From LBI to Egg Harbor City: One Incredible Mocktail Couldn't Save Date Night

PHEW. What a whirlwind of a week!

From partying with thousands of people at Hell's Belles, to spending a sunny day exploring Long Beach Island, discovering a classic Stewart's Root Beer drive-in, and ending the week with a date night that... well... didn't exactly go as planned.

Let's dive into another week of adventures around South Jersey, because I have so much to tell you!

Hell's Belles at The Deck at Golden Nugget

Last week kicked off with another incredible Hell's Belles event hosted by 103.7 WMGM at The Deck at Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.

Holy moly. Every year I think, "There's no way more people can fit on that deck."

Every year... somehow they do.

The atmosphere was absolutely electric, the music was fantastic, and you all SHOWED UP. It was chaotic in the best possible way.

Oh... and my friend Karle introduced me to the famous Halara skirt. TikTok won. It's already on the way to my house.

A Perfect Day Trip to Long Beach Island

Over a year ago, my friend Charlie told me: "You HAVE to try Chicken or the Egg."

Well Charlie… You were right.

If you've never been, Chicken or the Egg is one of the most iconic restaurants in Long Beach Island. We ordered the best of both worlds: breakfast and chicken tenders! Because why choose?

There wasn't much in the way of mocktails, but the food was solid, the quirky decor was fun, and the whole place had that classic Jersey Shore energy.

We'll definitely be back.

After breakfast we spent some time at the nearby waterpark before wandering through the farmers market next door, where we grabbed some homemade ice cream.

Honestly? It made for the perfect summer day trip.

A Stewart's Root Beer Surprise

On the drive home, we stopped at a local farm stand for fresh produce and, of course, to feed some adorable goats.

Then… The car screeched to a halt.

A Stewart's Root Beer drive-in!!!!!!

If you're from Atlantic County, you know almost all of our Stewart's locations disappeared years ago. Decades even! Seeing one still operating in all of its nostalgic drive-up glory felt like stepping back in time.

Were we already full? Absolutely.

Did we smell like chlorine? Definitely.

Did that stop us? Not even a little.

We ordered an icy cold frosted mug of root beer… and maybe added a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Is this a Mocktail? I'm totally counting it.

I also ordered what might have been one of the best turkey burgers I've had in a long time. Zero regrets.

Date Night at The Inn on St. Louis

Now… Let's talk about date night.

Earlier this month, I visited The Inn on St. Louis in Egg Harbor City for an event with AC Pride. I absolutely loved it.

The historic building had been beautifully restored, the beer garden was gorgeous, and I even enjoyed one of the cutest mocktails ever that was served in a bucket! Naturally, I promised I'd come back for a proper dinner review.

This week… I finally did. Unfortunately, this visit was a very different experience.

The Atmosphere

Finding parking was easy, even though it is street parking. We were seated immediately.

The dining room is cozy, with twinkling Christmas lights, vintage decor, and a large U-shaped bar that gives it a welcoming neighborhood feel.

The beer garden was technically open, with guests sitting outside, but the outdoor bar wasn't operating that evening. From what I was told, it’s just not busy enough to open the outside bar unless there is an event.

That was a little disappointing, because it's honestly one of the restaurant's biggest assets. Especially when they have the barbecue pit going. A summer night eating burgers, hotdogs, and a buck of mocktail? Sign. Me. Up. But I guess I’ll have to keep dreaming.

The Mocktail

One thing I was excited to discover? While there isn't currently a dedicated mocktail menu, our server assured me the bartenders could create just about anything.

Challenge accepted.I asked for a dealer's choice.

A few minutes later, out came what felt like a cross between their Summer Love and Strawberry Fields cocktails.

It was overflowing with bubbles from their fresh strawberry puree, muddled mint, bubbly soda, and tiny blueberries. It was fruity, fresh, refreshing, and light. Strawberry Fields is the perfect name for this drink, and the cute little blueberries added some razzle dazzle. 

Exactly what I wanted on a hot summer evening. This was easily the highlight of dinner.

Sober Party Girl Mocktail Rating: 9/10

The Food 

Dessert First (Obviously)

Within minutes of ordering, dessert arrived. Their Peanut Butter Pie.

Friends… This wasn't just pie.

This was layers of chocolate, peanut butter filling, peanut butter mousse, chocolate drizzle, peanut butter drizzle… Basically a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup turned into dessert.

The whipped cream tasted homemade, and every bite was rich without being overwhelming.

My only complaint? For $9, I wanted a much bigger slice. How dare something be that delicious and that tiny.

Dinner

Unfortunately… This is where things started to go downhill.

The restaurant wasn't particularly busy. I'd estimate around fifteen guests inside, but our meals took nearly an hour to arrive.

To the staff's credit, they apologized multiple times throughout the wait. Things happen. No big deal.

Joe’s order came out first. He got the flank steak with grilled asparagus and crushed Yukon potatoes. The steak was overcooked with a heavy charcoal flavor, and overall it just lacked seasoning. The 4 small smashed potatoes were covered in Parmesan cheese but weren't quite as crispy as you'd expect from smashed potatoes. The asparagus, however, was cooked perfectly. Joe felt the flavor was lacking, and for $40 he felt like a dish from Longhorn or Texas Roadhouse would’ve been more satisfying. 

Overall? Just okay.

Then my blackened salmon arrived… Except… It was raw.

Not slightly undercooked. Raw. I had to send it back.

Thankfully, it returned only a few minutes later, mostly cooked. It was probably fully cooked, but after seeing it raw I was just so skeptical.

The salmon itself was better the second time around, and the lemon sauce was absolutely delicious. It came with a side of mushroom risotto, which had great flavor, but was a little dry, while the asparagus once again was excellent.

Overall… Still just okay.

Maybe I’m the asshole. Maybe this is more of a handheld burger and bar pie place than a dinner place. For example, you don’t go to an Italian restaurant and expect their tacos to be good, right? 

Talking with Management

When my salmon came back, we had the opportunity to chat with manager Frankie.

I even joked, "Did we order wrong? Should we have gone with burgers instead?"

She explained that the restaurant had recently rolled out a brand-new menu. Historically, they've been known more as a gastropub serving burgers, sandwiches, and comfort food. The newer entrée additions on the menu are still being fine-tuned.

She was incredibly kind, sincerely apologized, comped our meals, and encouraged us to come back. 

Honestly? That conversation made a huge difference. Great customer service goes a long way.

Final Thoughts

I genuinely believe The Inn on St. Louis has a lot of potential. My first visit was fantastic. This one simply didn't live up to that experience.

The mocktail was excellent. The staff was friendly and attentive. Management handled the situation professionally. I just think the kitchen may still be finding its footing with the new dinner menu.

Next time, I think I'll stick with what made them popular in the first place: burgers, sandwiches, pizza... and definitely another slice of that peanut butter pie.

Oh… And I still need to try that cauliflower crust pizza. Sounds like we might need a redemption review.

(Pablo's... you're still on the redemption list too… Maybe after the summer so I know all the kinks are worked out…)

⭐ Final Sober Party Girl Score: 5 out of 10!

Would I go back?

Absolutely. Just with a different game plan.

Sometimes one off-night doesn't define a restaurant, and I'm hoping that's exactly what happened here.

Until next time,

The Sober Party Girl 💕

🌟 Sober Party Girl Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

• 🍓 Fantastic custom mocktail – Fresh, fruity, bubbly, and one of the highlights of the night.

• 🥜 Peanut Butter Pie is a must-order – Rich, chocolatey, and basically a giant Reese's Cup in pie form.

• 😊 Friendly and attentive staff – Everyone was kind, apologetic, and welcoming throughout the evening.

• 💙 Excellent customer service – Management handled the issues professionally and made things right.

• ✨ Charming atmosphere – Cozy historic building with twinkle lights, vintage décor, and a welcoming neighborhood vibe.

• 🌿 Beautiful beer garden – Even with the outdoor bar closed, the space is cozy and worth checking out.

• 🚗 Easy parking – It may be street parking, but I’ve never had a problem finding a spot.

• 🍹 Bartenders will make custom mocktails – No official mocktail menu, but they're happy to get creative.

❌ Cons

• ⏰ Long wait for entrées – Nearly an hour despite the restaurant not being very busy.

• 🐟 Undercooked salmon – Unfortunately, it had to be sent back to the kitchen.

• 🥩 Steak lacked flavor – Overcooked with a heavy charcoal taste and not quite worth the price.

• 🥔 Sides fell a little flat – The smashed potatoes could have been crispier, and the risotto was slightly dry.

• 💸 Small dessert for the price – Delicious, but $9 deserved a bigger slice!

• 🍺 Outdoor bar wasn't open – One of the property's best features wasn't in use during our visit.

• 📖 Online menu doesn't match the current menu – It can make planning your meal a little confusing. BUT Frankie said it is being worked on