Hidden Treasures Behind the Dark Door in Somers Point

Queen Jayne’s has been making a big splash in the area, and somehow… I missed the memo.

I always assumed it was just a tasting room for their main store, Passion Vines, so I never bothered to venture over. But then someone said the magic words: “They have mocktails.”

Say. No. More.

We parked in the strip mall lot and headed toward the bright, glowing Passion Vines sign thinking that had to be the entrance. Nope.

Queen Jayne’s is actually the dark, unassuming door nearby. No neon. No flashy sign. Just a small little entrance hiding a whole vibe behind it.

The second we walked in, we were met with a hostess podium… and curtains. Behind those curtains? Loud laughter, chatter, and the unmistakable sound of a place that is fully booked and thriving.

“Reservations?”

Reader, I did not even think to make a reservation.

The place was PACKED. And I was standing there wondering: How long has this place been poppin’ without me!?

Thankfully, we snagged a tiny table (and I mean tiny—like an 18-inch-by-18-inch table) for a limited time. But honestly? Worth it.

The Menu

The menu is massive, but not in an overwhelming way. It’s packed with beautiful descriptions, artwork, and food-and-drink pairings that make you want to try everything.

There isn’t a separate mocktail menu, but mocktails are peppered throughout the drink list… and not just two sad little options.

I was already obsessed.

After lots of debating, we landed on three mocktails for the night.

The Mocktails

The Dark Path

This is hands-down the most alcohol-tasting nonalcoholic drink I’ve ever had. Like… why does it burn?

It starts smooth, then hits you with a strong spiced kick that somehow turns into a “medicine you had when you were little” vibe. There’s also a bitter, face-pinching note I just couldn’t get behind.

It’s made with Pathfinder botanical, red verjus, and spiced chocolate, and it sounded amazing… but this one is definitely for people who want their mocktail to feel like a SERIOUS drink.

Only Friend’s

Made with blanc verjus, passion fruit, lime, vanilla, honey, and bubbles. This one was smooth, bright, and genuinely delightful.

It also comes with a side shot of sparkling nonalcoholic Riesling, which I’m assuming is the “bubbles” element. You can sip it separately or mix it in.

Naturally, I combined them. When in Rome!

All it did was make a fruity sweet drink a little more fizzy, and honestly? I was not mad about it.

Plumdinger

The showstopper. The main character. The reason I will be back.

This was a full-on plum explosion, perfectly fizzy, and wildly flavorful in the best way.

It’s made with plum shrub, red verjus, lime, vanilla, honey, and ginger beer, and it hits that perfect sweet spot without being overpowering.

Plum is definitely the star, but it doesn’t take over the whole drink.

I could have had 100 more.

The Food

You know how we roll, gang.

Dessert first. Always.

Chocolate mousse with raspberry topping

This was SINFUL.

A stiff whipped chocolate mousse that somehow still melts in your mouth, topped with vanilla bean whipped cream and a raspberry sauce that I’m pretty sure was made with real raspberries and not just from a bottle. So good. So so good.

Rose pound cake

Served warm with a swirl of lychee buttercream, which was honestly the highlight. That buttercream was DIVINE.

The pound cake itself was good, just slightly dry, but still really enjoyable. And most importantly: it wasn’t perfumey, which I was worried about.

Overall, I’m so glad we tried something so unique.

Chocolate strawberry cheesecake

This was a solid cheesecake, because honestly, it’s hard to hate cheesecake.

But I didn’t get much strawberry flavor, which made me sad because I’m a big fruit girl. The chocolate crust is what pulled it together.

Joe finished it before I could steal the last bite. Rude.

Okay, Now the Real Food

Skirt steak crostini

Four perfectly crafted steak toasts topped with some kind of sundried tomato. These were addicting.

I genuinely wish we had just eaten these all night and called it a day.

Shrimp ceviche

Cooked shrimp, chilled, tossed with cucumber and honeydew, and served with plantain chips.

It had a spicy kick, which worked perfectly with the cool honeydew. Every bite had a ton of shrimp, and it was honestly one of the best things we tried.

Quail egg soba noodles

Served chilled in an Asian-inspired sauce I can’t quite identify, maybe something like a sweet chili Thai?

The black soba noodles fill the bowl, and it comes with edamame, carrot, and a saffron quail egg. Just between friends, I am questioning if the beige stuff is a carrot…

Joe loved the quail egg… but he was already full from dessert (as he should be).

I tried it too, and it was really good. I actually think it would be amazing served hot.

The Vibe

While we were there, more reservations kept pouring in. I don’t even remember seeing people leave. The bar stayed full, the bartenders never stopped moving, and food was constantly being delivered to tables.

It’s a small, tight spot, but it’s clearly a hidden gem tucked next to a liquor store, behind a dark black door.

It was definitely a pricier night, so I wouldn’t call it a “hang out neighborhood bar,” but for a special night out? Absolutely.

Total Sober Party Girl Score: 9.5 out of 10

The only reason it’s missing that final 0.5 is because it gets so busy that walking in without a reservation can feel a little defeating. And depending on where you sit, it can be pretty cramped.

They’re doing the best with the space they have, but trust me: make that reservation so you don’t have to do the awkward “oh… okay…” walk back out that we almost had to do.

Until next time,
The Sober Party Girl 💋

✅ Pros

• 🍹 Mocktail options beyond the usual 2 sad choices (YES PLEASE)
  
  

• 🎨 Beautiful menu with creative pairings + artsy vibes
  
  

• 🌙 Hidden gem energy behind the dark door = fun + mysterious
  
  

• 🥂 Plumdinger is a MUST (sweet, fizzy, unique, 10/10)
  
  

• 🍋 Only Friend’s is super refreshing and comes with bonus bubbles
  
  

• 🍫 Desserts are elite (that mousse?? sinful)
  
  

• 🥩 Skirt steak crostini is addicting and worth ordering again
  
  

• 🍽️ Great for a date night or special outing
  
  

• 🧑‍🍳🔥 Food and drinks came out constantly = kitchen + bar stay BUSY
  
  

❌ Cons

• 📅 Reservations feel basically required (walk-ins = stressful)
  
  

• 😵‍💫 Very busy + packed which can feel overwhelming
  
  

• 🤏 Tiny tables (like… comically small)
  
  

• 🪑 Cramped seating depending on where you sit
  
  

• 💸 Pricey, not really a casual “let’s hang out” spot
  
  

• 🕵️‍♀️ Entrance is easy to miss if you don’t know where to look