Need restaurant suggestions for South Jersey/Philly area

[KelNottAt]

DMIL and DFIL will have their 50th wedding anniversary in June. They have INSISTED that we do not throw a party. Instead, they want to go out to dinner with their children and grandchildren. We need restaurant ideas.

We will be a party of 22:
DMIL & DFIL
5 grown children + 4 spouses
11 grandchildren ages 8 - 23

Home base is Woodbury, NJ, but we're willing to go into PA for something great.

We're a VERY ecclectic group when it comes to taste in food. The guests of honor are very basic, meat & potato types. (DFIL has been known to order a 32 oz prime rib because 1 - he loves steak, and 2 - he thinks it makes him classy to eat prime rib.)

5 of us grown-ups can handle sophisticated menus; 4 of us...well, not so much.
Even in a nice restaurant, the kids can usually be satisfied as long as the menu has something basic like pasta or grilled chicken.

This is a group that probably would not choose a place that requires men to wear ties. But, they could likely be talked into it for this special occasion. Casual would be safer.

Any ideas?

 

[LadyZolt]

OK, I know you said casual, but really -- a 50th wedding anniversary is pretty special! I moved away from the area in 1980 and only go back once in a while to visit, but I do remember that The Buck Hotel (just Google it) was wonderful for special occasions. That said, there are lots of other places in that area and I hope others who currently live there can jump on and make some suggestions.

Whatever happens, congrats to the happy couple and I wish them many more fun years together!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[sharonW]

Smithville Inn, Smithville nj or
Rams Head Inn, Absecon NJ

 

[KelNottAt]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I've been googling and found these. Does anyone have any opinions? (I'm the only one not local, but I seem to be the only one who thinks we'll need to find something soon.)

Filomena Lakeview: http://www.filomenalakeview.com/

BArnsboro Inn: http://www.barnsboroinn.com/mainlinks.php?id=181&PHPSESSID=38b706fd2e7425bc076380462f7049dc

Pelican Fish Co: http://www.pelicanfishco.com/nj.html

Anthony’s: http://www.anthonyscuisine.com/

Kunkel’s Seafood and Steaks: http://www.kunkelsrestaurant.com/

Blue Plate: http://www.blueplatenj.com/

Alisa Café: http://www.alisacafe.com/index.html

Dream Cuisine Café: http://dreamcuisinecafe.net/

Mirabella Café: http://www.mirabellacafe.com/index.html

TIA

 

[KelNottAt]

 

[Cindy B]

Mirabella's is good.. I live near there.


We had a similar sized group for an after funeral dinner. We went to Pasta Vino in Maple Shade, NJ (off of King's Highway near the Moorestown Mall)

http://lambertis.com/locations/pastavin.htm

I see that Pasta Vino is part of the Lamberti's group. (I didn't know that!)

I've also been to Caffe Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill -- Rt. 70 , however they are doing construction right now, and Milano Modo by Lamberti in Mt. Holly.

Here is the entire Lamberti's locations.

http://lambertis.com/directns.htm



I live not too far from the new restaurant row in Cherry Hill NJ. About 4 new restaurants have opened in the new space of the racetrack.

The restaurants include:

Cheesecake Factory

McCormick and Schmicks Seafood http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/

A new steak house next to Mc Cormick and Schmicks that just opened this week. (sorry don't know the name)

There is another new Italian restauarant next to Cheesecake Factory but I'm not sure of the name either.

There is also a new Greek restaurant across the street from the new Italian place.

(sorry-- I can drive by and write the names down and post them, but most ot the times I'm just driving to get to Wegmans. )


I have family members that live in Collingswood. There are tons of wonderful restaurants there as well. I've heard great things about Tortilla Press, there is a fabulous Chinese place.

If you like seafood, the little tuna in Haddonfield is good. http://www.thelittletuna.com/

The usual nice standby years ago (I've been told they are still good ) is braddocks tavern in Medford. http://www.braddocks.com/

 

[TeresaNJ]

My son got married this past November with just parents and siblings present, so there was a total of 11 of us. We had a lovely dinner after the ceremony at Terra Nova, in Sewell, NJ. We were in a private room, the atmosphere was really nice, and the food/wine was very good, not to mention that the price was right! Here is a link. http://www.terranovarestaurantbar.com/index.php

 

[pixiechick]

Anthony's is not very big. 22 people would probably fill the place (think row home size.) Food is good though.

Kunkel's is much larger. The food is good there as well.

Out of the 2, I'd go with Kunkel's because of size and the fact they have a parking lot. Both are BYOB, if that's an issue.

The others I've never been to, but I've heard decent things about Filomena's.

I would recommend Caffe Aldo Lamberti on Rt. 70 too. We had a larger group there and they handled it well. As Cindy B mentioned there is construction, but I don't know what stage they're in.

Another place to look at is Catelli's in Voorhees.

 

[Cindy B]

Anthony's is not very big. 22 people would probably fill the place (think row home size.) Food is good though.

Kunkel's is much larger. The food is good there as well.

Out of the 2, I'd go with Kunkel's because of size and the fact they have a parking lot. Both are BYOB, if that's an issue.

The others I've never been to, but I've heard decent things about Filomena's.

I would recommend Caffe Aldo Lamberti on Rt. 70 too. We had a larger group there and they handled it well. As Cindy B mentioned there is construction, but I don't know what stage they're in.

Another place to look at is Catelli's in Voorhees.

Ooh.. I fogot about Catelli's. My son went to a bat mitzvah there in March. I only picked him up, but it smelled fabulous.

The construction at Lamberti's in Cherry Hill is going on, but they are still open. The parking lot is a bit of a mess, but they have valet to accommodate parking. If it helps Lamberti's case, I went to the Costco in Moorestown/Mt. Laurel a while back and they had $100 GC's there for $74. It might be worth a phone call to see if they still have those.

 

[KelNottAt]

Thank you all VERY much.

I've now got a list of 15+ possible places ready for when one of the BILs of SILs realizes "oh, no! we need to find a place for Mom and Dad's dinner."

 

[Cindy B]

Is Pelican Fish good? I'd like to find a place to go after my Rowan graduation next month.

This might fit the bill.. It's not too far from Rowan and my house. The directions on thier website kind of stink though.. I don't know which exit of 42 they are talking about.

 

[Mkrop]

http://www.chart-house.com/loc-philadelphia.html

We always do well here with a wide variety of eating tastes. I love the view of the river too, and I just love Penns Landing.

DH really loves La Veranda

http://www.laverandapier3.com/

He would take clients there all the time

 

[KelNottAt]

Is Pelican Fish good? I'd like to find a place to go after my Rowan graduation next month.

This might fit the bill.. It's not too far from Rowan and my house. The directions on thier website kind of stink though.. I don't know which exit of 42 they are talking about.

Sorry, I don't know. Not familiar with the area.

 

[Cindy B]

http://www.chart-house.com/loc-philadelphia.html

We always do well here with a wide variety of eating tastes. I love the view of the river too, and I just love Penns Landing.

DH really loves La Veranda

http://www.laverandapier3.com/

He would take clients there all the time

La Verada looks good. (It's actually priced quite well also). Is there parking avaiable nearby?

I forgot another one if you all like Mexican..

La Esperanza in Lindenwold, NJ (near Voorhees). My SIL raves about this place. We haven't been there yet, but DH just told me that his coworkers family owns the place. I think it's too casual for what you want though.

http://www.mexicanhope.com/

 

[Mkrop]

La Verada looks good. (It's actually priced quite well also). Is there parking avaiable nearby?

I forgot another one if you all like Mexican..

La Esperanza in Lindenwold, NJ (near Voorhees). My SIL raves about this place. We haven't been there yet, but DH just told me that his coworkers family owns the place. I think it's too casual for what you want though.

http://www.mexicanhope.com/

La Veranda is near parking garage type places if my memory serves me correct.

Not for this but in case anyone looking is interested the Hibachi resturant in the Dave & Buster parking garage building does an awesome Sunday jazz brunch, my GFs and I meet there all the time, good in btw spot for the PA and NJ crowd. We love having mimosas by the waterfront.

http://www.go2hibachi.com/sunday_jazz_brunch.htm

 

[plutolovr]

I used to be the pastry chef at a small French restaurant in Cherry Hill called LaCampagne. It's really nice and intimate. They have an enclosed porch, and you should be able to fit the entire clan there. Another thing is they don't have a liquor license, but you can BYO wines. It does require reservations.

 

[EverythingDisney]

As a group we always go to "The Pub" on airport circle (130) in Pennsauken NJ.
We had our engagement party there. They do good with big parties.
My family are big prime rib eaters and this is the place....

 

[fan_of_small_world]

Thommy G's in Audubon, NJ has received excellent reviews. My husband ate at their original location several times, and he thought the food was great. I attended a cooking class / dinner with the chef, which was incredible. Not sure if they have small rooms, but I think that they could arrange for a semi-private area for a special dinner.

http://www.thommyg.com/

 

[Cindy B]

I just drove past Caffee Aldo Lamberti on Rt. 70 and all construction is now done (or close to done). There were no tarps, cones and such.

My FIL used to go to the Pub a lot.. he also like The Lobster Trap in Pennsauken (in the Cooper River park). I've been there and it is really good.

 

[Papa Deuce]

La Verada looks good. (It's actually priced quite well also). Is there parking avaiable nearby?

I forgot another one if you all like Mexican..

La Esperanza in Lindenwold, NJ (near Voorhees). My SIL raves about this place. We haven't been there yet, but DH just told me that his coworkers family owns the place. I think it's too casual for what you want though.

http://www.mexicanhope.com/

It IS GOOD!!!!! I don't remember the parking situation exactly, but I don't remember having too hard a time finding some.