A recent article in a local magazine woke me up to the fact that there are some seriously good Happy Hour deals at some of our local restaurants. While Happy Hour used to mean cheap beer and soggy chicken wings, some area food purveyors are stepping it up a notch (or three or four) in the Happy Hour quality department. One recent Friday night, we sampled the Happy Hour at the Farm & Fisherman Tavern + Market in Cherry Hill.
The Farm & Fisherman has a mission: featuring local food and libations on its menu. Josh Lawler and Todd Fuller (chef/owners) are well-known Philly restaurateurs who have opened up a combination restaurant, bar and take-out market on Route 70 in Cherry Hill. We perused the market before sitting down for our meal. Drool-worthy cheeses from both Cherry Grove Farm and Valley Shepherd Creamery were among the carefully curated products featured in the market. We promised ourselves that we would come back and peruse some more when we had a bit more time.
When we sat down for our meal in the bar, we were happy to see that the craft beer on tap, wines and specialty cocktails were all discounted. John tried a Carton of Milk Stout Nitro which has chocolate overtones. I was thrilled to find Namaste, one of my favorite Dogfish Head brews. It features notes of lemongrass, citrus and coriander and is not something found at a typical Happy Hour.
And what goes better with a Happy Hour beer than a burger? The $5 Happy Hour burger special (offered for a limited time) really delivered. Its part short-rib pedigree made it incredibly moist and tender. The fixings bar was pretty sweet, too. In addition to the usual ketchup, tomato and lettuce toppings, there were sundried tomatoes, softly sauteed red onions, and—of all things—ramps.
While we filled up on our burgers, the restaurant has a number of interesting, locavore-friendly salads and entrees on the menu. The seating around the bar was filled, with numerous patrons chatting and sampling a variety of dishes. The warm atmosphere made it the perfect stopping point after a long week of work. Although we only had time for a couple of beers and burgers, the quality of the food and drink made us promise each other that we would return.
The Farm & Fisherman Tavern + Market
1442 Marlton Pike East
Cherry Hill
Tavern: 856-356-2282
Market: 856-356-2286
Beth Christian subsisted primarily on cheeseburgers and liverwurst sandwiches during childhood and refused to try most new foods. Her culinary horizons were expanded during her college days in Schenectady, New York, where she learned the joys of trying slow-simmered Italian dishes, Szechuan cuisine, and everything in between. When not engaged in the practice of law in Monmouth County, Beth is busy scouting out interesting restaurants, farmer’s markets and food purveyors near her home in Burlington County. Beth’s primary dining sidekick is her husband John, but she also enjoys having her daughter Meghan, son Michael and her wonderful friends come along for the ride. Email Beth at BChristian@JerseyBites.com.
