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.