Holiday Havoc Means Merry Mocktails!

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 It’s almost Christmas, which means the holiday chaos is officially in full swing. The closer Santa gets, the louder, busier, and more caffeinated we all become. This is your friendly reminder to pause, take a breath, and pour yourself a mocktail. That’s exactly the vibe I was chasing.

Wanting to stay close to home, we made a quick trip to Mays Landing to check out Freddy J’s—a small bar with a constantly packed parking lot and a very impressive 4.7-star Google rating. We had stopped by once when it first opened and weren’t totally sold, but hey, everyone deserves a second chance. So I grabbed a couple of friends, said a little prayer to the parking gods, and we went for it.

As soon as we walked into the very festively decorated bar, we realized it was karaoke night, and it was packed. There were signs advertising trivia too, so if you’re into entertainment, Freddy J’s definitely keeps the calendar full. After a few loud minutes of awkwardly standing around, staff shouted something in our general direction (I assume it was “sit anywhere!”), and magically three bar seats opened up just for us. A Christmas miracle.

The bartender started off friendly and attentive, so naturally I asked the big question: mocktails? Sadly, there was no mocktail menu (cue dramatic gasp), but he was happy to improvise. 


My Merry Mays Landing Mocktail:

I told him to surprise me and was handed a sweet, sour, tangy mocktail margarita made with lemon and lime juice. Smooth, zippy, and with a kick—it definitely delivered. Unfortunately, that was my one and only drink. The bartender got pulled away, and while my husband and friend scored refills, I couldn’t even sneak in a water request. Wrong seat, wrong time. Meh.

Eventually, he came back to take our food order, and wow, the menu had options. He clearly loves the food and gave us several recommendations. I went with the brisket cheesesteak, fries, and French onion soup. Joe ordered wings and crab rangoon egg rolls.

The Food Breakdown

French Onion Soup
A generously sized crock with melty cheese and caramelized onions. It tasted like… French onion soup. A little too salty for me, but comforting, The green onions on top weren’t my thing. I didn’t finish it.

Brisket Cheesesteak
Cheesy, veggie-filled, and served with excellent fries and a solid cheese sauce. Unfortunately, the brisket was a bit tough and didn’t totally win me over.

Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls
The standout! Crunchy, creamy, and everything you want from a crab rangoon. A definite yes.

Wings
Smoked, not fried, which made them different—in a good way. Fair warning: their mild sauce has a serious burnnnnnn. These wings do not play. 

I really appreciate the creativity of the BBQ-focused menu, but overall, the food just didn’t click for me. That said, everyone around us seemed to be having a great time, loving both the food and the atmosphere, so maybe this one just wasn’t my match.

Final Thoughts

The mocktail was a win, even if it was a one-and-done situation. The people I was with had fun, and while it started out loud and crowded, the place cleared out significantly by the time we left. I skipped karaoke this round (confidence pending), but… maybe next time. Maybe.

Final Sober Party Girl Score: 4 out of 10 🍹✨


⭐ Pros

  • 🍹 Tasty mocktail – Sweet, sour, tangy, and smooth with a nice kick

  • 🎤 Entertainment-packed – Karaoke, trivia, and events happening regularly

  • 🅿️ Clearly popular spot – Packed parking lot and strong Google reviews

  • 🦀 Crab rangoon egg rolls – Crispy, creamy, and a standout dish

  • 🔥 Smoked wings – Different from your usual fried wings with bold flavor


⚠️ Cons

  • 🚫🍹 No mocktail menu – Always a gamble for sober guests

  • 💧 Hard to get refills – One-and-done mocktail experience

  • 🥩 Tough brisket – Cheesesteak didn’t quite deliver

  • 🧅 French onion soup miss – Fine, but nothing memorable

  • 🔊 Very loud & crowded – Especially during karaoke night

Are you Karaoke brave? Or do you prefer a different bar activity?
Location: Mays Landing, Hamilton, NJ 08330, USA

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