had to wait in line again to get fries. This caused my steak to be called first and then had to wait a few minutes longer for my fries. Why not just have one order and pick-up window. As far as the meal went,  the meat was sliced not chopped and a decent serving size was given. It was a tad thick and had a chewy spot or too, but for the most part the meat was nice. The roll did not stand up well though. It got pretty soggy, pretty fast and started to fall apart causing the meat to fall out of the bottom. The fries were cooked nicely,  seasoned well, and were good. Just not great.

SPS was better than average, but by far not the best around Philly. With this being said, I guess being a Prince is not a bad position to be in a city with such high standards for cheesesteaks. The search for a King continues.

Overall

Two and half out of Five Stars

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Bites of Brigantine

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Bites of Brigantine

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I was fortunate enough to stay in an oceanfront suite in the tiny town of Brigantine, New Jersey with my two year old son for a few days. I really enjoyed their pristine beaches and figured what better way to find out about a town then to eat my way around it. Each stop had not only my critiques, but also my son’s as well. This is why you see two entrees in each picture. It was my first visit to this tiny beach destination and I have a feeling after enjoying my time there, it will not be my last.

 

Yuki Hana

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They claim “Best Food in Town” on their menu. I wouldn’t go that far. What they did provide was better than average “Americanized Chinese Food”, a cozy dining atmosphere, very friendly service and a really nice looking sushi bar that I would not mind to try the next time I stop in.

 

The Pirate’s Den

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Very eclectic with decorations from a variety of different themes. The place is dated, but has that nostalgic dining beachy feel to it that resonates warmly in my heart from my youth. They served a really great breakfast. A for sale sign outside the restaurant so they may not be there much longer, which would be a sad day in my opinion.

 

Yianni’s Cafe

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The service here was outstanding. The food was slightly better than average and I liked the fresh fruit brought out for my son’s platter. They have the word “fresh” on their sign. I would have enjoyed the meal more if the fries were indeed fresh-cut fries and the roasted peppers in my sandwich not of the canned variety and fresh instead. Food was good, just not great.

 

Andres Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

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One of the worst meals I have been served in a long time. I should have known better and leave immediately when I asked if they had any specials for the night and the waitress told me that main chef who does the specials was not in yet even though it was five o’clock at night. I think they may not have had any chef at all back in the kitchen. I took a bite out of two different pieces of veal and they both literally tasted rotten. The only saving grace was that I was able to eat the mushrooms and sliced onions if that is any consolation for spending twenty some odd dollars on this dish. I was also able to eat the bread that they served with the meal. The bread was warm and perfect for soaking up the sauce that sadly did not seem homemade either. I am sure the server knew something was up with not a single piece of veal was eaten from the plate when she took it away.

 

Mad Dog Morgan’s

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One of the best retrofits of what looks like a former Wawa to me. Also, there must be something with breakfast joints and pirates on this island. Again another outstanding breakfast, with service that was just above and beyond personable and efficient. They even gave my son a little pirate cloth bag as a present for stopping by.

 

St. George’s Pub

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A really nice, tasty, and affordable lunch with a phenomenal clams casino appetizer. The clams casino wasn hands down a reason to drive down to Brigantine alone if they are this good every time there. The restaurant is connected to a bar that was hopping with patrons and music was pumping. If the little guy was not with me, I could see enjoying a decent meal with a couple cold adult beverages here.

 

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The Happy Rooster – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

The Happy Rooster – Philadelphia, PA

A person can become ravenously hungry while walking the streets of Philadelphia. When it strikes, it needs to be addressed. Such an event happened to me not so long ago and I took refuge at The Happy Rooster (HR) to quell my hunger. HR has a lot of character the minute you step inside which I like. I came for food though, not the ambiance or chit-chat. The food train would get rolling with an order of wings.

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They were called chicken wing confit in a maple bacon chili sauce. The wings were of decent size, but were slightly over cooked and chewy.  The sauce, while good for the first few bites, was much too overpowering in the sweet department. Maybe a little less maple and a little more chili would have helped. Next up was the rooster burger and hand cut fries.

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The rooster burger consisted of American cheese, bacon, caramelized onion puree, and a fried egg on top. Where HR fell flat in the wings, they picked the pace right up with the burger. Burger was cooked to perfection, bacon was beautifully crispy, caramelized onion puree was fantastical, and the egg was done just right to top it all off. The fries were nice as well, but a little on the dry side for my personal tastes.

roost fries

HR had its shares of ups and downs, but overall I was a Happy Rooster after my visit and able to go along with the rest of my day. A little more focus on the wings and fries, and HR could not just have a happy rooster, they could have the entire farm pleased.

Overall

Three out Five Stars

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Café V – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Café V – Philadelphia, PA

When you are looking for lunch, sometimes you end up in the most unexpected places. Café V fits that bill. One would assume they are just a coffee and tea destination, but they have quite the extensive breakfast and lunch menu as well. The interior is very nice, calm, and modern. I was warmly welcomed upon entering and ordered their version of a cheesesteak.

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Café V’s cheesesteak consisted of filet mignon, sautéed onions, and mild provolone. The roll had a nice texture and suited the sandwich perfectly. The steak was a little overdone, but the onions were cooked beautifully and plentiful with just the right amount of cheese.

As much as the sandwich stood out and was a decent price for the quality, there were a few bumps. First I was charged more than what the menu stated. I was informed I was accidently charged a delivery fee. Then even though I was the only person in Café V at the time, I waited thirty minutes for the sandwich to be brought out from the kitchen. With time frames like that it almost felt like I was waiting for a delivery. Café V is a nice café and if you have time to relax, sip a coffee or tea, and order food they may just the place you have been looking for.

Overall

Three out of Five Stars

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