A Brand-New Experience at Pablo’s in Somers Point (+ A Mocktail Surprise at Texas Roadhouse)

 There are many reasons I feel lucky to call South Jersey home, but one of my favorites? The growing mocktail scene.

More and more restaurants in our area are embracing sober living, offering creative nonalcoholic drinks instead of the usual “we can make you a Shirley Temple.” And honestly? That deserves to be celebrated.

Thanks in part to the amazing HERO Campaign and their mission to encourage designated driving, mocktails are becoming easier to find at bars and restaurants across South Jersey. It makes going out feel more inclusive, and a lot more fun for those of us living alcohol-free.

This week gave me two very different dining experiences… one unexpectedly delightful, and one unforgettable for reasons I wish were better.

A Surprise Stop at Texas Roadhouse (with Mocktails!)

The week started with a place I honestly never imagined I’d be visiting: Texas Roadhouse.

I’m not exactly a “Texas” girl (Go Birds), but Joe had a Veterans Day free meal coupon, and I wanted him to enjoy a nice lunch out. Plus… who can really say no to those warm rolls with cinnamon butter?

The first thing we noticed walking in was how clean and spacious everything felt.

The second thing?

A mocktail menu.

Yes, an actual mocktail menu.

They had four fruity zero-proof drink options, which immediately earned points from me.

I ordered the Tropical Breeze, made with coconut, mango, nonalcoholic blue curaçao, sour mix, and club soda.

It arrived topped with big mango chunks and looked like a vacation in a glass.

Flavor-wise, I didn’t get much coconut, but it tasted like a tropical punch with a fun fizzy finish. Bright, fruity, refreshing, and honestly way more thoughtful than I expected from a chain restaurant.

Our server, Cameron, was quick, friendly, and attentive.

We shared the twisted mozzarella sticks, I ordered a salad, and Joe went with the steak lunch special.

Overall? Great service, good food, and a genuinely fun mocktail experience.

Big shoutout to chain restaurants putting real effort into nonalcoholic drink menus.

First Visit to Pablo’s in Somers Point

Later in the week we headed to the newly opened Pablo in Somers Point, and let me tell you…

Before we even got out of the car, we knew this place was the place to be.

Cars lined the streets. The parking lot was packed.

Finding a parking spot felt like winning the lottery, and somehow we did.

Walking up to Pablo’s, you can hear laughter coming from the outdoor bar before you even reach the entrance.

The property itself is gorgeous.

Flowers line the walkways, greenery surrounds the space, and the whole restaurant feels bright, lively, and made for summer nights at the Shore.

There are multiple bar areas, indoor and outdoor seating, and an energy that immediately makes you feel like you’re somewhere special.

Even if you’re just going for the atmosphere alone, it’s worth seeing.

We were seated quickly near the outdoor area, and our server Monica greeted us shortly after.

Pablo’s Mocktails

Pablo’s doesn’t currently have a dedicated mocktail menu, but they were happy to make virgin versions of drinks.

Naturally… I had to try a few.

Coconut Mojito

Served in a tall glass with a sugar rim, this one was creamy, sweet, citrusy, and not overly minty.

It almost tasted like candy in a glass.

Refreshing, playful, and definitely one I’d order again.

Lychee Mocktail

Joe loves lychee, and he took a sip before I could even snap a photo, which says everything.

I managed one sip before it disappeared.

Sweet, fruity, and garnished with a lychee on a toothpick. Such a fun little treat.

Blood Orange… Not Mocktail

And then… the experience shifted.

I took one sip of the Blood Orange drink and immediately knew something was wrong.

There was a sharp burning sensation, and the flavor was strong enough to make me physically recoil.

Unfortunately, it turned out the drink was not alcohol-free.

There had been a mistake at the bar, and an alcoholic beverage was served instead of a mocktail.

As someone who lives alcohol-free and actively celebrates sober living, this was incredibly upsetting.

We let our server know right away.

Monica handled it kindly, and manager Oscar came over to sincerely apologize. The drinks were removed from the bill and dessert was offered.

I appreciated how seriously they took it.

That said, being served alcohol after specifically ordering mocktails, and having a full conversation about mocktails, was difficult to shake off emotionally.

Mistakes happen. But this one felt bigger.

The Food at Pablo’s

Then came the wait.

And the wait…

And more waiting.

About 45 minutes passed and our appetizer still hadn’t arrived.

Eventually another manager, Austin, stopped by to apologize and let us know there had been another kitchen issue.

To be fair, Pablo’s had only been open about four weeks, and the entire restaurant around us seemed happy, relaxed, and enjoying their meals without delay.

We just happened to be having one of those nights.

Austin explained it would be another 15 minutes. I figured I’d ask some questions while we waited. I asked about ticket times, and he explained orders should be out within 15-20 minutes for your whole meal. Pablo’s has been open for 4 weeks now. They make as much as possible from scratch, including fresh daily tortillas that are gluten-free. The conversation definitely adds context. 

About an hour after ordering, the food finally hit the table.

Nachos

Towering high with chips, queso, cheese, guacamole, and pico.

A big portion. Great for sharing.

Taco Trio Sampler

I ordered the taco trio, and this was the highlight of the meal even though they were on the smaller side.

Short Rib Taco
Fork-tender and rich. Melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Birria Taco
My personal favorite style of taco, and Pablo’s version absolutely delivered. Flavorful, juicy, and packed with everything I love about birria.

Brisket Taco
Okay… wow. Smoky, savory, incredibly flavorful, like a direct trip to Flavortown.

I could eat this every day.

Joe ordered Pablo’s take on a burrito bowl and the Mexican Street Corn appitizer.

He said it was good overall, though not exactly what he expected based on the menu description. Still enjoyable, just a little different than anticipated.

Final Thoughts: Is Pablo’s Worth Visiting?

Despite the rough experience, the staff at Pablo’s truly did everything they could to make it right.

They apologized multiple times and generously comped our meal, which was incredibly thoughtful.

The hospitality did not go unnoticed.

My honest takeaway?

The space is beautiful. The food has real potential. The tacos were genuinely delicious.

But being accidentally served alcohol when specifically ordering mocktails made the visit hard to fully enjoy.

Would I go back?

Maybe.

The managers invited us back for a redemption visit and asked us to let them know when we arrive so we can experience Pablo’s the way it’s meant to be.

And honestly… I’m open to it.

Because if that brisket taco is waiting for me again… I may be persuaded.

The Final Sober Party Girl Scores

Pablo’s Somers Point, NJ

Mocktail experience: 0/10
Please, please don’t serve alcohol to sober guests.

Food: 3/10 overall experience
The tacos were delicious, but the drink mistake and service delays made it hard to recover from.

Texas Roadhouse

9/10

A fun mocktail menu, great service, solid food, and an unexpectedly enjoyable lunch.

Until next time,
The Sober Party Girl

The Sober Party Girl Pros & Cons 🍹✨

Texas Roadhouse

PROS 👍
🍹 Real mocktail menu with multiple zero-proof options
🥭 Tropical Breeze was fruity, refreshing, and fun
🥖 Fresh rolls + cinnamon butter are impossible to resist
🧀 Twisted mozzarella sticks were perfect for sharing
😊 Friendly, quick service from Cameron
✨ Spacious, clean dining room
💸 Great value for a casual lunch out

CONS 👎
🥥 The Tropical Breeze could’ve used more coconut flavor
🤠 Still… it’s Texas Roadhouse, and I’ll always be an Eagles girl

Pablo’s — Somers Point

PROS 👍
🌸 Beautiful space with incredible ambiance
🌴 Gorgeous outdoor bar and summer-at-the-shore vibes
🥥 Coconut mojito mocktail was creamy, sweet, and delicious
🍈 Lychee mocktail was fruity, fun, and memorable
🌮 Taco trio had standout flavors across the board
🥩 Brisket taco was the star of the night
🥑 Nachos were huge and great for sharing
🙏 Staff and management were kind, apologetic, and tried hard to make things right

CONS 👎
🍹 An alcoholic drink was accidentally served instead of a mocktail
😞 Difficult experience for a sober guest after specifically ordering zero-proof drinks
⏰ Long wait for food (around an hour total)
🍽️ Kitchen ticket issues created a frustrating overall experience
💸 Pricing felt a little high in certain spots ($16 nachos definitely stood out)
🤷 Hard to fully enjoy the meal after the drink mix-up