Chairman's Club

My last adventure to the casino's was canceled a couple of weeks ago because of bad weather....I had hoped to go to the Borgata with my son....however, this past Friday evening was perfect for another adventure...especially as I was being treated to dinner by a friend....and he drove too. Of course, being a guest, we traveled to the casino of his choice...which was Trump Plaza. You'll have to excuse the stock photos because I didn't want to drag my regular camera with me, so I could be hands free at the slots...and I did not have my cell phone with me either. My friend is a "regular visitor" at the Trump Plaza and has privileges to the " members only" Chairman's Club. They serve buffet style and you get all the drinks you want.
My favorite drink is Pina Coladas, and I easily put away three....the first two were rich and creamy, but the third was full of ice...but when they are "free," who complains, right???? On the buffet, I started with a bowl of seafood chowder, then had flank steak with a side of string beans and carrots....which was very tasty. They also served steak fries, but they were not as good as they looked. The best part of the meal was the dessert...which was bread pudding with vanilla sauce. My dining partner said the rice pudding was also excellent...and I really wanted to have some, but I just did not have any more room....and by that time after three Pina Coladas, I was really ready for a nap!!! I give the Chairman's Club a B+....unfortunately, it is by invitation only....and the truth of the matter is that while my friend used his membership and comp points to get in, you could have bought that meal many times over with what it cost in gambling to get those points.....but it was FUN and as they say, "you can't take it with you".
Just another observation...I thought the casino would be crowded on a Friday evening....but it was not...even a couple of their high end restaurants were closed....I guess that is a sign of the recession and the competition from out-of- state casinos.

White House

Today we were off to the White House...no, not in Washington, DC, but closer to home in the Lenola section of Moorestown at the corner of Lenola Road and Camden Avenue. This is a family restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner...and is always busy at lunch time. It is by no means fancy with red vinyl covered seats in the booths and has seating at a counter too. There are always a selection of about a half dozen specials listed for approx $7.25 and includes soup or salad. I ordered a fried egg sandwich with bacon on whole wheat toast for $3.99...it was tasty. Most of the customers are locals who come regularly to enjoy their lunch and chat a bit. Outside parking is a bit tight. The White House gets a "B".

Perkin's Family Restaurant

I always thought of Perkin's as a breakfast restaurant....in fact, I think originally they were called Perkin's Pancake House.....and for sure their breakfast menu looked yummy....they had an excellent selection of omelets and what really caught my eye was today's special...which was peanut butter banana stuffed french toast with whipped cream and powdered sugar....that special was $6.99. But thinking about my weight, and that I already had breakfast, I went for the lunch special for those over 55....yes, they have a special section of the menu for old f--ts like me. For $4.99, I got a nice size side salad and a grilled cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread...it was a whole sandwich...not a half. I passed on the dessert, but they do have a very nice selection of pies too. This Perkin's was located across from the Moorestown Mall and there was no wait to get in and the service was fast as well. I give Perkin's a B+.

Taco Bell

My client says that the best tacos are his mom's and Taco Bell's.....so today we headed there for lunch. I am not particularly a Mexican food fan, but there are a couple of things on their menu that I do enjoy. My selection today was the chicken ranch taco salad. It was tasty and the taco was crunchy....there could however, been a bit more chicken in the salad. With a soft drink, the price was $7.47. On other occasions, I have had their chicken quesadillas...and for fast food, they were plentiful and good.
My dining partner had the regular tacos. His order consisted of three...and with a soda, his bill was $6.41. The restaurant we visited was in Delran, and was very nicely decorated inside. If you go there, pull hard on the entrance door. It seems that the air pressure inside causes a suction on the door that makes it hard to open. While dining, I saw people leave thinking that the restaurant was closed because they could not open the door. I brought that to the attention of the manager, because I could see they were unfortunately losing business. Overall, I give Taco Bell a "B."

The Cornelia Street Cafe

Today we traveled out of state to NYC for brunch to meet some friends who were visiting from Boston. My sister-in-law lives in NYC and has a knack for selecting the best restaurants. NYC has so many restaurant....so it is great to go places that you know of...or at least someone else recommended. The fun thing about NYC is that you could easily go out to eat every day of your life and never go to the same restaurant twice. The Cornelia Cafe is located at 29 Cornelia Street in the "village." They do not take reservations, but at 11am (which is early for New Yorkers), we had no problem getting a table for 7 people. You can order a-la carte, but they also have a price fixed option for $18 that includes tea or coffee, a bread selection (like chocolate bread...doesn't that sounded yummy), a beverage....like orange juice, a mimosa or a screwdriver, and an entree...which included seven selections like french toast and eggs benedict. I ordered a-la carte and had just a glass of orange juice (for $5.00) and the french toast (for $10). These prices may sound expensive, but in NYC, this was very reasonable. The service was good and the food was tasty...this was a cozy and charming cafe...I give them a B+.

Applebee's

They call themselves the neighborhood grill and bar....and while they do have a bar, they truly are a family restaurant....we did get to sit next to someone with a baby...but very well behaved, I might add. It was Saturday evening and the wait time was only about 15 minutes for those coming in off the street. They do have call ahead seating, and since we did that, out wait was only about two minutes. So think about calling ahead because there always seems to be a wait...even on week-days. In keeping with the economic times, they do offer a special....you get one appetizer to share, and two entrees all for 20 bucks...can't beat that. We ordered the onion ring appetizer, which was plenty for two....they were hot and crispy. I ordered the 7oz sirloin steak which was tasty and it came with a potato and vegetables. My wife ordered the ribs; while tasty, she was disappointed as the portion size was small. Over all, I give Applebee's a B.

Arby's

While roast beef sandwiches are their specialty, this is what I call your typical fast food restaurant. I ordered the roast beef sandwich and a soft drink and it cost me only $1.71. No, that is not their typical price. I got a free sandwich (regularly $2.99) because I participated in a survey a couple of weeks ago and got a promotional coupon...so all I paid for was the soft drink. While the price was right, I would say, however, that the sandwich was mediocre at best. It was barely warm and and just did not look appetizing to me!!! My dining partner shared a couple of his french fries with me...and again, while you could order curly or regular, they were your typical fast food kind of fries. Sorry folks, nothing exciting to report about Arby's....they only get a "C" from me...and maybe that is a stretch!

The Pub

Known as a family steakhouse, the Pub has been a landmark in NJ for over 50 years. They are located at 7600 Kaighn Hwy in Pennsauken....at the intersection of route 70 and 130....formally known as the airport circle. Our visit today was for lunch and quite surprising, at noon, it was virtually empty....so for sure it was a quiet lunch. Lunch or dinner, they are also famous for their salad bar buffet...while that was tempting, I chose the tuna melt platter (with french fries and cole slaw) for $$8.25.
My dining partner had the Pub Special Hamburger for $8.95. All the food was good, but nothing to write home about.....especially as we felt kind of lonely in such a big establishment. Dinner meals are more exciting for sure...especially with the open hearth fires,and usually you end up taking food home. I can not help but remembering a visit there for lunch many years ago with another friend; when we returned to his car it had been stolen. Eventually the car was recovered, but needless to say, today I was sure to use my club.

P.F. Chang's China Bistro

Located on Route 73 in Marlton, P.F. Chang's is an upscale Chinese restaurant. We had a reservation for 6:15pm on Saturday evening and we were seated in 10 minutes. A reservation is a must....people coming in off the street were told they would have to wait an hour and a half....and you thought we were in a recession!!! I guess it is so popular because it is family friendly (at 6:15pm there were several crying babies), they have a bar (alot of other Chinese restaurants do not), the food was very good, and the prices very reasonable. They have a regular special that is a price fixed meal for two people for $39.95 which includes a soup, appetizer, main entree, and a mini dessert. For an appetizer, everyone seems to order their chicken lettuce wrap...must be their specialty. Can you guess how many heads of lettuce they go thru in an evening....I actually asked. One observation that was particularly interesting for a Chinese restaurant....there were no Chinese waiters or waitresses!!!!!! If you are looking for an upscale Chinese restaurant, with excellent food, generally a very short wait (but reservations are encouraged), and less noisy, consider the Coconut Bay on the White Horse Road in Voorhees.

Panera Bread

Don't be confused by the name....this is not just a bread store....it is a high end fast food restaurant/bakery. The menu consists of a nice selection of salads, soups and sandwiches.
The special is $6.49 and you get to select two items....either a half salad....half sandwich...cup of soup. I think the soups are outstanding...they usually have about six offerings. I ordered the special.....a half almond chicken salad sandwich and upgraded to a bowl of creamy tomato soup....and with a soft drink, the total was $10.46. This is a very busy place....usually there is a small waiting line....but they get you through quickly.....and as it is a very popular choice, you sometimes have to hunt around for a seat. In nice weather, they also offer outdoor seating at most of their locations. Overall, though, I give them an "A." The bakery department will also make your mouth water....so don't be surprised if you indulge in something for dessert....I confess....I ended the lunch with a giant chocolate chip cookie.

Restaurant Week

Get a taste of South Jersey's top independent restaurants. From October 18th to the 23rd, you can get four course meals from over 40 restaurants ranging from $25 to $35 dollars. Advertisements have been running in the Courier Post or go to www.sjhotchefs.com to see a complete listing of all the participating restaurants.

Chick-fil-A

The client that I am a personal assistant to likes to go out for lunch three times a week....and one of his most favorite places is Chick-fil-A. As far as fast food restaurants go, I give them an "A+." I am not a big lunch eater, so I order the chicken strips (three count with bar-b-que sauce) and a diet soda. The tab is $5.01. Without fail, the chicken is always hot, crispy, and tasty. What is also so unique about this restaurant is that someone always comes by and asks to take your tray away and offers to get you a free refill of your soft drink. Service is also consistent in all their locations...we have regularly gone to the locations in Delran, Mt. Laurel, Cherry Hill, and Moorestown. If you like fries, which I ocassionally get, they have the best waffle fries too...they are crisp and not greasy. Keep in mind you can not go here on Sundays...they are closed so employees can be home with their families...how nice is that!!!!

My Mission

Now you ask...what is this blog all about???? Sometimes there is just nothing in the refrig to eat, or we just want to get out of the house, or I am on the road with my client....that may mean it is time to go out to eat. As I visit different eating establishments, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, I will give you a heads up about what I thought of the establishment....including fast food, casual as well as (hopefully) fine dining.

About Me

Hey there. Just wanted to start by telling you a little bit about myself. I am a "returning student" at CCC, having retired as a public school business administrator. I am enrolled in the video imaging program....just to learn about something I am interested in and keep my brain cells alive. I also have a part time job 15 hours per week as a personal assistant to a special education adult...now that is to help pay some of the bills. My wife Karen is a part time kindergarten teacher and she is an adjunct faculty member at CCC in the Human Services Dept. I have two sons...23 and 30, and a four legged friend named Natasha. Gotta run...time to eat!!!!