With vaccines being distributed and the weather warming up, dining out seems like the best way to move on from the past year's funk.
It feels like it's about that time to get your groove back with food and dining, doesn't it?
While some places have, unfortunately, closed down, thepandemic hasn't stopped some restaurant owners from moving forward. Dozens of new restaurants, bars or food businesses have opened in the last few months –and many more are on their way –in South Jersey, including several at the Shore.
What are you in the mood for? Newofferings includeeverything from Pakistani food tofresh pasta, oysters, seafood, pizza and even bundt cakes.
Here are 15 new restaurants and other food options to consider:
All About the Crust 3, Magnolia
Pickle pizza?
Owned by Gary Lincoln, who is also the head chef, the chain has two other South Jersey locations.
Lincoln shares on his website that making pizza is a passionand something he’s done since he was 18. This is thethird location for All About the Crust, joininglocations in Woodbury— the first one—and Turnersville.
More:Treat Mom to brunch at one of these 11 South Jersey restaurants for Mother's Day
Some of the new menu items include Mom’s Favorite, a grilled chicken Caesar salad pizza. Then there’s Lil’ One’s Favorite, a pineapple, bacon and jalapeno pizza. The Tour De Four is intertwined pizza rolls topped with garlic knot sauce. There’s a sampler with pepperoni, sausage, broccoli and garlic, tomato and garlic.
His Instagram handle is @pizzathatguy. Lincoln had a video go viral a few years ago when he danced in the mode of “Magic Mike,'' while making pizza.
“My first glimpse of a pizzeria was as a delivery driver, washing dishes, sweeping floors and running food out to customers,” he said on his website. “...I loved the sight of a pizza man tossing dough with his bare hands while creating art and a meal all at once. I fell in love with this business instantly.”
Go: 811 West Evesham Road, 856-346-2500; allaboutthecrust.com/
Barry’s Buns, Wildwood Crest
Philadelphia’s gourmet sticky buns andcinnamon rollsbakery is moving to the Jersey Shore with a new location opening May 7.
After having to close their location at the Bourse Food Hall in Philadelphia due to the pandemic, husband-and-wife owners Joel and Jen Singer started taking bulk orders for delivery, participating in the Horsham and Upper Merion Farmers Markets and focused on their Chestnut Hill location.
To make this year better for the business, the duo decided to open their new location in Wildwood Crest. The new 900 square-foot space is just a few blocks from the beach and will have the same menu as its original location with some new items.
On your way to the beach?Stop by the joint and pick up some nitro coffee, made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, sticky buns or one of 10 different waffle options.
Also,be sure to look out for painted rocks with the Barry’s Buns logo around the Wildwood Crest neighborhood. The coupleplan to “plant” about 20 rocks for guests to find and returnto tradein for a complimentary half-dozen box of freshly baked sticky buns. They plan to do the same at their Chestnut Hill location to celebrate the business's five-year anniversary.
Go: 6107 New Jersey Ave., 267-521-2867;barrysbuns.com
BK Nutrition, Sicklerville
As a native of Sicklerville, owner Charlene Bates was a litigation paralegal for 15 years until she got laid off in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Bates found herself jobless, homeschooling her two daughters, Aubree and Brooklyn. Her husband, Keith, is a corrections officer in Camden.
“I was devastated at first; how could I find a new job in the middle of a pandemic with two young kids that had to be homeschooled now,” Bates said.
She made a "drastic jump" and started making and selling protein shakes from home. Customers would pick up their orders curbside due to COVID, but she was able to make an income while staying at home with her kids.
In February, Bates opened a storefront on Cross Keys Road with her family. She wanted to keep her business in Sicklerville because she “wanted to make an impact to my actual community, all the people I grew up with, their kids and our neighbors.”
BK Nutrition stands for Be Kind – be kind to your body and your neighbors. Bates offers "meal replacement shakes” filled with protein, fiber, minerals and vitamins, and under 250 calories. She also has “be kind teas” that are 24-ounces with fewerthan 35 calories and “boosted teas” that are 32-ounces and have an additional boost of carbs and caffeine.
“It was the best decision I ever made,” Bates said. “It’s tough and hard work but being able to impact our community and show others that they can be healthy is so rewarding. Seeing customers excited over their fitness results and smiling more makes it all worth it.”
Go: 609 Cross Keys Road, 856-381-8415; facebook.com/bknutrition
The Boiling House Express, Deptford
For those who don’t want to travel to Cherry Hill for a full-service visit at the location on Route 70, you can get your seafood fix right in the heart of Deptford.
The Facebook page says it’s “for all of you who enjoyed the Cherry Hill location so much but wanted something a little more laidback for the go!”
The Boiling House Express had its soft opening on March 11.
“We’re associated with them, yes,” said Chef Ron Fox, who said he is partners at The Boiling House Express with Mike Dedja, whose son Tim Dedja is the chef/owner and operator at the Cherry Hill location.
Fox, who is Black, is originally from Southern California. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and when he retired, relocated to the East Coast.
“Mike (Dedja) and I met, became friends and he already had The Boiling House concept,” Fox said. “We’re considered the Boiling House Express. The difference is you can dine in here but our menu, it’s going to be a little different. We’re going to have fried fish, fried shrimp, fish and shrimp boats. Shrimp Po' Boy, Fish Po' Boy. Things like that.
"... What it also does is keep people from having to go all the way to Cherry Hill. We have a chain of stores. This is my store along the chain. You can take an African-American and you can take an Albanian man (Mike), who are friends and run an operational business together.”
The Boiling House Express, located in Timber Creek Plaza, is a BYOB restaurant and currently offers a light service only.
More:10 new South Jersey restaurants that might shake you out of a dining rut
Fox said another concept in the chain called Shrimple Seafood Restaurant will open this summer in Blackwood and Vineland.
The full-service restaurant, which Mike Dedja’s wife Lily helps her son run as well, is located at 1990 Marlton Pike East in Cherry Hill.
Go: 1135 Hurffville Road, 856-686-5770; boilinghouse.com/
The Breakfast Nook, Sicklerville
Owners Alex Domzalski and Joel Schliep grew up in Sicklerville and had talked about doing business together for a long time.
They opened The Breakfast Nook on April 3 and view at it as far more than a restaurant. The pair go out of their way to support local businesses and artists in various ways.
One of the ways is their artists gallery hallway, which features and sells artwork by local artists.
“We have a really long hallway, probably 20 to 25 feet, heading towards our bathroom area,” said Domzalski, also the executive chef. “It was kind of just plain. One of my roommates, his stepdad’s a really good artist. He has like 1,100 paintings in his art gallery. I loved the way it looked. It gave me inspiration to kind of bust out our own art gallery. We promote all the local artists … All the proceeds go strictly to the artists.”
The restauranthasa local business card shelf, and partner with asmany local businesses as they can, including Deluxe Italian Bakeries for their pastries.
The Breakfast Nook has a create your own sandwich section, and also offers signature sandwiches such as the “Lil Diablo”, which includes a fried egg with diced jalapeño, pepper jack cheese, chorizo, side hot sauce on jalapeño-cheddar bagel.
Then there's“The Morning After,”which comes with bacon, pork roll, American cheese with a hash brown on top, a dollar off coffee and a small water bottle.
“It’s kind of that recharge meal after a long night,” Domzalski said.
There also are create-your-own omelets;Belgianwaffles;Grab N Go’s—from berry parfaitsto egg bites; doughnuts and more.
Domzalski said he also has a New Jersey Benedick: pork roll, poached egg and hollandaise on an English muffin.
Drink items include Endgrain Roasters coffee from Pitman, including the cold brew and nitro cold brew.
“We try to feature as much local as we can, especially in times like this,” Domzalski added.
There are limited dine-in options.
Go: 683 Berlin Cross Keys Road, 856-885-8800; thebreakfastnooksj.com/
Fazzio's Pasta Company, Salem
Pasta lovers will be pleased to hear there’s a new pasta shop opening this summer in Salem County.
Owner Matthew Fazzio has been making fresh pasta since he was a child, learning how to make fresh fettuccine and spaghetti at the age of 5from his grandmother, Vivian Fazzio.
He traveled around the country in his early 20s, moving from state to state while working at various types of restaurants.
Fazzio was presented with an opportunity to lease a full-service restaurant located in downtown Salem City, so he took it. "We choose Salem because it was love at first sight," said Fazzio, who grew up in Pitman andBridgeton.
Fazzio and hisfiancé work together onthe restaurant and shop, and hope to open this summer.
Dozens of typtes of pastalike ravioli and gnocchi and sweets such asItalian cookies and biscotti will be offered. Guests can dine in, order takeout or delivery. Dried pasta packages and frozen family meals also will be available.
What makes Fazzio's Pasta Company unique is itsversatility in pasta making from traditional Italian pasta to American-style Buffalo chicken toasted ravioli.
“We are constantly trying new recipes and trying different ideas,” Fazzio said. “We are excited to serve the people of Salem because they've been very supportive of us.
"We are excited to bring in a new venue where families can gather and enjoy our family’s food.”
Location and contact details coming soon.
Go:facebook.com/FazziosPastaCompany/
Irish Hill Tavern, Runnemede
Runnemede’s restaurant and bar, The Vault, is converting to Irish Hill Tavern within the next month after their deal closes on May 10 and improvements are made.
The new owner Ed Donohue plans to make additions to the previous bar on Clements Bridge Road.
Runnemede:Big changes on tap for Runnemede bar and restaurant
Donohue, a long-time presence in the South Jersey bar scene, is adding outdoor seating on a patio and expanding the current tap system from 12 to 38 taps.
He plans to keep the menu the same except for the addition of a steam table behind the bar featuring roast beef, roast pork and ham sandwiches.
The Vault’s current employees are expected to stay on, said Donohue. "The Vault has a great and loyal crew."
Donohue is partnering with his wife, Eva, on this new venture. He previously worked as abartenderthenmanaged Rexy’sin Mount Ephraim, poured drinks at Telford Inn in Mantua, operated pizza shops in Collingswood and Haddon Heights and the former Brown’s Stop-In on Route 130 in Haddon Township, and served as partner and manager at the former O’Hara’s! in Gloucester City and The Irish Mile in Westmont.
Go: 810 E Clements Bridge Road.
Karachi Kafe, Voorhees
Bright, colorful, filled with traditional decor, Karachi Kafe is sure to remind the Pakistani community in South Jersey of the home country and welcome others to get a “taste of Pakistan.”
Anny Khan opened the restaurant in the Avian Plaza in Voorhees in December in order to share her culture with the locals and provide representation, she said.
More:NJ restaurants: Karachi Kafe brings tastes of Pakistan to Voorhees
Karachi Kafe's menu features a mix of traditional and fusion dishes. Decor includes a traditional street cart that displays Pakistani items, a wall dedicated to Pakistani history, as well as some posters of Pakistani movies. Ludo – a popular board game – is set up for guests to play.
Karachi Kafe recipes are inspired by her mom, but Khan gets some help in the kitchen. She has three chefs: Saud Khan (no relation to Anny) is the tandoori chef, Mohammad Wakeel is the curry chef and Abeed Omar is the burger chef.
“For someone who's trying for the time, [they] must try our burgers, must try our paratha rolls, and then our nihari — I mean people are liking that a lot too, biryani and paya,” Khan said.
We also recommend the Zinger burger and chicken lollipop appetizer.
Go: 2999 E. Evesham Road, Avian Plaza Unit 12, 856-676-7728; karachikafe.com
Nan and Pop’s Kitchen, Wildwood
Asked what type of food will be served at her new restaurant, Christy Mitchell’s answer was pretty succinct: comfort food.
“It will be American, cozy, comfort foods,” Mitchell said. “Honey-glazed hams, meatloaf, chicken pot pie, burgers. What would you have at your grandparents’ house for dinner on Sunday?’’
Christy and her husband Jasen Mitchell are opening the doors of their restaurant on May 13.
The name Nan and Pop’s is in honor of Jasen Mitchell’s grandparents. And the food will offer comfort to the customers who enter the restaurant at the corner of Wildwood and Ocean avenues.
They’ll be open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday and will be built on “faith, family and community,” said Mitchell, who has managed multiple restaurants.
Jasen was born in Wildwood while Christy was born in Philadelphia and moved “down the Shore” when she was entering high school.
The Mitchells own Master DJ and Sound, a full-service disc jockey and sound entertainment company, and Lighting R Us, a Christmas lighting company.
“We put up Christmas lights and do a lot of commercial properties in the offseason,” Christy added.
Christy Mitchell’s father, Joey Montello, also owns Joey M’s La Piazza Cucina in Wildwood, so she understands restaurants pretty well.
The opening day will begin at 2 p.m. with a ceremony. Immediately following, select guests will be invited inside for an after party before the restaurant officially opens for dinner service at 5 p.m.
Go: 401 E. Wildwood Ave., 609-523-1300; nanandpopskitchen.com/
Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cherry Hill
If bundt cakes are your thing, keep an eye out for the national franchise coming to the Barclay Farms Shopping Center in Cherry Hill this summer.
Founders of the franchise Dena Tripp and Debbie Shwetz joined forces in 1997 to share their love of Bundt cakes, later establishing their national brand.
Owner of the upcoming Cherry Hill location Jessica Boese, originally from the Philadelphiaarea, started a family in Texas but always wanted to move back to be closer to her family and the Shore.
She talkedher husband, Steve, into heading back to the East Coast to open a bakery in Cherry Hill. So she decided to open the new location of Nothing Bundt Cakes.
“The Boese familylooks forward to giving back to the community by spreading joy one bite at a time,” Boese saidin a statement.
For the grand opening, which will involve a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Camden County Regional Chamber of Commerce, there will be a community give-back day where a percentage of sales will go to a local charity.
Free bundlets will be handed outon that day forthose that come out, plus a prize wheel to win prizes and a chance to win free cake for a year.
Go: 1409 Marlton Pike, cherryhill@nothingbundtcakes.com; nothingbundtcakes.com
Sweet Amalia Market and Kitchen, Newfield
Oyster lovers will be excited to hear Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm has expanded after nearly a decade and opened a new market and kitchen in Newfield.
A favorite among foodies, Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm has provided locally grown oysters from the waters of the southern Delaware Bay in Cape May County to the region’s top restaurants.
Co-owner Lisa Calvo of the market, a marine biologist and entrepreneur, turned her hobby farming into Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm. She recently addedfood scientist and entrepreneur Ed Pappas and chef Melissa McGrathto the team for the expansion.
The three co-own the market, which grew from their conversations. Pappas teamed up with Calvo in 2019 as the financial partner and advisor. He previously ran R&D for his family’s juice bottling business, Clement Pappas & Co.
Early in the pandemic, McGrathreturned to Philadelphia after opening Palm City in San Francisco and connected with Pappas and Calvo. She previously worked in San Francisco restaurants, High Street and Trattoria Carina Pub & Kitchen in Philadelphia and The Diving Horse in Avalon.
An exciting new venture for the trio, the market was born out of the pandemic. The farm struggled – providing oysters to restaurants was their “bread and butter” – so with restaurants closed,they decided to sell directly to consumers.
Guests can purchase local produce, meats, cheese and other items like the famous oysters. There also are seasonal menus and prepared foods for takeout like sandwiches, pies and salads curated by McGrathpromoting sustainable local food in partnership with local producers and purveyors.
The market's building originally was the cold storage hub for the farm, so they decided to convert it into the market. Newfield also was the right spotas it is home to Calvo.
“We thought the location in Newfield was perfect —it is in the heart of farm country that produces such amazing food,” Pappas said. “It could be a farm-to-table destination for foodies all over the region and being on Route 40 makes for an easy detour for the shore crowd.
"Meanwhile, the local area does not have many restaurants and the seafood options are especially scarce. It seemed like a perfect fit for us.”
Go: 994 US Route 40, 856-839-2478; sweetamalia.com
Heart Beet rebrands as Goodbeet
Heart Beet Kitchen is Goodbeet from now on.
The announcement was made on the Goodbeet Facebook page.
“Surprise: things happened quicker than we thought and we can finally fill you in. we’ve rebranded and moving forward will be goodbeet — same staff, owner, everything,” the post said.
“Our why: we see growth in our near future, but our first step was to secure a brand that we could envision outside of our area. Our second step is now being owned by our new restaurant group, @thecoynecollective — with this parent company we are now able to build a team outside of the kitchen.”
Heartbeet opened its flagship in Westmont on Haddon Avenue in 2015 and has a seasonal location in Ocean City. A Cherry Hill location closed previously. It’s entirely “plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free, organic and locally sourced” food and beverages with everything made in-house.
Owner Ashley Coyne also opened Beet Creamery, a vegan ice cream spot, next door to the flagship location.
Coyne said she is still the owner and wanted to rebrand to a “cleaner, simpler brand that we could envision outside of our area. Our goal is to expand.''
The post added, “What this looks like for you: calorie count on all menu items, the launch of our new catering menu, switching to @nuttylife milks that are organic and free of all additives/fillers, announcing our brand ambassadors, outdoor tasting dinner, packaging/retailing some of your favorite menu items. good things are coming.”
Harrah’s Resort new offerings
Caesars Entertainment recently announced a $400 million commitment in capital investment and improvements to its three Atlantic City resorts (Caesars, Harrah’s Resort and Tropicana Atlantic City) over the next three years.
The upgrades will include remodeled room towers, enhancements to the casinos’ gaming floors, new dining concepts and more.
“Harrah’s Resort was the very first casino to open in the Marina District more than 40 years ago. It helped transform the area into a sophisticated resort destination within the market,” said Gregg Klein, senior vice president and general manager for Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, in a press release from Harrah’s Resort.
“Four decades later, we are continuing to evolve and introduce brand-new amenities and first-to-market experiences here in Atlantic City. Building on our recently-announced room enhancements to our Atrium hotel tower, these five new concepts will further position our resort as the ultimate summer destination with something for everyone under one roof.”
All five new offerings will open in time for Memorial Day weekend, with the first phase of the Atrium Tower project completed by Summer 2021, it said.
They are:
- The Spa at Harrah’s Resort – a first-class spa experience situated adjacent to the pool, fitness center, and The Waterfront Conference Center
- The Lobby Bar – an expanded and upgraded bar experience with top-shelf selections, craft co*cktails, and over 70 variations of whiskey and spirits
- The Baywalk at Harrah’s – an outdoor, bayside container bar with dining and live music
- Rum Point Crab House – a fresh crab and seafood restaurant with sunsets and water views
- A new dining and nightlife experience at the resort’s pool at Harrah’s.
Small bites: Silver Diner opened its doors to welcome back guests and employees. The chain of diners, which has a Cherry Hill location on Route 38, is providing a Vaccination Czar, sign-on bonuses and "hospital-grade" air filtration, it says… On April 23, Dunkin’ opened its newest remodeled "Next Gen'' restaurant in Haddon Heights, at 709 N Black Horse Pike. It will host a grand opening celebration at 9 a.m. on May 8.
Hira Qureshi covers food and drink for the greater Delaware Valley and Jersey Shore. She can be reached at HQureshi@gannettnj.com or 856-287-8106.Help support local journalism with a Courier-Post subscription.
