A 40-square mile suburban area in the center of the state, Hamilton Township, New Jersey, has earned the title of "America's Favorite Hometown," for its historic sites, numerous parks and entertainment destinations. After a day of sightseeing and shopping, dine at one of the area's wide variety of eating establishments and discover why Hamilton Township is named the "Restaurant Capital of Mercer County."
Serving lunch and dinner daily, Padrino's Bistro & Italian Steakhouse is a popular restaurant among locals and visitors alike. The lunch menu offers a wide selection of appetizers, pasta, risotto, chicken, veal, seafood and steaks, with a three course special of salad, soup, and choice of eggplant parmigiana, lasagna, chicken marsala, chicken griglia or baked ziti for just $11. A similar early bird dinner special runs Monday through Thursday, 2 to 5 p.m., for just $12.95, with a choice of cannoli, ice cream or cheesecake dessert included.
Known for its four kinds of homemade manicotti, the restaurant also serves dinner entrees such as stuffed shells, New Zealand lamb chops and salmon oreganata priced from $10 to $26 as of 2010. Gourmet personal pizzas, standard pies, paninis, wraps, strombolis, calzones, salads, and hot and cold subs are also available. Nine dishes on the Bambini Menu, everything from chicken fingers with french fries to cheese ravioli with Bolgnese sauce, are priced at just $6 each.
Padrino's Bistro & Italian Steakhouse
2452 Kuser Road
Briarwood Shopping Center
Hamilton, NJ 08690
609-587-7575
padrinoshamilton.com/index.html
Located in the charming lakeside town of Mays Landing, Famous Dave's is known for its barbecue ribs and hickory smoked meats. Open daily for lunch and dinner, start off your meal with a selection of appetizers, such as catfish fingers, onion strings or buffalo wings. Lunch and early bird specials are served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and feature spare ribs, Georgia chopped pork or Texas beef brisket platters for just $6.99 as of March 2010, complete with corn bread muffin, corn-on-the-cob and choice of side dish. Diners can select from a wide variety of dinner items, such as char-grilled burger, baby back ribs, or beer-battered cod sandwich, priced from $10 to $25. "Lil Wilbur" kids meals range in price from $4 to $5 for a choice of cheeseburger, chicken fingers, BBQ chicken, macaroni and cheese, chopped pork sandwich or rib dinner. Homestyle desserts including ice cream, bread pudding, pecan and key lime pies are available as well.
Famous Dave's
4215 Black Horse Pike
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
609-569-9910
famousdaves.com/MaysLanding
Closed Mondays, Peasants Family Italian Restaurant is known for its tomato pies including mustard, clam, escarole and bean, and Italian hot dog. Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday, and features soups and salads, sandwiches, pasta and five entree selections. Dinners include pasta, chicken, seafood, meat and "Peasant Dishes," such as tilapia bruschetta, veal and pepper stew, chicken cacciatore and polenta with meatballs. Kids can eat for $5 to $6 as of March 2010 with a choice of three entrees.
Peasants Family Italian Restaurant
1701 Hamilton Ave.
Hamilton, NJ 08619
peasantsofhamilton.com/
