There are several plans of attack to take in the almost 100 shops and attractions at the Historic Towne of Smithville in Galloway Township.
One involves starting with a good breakfast at AJ’s On the Lake and then explore each of the quaint stores at a leisurely pace. Another would be to get right to the shopping and then pause to refuel with a refreshing lunch at AJ’s. Still another scenario would be to arrive in the afternoon, shop into the early evening, and then enjoy a relaxing dinner at AJ’s.
Clearly, a trip to Smithville should include a stop at AJ’s On the Lake.
Angel Soto and Jake Cohen, the A and the J in AJ’s, opened their lakeside eatery last May and have been enjoying a growing following ever since.
The two worked together for six years at Hannah G’s in Ventnor (Soto still works there during the day) before striking out on their own.
“We worked well together and both of us wanted to do our own thing, so we opened AJ’s,” said Cohen.
Cohen relayed a list of restaurants where Soto worked as a chef, including 14 years at the Island Diner in Brigantine, the Owl Tree in Northfield, and his restaurant, Chason’s in Columbus, Ohio.
Cohen worked at Hannah G’s, formerly the Cook Nook, for 13 years.
The secret to AJ’s success, said Cohen, is the freshness of the ingredients that go into every meal.
“Everything is made fresh. We make our own sauces, dressings, soups – even our raspberry tartar sauce is homemade. That really makes a difference,” he said.
AJ’s offers breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and serves breakfast all day. It also offers specials Monday through Friday.
“Today we have a breakfast quesadilla, a waffle special and an omelet. We do the same at lunch and dinner – something for every taste,” said Cohen.
Although the lake out front of AJ’s was partially frozen on a recent visit, ducks swam by along with an occasional goose. The large front windows make looking out over the bucolic scene possible from just about any seat in the restaurant. Tables outside offer lakeside dining, and although many patrons may prefer to wait until spring, the tables have not been completely passed over.
“With the nice weather we’ve been having, our outdoor tables have gotten quite a bit of use,” Cohen explained.
The shops in Smithville are open all year, with most opening by 11 a.m. in the winter months.
AJ’s offers free delivery to the surrounding area until 7 p.m.
Catering and private parties are easily accommodated at the restaurant and Cohen said special orders are never a problem.
When asked what the specialty of the house is at AJ’s, an eavesdropping breakfast customer chimed in with, “You have to try the crab cakes. They’re the best.”
Cohen agreed.
“Our crab cakes are great. We bake lump crab meat in a lemon butter white wine sauce and serve it with homemade raspberry tartar sauce and homemade cocktail sauce. It is the best.”
Cohen said for lunch the chicken salad can’t be beat.
“The chicken salad is all white meat and served with homemade potato, macaroni or coleslaw. It is a customer favorite,” said Cohen.
Desserts at AJ’s include rice and bread pudding, both homemade, and a daily dessert special.
“This is a nice place to eat. The food is homemade, the area is nice and the view of the lake is very relaxing. We love it,” said Cohen.