"Stan Horwitz" > wrote in message
...
> On Wednesday night, I watched that Throwdown show with Bobby Flay on the
> Food Network. I am not a fan of that show, but I saw the ad for it a few
> minutes before it started and it mentioned a grilled cheese throwdown at
> a place called the Pop Shop, which is in Collingswood, New Jersey. Since
> Collingswood is adjacent to the township where I live.
>
> I never heard of the Pop Shop before, but from what I saw on Bobby
> Flay's show, they feature numerous versions of grilled cheese sandwiches
> on their menu.
>
> Anyway, Bobby Flay won the competition. Yesterday at work, I asked a
> colleague who lives in Collingswood if she knew of the Pop Shop. She
> said it is known for its delicious comfort food and friendly service.
>
> On my way home from work last night, I went to the Pop Shop for dinner.
> I got there around 6:30 and it was packed! Its a big room with a very
> plain decore; just white walls with basic tables and chairs in the
> middle, a kitchen at the far end, and a counter that runs the length of
> the room. Although there was a line of people waiting for tables, I got
> a seat at the counter immediately.
>
> The main menu is printed like a newspaper, although I don't think its
> updated daily. There's also a separate menu for desserts which is heavy
> plastic and several pages long. There main menu has a section with at
> least 20 different variations on grilled cheese sandwiches. The guy who
> sat to my right at the counter ordered the grilled cheese sandwich they
> used to go up against Bobby Flay and he said it was fantastic. He was
> obviously there as a result of seeing the TV show.
>
> Not being a fan of grilled cheese, I ordered the fried shrimp platter. I
> got something like 8 huge shrimp breaded in pancko crumbs, and served
> with a hefty side of freshly cut french fries with the skins on. The
> shrimp were delicious, with just the right texture and not oily at all.
> The french fries were very good, but I have had better. The platter came
> with a cup of soup. They had chicken rice or tomato soup, so I ordered
> tomato soup. That tomato soup was like none I have ever eaten before!
> Just that soup is worth going back to the Pop Shop again! It was
> intensely flavored with tomato, very thick, but not too spicy. It was
> almost the consistency of a tomato sauce for spaghetti.
>
> Dinner cost me $15 with the tip and a large refillable soft drink. The
> menu also had lots of platters and other items at much lower prices.
> When I walked up to the counter, a young boy was eating a plate of
> silver dollar pancakes, which I think was around $3 on the menu. Those
> pancakes looked very good. I will definitely go back there for breakfast
> soon to try the pancakes.
>
> I have eaten at several of the restaurants that were featured on Food
> Network shows, but long before they were on TV. The Pop Shop, on the
> other hand, was the first restaurant where I actually decided to eat
> there on the basis of seeing it featured on the Food Network.


Fog City Diner in SF. Lousy food, terrible wine list, small portions,
ridiculous prices and a rude bartender. Other than that it was great. Oh,
I got a parking ticket, too.

Paul