AvalonLance
// August 24th, 2008 // No Comments » // Food & Drink, Redskins, Restaurants
Avalon Lance
The Princenton isn’t my favorite bar; but when I decided to try and watch the Redskins’ preseason game down the shore, I thought my best chance to do so involved braving the meatheads and cougars trying to make the most of their summer vacations, and venturing down to the ironically named bar. As it was a preseason game and as we are in Eagles country, I thought it was best to call ahead and confirm that they would be showing the game on at least one of their many televisions. I called the bar and spoke to a friendly young lady who assured me that they would be showing preseason games at the Princeton that evening, and that yes, the Redskins’ game would be one of them.
After arriving at the Princeton, we walked through bar, and not a single television was showing the Redskins’ game – but no fewer than six televisions were showing the Pittsburgh/Minnesota snoozefest. When I approached the hostess (who I assume was the young lady with whom I had spoken earlier), and told her that none of the televisions were showing the Redskins’ game, she responded, “Well it is a preseason game…”
Here’s the thing: NFL preseason games are a chore. They’re drudgery for the players, they’re drudgery for the fans, and they’re drudgery for the media schlubs who have to cover them. You don’t watch preseason games unless nothing else is on, and you certainly don’t watch preseason games that don’t feature your favorite team. So when I asked if there were any way I could get the Redskins’ game on just one of the televisions, and was told “Probably not, but you’ll have to ask the bartenders (who were equally if not less helpful),” one could imagine my level of exasperation.
Hungry, agitated and ready for a drink, Beth and I ended up at Maggie’s for dinner. The service was great and it was one of the few places (i.e. the only place) that would accommodate us at that point in the evening. Maggie’s does sell wine, but only from the Balic Winery, a local winery based in nearby Mays Landing, New Jersey. I ordered a bottle of the Napoleon Bonaparte, and while it was way too sweet for yours truly, my friends that tried it later seemed to really enjoy it. Maggie’s is good enough, but a little overpriced (though its prices are definitely inline with other Jersey shore restaurants), and I would recommend it as a slight cut above the other pedestrian dining establishments at the shore. I don’t mean hate on shore restaurants, but basically the equation is:
Jersey Shore Dining ≤ Olive Garden Food + $14 – Unlimited Salad and Breadsticks
And as it turns out, the clowns at the Princeton may have done us a favor. Beth and I had a nice enough dinner at Maggie’s, and I was spared watching my Redskins get embarrassed by the Carolina Panthers. The bloom may be off the Zorn rose, boys, but it is certainly off of the Princeton.
Maggie’s
2619 Dune Drive
Avalon, NJ 08202
609.368.7422
