Glassboro has a secret that not many people know about. The town is teeming with different restaurants and eateries but one is like nothing you’ve had before.
On Delsea Drive North, just a few minutes from the center of Rowan University’s campus, sits Grubbins— a small restaurant that to the naked eye, just looks like a house. Despite it’s size, it packs a powerful punch to your taste buds.
When my dining partner and I pulled into the parking lot on a Friday night, we were both shocked to find that we were the only ones there. We hoped it was not a sign of what to expect from the meal.
When we walked in, our ears were filled with music from the 1980s playing from a TV mounted on the wall. “Eye of the Tiger” was playing when we walked in— chalk one up on the scoreboard for Grubbins.
The color scheme was green and black, and we later found out that everything from the tile flooring to the furniture was handcrafted by the owner. He even took the pictures on the walls.
Grubbins is a seat-yourself style of dining. But even though you have to go to the counter to place an order, the staff is very helpful.
The menu has something for everyone, from sandwiches to tacos and salads. After debating heavily on what to order, I decided on the Barbeque Pulled Pork Sandwich and my companion tried the Cheesesteak Supreme. As an appetizer, we ordered the Pizza Fries.
Our appetizer came out five minutes after ordering, but what came out of the kitchen was an order of plain fries, not the pizza fries we planned on. This didn’t bother us, as the plain fries were seasoned to perfection. When the owner remembered what we really ordered, we were both almost sad to see them go. He came back out with the pizza fries, which are the same delicious homemade fries topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. I didn’t think the plain fries could get any better, but they did.
The owner— who also happens to be the chef— brought out our main course. The cheesesteak looked like something I have never seen before, in a good way. My partner was getting ready to put ketchup on it when the owner stopped him.
“Before you put anything on it, I’m going to ask that you take a bite of it first,” he said.
Although caught off guard, my companion agreed.
“I have never tasted anything like it,” he said. “The ketchup would have ruined it. Best cheesesteak I’ve ever eaten without a doubt.”
After trying the cheesesteak for myself, I agreed. The red and green sweet peppers perfectly complimented the Grubbins signature sauce.
My dish was another winner. I am a huge fan of pulled pork sandwiches and Grubbins took the gold in my opinion. The pork was marinated in a jalapeno mango barbecue sauce. It was a rich flavor and wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy. The meat was tender and juicy, served on a warm brioche bun and topped with coleslaw. I am not a fan of coleslaw, but combined with the pork, it tasted phenomenal.
We left with full bellies and a great experience for an affordable price. The pride and joy the owner has in his restaurant and for food clearly shows in every single dish.
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Grubbins
20 N Delsea Dr
Glassboro NJ 08028
856-612-5335
www.grubbinsville.com
Style: American
Sit-in, Take-out and Delivery
Accepts: cash, credit, debit and Boro Bucks
Parking: Lot parking
Price Range: $5-$11
Rating: 5 stars
