PJ Whelihan's Pub

PJ's is located on Haddon Ave. in Haddonfield, NJ just a few blocks from the Westmont speedline station. Once inside, the décor is standard Irish pub meets suburban sports bar. The various sports photos and Irish beer memorabilia that garner the walls are not overdone. Is anyone else tired of the décor overload in TGI Friday's, for example?

PJ's has a large interior with a generous bar in the rear for when things get too crowded up front. The front bar is long and straight extending the length of the room with seating for close to 20 patrons, while the front dining room seats about 75. With the back room holding another 12 at the bar and another 50 at tables. You generally won't feel claustrophobic, as there is sort of an open feel to the entire establishment.

One of the first things you'll notice is the ample 25" TV's scattered around the bar and dining area. There are 32 TV's in all, so you'll never be disappointed that they're not showing your team. Of course, here at Phillytown there is no other team than the Eagles, cough. The managers are also good at putting on whatever game you are interested in at the screen closest to you. This is why you often find the "swank" cursing at Dan Marino on Sunday afternoons in the back bar, not to mention keeping tabs of my fantasy stats. (Ladies: disregard that statement, I'm not one of those fantasy geeks).

There are a large number of beers on tap at both front and rear bars. You'll find a selection of Guinness, Harp, Boddingtons's, Foster's, and Honey Brown as well as several of your more standard American brews. Unfortunately, the food is a little underwhelming. The fried food seems like it spent a little too much time in the fryer sometimes. Also the nachos and wings are sub-par. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I'd recommend a salad or burger. The clientele in the pub is a slightly up-scale group of Haddonfield co-ed's home from Villanova for the weekend (and the men they attract) sprinkled with some older couples who brought their kids for dinner after the local 10-14 yr. old soccer game. The waitresses are all very cute and friendly, as well, if unapproachable.

Overall PJ's is a great place to just meet up with and hang out with your friends and maybe take in a game or a little scenery, whether it's after work or on the weekends. The atmosphere is friendly and laid back. It doesn't try to be any more than it is. You're not going to get the live music or century old buildings like the more frou-frou places that the Dog likes to hang out in over in the "city." It's definitely one of my favorite spots in South Jersey.

- The preceding review was written by the one the ladies call: Swankdaddy. He hails from New Jersey; but don't hold it against him.

PROS:

Large Beer selection.

Homegrown crowd.

32 Large TV's

Lot's of cute waitresses/bartenders

CONS:

Gets crowded on the weekends.

Food no more than average.

Close to the NJ Transit speedline.

Getting "Shaqued" by chicks in leopard tops - hard to believe this happened to Swank!

"Swankdaddy Shaqued? If I wasn't there to witness it - I wouldn't have believed it. But let's give the lady her props, she was sporting a tight leopard skin top and, oh yeah, Double D's."

- The Dog