P.J. Whelihan’s Pub + Restaurant - Deptford — Restaurant in Deptford Township

Went out to dinner at P.J. Whelihan’s Pub + Restaurant - Deptford last evening and we were indifferent to the experience.

To begin, we were seated at a table right next to their POS system, and the kitchen - which was no big deal. However, there was a vent right above us with an obvious draft making the both of us a little chilly. Nothing unbearable, but it certainly played a role in our food cooling off more quickly then we would have liked.

Service was quite slow - our appetizer (the pretzel nuggets) came out pretty quick. But, we waited about 40 minutes for our entrée’s to come out, despite being told three times that it would be right out. It was a bit busy when we first came in, but by that point there were some empty tables around the establishment.

I enjoyed my entrée (the Chicken Florentine Cheese Steak), but it could have been mixed better (one bite was pretty much most of the kale that was in the sandwich it seemed). I do think it was priced fairly given the state of the economy.

My partner thought their entrée was okay, wasn’t “wow’ed” by it or anything (Chili Lime Shrimp Taco’s).

Our appetizer, overpriced for what it was, but good. If I didn’t know any better, I’d guess they were “Super Pretzel” bites, which a box can be bought for cheaper than the serving offered.

Both of us did enjoy the dessert; “Cookie Crunch Brownie Bomb” - ignoring price there, it was on par with dessert prices and quality anywhere.

Adding to it - there was no clear price on the NA beer that they offered. There was a clear price for it during happy hour, I want to say it was $4.00 but don’t quote me, but not outside of it. Personally, I did not want to order it without knowing the price, and I did not care enough to ask.

Last but not least, when the bill came, the lowest recommended tip was 17% - which always puts a bad taste in our mouth. I understand that “times are hard” but the standard is still 15%, and “times being hard” is reflected in the price increase of the items on the menu, in which servers receive more automatically because of a higher total on the bill. (We still tipped more than 20%). We are growing tired of the expectation of businesses’ - especially a restaurant group as large as P.J.’s - for their patron’s to subsidize their workers wages, instead of paying them a living wage...

Meeting friends for dinner at another place but they are running late so I stopped in to have a quick drink on my way to meet up with my friends and family at another establishment. I went in and did not want to wait to be seated because I just want to stop in for a quick drink and went to the bar area. I was with my wife and there was no place to sit at the bar because there were no two seats next to each other. There was one seat here and a couple of people and another seat and so on. So I went to the serving area that the servers would normally get there drinks from and I ordered a beer from the bartender behind the bar and he serve me. I then grabbed a chair at the closest high top to the bar and proceeded to have a drink. While I was having my drink a server came up and basically removed me from the seat. I'm sure that was not her only table she was serving, there was plenty of other tables that were open around us. I will not be visiting any PJ whelihan's again anytime soon. I've been going to them for years and this is the first time I've ever dealt with what I would consider to be rudeness from a server. I'm not sure if she was offended that I sat down without her permission but again I was in the bar area at a high top as close to the bar as you can get which in a normal circumstance and at any other pub is self-seating. And the bartender behind the bar had no problem serving me in the first place and I did tip him before I sat down and had my drink. And if the server wasn't so rude I probably would have had a few more drinks before I left and been happy to tip her as well. Even if I didn't have any other drinks I would have either left my empty bottle at the table with a tip or discarded it myself at the bar like a respectful human being. I'm very disappointed and PJ whelihan's at this point. I asked her where I should sit since she was asking me to get up from the seat and she looked at me like I had two heads. So management can figure out exactly who this was that was a server this took place at approximately 5:55 p.m. today which is Friday July 11th and it was the table directly across from where the table servers get their drinks. I think in upper management should have a conversation with the servers about the way they treat...

PJ Whelihan’s in Deptford, NJ, is definitely a spot we’ll be coming back to. They’ve completely revitalized the old Joe’s Crab Shack space, turning it into a lively and inviting place that’s clearly a local favorite. We dropped in at 1 p.m. on a Friday—no big games playing—and the place was packed. If you’re planning on coming for game day, don’t expect to just waltz in an hour before kickoff and grab a seat. Plan to get here early, because this place fills up fast!

First up, major props to the staff. They’re attentive, friendly, and prompt—service here is on point.

Now, let’s dive into the food. PJ Whelihan’s has a solid menu, but let’s be real—this is South Jersey, home to some of the best food joints around, and that means PJ’s is up against some heavy hitters. We tried the cheesesteak, and while it was decent, it’s hard to compete with nearby legends like Brennan Bradley in Woodbury Heights, Wit and Witout just down the road, and Donkey’s in Camden. Those spots bring a whole new level of flavor, and if you’re after a truly memorable cheesesteak, that’s where to go.

We also sampled the boneless wings, which were good, but here’s the thing: South Jersey has some serious wing contenders. Dunlop’s at Hollydell Ice Arena, for instance, serves up wings that really stand out, not to mention Pic-a-Lilli is legendary for their wings and 25 minutes away, Golden Nugget Tavern is even closer, and Toll Man Joe’s in Woolwich sets a really high bar for wings, which all have wing flavors that pack a punch. PJ’s wings are tasty, but compared to these local spots, they don’t quite hit legendary status.

And as for the PJ’s famous fries? They’re fine, but they’re not Chickie’s and Pete’s crab fries.

All in all, PJ Whelihan’s is a fun, lively spot with a fantastic staff and solid food. The atmosphere and service are top-notch, and it’s definitely a great place to hang out. When it comes to food, though, with legendary cheesesteak and wing places in every direction, PJ’s faces stiff competition. We’ll be back for the vibe and the friendly crew—this place has...