Went there to try a new place and heard good things. Food was fresh and staff was very nice, however my only downside to the visit was the seafood didn't stand out to me as the place to go. It just seemed ok. I got the fishermens bucket or something like that, it had a sample of a lot of things. I liked it but nothing really stood out to me. Just plain.
(3)
Joseph S.
Just had our first meal at this new neighborhood place on McDade Blvd. It just opened in the old Sam's Place and its awesome . Great bar with loads of draft beers and oysters . Service was friendly and good without being phony nice. The area needed a touch of class and this is definitely it!! Crabs were big with lots of flavor . I felt like I was down the shore for a few hours . Definitely be back for more .
(5)
Reid F.
The greeting from the owners and staff is wonderful, and what a great place for seafood. The dungeness crab was outstanding as was the New England lobster bake. And they have a great menu of beers on tap.
(5)
Adam S.
Gf and i have been stalking the place out since last summer and finally went tonight. The garlic bread was the best we've had....ever. The cucumber margarita was a great drink even though it sounded strange. The slaw was great and the steamed clams and raw oysters were on point. All in all we couldn't have asked for much more.
(5)
Nicole P.
Went for father's day brunch. I think I was more excited than my daddy because I've never been there. Anyways you could Tell it was their first go at father's day lunch. We had reservations at 12 and were seated right away... even though our table was right in the middle of the main walk way for people to get in and out. But that really didn't bother me. The food was mediocre. Everytime I went to the meat carving station there were only scrapes and the gentlemen told me he was still waiting for more to come out. The cold bar lacked. They said it was included but all I saw were oysters. You think they would really want to push their sea food to get returning customers? Anyways that wasn't my biggest problem. I was so excited for their $5 bloody Mary's. They sent it out and it tasted like she poured the whole bottle of hot sauce in it. So I politely asked for another one to be made and the male bartender dilluted in with tomatoes juice. As a customer and as a former bartender, anytime a customer complains about a drink just make a fresh one. To say the least I couldnt drink that one either. And my waitress brought me a side of tomato juice. Wouldn't it have just been easier to make a new drink. I most likely would not return
(2)
Amanda K.
So glad we finally tried this place out! We went on a Sunday afternoon and got the calamari which was a HUGE portion and the marinara sauce it came with was fantastic. We also got the popcorn shrimp which was also amazing. The beer list was awesome and the atmosphere is great. I agree that the tables are a little close together, but we will probably sit at the bar next time. The only complaint I have is about the crab legs, we got the Sunday special and while they were good, they hardly had any meat in them. All in all though, we thoroughly enjoyed this place. Everyone was super friendly and the prices were great! Definitely coming back soon! :D
(4)
John K.
For the most part the wife and I loved this place. The appetizer of stuffed mushrooms was great. I ordered the stuffed lobster the crab was good but the lobster was a bit tough and chewy the sides of green beans and potatoes were excellent. My wife ordered salmon special she loved it. I'm not normally not into that type of fish but I like it. We ordered the lava cake dessert which was excellent. The place is very clean the staff is very friendly and polite. Our waiter Tim was outstanding and on top of our every need. The atmosphere is nice but a bit loud. The tables are a bit close together. In some spots you seem to be sitting with the table next to you. Prices were a bit high but I don't mind paying a bit more for good food and great service. We are going to try this place again to try the raw bar Over all we had a good experience.
(4)
Vincent B.
I've been there several times and never had a bad experience. Friday nights with live music are great. Friendly crowd and nice people. Haven't sat for dinner but did have several apps that were not disappointing. Drink prices are right in line. Overall friendly atmosphere and good times.
(4)
Wesley P.
Service is bad, food is worse. Every person at our table had a terrible meal. Didn't see our waitress for over half an hour at one point. Such a shame because the place looks nice inside and out. Just a huge management failure.
(1)
Diana M.
Someone just wrote that I gave an "ouch review". Must have me confused because I've never been there before.I can't even give ant stars cuz I've no idea of what this place is like & it's not fair.Im giving 5 just to get attention.But how do I delete this since I've never been here? I've never even heard of them! How did this get into MY reviews? Hope someone can tell me how to delete this review, since it's not fair since I've never been here at all.
(5)
Kathryn N.
If the review was just based on the food, then it would be more in the 4-4.5 range. The food was delicious, the atmosphere left more to desired. We went in here a couple weeks ago for a late Sunday lunch and were the only people in the dining area. When we walked in, the bar was super crowded and there was music playing, and loud is an understatement. The music wasn't live, it was on a radio and the bar crowd was screaming over the music. There was two of us dining and we couldn't hear each other from across the table. That definitely put a damper on things. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the food! I just ordered the crab mac and cheese and the popcorn shrimp. The mac and cheese was creamy and delicious, it seemed like it was made with their seafood bisque as the base. The popcorn shrimp were just fried shrimp that were fried perfectly and the breading had a lot of flavor, like a cornbread coating. My boyfriend had the seafood bisque and he gobbled up the big bowl so fast! He also ordered the ribs and was very happy with them. It is nice to have a decent restaurant within walking distance of our house, but it is a bit of a bummer when you can't even have a conversation because it's so loud.
(3)
Steve S.
9 days ago, this place got three stars from me on a take out order. And I still stand by that. Two weeks ago, this place was around a three star experience. If the meal I had tonight is any indication, they're figuring it out. I'll preface this by saying that I realize this place may still have kinks to work out. Your experience may still vary. But I can tell you this based on my experience tonight of the full atmosphere in the dining room. I experienced no service issues. The food came out in a timely fashion. The items I ordered were prepared right. Everyone working there was very nice to me. I really hope they keep it up. The details... Tonight I went for Chicken Maryland. The Crab Imperial on top of the chicken was fantastic! There was plenty of meat inside, and not too rich. I didn't feel like I was eating too heavily. It complemented the chicken nicely. The wife had Stuffed Shrimp with the Imperial and raved about it. I actually think this is the most important part. They didn't kill the side orders. So many Delco restaurants half ass the side orders, serving you shriveled veggies in a dish. These green beans were fresh and flavorful. The red bliss potatoes were prepared perfectly. It worked. Some people have said that they didn't offer enough side choices. This still seems to be true. I was offered only the potatoes and green beans. I could have had French fries and cole slaw I was told when I asked if that was it. I forgot to ask about pasta as I had that last time as the side. But it's not clearly stated on the menu. I publicly urge the owner here... Fix this problem. People want better choices for sides, and you should be offering them more easily. We tried the Shrimp Lejon. 4 pieces for around 9 bucks seems to be the norm. Damn, Shrimp Lejon is expensive. But it was quite tasty. The only taste miss was the New England Clam Chowder, which was simply passable. But keep in mind, I spent the better part of 10 years living in Boston. I've been spoiled. My one year old son was with us, and he couldn't get enough of the Mac and Cheese. He started grabbing for it. I tasted it. It definitely doesn't suck. I'd eat a plate of it happily too. Here is what I know for sure. If AJ Stephens keeps doing what they did for me tonight, and tweaks a couple of things, they'll be around a long time. I'm rooting for them to do it. They've proven to me that they're capable of getting it right. Now they have to do it every day and do it consistently.
(4)
Karen M.
Very nice, friendly local restaurant. The menu is large, the food is good, but I liked the atmosphere better. I was only in the Philly area for three nights, but we ate at AJ's for two of them because of the friendly service.
(4)
Jessica H.
We have been waiting for this place to open, many months on Facebook saying it almost there. Went for dinner this week. The interior is very nice, roomy and family friendly. Not very busy for a friday. The bar area looks very nice and would gladly stop back to visit the bar. I was so excited because be lost an awesome crab house just down McDade last year. The staff was very friendly and attentive but it was so cold in there we had to wear our winter coats through dinner. We had the crab spaghetti and mussels with pasta. I was a little surprised at how expensive the entrees were for a place trying to establish itself. Had two entree specials and an appetizer special, all sounded good. The house salad was fresh and nicely done. The main dishes were good portion sizes (we took home leftovers) but not all that memorable. Were not enjoyable enough to order again but would like to try other dishes. Claimed to have great crab cake but were pricey. Plenty of crab with the red sauce. The bill was just about $74 for two salads, two entrees, and a half carafe of house wine ($15). Will definitely like to try again but it is far more expensive than expected. For that reason alone it wouldn't be a place we would be regulars at... As others pointed out it seems like they are still figuring things out. We initially planned on crabs but were quoted $78 for a dozen (yikes) and then the waitress stopped back and corrected it to approx. $54(?)... Big difference. Still too high, even out of season. Plenty of room for large groups and menu section for kids. Seated across from two families with crying babies and/or unruly toddlers. Very nice but not intimate or romantic. Would have been much better experience if weren't freezing during meal, paid more than enough to expect warmth while eating. I hope they make it and will give them another try. Hopefully crabs will be more affordable when in season. Seems like a great neighborhood bar and patrons.
(3)
Heidi M.
I would have given four stars, but the service was awfully slow. Food was great though. Crab dip and crab cakes were awesome!
(3)
Catherine T.
Jolly Weldon sent me a nice letter asking the nine of us to come back and try it again. Unfortunately it's not possible. Wish you got it right the first time.
(1)
maryellen p.
Was looking for a seafood restaurant with a good, fresh raw bar. Came across this place on the Internet and even though we're from New Jersey, decided to travel a ways and check it out. Ordered raw oysters; delicious, clean and very, very fresh! Reasonable price too, for about $1.80 per oyster. Then had the crab cakes broiled, very crabby, very well seasoned and one would have been enough. Service was friendly, and attentive. Gary, the owner, is a very personable guy who came over to see how we were faring. I told him we'll definitely be back. Service, food and ambiance were all delightful.
If you cant serve what you advertise you should NOT BE IN BUSINESS.....dont advertise Jumbo crabs.... Then tell me you only have small!! You lost a customer for life.....
(1)
Bill N.
All in all not bad. The server was ok although she messed up our order on appetizers. We mentioned it she must have relayed our compliant to the blonde sitting on her perch at end of the table. We noticed she looked our way. That was it. The server never offered us a drink or anything. Being in the industry not good. Minus this and the blonde it was still good.
(3)
Bud J.
Was very disappointed and here's why. First, prices are pretty high for most everything. Fisherman's Platter (didn't order) - Flounder shrimp, crab cake, scallops = $25. Really? Saw another table order mussels. They came out in a large container but we could see half way down and saw no mussels. Ordered the Calamari app. flavorless...and I do mean flavorless. Served with some type of marinara sauce, also flavorless. Right away waitress told us that they were out of some clam dishes since the Ocean has been very cold, supply has not been good. Man, that was some excuse! Ordered the Stuffed Shrimp Platter - also flavorless and the 4 smallest shrimp we ever saw. Served with double order of string beans - terrible and only single order. Full rack of ribs - huge portion and EXTREMELY meaty. Waitress told us that getting them was a hit/miss. Flavor was fair but they were incredibly tender and thick. Cole slaw was "spit it out in your napkin" bad! Two people = 1 app, 2 dinners, 2 beers and 1 wine = $75 ! Unfortunately will never go back. Service was very good though. If the quality and portions of the food remains, this place will be out of business in one year.
(1)
Melissa K.
The place is good. My other half got the crab cake sandwich and enjoyed it very much. I got the lobster bake and made a mess!!! It was very good. One whole very nice sized lobster mussels and clams. The mussels were a little thin but it's ok. We very much enjoyed the garlic butter with oyster crackers we even put it on the crab cake which enhanced the flavor. The service was fine as well they were not busy due to the holiday but it was nice to be there. The bill was very well priced especially since there was a lobster on it. I would definitely go back again, next time for crabs!!
(3)
Andrew E.
First time here! The owners and staff were very friendly and accommodating! I ordered the stuffed Flounder with crab cakes! It's also came with shrimp, scallops, clams casinos and two vegetable portions! The food was delicious!The portions were very large, you won't leave here hungry. My brothers also enjoyed their entrees as well. Our waitress Lauren was very good! The dessert menu was modest but the pie was very good! I'll definitely come here again!!! Thank you!
(5)
K B.
First time eating here and it was very good. Place is very nice and food was delicious and price is reasonable. I read other reviews and most are accurate except the negative reviews. The baked clams were excellent and had tons of flavor. Not sure what previous reviewer was thinking. I also had anchor steam pot and it was delicious. For the price they give you a lot of crab. The crab soup is fair, could use more spice and crab but overall worth it. Will go back soon.
(4)
Bill S.
Good meal, could have been great with a few tweaks. First the positives - nice atmosphere, cool bar area and decor throughout the restaurant. Service was good, food came out at a good pace and the waiter was friendly and attentive. Now the negatives - the food was uneven. My wife and I went with some friends. We ordered appetizers which were mostly good. The crab Mac and cheese was excellent. So were the raw oysters, fresh and flavorful. The crab fries were good, not as much Old Bay as Chickies & Pete's, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. My friend ordered a wedge salad and the lettuce was a bit wilted. Our biggest problem was with the appetizers. I ordered the crab and lobster Alfredo which was quite good. My wife and a friend ordered a snow crab pot with Old Bay, only problem was that they did not cook the crabs in Old Bay, but brought a small cup to sprinkle on, bizarre. When we pointed this out to our waiter he said that is how they cook their crabs. Our other friend ordered king crab legs cooked in Anchor Steam beer. Generally good flavor but too much beer in the pot. This took away from the flavor of the corn and potatoes in the pot. All he could taste was beer. Then my wife and our friends ordered peanut butter cheesecake and chocolate lava cake which were excellent. Overall it was a good meal, good atmosphere and generous portions that could have been great with a change here and there.
(3)
Nancy E.
Came in from Pittsburgh to visit family and they took us to this new restaurant in Glenolden. It was awesome. Oysters were delicious and the dinners were out of this world. Staff very friendly and really did a great job on service. Everyone sooo friendly and really helped with our food selection. The place is done very beach style and it makes you feel like you are on vacation. Can't wait to come again and experience another a great meal. I Hope this place does well for it is hard to find a great crab restaurant in this area.
(5)
Nick C.
Place is gorgeous inside. All new. A lot of open room though but at the same time tables against the wall with the bench seating were way too close together. Bar is awesome. Lots of tap beers. Service was good. Friendly service. Baked Clams- they forgot to put seasoning on them. Very disappointing. Mussels in a white sauce. More like mussels in a chicken stock. Was waiting for the garlicky kick. Nothing. Fried calamari- cooked perfectly but the marinara dipping sauce seemed like a canned product. Seafood pescatore. 3 unopened little neck clams. That's a big no no serving them. Scallops were rubbery like it was a frozen item. Shrimp were good. Crab cakes were iffy. Lots of filling. Cheap crab meat. The bar area started blaring the football game which was quite distracting. Not an overall great experience.
(2)
Judy M.
Decided to try this place last night for dinner. The remodel has been done very nicely. We (party of 4) were seated right away but didn't see a waitress for almost 10 minutes. When she did arrive she was adorable, sweet and welcoming. On to the food.....shared appetizers of crab dip and shrimp Lejohn were mediocre. Crab dip was more cheesey than crabby and very salty and the shrimp were on the small side and the bacon was a tad burned. I ordered the Crab Imperial, it too was salty and lacking in crab. Two others ordered the stuffed flounder and they said it was good. One ordered mussels and linguine in a red sauce....she said that the mussels were good but the sauce was bland and she wished she had tried the white sauce instead. The only sides they offered, besides fries, were green beans and mashed potatoes. My potatoes were more smashed (did not have a problem with this) another said that her tasted like instant potatoes. Chocolate lava cake was good as well as the cheesecake. Overall not too excited with the place. I would consider going back to just hang at the bar area and try some other apps.
(3)
Allen G.
The restaurant has a great atmosphere. Even with the raw potatoes in the wife's steam pot, the warm sour beer, and the missing garlic bread I would probably return to try some more of the menu items. However, I do not trust the kitchen. I ordered a dozen blue crabs and they were way undercooked. In fact, they were raw. I sent them back to the kitchen and they resteamed them. I sampled about three crabs and they were very mushy--probably cooked dead. They did take them off my bill, which I appreciated.
(2)
Laura A.
So I have read all the mixed reviews about AJ Stephan's and while I don't agree with putting customers on blast in social media we tried it anyway. I was really afraid that the good reviews only came from regulars and friends of the owners but we were extremely pleased with our experience. Our waiter, Johnny, was awesome!! My mom likes anyone who will engage in her weird sense of humor and he was on it, so accommodating and super nice!! We ordered a few apps (crab bites and deviled clams) both came out hot and were delicious. For dinner we ordered a bunch of seafood to share (blue crabs, king crabs and a steamer pot) at this point we were offered a bigger table and brought all the fixings. Dinner was great, drinks were great and our server was above and beyond great! If I tried really hard to find a negative I'd say the bar was a little slow but I'd be nit picking. I would definitely return and in hope of a similar experience.
(5)
K L.
Tried this place tonight for the first time and all in all I would say they did a good job for 6:30 on a Friday night. At arrival our party of 2 was told that the wait was 10/15 mins, and they were on the money. After being seated our waitress arrived quickly and took our drink order. There was a mixup with one of our drinks and it was promptly taken care. We ordered an app and two entrees. The clams casino were a big let down, I think there were 7 clams but I would take less to have better quality. Both of us ordered Snow Crab legs and they were seasoned well and tasted good. Good quantity for the price but I would recommend throwing some fries in and holding the price. (Sides do not come with Snow Crab legs at this time.) Service was great and quick, and I think once some time passes the minor items will work themselves out here.
(4)
Chrissy F.
First time at AJs tonight. .incredible food. I had the Fishermens Platter and loved it so much that I took half home so I can enjoy it again this weekend. My husband ordered the veal combo and was equally impressed. The atmosphere was fun. We especially liked the sink in the dining area so we didn't have to travel back to the bathroom just to wash our hands. Our server, Janet, was attentive and friendly. An overall great experience. We'll definitely be back
(5)
Claire M.
I have heard a lot of mix reviews about this place but I love seafood so I wanted to try it for myself. My husband had an order of ribs and he Absolutely loved them. I just ordered clams casino shrimp lejon and a bucket of snow crabs. Everything came out in reasonable time and all the food was really good. We sat and ate at the bar which was a very nice experience. The two bartenders, Hutch and Joe, were great. They were engaging with all the customers and making everyone laugh giving the bar a great feel to us as it was our first time there. Joe was a little too talkative but the younger guy more than covered his slack. Me and my husband will most certainly be back in to eat and with how much we liked the bartenders we've found out new place to head out for drinks!
(4)
Rebecca S.
After all the drama of the owner's response to someone here who left a negative review, I was wary about trying this place. However, since it is five minutes from me and I love seafood, I went ahead and had dinner there last night. Upon walking in, I noticed that the build-out from the old restaurant, Sam's, was stunning and beautiful, with a wide, open floor plan and brand new everything. The ambiance is quite casual, yet still has an upscale feel. I was told they are building a deck out back, too, which will be fantastic in the summer. We were seated immediately and the wait staff was friendly and made us feel welcome. We were originally seated too close to the live music, and asked to move to the back so we could talk (the music was very loud).; Our request was accommodated with a smile.The menu is a good size, and consists mostly of fresh seafood. There are a few choices for landlubbers, including ribs, steak, hamburgers and sandwiches. A few people here mentioned the prices, and I admit that the menu is quite pricey. Most entrees are over $20. My entree was $24.95, which is on the higher end for what was included. There is a competitor in the area who I will not name, who has the same platter (mixed fresh seafood platter) for $18.95. That being said, I felt that the portions were generous. Maryland crab soup as a starter was a little bit underwhelming in terms of flavor, and lacked chunks of crab. The crab was shredded and there was very little of it. My seafood was top-notch, however, with super fresh shrimp, fish, jumbo scallops, crab cake, and stuffed clams. The crab cake was superior, with huge chunks of lump crab meat, very little breading, and perfect seasoning. The rest of the platter was seasoned well; not overdone, yet flavorful. My husband had the cheeseburger, which he reported to be cooked exactly to his specifications (medium rare), and excellent in flavor. The food came out promptly, but not too fast, giving us time to drink and relax. The one piece of constructive criticism I will give is that the green beans were under-cooked. I hate crunchy green beans and I really wish that restaurants would stop this trend of serving them nearly raw. They were a little bit under-seasoned, as well. We also did not receive any bread or rolls with our dinner. This would be a welcome addition, and more than appropriate for the price point. Dessert was good and tasted fresh. After dinner, we enjoyed the live music and in fact moved back up to the bar so we could focus on it. We had an additional drink and stayed until closing. One big drawback is that we can't make this a regular dinner option due to the price. Our total bill came to $92 with tax and tip, for two people. If they would add a bar menu with additional sandwiches, wraps, small plates, and more large appetizers for a lower cost, it could encourage people on a limited budget to visit more often. Overall, I had a great evening and look forward to going back in the summer to enjoy the deck and blue crabs.
(4)
Vinnie G.
My wife and I went there for dinner and the food was awesome. We started by sharing Claims Casino and Shrimp Lejon, which was prepared just the way we like it. My wife had the Maryland Chicken that was out of this world. I had the Crab Imperial that was the best I ever had. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Joan M.
Went there on a whim tonight was actually heading to Italian delight but past this place along the way we decided to turn around and give it a try since we r both huge seafood fans and let me tell u so glad we did we were greeted by a very kind man who sat us right away and took R drink order it was a Thursday so they had a lobster special a whole lobster with potatoes and corn on the cobb just for $20$$'m it was truely amazing we did order a app the crab fries which were also awesome way better then chickies just so good having had a great time the owner Gary came up and bought us not one round but two rounis of drinks so nice he took us on a tour which includes a banquet room which was also just great cannot wait to go back and try the cllams and linguini which look so good please don't miss this place u will not b disappointed we generally go out on Thursday since we have off on Friday however Friday nights and Saturday and Sunday nights I work at a restaurant in addition to my full time job so I can totally appreciate a great meal with great prices r waitress was great but again Gary was out of this world kind and gracious.... Go I Promise won't regret it as for the negative reviews they must b crazy this place is a must
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Stephen T.
Went there to try a new place and heard good things. Food was fresh and staff was very nice, however my only downside to the visit was the seafood didn't stand out to me as the place to go. It just seemed ok. I got the fishermens bucket or something like that, it had a sample of a lot of things. I liked it but nothing really stood out to me. Just plain.
(3)Joseph S.
Just had our first meal at this new neighborhood place on McDade Blvd. It just opened in the old Sam's Place and its awesome . Great bar with loads of draft beers and oysters . Service was friendly and good without being phony nice. The area needed a touch of class and this is definitely it!! Crabs were big with lots of flavor . I felt like I was down the shore for a few hours . Definitely be back for more .
(5)Reid F.
The greeting from the owners and staff is wonderful, and what a great place for seafood. The dungeness crab was outstanding as was the New England lobster bake. And they have a great menu of beers on tap.
(5)Adam S.
Gf and i have been stalking the place out since last summer and finally went tonight. The garlic bread was the best we've had....ever. The cucumber margarita was a great drink even though it sounded strange. The slaw was great and the steamed clams and raw oysters were on point. All in all we couldn't have asked for much more.
(5)Nicole P.
Went for father's day brunch. I think I was more excited than my daddy because I've never been there. Anyways you could Tell it was their first go at father's day lunch. We had reservations at 12 and were seated right away... even though our table was right in the middle of the main walk way for people to get in and out. But that really didn't bother me. The food was mediocre. Everytime I went to the meat carving station there were only scrapes and the gentlemen told me he was still waiting for more to come out. The cold bar lacked. They said it was included but all I saw were oysters. You think they would really want to push their sea food to get returning customers? Anyways that wasn't my biggest problem. I was so excited for their $5 bloody Mary's. They sent it out and it tasted like she poured the whole bottle of hot sauce in it. So I politely asked for another one to be made and the male bartender dilluted in with tomatoes juice. As a customer and as a former bartender, anytime a customer complains about a drink just make a fresh one. To say the least I couldnt drink that one either. And my waitress brought me a side of tomato juice. Wouldn't it have just been easier to make a new drink. I most likely would not return
(2)Amanda K.
So glad we finally tried this place out! We went on a Sunday afternoon and got the calamari which was a HUGE portion and the marinara sauce it came with was fantastic. We also got the popcorn shrimp which was also amazing. The beer list was awesome and the atmosphere is great. I agree that the tables are a little close together, but we will probably sit at the bar next time. The only complaint I have is about the crab legs, we got the Sunday special and while they were good, they hardly had any meat in them. All in all though, we thoroughly enjoyed this place. Everyone was super friendly and the prices were great! Definitely coming back soon! :D
(4)John K.
For the most part the wife and I loved this place. The appetizer of stuffed mushrooms was great. I ordered the stuffed lobster the crab was good but the lobster was a bit tough and chewy the sides of green beans and potatoes were excellent. My wife ordered salmon special she loved it. I'm not normally not into that type of fish but I like it. We ordered the lava cake dessert which was excellent. The place is very clean the staff is very friendly and polite. Our waiter Tim was outstanding and on top of our every need. The atmosphere is nice but a bit loud. The tables are a bit close together. In some spots you seem to be sitting with the table next to you. Prices were a bit high but I don't mind paying a bit more for good food and great service. We are going to try this place again to try the raw bar Over all we had a good experience.
(4)Vincent B.
I've been there several times and never had a bad experience. Friday nights with live music are great. Friendly crowd and nice people. Haven't sat for dinner but did have several apps that were not disappointing. Drink prices are right in line. Overall friendly atmosphere and good times.
(4)Wesley P.
Service is bad, food is worse. Every person at our table had a terrible meal. Didn't see our waitress for over half an hour at one point. Such a shame because the place looks nice inside and out. Just a huge management failure.
(1)Diana M.
Someone just wrote that I gave an "ouch review". Must have me confused because I've never been there before.I can't even give ant stars cuz I've no idea of what this place is like & it's not fair.Im giving 5 just to get attention.But how do I delete this since I've never been here? I've never even heard of them! How did this get into MY reviews? Hope someone can tell me how to delete this review, since it's not fair since I've never been here at all.
(5)Kathryn N.
If the review was just based on the food, then it would be more in the 4-4.5 range. The food was delicious, the atmosphere left more to desired. We went in here a couple weeks ago for a late Sunday lunch and were the only people in the dining area. When we walked in, the bar was super crowded and there was music playing, and loud is an understatement. The music wasn't live, it was on a radio and the bar crowd was screaming over the music. There was two of us dining and we couldn't hear each other from across the table. That definitely put a damper on things. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the food! I just ordered the crab mac and cheese and the popcorn shrimp. The mac and cheese was creamy and delicious, it seemed like it was made with their seafood bisque as the base. The popcorn shrimp were just fried shrimp that were fried perfectly and the breading had a lot of flavor, like a cornbread coating. My boyfriend had the seafood bisque and he gobbled up the big bowl so fast! He also ordered the ribs and was very happy with them. It is nice to have a decent restaurant within walking distance of our house, but it is a bit of a bummer when you can't even have a conversation because it's so loud.
(3)Steve S.
9 days ago, this place got three stars from me on a take out order. And I still stand by that. Two weeks ago, this place was around a three star experience. If the meal I had tonight is any indication, they're figuring it out. I'll preface this by saying that I realize this place may still have kinks to work out. Your experience may still vary. But I can tell you this based on my experience tonight of the full atmosphere in the dining room. I experienced no service issues. The food came out in a timely fashion. The items I ordered were prepared right. Everyone working there was very nice to me. I really hope they keep it up. The details... Tonight I went for Chicken Maryland. The Crab Imperial on top of the chicken was fantastic! There was plenty of meat inside, and not too rich. I didn't feel like I was eating too heavily. It complemented the chicken nicely. The wife had Stuffed Shrimp with the Imperial and raved about it. I actually think this is the most important part. They didn't kill the side orders. So many Delco restaurants half ass the side orders, serving you shriveled veggies in a dish. These green beans were fresh and flavorful. The red bliss potatoes were prepared perfectly. It worked. Some people have said that they didn't offer enough side choices. This still seems to be true. I was offered only the potatoes and green beans. I could have had French fries and cole slaw I was told when I asked if that was it. I forgot to ask about pasta as I had that last time as the side. But it's not clearly stated on the menu. I publicly urge the owner here... Fix this problem. People want better choices for sides, and you should be offering them more easily. We tried the Shrimp Lejon. 4 pieces for around 9 bucks seems to be the norm. Damn, Shrimp Lejon is expensive. But it was quite tasty. The only taste miss was the New England Clam Chowder, which was simply passable. But keep in mind, I spent the better part of 10 years living in Boston. I've been spoiled. My one year old son was with us, and he couldn't get enough of the Mac and Cheese. He started grabbing for it. I tasted it. It definitely doesn't suck. I'd eat a plate of it happily too. Here is what I know for sure. If AJ Stephens keeps doing what they did for me tonight, and tweaks a couple of things, they'll be around a long time. I'm rooting for them to do it. They've proven to me that they're capable of getting it right. Now they have to do it every day and do it consistently.
(4)Karen M.
Very nice, friendly local restaurant. The menu is large, the food is good, but I liked the atmosphere better. I was only in the Philly area for three nights, but we ate at AJ's for two of them because of the friendly service.
(4)Jessica H.
We have been waiting for this place to open, many months on Facebook saying it almost there. Went for dinner this week. The interior is very nice, roomy and family friendly. Not very busy for a friday. The bar area looks very nice and would gladly stop back to visit the bar. I was so excited because be lost an awesome crab house just down McDade last year. The staff was very friendly and attentive but it was so cold in there we had to wear our winter coats through dinner. We had the crab spaghetti and mussels with pasta. I was a little surprised at how expensive the entrees were for a place trying to establish itself. Had two entree specials and an appetizer special, all sounded good. The house salad was fresh and nicely done. The main dishes were good portion sizes (we took home leftovers) but not all that memorable. Were not enjoyable enough to order again but would like to try other dishes. Claimed to have great crab cake but were pricey. Plenty of crab with the red sauce. The bill was just about $74 for two salads, two entrees, and a half carafe of house wine ($15). Will definitely like to try again but it is far more expensive than expected. For that reason alone it wouldn't be a place we would be regulars at... As others pointed out it seems like they are still figuring things out. We initially planned on crabs but were quoted $78 for a dozen (yikes) and then the waitress stopped back and corrected it to approx. $54(?)... Big difference. Still too high, even out of season. Plenty of room for large groups and menu section for kids. Seated across from two families with crying babies and/or unruly toddlers. Very nice but not intimate or romantic. Would have been much better experience if weren't freezing during meal, paid more than enough to expect warmth while eating. I hope they make it and will give them another try. Hopefully crabs will be more affordable when in season. Seems like a great neighborhood bar and patrons.
(3)Heidi M.
I would have given four stars, but the service was awfully slow. Food was great though. Crab dip and crab cakes were awesome!
(3)Catherine T.
Jolly Weldon sent me a nice letter asking the nine of us to come back and try it again. Unfortunately it's not possible. Wish you got it right the first time.
(1)maryellen p.
Was looking for a seafood restaurant with a good, fresh raw bar. Came across this place on the Internet and even though we're from New Jersey, decided to travel a ways and check it out. Ordered raw oysters; delicious, clean and very, very fresh! Reasonable price too, for about $1.80 per oyster. Then had the crab cakes broiled, very crabby, very well seasoned and one would have been enough. Service was friendly, and attentive. Gary, the owner, is a very personable guy who came over to see how we were faring. I told him we'll definitely be back. Service, food and ambiance were all delightful.
(5)Jay S.
I have been to this place 3 times now. I first went there with my wife. We had a very good experience. Food was very good but not great. The atmosphere was excellent. Our waiter was very attentive but not intrusive. We had one little issue with one of our entrées and they went out of their way to make it right. We spoke with Amy for about 20 minutes at the end of our meal. She was personable and seemed truly interested in our opinion of the restaurant We enjoyed it so much we went for our youngest sons 6th birthday, bringing along our 3 children and my parents. What an amazing experience this time was. My parents, who came from about 45 minutes away, couldnt help but rave about the place, the food, the service, the atmosphere. Now that they are older, they go out to eat alot and couldnt wait to come back. And they didnt have to wait long because we came back just two weeks later for our older sons 12th birthday. They allowed us to bring in our own cake, and let us bring in our own desert to surprise my wife whose birthday was the next say. Ive had the mussles in red all three times i was there and they have been amazing all three times. I have had the crab soup twice. First time was good, the second time was amazing. A review good or bad will not sway me as to whether or not i spend my money in a place. Nor will an owners response to any review. How they choose to deal with things is their business. I am a free thinking person and can form my own opinion from my own experience. And from my own experience, I am happy with AJ Stephens. Also from my experience, when something wasnt right with my dinner experience here, they owners and management of this place went above and beyond to try to make it right. Not every restaurant will be perfect night in and night out. How they deal with those issues separate the good restaurants from the bad. When i have brought my issues to the attention of the people at AJ Stephens, my issues were resolved. Also, i see the reviews and people attacking this place for the owners response to a bad review. Although as a business owner i would never response to a negative review this way, i have read all the reviews of this place and have seen the same owners response to other negative reviews with class and dignity, apologizing and asking them to come back in so they can try to make it right. The difference with those reviews and the one where the owner lashed out at the reviewer is that those one had constructive criticism, specific issues listed and exactly what they didnt like. The review in question was nasty, attacking with very vague issues that seems like it had an anterior motive. Like i said, i would never respond that way but as a business owner, i have wanted to.
(4)Christopher R.
If you cant serve what you advertise you should NOT BE IN BUSINESS.....dont advertise Jumbo crabs.... Then tell me you only have small!! You lost a customer for life.....
(1)Bill N.
All in all not bad. The server was ok although she messed up our order on appetizers. We mentioned it she must have relayed our compliant to the blonde sitting on her perch at end of the table. We noticed she looked our way. That was it. The server never offered us a drink or anything. Being in the industry not good. Minus this and the blonde it was still good.
(3)Bud J.
Was very disappointed and here's why. First, prices are pretty high for most everything. Fisherman's Platter (didn't order) - Flounder shrimp, crab cake, scallops = $25. Really? Saw another table order mussels. They came out in a large container but we could see half way down and saw no mussels. Ordered the Calamari app. flavorless...and I do mean flavorless. Served with some type of marinara sauce, also flavorless. Right away waitress told us that they were out of some clam dishes since the Ocean has been very cold, supply has not been good. Man, that was some excuse! Ordered the Stuffed Shrimp Platter - also flavorless and the 4 smallest shrimp we ever saw. Served with double order of string beans - terrible and only single order. Full rack of ribs - huge portion and EXTREMELY meaty. Waitress told us that getting them was a hit/miss. Flavor was fair but they were incredibly tender and thick. Cole slaw was "spit it out in your napkin" bad! Two people = 1 app, 2 dinners, 2 beers and 1 wine = $75 ! Unfortunately will never go back. Service was very good though. If the quality and portions of the food remains, this place will be out of business in one year.
(1)Melissa K.
The place is good. My other half got the crab cake sandwich and enjoyed it very much. I got the lobster bake and made a mess!!! It was very good. One whole very nice sized lobster mussels and clams. The mussels were a little thin but it's ok. We very much enjoyed the garlic butter with oyster crackers we even put it on the crab cake which enhanced the flavor. The service was fine as well they were not busy due to the holiday but it was nice to be there. The bill was very well priced especially since there was a lobster on it. I would definitely go back again, next time for crabs!!
(3)Andrew E.
First time here! The owners and staff were very friendly and accommodating! I ordered the stuffed Flounder with crab cakes! It's also came with shrimp, scallops, clams casinos and two vegetable portions! The food was delicious!The portions were very large, you won't leave here hungry. My brothers also enjoyed their entrees as well. Our waitress Lauren was very good! The dessert menu was modest but the pie was very good! I'll definitely come here again!!! Thank you!
(5)K B.
First time eating here and it was very good. Place is very nice and food was delicious and price is reasonable. I read other reviews and most are accurate except the negative reviews. The baked clams were excellent and had tons of flavor. Not sure what previous reviewer was thinking. I also had anchor steam pot and it was delicious. For the price they give you a lot of crab. The crab soup is fair, could use more spice and crab but overall worth it. Will go back soon.
(4)Bill S.
Good meal, could have been great with a few tweaks. First the positives - nice atmosphere, cool bar area and decor throughout the restaurant. Service was good, food came out at a good pace and the waiter was friendly and attentive. Now the negatives - the food was uneven. My wife and I went with some friends. We ordered appetizers which were mostly good. The crab Mac and cheese was excellent. So were the raw oysters, fresh and flavorful. The crab fries were good, not as much Old Bay as Chickies & Pete's, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. My friend ordered a wedge salad and the lettuce was a bit wilted. Our biggest problem was with the appetizers. I ordered the crab and lobster Alfredo which was quite good. My wife and a friend ordered a snow crab pot with Old Bay, only problem was that they did not cook the crabs in Old Bay, but brought a small cup to sprinkle on, bizarre. When we pointed this out to our waiter he said that is how they cook their crabs. Our other friend ordered king crab legs cooked in Anchor Steam beer. Generally good flavor but too much beer in the pot. This took away from the flavor of the corn and potatoes in the pot. All he could taste was beer. Then my wife and our friends ordered peanut butter cheesecake and chocolate lava cake which were excellent. Overall it was a good meal, good atmosphere and generous portions that could have been great with a change here and there.
(3)Nancy E.
Came in from Pittsburgh to visit family and they took us to this new restaurant in Glenolden. It was awesome. Oysters were delicious and the dinners were out of this world. Staff very friendly and really did a great job on service. Everyone sooo friendly and really helped with our food selection. The place is done very beach style and it makes you feel like you are on vacation. Can't wait to come again and experience another a great meal. I Hope this place does well for it is hard to find a great crab restaurant in this area.
(5)Nick C.
Place is gorgeous inside. All new. A lot of open room though but at the same time tables against the wall with the bench seating were way too close together. Bar is awesome. Lots of tap beers. Service was good. Friendly service. Baked Clams- they forgot to put seasoning on them. Very disappointing. Mussels in a white sauce. More like mussels in a chicken stock. Was waiting for the garlicky kick. Nothing. Fried calamari- cooked perfectly but the marinara dipping sauce seemed like a canned product. Seafood pescatore. 3 unopened little neck clams. That's a big no no serving them. Scallops were rubbery like it was a frozen item. Shrimp were good. Crab cakes were iffy. Lots of filling. Cheap crab meat. The bar area started blaring the football game which was quite distracting. Not an overall great experience.
(2)Judy M.
Decided to try this place last night for dinner. The remodel has been done very nicely. We (party of 4) were seated right away but didn't see a waitress for almost 10 minutes. When she did arrive she was adorable, sweet and welcoming. On to the food.....shared appetizers of crab dip and shrimp Lejohn were mediocre. Crab dip was more cheesey than crabby and very salty and the shrimp were on the small side and the bacon was a tad burned. I ordered the Crab Imperial, it too was salty and lacking in crab. Two others ordered the stuffed flounder and they said it was good. One ordered mussels and linguine in a red sauce....she said that the mussels were good but the sauce was bland and she wished she had tried the white sauce instead. The only sides they offered, besides fries, were green beans and mashed potatoes. My potatoes were more smashed (did not have a problem with this) another said that her tasted like instant potatoes. Chocolate lava cake was good as well as the cheesecake. Overall not too excited with the place. I would consider going back to just hang at the bar area and try some other apps.
(3)Allen G.
The restaurant has a great atmosphere. Even with the raw potatoes in the wife's steam pot, the warm sour beer, and the missing garlic bread I would probably return to try some more of the menu items. However, I do not trust the kitchen. I ordered a dozen blue crabs and they were way undercooked. In fact, they were raw. I sent them back to the kitchen and they resteamed them. I sampled about three crabs and they were very mushy--probably cooked dead. They did take them off my bill, which I appreciated.
(2)Laura A.
So I have read all the mixed reviews about AJ Stephan's and while I don't agree with putting customers on blast in social media we tried it anyway. I was really afraid that the good reviews only came from regulars and friends of the owners but we were extremely pleased with our experience. Our waiter, Johnny, was awesome!! My mom likes anyone who will engage in her weird sense of humor and he was on it, so accommodating and super nice!! We ordered a few apps (crab bites and deviled clams) both came out hot and were delicious. For dinner we ordered a bunch of seafood to share (blue crabs, king crabs and a steamer pot) at this point we were offered a bigger table and brought all the fixings. Dinner was great, drinks were great and our server was above and beyond great! If I tried really hard to find a negative I'd say the bar was a little slow but I'd be nit picking. I would definitely return and in hope of a similar experience.
(5)K L.
Tried this place tonight for the first time and all in all I would say they did a good job for 6:30 on a Friday night. At arrival our party of 2 was told that the wait was 10/15 mins, and they were on the money. After being seated our waitress arrived quickly and took our drink order. There was a mixup with one of our drinks and it was promptly taken care. We ordered an app and two entrees. The clams casino were a big let down, I think there were 7 clams but I would take less to have better quality. Both of us ordered Snow Crab legs and they were seasoned well and tasted good. Good quantity for the price but I would recommend throwing some fries in and holding the price. (Sides do not come with Snow Crab legs at this time.) Service was great and quick, and I think once some time passes the minor items will work themselves out here.
(4)Chrissy F.
First time at AJs tonight. .incredible food. I had the Fishermens Platter and loved it so much that I took half home so I can enjoy it again this weekend. My husband ordered the veal combo and was equally impressed. The atmosphere was fun. We especially liked the sink in the dining area so we didn't have to travel back to the bathroom just to wash our hands. Our server, Janet, was attentive and friendly. An overall great experience. We'll definitely be back
(5)Claire M.
I have heard a lot of mix reviews about this place but I love seafood so I wanted to try it for myself. My husband had an order of ribs and he Absolutely loved them. I just ordered clams casino shrimp lejon and a bucket of snow crabs. Everything came out in reasonable time and all the food was really good. We sat and ate at the bar which was a very nice experience. The two bartenders, Hutch and Joe, were great. They were engaging with all the customers and making everyone laugh giving the bar a great feel to us as it was our first time there. Joe was a little too talkative but the younger guy more than covered his slack. Me and my husband will most certainly be back in to eat and with how much we liked the bartenders we've found out new place to head out for drinks!
(4)Rebecca S.
After all the drama of the owner's response to someone here who left a negative review, I was wary about trying this place. However, since it is five minutes from me and I love seafood, I went ahead and had dinner there last night. Upon walking in, I noticed that the build-out from the old restaurant, Sam's, was stunning and beautiful, with a wide, open floor plan and brand new everything. The ambiance is quite casual, yet still has an upscale feel. I was told they are building a deck out back, too, which will be fantastic in the summer. We were seated immediately and the wait staff was friendly and made us feel welcome. We were originally seated too close to the live music, and asked to move to the back so we could talk (the music was very loud).; Our request was accommodated with a smile.The menu is a good size, and consists mostly of fresh seafood. There are a few choices for landlubbers, including ribs, steak, hamburgers and sandwiches. A few people here mentioned the prices, and I admit that the menu is quite pricey. Most entrees are over $20. My entree was $24.95, which is on the higher end for what was included. There is a competitor in the area who I will not name, who has the same platter (mixed fresh seafood platter) for $18.95. That being said, I felt that the portions were generous. Maryland crab soup as a starter was a little bit underwhelming in terms of flavor, and lacked chunks of crab. The crab was shredded and there was very little of it. My seafood was top-notch, however, with super fresh shrimp, fish, jumbo scallops, crab cake, and stuffed clams. The crab cake was superior, with huge chunks of lump crab meat, very little breading, and perfect seasoning. The rest of the platter was seasoned well; not overdone, yet flavorful. My husband had the cheeseburger, which he reported to be cooked exactly to his specifications (medium rare), and excellent in flavor. The food came out promptly, but not too fast, giving us time to drink and relax. The one piece of constructive criticism I will give is that the green beans were under-cooked. I hate crunchy green beans and I really wish that restaurants would stop this trend of serving them nearly raw. They were a little bit under-seasoned, as well. We also did not receive any bread or rolls with our dinner. This would be a welcome addition, and more than appropriate for the price point. Dessert was good and tasted fresh. After dinner, we enjoyed the live music and in fact moved back up to the bar so we could focus on it. We had an additional drink and stayed until closing. One big drawback is that we can't make this a regular dinner option due to the price. Our total bill came to $92 with tax and tip, for two people. If they would add a bar menu with additional sandwiches, wraps, small plates, and more large appetizers for a lower cost, it could encourage people on a limited budget to visit more often. Overall, I had a great evening and look forward to going back in the summer to enjoy the deck and blue crabs.
(4)Vinnie G.
My wife and I went there for dinner and the food was awesome. We started by sharing Claims Casino and Shrimp Lejon, which was prepared just the way we like it. My wife had the Maryland Chicken that was out of this world. I had the Crab Imperial that was the best I ever had. Will definitely go back.
(5)Joan M.
Went there on a whim tonight was actually heading to Italian delight but past this place along the way we decided to turn around and give it a try since we r both huge seafood fans and let me tell u so glad we did we were greeted by a very kind man who sat us right away and took R drink order it was a Thursday so they had a lobster special a whole lobster with potatoes and corn on the cobb just for $20$$'m it was truely amazing we did order a app the crab fries which were also awesome way better then chickies just so good having had a great time the owner Gary came up and bought us not one round but two rounis of drinks so nice he took us on a tour which includes a banquet room which was also just great cannot wait to go back and try the cllams and linguini which look so good please don't miss this place u will not b disappointed we generally go out on Thursday since we have off on Friday however Friday nights and Saturday and Sunday nights I work at a restaurant in addition to my full time job so I can totally appreciate a great meal with great prices r waitress was great but again Gary was out of this world kind and gracious.... Go I Promise won't regret it as for the negative reviews they must b crazy this place is a must
(5)