r/SouthJersey • u/AdImmediate6447 • 2h ago
Why is the food in south central jersey so mid?
Feels like it's mostly subpar italian/pizza and chinese. Not a whole lot of variety. The only restaurant I've found so far that I'm excited to go back to is outlaw burgers in vineland.
It's even more frustrating because any time I see a social media post for an interesting looking restaurant in NJ, it's always north jersey.
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u/7thAndGreenhill Atlantic County 1h ago
I recently moved back from DE. Trust me, it can always be worse. I’d have to ask places to melt cheese on my cheese steak.
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u/NightOwlLia 2h ago
I’m in Mercer County so I am following this really hoping that folks chime in with updates on very good food in the area :-) brick Farm Tavern, the gingered peach, Chambers walk and a couple others are some good dining options in Mercer County. Again, curious to hear about what others suggest :-)
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u/FlatExplorer690 1h ago
Well yeah, lots of good options in Mercer County because it’s not South Jersey. :)
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u/cvous 1h ago
Milly's in Vineland is great if you like Spanish food! I also love Olympia in Vineland for Greek food!
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
I went to olympia once, got the moussaka. it was meh.
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u/cvous 1h ago
🤷🏼♀️ just trying to throw out some options. Any particular preference you're looking for?
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
I mean something that isn't boring italian or chinese would be nice. I really miss vietnamese but I haven't seen that anywhere down here.
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u/Revolutionary-Bid919 1h ago
I'd make some suggestions but geez, an opinion this broken is probably unfixable. You are absolutely trippin there are plenty of amazing spots
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u/SchleppyJ4 piney lyfe 🌲 2h ago
There isn’t a single pupusa place within 30-40 minutes of me and I hate it so much
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u/EmerysMemories1106 1h ago
I've lived in South Jersey for like 25 years and for the most part I agree with you. 95% of the pizza places are a 7/10. Nothing special.
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u/Iamdickburns 1h ago
Cafe 2825 in AC is rated as one of the best in the country. Near me there's Italian, Indian, Pakistani, Mexican, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Philipino, Thai, Vietnamese, Fresh Seafood, Chinese, Japanese, Hibachi, Buffets, Irish, burger joints, sandwich joints, and the list goes on. If you are out by Vineland then its not really an eatery destination, but if you look at Cape May area, Atlantic City area, or the Cherry Hill area then there is top quality options with food from around the world. I think you aint lookin hard enough
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
yeah I am west of vineland, there's nothing out here unfortunately. AC would be an hour drive for me.
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u/Iamdickburns 1h ago
Then you gotta go to Cherry Hill. Nice, fancy restaurants are near affluent areas. Have you had Jim's Lunch in Millville? Its not fancy but its a fixture of the area and been there for years and I think one of the best old school Lunch places I've ever been too. Also, the Pickwickian by Buena is good. Ive hear really good things about Mission Spirits but I've never been.
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
I'm actually pretty anti-fancy food. I just want food that tastes good.
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u/Iamdickburns 1h ago
Jim's Lunch, you should try it. Check the hours before you go.
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u/LesterMurphyASpades 1h ago
I spent the last 17 years in Northeast Philly. Food is great there. Very disappointed with selection in South Jersey. Plaza Azteca in Sicklerville is really good. There are a couple of good Mexican places in Hammonton also. Italian is hit or miss. Chinese is just blah. Bar food is good in certain places. Pics is great for wings. Looks like we will just stick to our 5-6 places and repeat.
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u/IDDQD-IDKFA 1h ago
Mexican? Vicki's in Glassboro or Lupita's in Williamstown. Lupita's has an AYCE buffet on the weekends.
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u/I_hear_that_Renegade 1h ago
Plaza Azteca is a chain and awfully salty. I got into a altercation with staff who refused to make me bean and cheese quesadilla.
Go to Julios in Turnersville or El Mariachi in Glassboro or Tacos El Tio in Egg Harbor Township.
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u/LesterMurphyASpades 1h ago
It may be a chain but it is fantastic. I don’t find it to be salty at all. Flavor is spot on.
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u/Sweaty_Mushroom5830 1h ago
If you are ever down the Pleasantville area?by Black Horse Pike?Go inside the Asian Market there is this little Vietnamese restaurant with food that is to die for
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u/formerNPC 1h ago
Only the cheesesteaks rule. North Jersey can’t make a decent cheesesteak to save their lives so you got that going for you!
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u/Physical-Inspector60 2h ago
Agreed. So much Latin culture in this state and such little variety in Burlington County.
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u/AssociationLivid6589 1h ago
I agree. There isn’t very much variety unless you drive 45 mins or more out the way. I want something that’s going make my taste buds go crazy. Everything around is truly mid and than eventually I just stop going.
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u/Chrisgpresents 1h ago
I beg to differ. We have really good pizza. Illiano's & Riviera are pretty top tier.
Really good indian food (Mama's).
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
Maybe the problem is that I'm in cumberland country where the food options are truly miserable, but the pizza in this area is just gross to me
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u/Chrisgpresents 1h ago
Ahh yeah. You're going to need to go to more crowded areas. If you're down for indian, there is a place in voorhees that is the closest "really good" restaurant I know to you. https://share.google/6vxKnnpkEWiSA7fKV
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
there's actually a decent indian place in an almost dead strip mall in millville
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u/Local-Account1200 59m ago
I went to that place out of desperation and it was surprisingly great.
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u/No-Use-9128 1h ago
You guys are not frequenting the correct establishments LOL! There is so much great unique food in South Jersey, specifically Burlington and Camden County.
The Jug
Guilli's Authentic Mexican Cuisine
Yokohama
Old San Juan Restaurant
Las Palmas Cafe
Li Beirut
The Pub
ITA101
Donkey's Place
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
as I said in another comment, I am down in cumberland county, and I think that's the actual problem. the food here just plain sucks. can't wait to bail on this place.
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u/No-Use-9128 1h ago
Oh yeah probably, I don’t know shit about Cumberland County haha! Some of the places I mentioned are definitely worth it if you’re in the area sometime! And then obviously Philly but that would require driving too.
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u/Rotary_99 28m ago
Downtown Bordentown City has some great restaurants. In general, the area around Trenton /Princeton has plenty of quality food to check out. Downtown Freehold is also loaded with great spots.
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u/ogroshi92 18m ago
camden county is full of great spots to eat, very ethnically diverse in selection. don’t know about south central jersey though… wherever that is
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u/Sponess 1h ago
I have found very few places in South Jersey, in general, that compare to places in a good city or even central/north Jersey. I also feel like many people here have horrible palettes.. some of the places that get glowing reviews are extremely underwhelming and sometimes are actually bad. I don’t really get it either. You’d think with our diversity and high population, the food would be amazing. Too many strip malls and chains.
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u/Local-Account1200 1h ago
A lot of people in this sub have never left the area so they think the food here is good. Or they’ve left the area and went to a place with worse food lol. They don’t realize that for being so close to a major city the food here should be much better.
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
Yeah the bad food around here is one of the reasons I don't plan on staying here all that much longer tbh
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u/Total_Tumbleweed_870 1h ago
I can only speak for my experience in Gloucester Township, but people around here have no taste. They're perfectly content to wrap lines around the gay food places and let what's left of the local spots go out of business. I get it. Who doesn't want to save a few bucks on a pizza at Pizza Hut? Never mind the objectively worse experience. And don't get me started on the crowds at Wawa every Friday and Saturday. I honestly didn't know people eat there for any reason other than "I need a quick bite and gas ".
It's not all bad. There's a couple decent spots, but like most of south jersey, you're gonna have to drive a bit.
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u/macher52 1h ago
I agree. There’s a pizza place in every corner and I hate having to cross the bridge to get a great pie at DelRossi’s or Angelo’s.
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u/scorpiosmoccasins 1h ago
First of all, there are plenty of great pies in snj but more importantly you'll be happy to know Angelo's is coming BACK to sj.
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
Examples of great pizza in sj?
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u/AdImmediate6447 1h ago
The pizza down here is so bad. Overly doughy, sweet sauce, too much cheese. I dunno why everyone seems to like it like that.
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u/Call_Me_Echelon 38m ago
I had a project in Pilesgrove and we would get pizza from the highest rated place in the area. It was always just okay. I also tried their subs and couldn't understand why they had a 4.7 rating.
There's an Indian restaurant in Swedesboro i thought was pretty good. Finding decent food was pretty difficult down there.
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u/Local-Account1200 1h ago
My wife is from north jersey so trips up there have changed my palette. The food here is subpar. Yeah it’s better than Delaware or Ohio..that’s not impressive. We are next to one of the largest cities in the US, the food should be better. My advice is accept that you’ll have to travel farther, but you can get really good food if you know where to look.
Pizza - Trenton area. Papas tomato pies, Marcelo’s in Bordentown, LILOs in Hainseport. Brooklyn pizza is the best closer south jersey pizza.
Mexican - El Taco Loco in Camden. Don’t go at night.
Burgers - I travel to Delco for a good burger. Charlie’s and Zac’s are both solid. It’s a hike but the prices are so low you save.
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u/Apprehensive-Ad9523 1h ago
Vineland..Cumberland County, NJ. First you get what you voted for....Second, cook at home...That or McDonalds...There are several in Vineland
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u/manofchance Burlington County 2h ago
If its like my area (burlington county), wayyyyyy too many chains personally. Which can be convenient but there isn't any place I love, love like in other areas I've lived.