Birthday Week, Mocktails & Two Very Different Dining Adventures

-

 Boy, have I been BUSY this month! We’re officially gearing up for Joe’s birthday, which means the birthday celebrations are in full swing. And honestly? Birthday week is already off to a pretty fantastic start.

We spent the weekend in Lewes, Delaware, with my aunt, and had an absolute blast. We toured a lighthouse, walked along the beach, ate some seriously amazing ice cream from Hopkins Creamery, and, most importantly, we found MOCKTAILSSSS! 🙌

Because obviously, no Sober Party Girl adventure is complete without tracking down the local mocktail situation.

Breakfast & Mocktails at Egg in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 🥚🍹

One of our stops was Egg in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which offered a surprisingly lovely mocktail menu.

And yes, the restaurant is actually called Egg.

Hilarious. Delicious. Very egg-cellent. 🥚😂 ba-dum-tsk!

We ate our food so quickly that I completely forgot to take pictures. But honestly, you know the food was good when my only thought was “eat first, think later.”

Besides, we were really here to talk about the mocktails anyway.

The Mocktails

💜 Lavender Lemonade

This was such a pretty drink! The Lavender Lemonade is made with lavender butterfly pea tea and lemonade. It was definitely on the sweeter side, with just enough tartness from the lemonade to keep it refreshing.

It was beautiful, sweet, and exactly the kind of drink that feels like a little vacation in a glass.

🌅 See You At Sunrise

This one was exactly what breakfast called for. The See You At Sunrise combines fresh pomegranate juice with freshly squeezed orange juice. It was a bright, fruity combination that was sweet without being overwhelming.

Basically, it tasted like someone poured sunshine into a glass and told me to wake up already.

We can’t wait to go back for more Delaware adventures. And with the Cape May–Lewes Ferry making the trip so easy from South Jersey, getting to Lewes for a day trip or weekend getaway is a breeze.

And yes, there will probably be more mocktail hunting involved.

Obviously.

Carb Loading in Northfield, New Jersey 🍝

Now let’s flash back to earlier in the week, when we were still hanging around Atlantic County, New Jersey.

We decided we needed to carb up. You know…for pending celebratory reasons. 😏

Enter Mike and Anna’s Pasta House in Northfield, NJ.

If you’re looking for a classic Italian restaurant in South Jersey, this place immediately gives you that feeling the second you walk through the door. It’s cozy, it’s intimate, and it just FEELS like an Italian restaurant.

The dining room is on the smaller side, but it was pretty full when we arrived and we were seated relatively quickly.

And then I saw it. A LARGE MOCKTAIL MENU. MOCKTAIL MENUUUUU!!! 🎉🍹

We truly got lucky this week.

The Mocktails at Mike and Anna’s Pasta House

🍓 Summer Strawberry

I ordered the Summer Strawberry, which is made with strawberry, açaí, goji, acerola, and maqui berries.

Do I know exactly what all of those things are? No. No, I do not.

Did they sound fancy enough that I wanted to try it? Absolutely. 😂

The drink came in a large, beautiful glass, and I was definitely feeling fancy. Unfortunately, the flavor didn't quite live up to the presentation.

It had a strawberry flavor, but it was very faint. It tasted more like a flavored drink than the fruity, exciting mocktail I was expecting.

It wasn't bad. It just wasn't particularly memorable.

🍍 Aloha Pineapple

Joe ordered the Aloha Pineapple, made with pineapple, banana, and coconut. Now THIS sounded like something I was going to love. Pineapple. Banana. Coconut. Those are basically vacation flavors in liquid form!

Unfortunately, we had a similar experience with this one. The drink tasted more like a mix than the fresh, tropical flavors we were expecting.

I don't know exactly what was used, and I don't want to make assumptions about the ingredients or preparation. It just didn't have the fresh fruit flavor we were hoping for.

Again, it wasn't terrible. It just fell a little flat for us.

And that's okay because...

THE FOOD WAS THE SHOWSTOPPER.

The Food at Mike and Anna’s Pasta House 🍝

We started with the Chicken Tortellini Soup, and it took a little while to arrive.

The owner, Anna, actually came over to apologize for the wait and explain what was happening. Everything, including the soup, is made to order, and larger parties can sometimes overwhelm the kitchen.

As a former restaurant worker, I completely understand.

It happens. And honestly? It was worth the wait.

The soup was flavorful and packed with a good amount of tortellini and fresh vegetables. It was hearty, comforting, and a really solid start to the meal.

Then came the entrees. And things got SERIOUS.

🐟 Salmon Girasoli

I ordered the Salmon Girasoli, which came with salmon over four beautiful, pillowy cheese ravioli, all covered in a creamy spinach pesto Alfredo sauce.

OH.

MY.

GOODNESS.

The salmon was cooked perfectly, the ravioli were absolutely dreamy, and that sauce brought everything together.

It was a full-on party of flavors, and somehow, they all WORKED.

We are definitely not strangers to Mike and Anna's Pasta House. We regularly order their family catering meals, which have always been fabulous, especially for the price.

But I'm honestly a little mad at myself for waiting this long to try the salmon.

It was SO GOOD.

Like, “why did nobody make me order this sooner?!” good.

🍄 Tortellini with Mushrooms, Peas & Prosciutto

Joe ordered the tortellini with mushrooms, peas, and prosciutto ham in a creamy Parmigiano sauce.

And this was a BIG plate of food. There was easily enough for him to have leftovers for lunch the next day, which is always a win in my book.

The tortellini were filled with cheese, the vegetables were plentiful, and the creamy sauce tied everything together. It must have been good because Joe didn't say a word when the plate hit the table.

Not. One. Word. All of his attention was on that pasta.

Honestly, that's how you know dinner is good. 😂

The Final Verdict 🍹🍝

The staff at Mike and Anna's checked on us regularly and kept us supplied with fresh bread throughout the meal.

The whole experience had that warm, family-style Italian dinner feeling that makes you want to sit around the table a little longer.

Would I go back? Absolutely.

The mocktails weren't quite what we were expecting, but the FOOD was definitely the star of the show.

Between the fresh bread, generous portions, made-to-order dishes, friendly service, and absolutely delicious pasta, Mike and Anna's Pasta House reminded me why we've been fans of their catering for so long.

So if you're looking for a Northfield, NJ Italian restaurant with hearty portions, classic Italian comfort food, and a family-dinner atmosphere, Mike and Anna's Pasta House is worth checking out.

Just maybe don't order the mocktail expecting it to steal the show.

Order the pasta. Trust me.

And we're STILL partying it up for Joe's actual birthday later this week! 🎂🥳 So if I'm a little late getting another post up, I'm sorry!!!

Sometimes you just have to keep the party going and the mocktails flowing. 🍹💃

Until next time,

The Sober Party Girl 💋

🍹 Final Sober Party Score: Mike and Anna's Pasta House

8/10

🍹 Sober Party Girl Pros & Cons

🥳 PROS

  • 🍹 Mocktails were everywhere! Birthday week was clearly working in our favor.

  • 💜 Lavender Lemonade at Egg was sweet, pretty, tart, and refreshing.

  • 🌅 See You At Sunrise was the perfect bright, fruity breakfast drink.

  • ⛴️ Easy Delaware getaway thanks to the Cape May–Lewes Ferry.

  • 🍝 Mike & Anna’s portions are HUGE — hello, leftovers!

  • 🧀 The pasta was the real MVP. That Salmon Girasoli deserves its own fan club.

  • 🥖 Fresh bread throughout the meal because carbs are always a good idea.

  • 👨‍🍳 Made-to-order food and attentive staff made the experience feel personal.

  • 🇮🇹 Classic Italian family-dinner vibes in Northfield.

😬 CONS

  • 🥚 Egg made us eat too fast because apparently good food requires zero photographic evidence. 😂

  • 🍓 Summer Strawberry was a little underwhelming — pretty presentation, but faint flavor.

  • 🍍 Aloha Pineapple didn't deliver the tropical punch we were hoping for.

  • 🧃 The Mike & Anna’s mocktails tasted more like mixes than fresh fruit.

  • ⏰ The soup took a while, although the made-to-order explanation made sense.
Location: Northfield, NJ 08225, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Landing Point Tavern: Worth Every Minute of the Wait

-
Image
If you’ve ever driven down Somers Point–Mays Landing Road, you know it’s lined with local legends like Sugar Hill Subs, The Inn at Sugar Hill, and now… a brand-new name ready to earn its spot on that list. After months of “coming soon” signs and pushed-back opening dates, Landing Point Tavern finally flipped on their lights. And yes, it was absolutely worth the wait. Joe dragged himself home after a long day of work, still fighting off a stubborn cold, craving one thing: comfort food. The night before, we had noticed that the old Riverside Tavern, one of his favorite pool hangouts, had reopened with a fresh new look. And we love checking out new spots, so off we went. First Impressions We pulled up to a glowing sign that read: “Landing Point Tavern – Now Open. Serving Lunch & Dinner.” A major upgrade from the dreaded “coming soon.” The parking lot was packed, which is always a good sign. We parked in the back where Joe reminisced about making that exact walk “a hundred times” i...
Read more

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

-
Image
  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 enjo...
Read more

Move Over, Somers Point: Webster’s Tavern Is the New Hot Spot in Town

-
Image
The South Jersey dining scene has a new contender, and judging by the crowds, everyone wants a seat at the table. Webster's Tavern , the newest restaurant and sports bar in Somers Point , officially opened this week in the former Windjammer Diner location, and naturally, I had to see what all the excitement was about. While many locals will always have a soft spot for the Windjammer, after one visit to Webster's, I have a feeling this place is about to become one of the area's favorite gathering spots. We arrived around 4:30 p.m. for an early dinner, and the parking lot was already packed. After one loop around the property, we managed to snag a spot and headed inside. The hostess greeted us warmly and let us know the kitchen was running about 20 minutes behind. Normally, that's not what you want to hear when you're hungry, but one look around made it easy to understand why. The bar was packed, tables were buzzing with conversation, and guests with reservations cont...
Read more