Jad's Caddy Shack

I lived within walking distance of Jad's for a good year and a half before Deana and I decided we ought to finally try them out. Since then, we've probably been back ten to fifteen times. I think it's safe to say we eat there more than any other restaurant. Not only is the location great (for us), but it reminds me of the restaurants I grew up eating at in Uniontown, PA. The decor isn't fancy but the food is great, the portions are huge, and the prices are more than fair.

The main reason we return to Jad's so often is my addiction to their Beef Stroganoff. It's such a simple dish, but it's not something you find on menus very often. I can't get enough of it. The Stroganoff has tons of beef and mushrooms served on top of egg noodles and all of it is smothered in a savory beef gravy. Just as surprising is the delicious garden salad that comes on the side. I'm not the biggest fan of creamy salad dressings, but I've always loved Creamy Italian. The only problem with liking Creamy Italian is the fact that it seems like only 1 out of every 500 restaurants seem to have it as an option. It's simple items like this found throughout Jad's menu that makes me love it so much.

Deana has been a little more adventurous with the menu and has tried the Hot Turkey Sandwich, Cream of Crab Soup, and Country Fried Chicken. She loves them all, but the Soup and Chicken seem to stand out. I can't speak to the soup, but the chicken is great. You get two big pieces of chicken breast with a crispy crust that are smothered in gravy. If I weren't a certified Stroganoff addict I could definitely see getting my Jad's fix via Country Fried Chicken.

This isn't going to be one of those restaurants you see reviewed by most people. To be honest, some people might turn their nose up at a place like this because Jad's doesn't go out of their way to be fancy or put items on their menu that are trendy. But what they do, they do well and they deserve you're patronage. Jad's serves delicious food for prices that are beyond fair and sure to make you happy. And for all of you craft beer fans out there, they do a surprisingly good job with their local offerings. I've seen Raven and Flying Dog Raging Bitch on tap, and I've seen quite a few different Dogfish Head offerings in bottle. So, the clock is ticking. Get to Jad's and get there quick. There are no excuses.

Price: Cheap
Recommendation: Try something and new and visit them ASAP.
What to Order: Beef Stroganoff, Cream of Crab, or Country Fried Chicken

 

Blue Crab

Wow! I really have a serious backlog of restaurant reviews to get through. I'm just now getting to some of the places we visited last summer when my family took a little vacation to Bethany Beach, Delaware.  Blue Crab is first on the list, and it's also first in our hearts. It's hard to get 6 adults all agreeing on a place for a dinner. But, agree we do, and I highly recommend you try Blue Crab out if you ever find yourself in the area.

Blue Crab is everything you want in a beach restaurant. The atmosphere is laid back, the staff is friendly, and the seafood is delicious. I'm pretty sure my sister started planning for this dinner 8 months in advance, and she is probably well into plans for the next visit considering how long I waited to write this review. It's safe to say that as long as they offer the blue crab saute on their menu Lauren will be ordering up this little bit of heaven. What makes it so good to her and the others that tasted the saute at our table was the simple way it was prepared. Jumbo lump crab meat, a little butter and old bay is all it took to make an awesome dish.

My brother and bro-in-law both ordered the Seafood Combo which consists of snow crab, mussels, clams, and shrimp. When I asked them how it tasted I got a fairly simple response. It was plentiful and tasted like the ocean. I can definitely vouch that it was plentiful as it took both of them a hell of a long time to put it all down. But, that's what beach eating is all about, right? Take your time, enjoy the food and surroundings, and leave with a full belly.

As for me, I went with the Fried Shrimp Dinner. Fried shrimp is probably about as basic as you can get when it comes to seafood, but this stuff is out of this world good. The shrimp are fried to perfection and the breading they use is excellent as well. It's light. It's crunchy. It doesn't get in the way of the shrimp.

Something else that we all love about the Blue Crab is their side dishes. A lot of times side dishes are often afterthoughts. Not here. The Mac & Cheese is creamy deliciousness. If you're vacationing with a 3 year old (like we were) or a 98 year old grandmother this Mac exists to please everyone. And the corn on the cob is fantastic. It's just like you'd make at home with whole cob boiled up and served in the husk.

No matter how much I write here, I'd never be able to convey just how much my family enjoys this place and I'm confident that you will too. So, this summer, if you're planning a trip to Delaware be sure to set aside a night to visit the Blue Crab. You'll love it.