I-95 in Delaware or NJ Turnpike - Suggestions?

Trekking from DC to New Haven, CT and want something different. Open to pretty much anything, but would love cheesesteak or BBQ. Having done this before, our travels both ways typically put us in Delaware or the NJ Turnpike when we are ready to eat...dinnertime Northbound/late lunch southbound.

Would love your suggestions as the I-95 Exit Information Guide only lists places within 1/2 mile which are all chains. Don't mind getting off and going 15-20 min (tops) if the place is good, but can't make any big detours to Philly or Wilmington, and only take 295 if there is a traffic alert.

I've printed out info of The Dog House, but I think they are only open for lunch.

The Dog House in New Castle is open till midnight.If its not too far off the highway,you could get a good burger at one of the Charcoal Pits (you can see their locations at http://www.charcoalpit.com/locations.php
Oddly enough,the Charcoal Pit was featured in the Zippy The Pinhead comic strip last week.At any rate,I thought it was odd.

You are too far north for good BBQ unless you are willing to go WAY off the beaten path. And I'm not aware of any good Cheesesteaks that are near the Turnpike but there's still excellent food to be had.

I second the recommendation of Charcoal Pit. There is one on Route 202 (I believe this is exit 8A off of 95 but double check a reliable map) a couple of miles north of 95. If you're driving north on 202, it will be on your left, at Prospect Dr. Hard to miss if you're looking for it.

In New Jersey, an excellent place to stop is Harold's New York Deli. Read the at Roadfood review at http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=1344. From exit 10, bear right, following signs for Raritan Center. As you exit onto Woodbridge Ave, continue to follow signs for Raritan Center, bearing right into the underpass. At the first traffic light, make a left onto King Georges Post Rd. Harold's is in the back of the Ramada Inn on your left (I think the Ramada is now a Holiday Inn but there will be signs). This is literally 3 minutes off the Turnpike. Go hugry as the portions are ENORMOUS. Even old-time NYer's crave Harold's Pastrami. It's that good!

Jake's Hamburgers on Rt. 13 south of the bridge. Mexico Lindo nearby. Dog House, already mentioned. Dairy Palace on Rt. 141 just north of Rt. 13. Deerhead Hot dogs on Maryland Ave. just east of Newport. Durham's Best Barbeque, Fletchwood Rd off Rt. 279, Elkton, MD. Iron Hill Brewery on the river in Wilmington just off I-95.

Casapulla's near the Charcoal Pit is also good for a cheesesteak, however it's take out only.

Claymont, Delaware is the place to go!!! Coming South on 95, right after getting into DE from NJ -- look for ROute 202 South -- go about 1 mile -- Claymont Sub Shop is on your left -- best Steak and Cheese around.

ENJOY!!

Primo Hoagies is among the very best hoagie shops in Philly, and now they have a location in Newark, DE at the end of Main Street just north of U of Delaware. Full details at www.primohoagies.com and the bonus is that if you make this stop, you will avoid the toll plaza in Delaware. That fact alone, depending on the traffic can make this a very worthwhile stop. I'll be happy to provide more details if you are interested. No cheesesteaks here, just a great selection of hoagies. There's also a Capriotti's in the shopping center across the street from Primo, and they have a better cheesesteak and italian, than anything you will get in Baltimore or DC. It's the bread.

You can also stop in at Gaetano's with several locations just off exit 4 of NJTP. A very very good cheesesteak of gigantic proportion.

Signman,

I had the day off from work today and I decided to try Primo's on your recommendation (I saw on the website that they have a NE Philly location). I wasn't sorry, either! What a great Hoagie! I had the "Old Italian", to which I added sweet peppers. It was as good as anything I ever had in Queens! Thanks for posting about it!

Best,

Chumley

Chumley, Now I'm jealous.

DebbieS
Welcome to the Boards and Thanks for your comment on Claymont,DE. Next Month We will kick off our Fall Roadtrip by attending a 40th+ reunion for my Army Unit (ASA) at the Holiday Inn in Claymont. While the evening meals each night are included as part of the reunion activities, the daytime lunch and breakfasts are open to suggestions (only Friday and Saturday and then Sunday morning). We will check out Claymont Subs for one of those lunches!
Any other choices nearby.
From there we head South to be at the BIGPIGJIG in Georgia the following Friday. (Via Virginia Beach and Savannah--so far-)

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen

From there we head South to be at the BIGPIGJIG in Georgia the following Friday. (Via Virginia Beach and Savannah--so far-)

Mayor, I’ve never been to the Big Pig Jig, but there is one caution to be aware of. It is a more of a competition and not so much of an eating festival.

The Big Pig Jig web site says:

Saturday, October 2 11:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Visitors- this is your only opportunity to sample competition BBQ

So unless you are there for lunch on Saturday, you may be disappointed.

Thanks Ashley,
Yeah we learned that at Memphis in May a few years ago. We will be there for the Saturday sampling, but the vendors and 'fair food' will work for the other times. we just want to see how it compares to Memphis.
The main reason for going to Georgia is to check out the Savannah area for a couple of days. There are a number of places that have been mentioned here and in reviews we have read that we want to sample, then over to Vienna to see if the Festival measures up to the scope of the Memphis and K C festivals.

But the topic is Deleware, and we are looking forward to the opening segment of the trip up there.

First off, thanks for all of the responses! I wanted to give a report back on our RoadFood eats. On the way up we stopped at the Dog House. What a treat. Small place with a long counter for seats. Had the Cheesesteak with mushrooms and grilled onions hot off the grill. I don't claim to be a cheesesteak expert, but it was delicious. Wife had one and agreed. Our little on had a hot dog and that was good as well. It is indeed open until midnight. It is located in Deleware just before you get on the bridge. I followed directions I found in a previous post on this site which were much clearer than provided on MapQuest. It was super convenient, just about 5 minutes off I-95. I STRONGLY recommend it.

On the way back, we tried the Charcoal Pit. My wife and I both had hamburgers and fries which were good. We personally were not overwhelmed, but there were a lot of interesting things on the menu including cheesteaks, steaks and interesting ice cream deserts. I personally liked the kids menu which included apple sauce and milk in the options. Definately a better choice than the road stand cattle calls. In terms of location, this was off of exit one in Delaware. Was about at a maximum distance we would travel for a good restaurant...perhaps 15-20 minutes off the highway depending on traffic. There was a BP gas station directly across the street which was nice for filling up. Again, MapQuest directions were off. CP is located in the "Fox Run" strip mall right off the main boulevard next to a mexican restaurant(as opposed to the smaller stores that make up the main part of the mall). Mapquest actually send you off onto fox run road which goes into a subdivision.

Couldn't have been happier with this site. Thanks so much!

Sounds like you went to a newer Charcoal Pit. (There are four) The original is on Concord Pike (US 202) Same menu but great neon.

Yes, it did seem like a newer one. I did forget one thing about the Charcoal Pit. They had a great relish that is served with the Hamburgers.

If you were to take I-95 thru Wilmington and Philadelphia, cross the Delaware at Trenton and get on NJ 31 for few miles to
US 202 and then I-287 and I-87 across the Tappan Zee Bridge you would be putting yourself in much better roadfod territory. Several Philly cheesesteak shrines are very close to I-95, Lambertville and several other Jersey towns have pretty good eating and are convenient to your route. We have not yet found any good places along 202, but they must be there, and I 287 gets you pretty close to the North Jersey hot dog shrines. As an added bonus for this route, it gets you off that damn Jersey Turnpike.

Cheers, John

On Sunday, my wife and I visited the Doghouse. The Dogs were great! I is worth the stop.


Walt

On Sunday, my wife and I visited the Doghouse. The Dogs were great! It is worth the stop.


Walt

I had a great cheese steak today in Wilmington, just a few blocks off I-95, a place called Yatz's, in Little Italy. There was a place just across the street (Union St) called Pala's cafe which had on their building in lage red letters. "World's worst pizzas, subs, and steaks". I may try it tomoorrow.

carl reitz