By Roseanna Lane
New Jersey is home to some of the most eclectic and fine-dining experiences in the country. It is especially known for its excellent Italian and seafood fare that would please the toughest dining critic. However, there are also plenty of places that offer a causal atmosphere conducive to plain, pure fun. Here are some restaurants that you might consider to brighten your day or night.
Live Jazz at The Mill Hill Saloon
The burgers are juicy and thick at The Mill Hill Saloon.
Come for the food and the amazing beer selection; stay for the entertainment at The Mill Hill Saloon. The burgers are juicy and thick, and they have plenty of salads and vegetarian entrees, as well as seafood specials. Every Sunday you can expect live music, while Tuesday is Open Mic for poetry and jam sessions. Wednesday features a Soul Dance Party that goes well into the night.
The Mill Hill Saloon
300 S Broad St
Trenton, NJ 08608
(609) 394-7222
Ice Cream With a Twist
The Famous Doughboy
The Music Man Ice Cream Shoppe features a variety of sweet, icy concoctions along with plenty of singing and dancing, cabaret-style. There's plenty of room (100-seat capacity) and it's kid-friendly. You can choose from a variety of sundaes, parfaits, banana splits and other specials. Try the Doughboy, made with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream topped with hot fudge, marshmallows, banana wheels, whipped cream and a cherry. During the summer, stop by for Children's Story Hour, where characters come alive and perform from stories like Snow White every Wednesday and Thursday.
The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe
2305 Grand Central Avenue
Lavallette, NJ 08735
(732) 854-2779
www.njmusicman.com
Get Your Rib on at Big Ed's Barbecue
Big Ed's claim they have the"Best Ribs in New Jersey."
With its cheerful staff delivering hot, fresh (and unlimited) bread just as you sit down, Big Ed's Barbecue will give you both a bang for your buck and plenty of good times. With a variety of beef and pork ribs that you can combine with seafood and chicken, there's something for everyone at Big Ed's. Try to save room for dessert, as their luscious cakes and pies are all fresh and never frozen. And don't worry about missing that game---with televisions everywhere, you'll be able keep score and cheer for your team.
Big Ed's Barbecue
305 Route 34
Old Bridge, NJ 07747
(732) 583-2626
www.bigedsbbq.com
Resources
About the Author:
Roseanna Lane published her first poem in 1998, while still an undergrad. She has written a variety of articles for Demand Studios and has published work on both eHow and Travels.com. Lane has a Bachelor of Arts in English from New York University and a Master of Fine Arts in poetry from the University of Michigan.
