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New Jersey Dispatch: Where to Eat in Mullica Hill, the Halfway Point

Posted by BrianYarvin, December 12, 2008 at 2:00 PM

I always seem to hear about people asking each other where they should stop on the way from New York to Washington, D.C. and getting all sorts of lopsided advice. Yes, there are big diners here and there, but how about something that's roughly half way? That would be about Exit 2 off the New Jersey Turnpike.

Luckily, the town of Mullica Hill is just two miles east of Exit 2—it's a place that's so nice that it could be a day trip in itself. What's there? A diner (of course), an Amish megastore, a café or two, and, in season, some solid farm stands. And if you make it a day trip instead of a stop, there are a whole bunch of antique shops too.

At the edge of town the first thing you'll see coming from the Turnpike is (what else?) a strip mall. If you're in a hurry, you don't have to go any farther. The Harrison House Diner/Restaurant is open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days a week. 98 N Main Street, Mullica Hill NJ 08062 (map); 856-478-6077; harrisonhousediner.com

Besides the Rite-Aid and Chinese takeout, there's The Amish Farmer's Market, a sort of mini-mall of food. Like Amish stores all over the northeast, this one positions itself as offering better food than the supermarket and lower prices than gourmet shops. In the market, the Stoltzfus Sandwich Shop, Yoder's BBQ, and the Dutch Country Kitchen all have prepared meals and the Country Kitchen has table service. Come here for reasonably price cooked breakfasts and lunches. Hot dogs, burgers, and sandwich platters are typical, and Stoltzfus offers a pig roast on Fridays and Saturdays.

Whoopie pie and shoo-fly pie.

Needless to say, where there are Amish shops, there are baked goods—the stall offering whoopie pies, shoo-fly pies, breads, and cakes is one of the most prominent, and there are so many doughnut varieties that they need a separate counter for them. 108 Swedesboro Road, Mullica Hill NJ 08062(map); 856-478-4300; Thurs., 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; restaurants open at 7:30 a.m.; amishmarketmullicahill.com

With a bit more time, you can head into town, a right turn on Route 322/45, and visit the Blue Plate, a small town restaurant with food that's a step or two above the diner and Amish market. Besides a hot breakfast, they offer salad platters (I had a Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad), risotto, roast chicken, pork tenderloin, salmon and a large dessert menu. 47 South Main Street, Mullica Hill NJ 08062 (map); 856-478-2112; Mon. to Sat., 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sun., 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Need to check your email? The Stir It Up Coffeehouse has free internet and a long menu of coffee drinks. This place feels like the living room of your dream small town home and once you're sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace, you might find it a bit hard to drive the rest of your trip. Advice: If you're staying, ask for a mug instead of a paper cup. It makes the place even more comfy. 48 North Main Street, Mullica Hill NJ 08062 (map); 856-478-0024; Mon. to Fri., 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sat., 8.a.m - 11 p.m.; Sun., 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; mullicahillcoffeehouse.com; possible live music on weekend evenings

"Comfy" might mean different things to different people. To a fan of Amelia's Teas & Holly, Stir It Up might look a bit dowdy, but Mullica Hill's priciest option with set teas in the twenty dollar range gives you a genteel choice that could change the tone of you journey. Assorted tea sandwiches, soups, quiches, scones, and even a "Little Miss Tea" are an elegant change from the other options. The adjoining shop filled with Christmas ornaments seems a bit strange at first, but fits right in with the town's antique malls and gift shops. 26 South Main Street, Mullica Hill NJ 08062 (map); 856-223-0404; Tues. to Sat., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun., 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.; ameliastasandholly.com

Mullica Hill isn't right on the turnpike—you'll have to drive that extra two miles. It's worth it though and you'll find that the time it takes to get there is less than the time you'll stand on line for fast food in a rest area.

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Tags: Amelia's Tea and Holly, Blue Plate, Mullica Hill, New Jersey, New Jersey Turnpike, Stir It Up Coffeehouse, The Amish Farmer's Market, The Harrison House Diner