Chain Restaurant That Hit the Spot

Applebee’s

108 Haddonfield Road

Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

www.applebees.com/

I had to go out to a client one day during the week in Cherry Hill, so my coworker and I stopped for lunch on our way back to the office. We decided on Applebee’s since it was close to where we were and they have pretty good lunch deals and food usually. I had not been to Applebee’s since I was in high school and we used to go for half price appetizers after golf practice, so I was interested to see what had changed.

I noticed that they were offering a new lunch deal, so I decided to get that. You get to choose two options from a list of 4 soups, 4 salads, and 4 sandwiches/pastas. I decided to have the tomato basil soup and the grilled shrimp and spinach salad.

I was very happy with my meal when it came out, and I was happy to see that Applebee’s had improved over the time that I had been absent from its dining room. The tomato basil soup was very well done. The soup had quite a bit of bite to it, and the acidic taste of the tomatoes was a welcome addition. The parmesan crisp on top of the soup went really well with each bite of the soup that I ate it with.

I was really happy with my choice of the salad as well. I chose it because I saw that it had a bacon vinaigrette and that sounded extremely interesting to me. It worked really well in the salad because it added a smoky and salty flavor to it all. I love spinach salads, so this was right up my alley. The toasted almonds and roasted red peppers paired perfectly with the succulent shrimp. Overall I thought that the salad was one of the better ones that I have had.

Applebee’s is a chain, and I know a lot of food people out there are going to say chain restaurants are crap, but I don’t agree with that. Chain restaurants don’t pretend to be anything that they are not, and they offer a lot of good items on their menus. Some may not be up to snuff, but many are, and I think they are great, affordable places where anyone can enjoy a good meal. Applebee’s is definitely one of the good ones, so enjoy it whenever you are looking for a well worth it meal. Cheers!

 

Fish Tacos by the Beach

Tiki Taco
13^th Street and Long Beach Boulevard

Beach Haven, NJ 08008

http://www.tikitaco.com/

One of my favorite things about the summer is that I get to eat at some of my favorite places. I have been spending summer weekends in LBI for about 18 years, and I lived there full time for a few summers as well. Over the course of that time I have found a ton of fantastic little places to eat around the Beach Haven area, one of those being Tiki Taco.

My cousin and his wife get tacos every time they come down from Tiki Taco. I have not been there as frequently, but I do get the same thing almost every time I go because they are so incredible. I always order the fish tacos, and I am only disappointed when they tell me they are out of them. Tiki Taco offers 5 or 6 different kinds of salsa, as well as all different kinds of taco combinations, burritos, and side dishes. There isn’t any seating inside, but they have picnic tables outside that you can enjoy your tacos at.

I have never had tacos so delicious. The fish seems to be either mahi mahi or cod, and it is deep fried for a few minutes. There are a few different sauces to choose from, but I always choose the chipotle lime sauce. Also added to the tacos is pickled cabbage and lettuce. The pickled cabbage is incredibly citrusy, and I love the flavor that it adds to these tacos. There are many different textures and flavors, and they all come together in perfection. The softness of the taco mixes perfectly with the crunchiness of the fried fish, and the creaminess of the sauce is cut with the vinegar taste of the cabbage and the spice of the chipotle.

I have never had fish tacos in Hawaii or California, but I know that these are the best fish tacos that I have ever had on the east coast. The other tacos I have had at Tiki are extremely good as well. I would love to see what they could do with a larger restaurant space, because they are doing a fantastic job now as it is. Don’t miss an opportunity to try the tacos at Tiki Taco if you make your way to LBI. Cheers!

Yet Another Ethnic Gem in Cherry Hill

Kuzina by Sofia

404 Route 70 West

Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

http://www.kuzinabysofia.com/

Usually when I go out to eat with the guys from work, we find it difficult to pick a place to eat. It isn’t because of a lack of good choices in the area in which we go out, there are plenty, but it is because we are all incredibly indecisive. One particular day, I manned up and chose a Greek restaurant, Kuzina by Sofia, near our favorite Korean stop. It was a place that I had wanted to try for a while because I thought that it looked very authentic and the menu had many of my favorite Greek dishes on it.

I was really torn between two menu items, one of which was a lamb philly cheesesteak, believe me I will be trying it the next time I go. The item I ordered was new to me, but it sounded very delicious when described by our waitress, so I decided to try it.

I ordered the soutzoukaki soulvaki; a traditional Greek football shaped meatball made with lamb and beef, cumin, cinnamon, and garlic. I believe that they are usually stewed in tomato sauce, but these particular soutzoukaki were not. They were simply grilled and served in a warm pita with tzatziki, red onion and tomatoes and a side of French fries. The meatballs were packed to the gills with flavor! That is one of the reasons I love Greek food. They use the ingredients in each dish perfectly to make the flavor burst out of each and every bite. Who knew that the meatballs that I grew up eating could be so different with just a few special touches?

The wrap was a great change from a traditional sandwich. Pita bread is always in a world of its own when it comes to sandwiches. Tatziki is creamy and flavorful, and adds the perfect complement to any Greek sandwich. The crunch offered by the red onion and the charred outside of the meatballs was a fantastic texture contrast to bring the dish together nicely. I usually do not think of French fries as a Greek side dish, but these fries were a nice touch. They were crispy and salty, and there was just the right amount of them to go with the soulvaki.

Kuzina by Sofia is yet another hidden spot that you should get out and try. I have only been there once, but if the rest of the menu items are as good as mine was during this particular visit, I feel safe recommending it to all of you. Cheers!

Unexpected Awesomeness

Cooperage Wine and Whiskey Bar
123 South 7^th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

cooperagephilly.com/

My favorite way to find a new restaurant is to have no intention of going out to eat, and then suddenly deciding to get something to eat and having a really great experience at the place. I had just taken a section of the CPA exam, and my girlfriend had gotten out earlier than expected from hers, so we decided to grab a quick lunch at the bar in the Curtis Center called Cooperage. I had been eyeing this place each and every time that I have been to the Curtis Center for my CPA exams, and I was very happy that I had the opportunity to try it.

The place was right up my alley. The menu looked phenomenal, and as soon as I walked into the bar, I could feel that it was my kind of place. The bar seemed awesome, the atmosphere was great, and did I mention that the menu is awesome? Haha I was so excited that they had a lunch special of half a soup or half a salad and half a sandwich. I decided on the soup of the day, the spicy pork tortilla, and the bbq pulled pork sandwich.

The water glasses at Cooperage were pretty awesome as well. It was served in a mason jar with a handle! The soup and the sandwich both came out at the same time. They also came with a side of coleslaw and potato chips. The soup was perfectly spicy and really well seasoned. The shredded pork was incredible in the broth, and the slightly soggy tortilla chip was a nice addition as well.

The pulled pork sandwich was in a world of its own. It had so much depth of flavor because of the simple yet variously diverse ingredients inside of it. The bread was brioche, soft and eggy. The pork had a bourbon barbeque sauce on it that made it sweet and tangy. The real kicker of the dish was the coleslaw. It was made with purple cabbage, and the dressing was incredible. I do not know what was in it, but it was perfect. I usually hate coleslaw, so to make me enjoy it as much as I did is a truly impressive feat.

Cooperage was really fantastic. I would go back in a heartbeat. The menu has so many different things on it that are super interesting. The new American design of the menu is incredible because so many of the dishes have been reinterpreted to offer a new feel. Check it out if you get the chance because it is really a hidden gem! Cheers!

Saturday Lunch in LBI

Tucker’s

101 South West Avenue

Beach Haven, NJ 08008

As I mentioned in my last post, there are but a few places in Beach Haven to eat that are any good, but I would consider Tucker’s one of them that I have mixed feelings about. Although I sometimes find the food a bit inconsistent, I have had enough good meals there to recommend it as a place to eat in Long Beach Island.

This particular visit came on a Saturday afternoon during Memorial Day weekend. A friend of mine from work and his brother met up with me and my girlfriend for lunch. We enjoyed a few beers while we waited for our food. I decided on a bowl of their baked potato soup because I am obsessed with potato soup and not many places offer it. We also shared some appetizers, mussels in a marinara sauce and steamed shrimp.

The mussels were delicious. I do not know how restaurants seem to make them so much better than I can at home, but they just seem meatier and more delicious when I order them while I am out. The broth was a little spicy and perfectly tomatoey. The shrimp were simply so-so. They were very plain and they did not taste too much like the old bay that they has sprinkled on their shells.

The baked potato soup turned out to be pretty good. My brother had recommended it to me (he is a bus boy there), and I was very happy that it turned out to be so good. It was rich and salty, creamy and fantastic. It had chunks of potatoes and bacon bits in each and every bite; it was a fantastic combination.

Tucker’s is worth a visit if you are in the Beach Haven area. They offer decent food, but they have really incredible desserts. They serve them in large dessert glasses, and each one that I have tried has been wonderful. Get out there and give it a try! Cheers!

 

Say Yes to This Flavor

Barry’s Do Me a Flavor

309 Centre Street

Beach Haven, NJ 08008

http://barrysdomeaflavor.com/Default.htm

My family has had a summer home in Beach Haven since I was about 5 years old. One of my favorite places to catch a quick bite is Barry’s Do Me a Flavor. I have been going there with my uncle for years because we love the food. This particular time I took my girlfriend so that I could show her how good it is.

They offer tons of great specials which change daily, and they really kill it on the ice cream. It was late when we got to the restaurant, so I ordered a little less food than I would have normally. I ordered a teriyaki chicken sandwich, and my girlfriend ordered a mushroom and swiss burger with fries.

I tasted her sandwich as well as mine, and both were phenomenally done. My teriyaki chicken was salty and delicious, and the Kaiser roll that it was served on was super fresh and fantastic. We of course needed a little sweet treat after dinner, so I had a small cone of café macchiato ice cream, and it was simply superb!

Barry’s really does everything extremely well. They have great sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and ice cream, as well as offer a great environment to dine in. Indoor dining and outdoor dining are great options to have, especially during the summer months in Long Beach Island. Definitely hit Barry’s if you are in Long Beach Island area. Cheers!

Rustic Food is a Winner

The Rustic Grille

519 Stokes Road

Medford, NJ 08055

Sundays are usually a day that my family gets together and has dinner. This particular Sunday everyone was busy, so my girlfriend and I headed out to the Rustic Grill in Medford for a quick dinner. As I have mentioned before, Medford really only has a few good places to eat, but I consider the Rustic Grill to be one of them. I have not eaten there as often as some of the other places in Medford because my family is not as fond of it as I am, but it is a pretty solid meal each time that I dine there.

A bowl of chicken pastina and a chicken pesto panini seemed like a great pairing to me, so I ordered that and my girlfriend ordered a Sicilian soup and ravioli. The soup came out first, and I was almost perfectly happy with it. It was good, but it wasn’t great. The thing that really missed the mark for me was the broth. Everything was very well done, but the broth was a little watery and it lacked the depth of flavor that one usually gets in a chicken pastina broth. All of the ingredients inside the broth however were very good. The chicken was tender and the vegetables were delicious.

My sandwich was also pretty close to fantastic. The only drawback to the sandwich was that it was not crispy enough for me to consider it a panini. The bread was a bit chewier than I would have liked, but it had great flavor and I really enjoyed it.

The Rustic Grill to me is a bit like a TGI Friday’s or a Chili’s, but it has a lot better value for what you get. You are not paying corporate chain prices for the same food, and that always makes it better. I would recommend the Rustic Grill to anyone looking for a meal in Medford that gives you some bang for your buck. Cheers!

Chain Italian Food...Not So Bad

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

500 Rt. 38 East

Maple Shade, NJ 08052

www.carrabbas.com/

One of my friends from work’s wife had her last day at Carrabba’s recently, so four of my friends and I went up there one night last week to have a few beers and eat some dinner. I am not necessarily the biggest fan for corporate Italian restaurants, but I actually think that Carrabba’s does a pretty good job. It blows Olive Garden out of the water in terms of quality and menu choices.

We ordered a few appetizers to split, those being the calamari, mussels, and the grilled bruschette of the day. As always I forgot to take pictures of the appetizers, so I apologize for that. Each was very good in its own right. The calamari was very crispy and was served with two delicious sauces, a marinara sauce, and a spicy pepper lemon butter sauce. The mussels were some of the best mussels I have ever had. They were so meaty and the broth that they were served in was scrumptious. The wine flavor really came through, but not too much to overpower the dish. The bruschette was really different because the bread was grilled and was really buttery. It was a thicker slice of bread than a usual baguette, but it was definitely very delicious.

By the time the soup and my entrée came out, I was already full, but I suffered through my soup and ate a few bites of my entrée before I threw in the towel. The soup was really delicious! It was a Sicilian chicken soup that was spicy and full of flavor. For my entrée I had ordered the Tag Pic Pac, and I was disappointed in myself that I could not enjoy it all because I had eaten so much earlier. This dish was really fantastic! The sauce was tomato based, but it was different in that it had large chunks of tomatoes and a bit more spice than a traditional marinara. The tagliarini was very tender and paired nicely with the sauce. The addition of fresh basil really made this dish stand out even more than it would have without it.

I took a picture of the to go bag because it had one of the most meaningful quotes I have ever read on it. I actually sent the picture to my girlfriend with the tagline "Sorry baby, but its kind of true! haha".

Carrabba’s really is a place to get a good Italian meal. Sure you could get a more authentic meal at a neighborhood Italian joint, but for the price and the ease, I would definitely recommend Carrabbas to anyone. They do cheap food very well. Cheers!

Curiosity Killed the...Me

Blue20

1906 Route 70 West

Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

www.qdi.com/Blue2o/blue2o.htm

Once again a few weeks ago I got the chance to go out to a mentor lunch on my firm with my mentor and one other pair of mentor and mentee. A few years ago there was a restaurant in Cherry Hill next to the Chili’s that burnt down and it never returned to that location. However, Blue2O opened in its place, and I have always been curious as to how it is. I used this opportunity to try it, but I sort of wish I hadn’t.

The ambiance inside just did not seem to fit. To me it felt like the restaurant was trying to be too hip and trendy, when really they would have benefitted from making it a bit simpler and more traditional.

That being said, the decoration could have been overlooked if the food was really good, but that was simply not the case. The menu had a ton of different options that I would have chosen, so I had very high hopes for my meal, but I was severely disappointed when it actually come out.

I ordered a combination of a cup of New England clam chowder, a small Caesar salad, and a half a blackened fish sandwich. None of the three hit the mark, and none in fact were even close to being considered worth it for me. The soup had a terrible consistency and was more of a paste than a soup. The salad dressing was bland and watery. The sandwich had decent flavor, but the piece of fish that was on it was so small that it might as well have just been two pieces of bread with nothing in between.

Now having tried Blue2O, I would not recommend it to anyone. I know there are some people out there that will try it anyways because I would be one of those people, but if you are looking for good seafood, or anything good for that matter, you will not find it here. Cheers!