This review officially at 2.5 stars. For years I've heard about how amazing Carolina Blue is and for years I've put off trying it. When we won a gift card basket that included $150 for the Cooks restaurants, we figured we'd try CB. Two experiences, one review: Our dining-in experience was perfectly fine with regard to ambience and service. I ordered a burger and my wife ordered the crab cake sandwich. Both were average. Nothing wrong with them but no incentive to go back besides the gift cards. Our take-out experience was about the same. This time I ordered a cheesesteak, and we still got a crab cake sandwich. The cheesesteak was on a terribly dry torpedo roll and much of it I didn't eat. There is an allure to the food that I have yet to catch on to but we'll be trying Telford Inn next in hopes that the food lives up to both the hype and the service. read more

The one stare is for the food. The waitstaff gets no stars... oh and the lights flicker.

Ok the food here is for the most part good but the drinks are questionable. They advertise a mule in a copper mug and brought it out in a glass and it was horrible. I told our server if they didn't have a copper mug it's not a mule and that's what's on the menu and the response was that patrons keep steeling the mugs. I get it but factor that into your cost. After I refused the drink the server returned with a copper mug and said he had to take from the bad since that is the only area that the copper mugs can be served. Not sure if the manager at this place is aware of this process but if I was a betting man the owners would call BS on it. Time for a process review for mule making. The burger was ok and the wings had a great flavor but were a little under done for my taste. read more

Very unassuming from the outside. But once inside it opens up to an nice dining area deprecate from the bar area with lovely art framings and pleasant atmosphere. Our waitress was very friendly and patient. And the food was really good. Lobster bisque was a bit salty. Hummus delish but the veggies that came with it lacked presentation. The bbq Smokey taste of the chicken was mouthwateringly good. The mashed potatoes were like mamas. With a few nice lumps to let you know it's real. read more

Slow service. We've been going to Carolina Blue for several years and we usually enjoy it. However, lately the service has deteriorated. We've gone three times over the past four weeks and the service is very slow. No matter if it's appetizers, drinks, or the main course, the wait staff is tough to find. They have three people at check-in and the other night there were only three servers in the tap room and bar. Unfortunately this is becoming the new normal at Carolina Blue. Also, they used to have a current craft beer list. Most of the selections are very odd beers - just how many stouts, porters, and duvells does a bar need to have? It's now early April, only a few days from Easter, and they still have Christmas beers on their list. It used to be so much better! read more

Felt bad for the bartender... he was getting grilled about every drink he made by some guy standing at the service station... I was even uncomfortable for him! Had a Cesar salad and almost broke a tooth on a crouton. My boyfriend had the ahi tuna. (Mind you he is an avid seafood eater) not even an hour after we left we were in the e.r. Because he was having a severe allergic reaction. Shame we just moved into town... should have looked at the reviews first. read more

Ok beer selection. Food was pretty good but way overpriced for what it was. The service was not good. We felt very rushed and the waitress told us that we needed to close out with her, whether we wanted to order more food and drink or not (which we did). That has never happened to me before in my life. Having worked as a waiter before, I can't imaging being that rude to a guest. I saw her saying the same thing to other tables and each table looked offended. After she awkwardly stood there waiting for us to pay, she left and came back with our cards. We paid and sat a little while longer only to see that she was sitting at the bar drinking with her friends. Extremely unprofessional and bad service. I used to frequent this place but I'll think twice before coming back. read more

Was not happy at all with the food. We had what would normally be great foods that could be amazing if made in house and not just our ages from a purveyor and thrown in a fryer. Also, way overpriced for the quality. Service was good, that's about all. read more

I have never in my life been more impressed with a restaurants customer service. My husband and I, along with our 9 month old arrived for dinner at 4:40 pm (we go early bc baby goes to bed at 6-6:30). We ordered wings and fries to start and then a salad, chicken fingers and a sandwich as entrees. Our wings and fries came out within 20ish mins (5pm). At 5:55 we still had not gotten the rest of our food. We were not annoyed by the wait, we saw they had a large party outdoors, but our son was starting to get fussy and needed to be in bed soon - we simply had to go. We noticed the manager and asked if we could pay for our wings and fries just so we could get him home. Coincidentally our food was about to come out but it was only my chicken and salad. Not only did they make my husband a special sandwich (that was absolutely delicious) but they boxed up our food, only allowed us to pay for the wings and fries (we still tipped our excellent server on the whole bill), but also GAVE US A $50 GIFT CARD!!!! I am seriously still so blown away about how this situation was handled and we cannot wait to go back and tell everyone what a great restaurant this is!! read more

This is a weird review to be following the one I just wrote for Telford Inn, because they both have the same owner. Carolina Blue, which used to be J.G. Cook's Bar & Grill, was recently renovated by the owner's sons. I did not have a positive experience at Telford, but I LOVE Carolina Blue! The decor inside Carolina Blue is pretty sleek, but my favorite part is the outdoor deck with sit-around stone fire-pit. There are two bars, one inside and one outside, but the outside bar wasn't open yet when I last went. CB specializes in peachwood smoked meats. We ordered the house smoked wings appetizer, and though I'm not usually a wing-lover, I wished I had ordered it as my entree. That is, until I got my entree, the Hoegaarden steamed mussels. The mussels were huge and every single one of them was open and delicious and I couldn't stop eating them even though I was full after chowing on out other two apps- the hush puppies and house made basket of chips with Maytag blue cheese- and oh, let's not forget my bowl of the soup du jour, a tomato asparagus puree that tasted so fresh that I wondered if had actually ever been cooked. And the mac and cheese. And bites of everything else at the table, which I can't even remember now, but know that I liked it all. Weight Watchers? What's that? read more

I wish I could really love this place. The food is usually good to very good, but fluctuates with each visit. But for the options in this desolate wasteland of restaurants, it's nice to have. The real problem here is the weird service. The service from hostess stand to table is sketchy. Hostesses often seem confused, unaware or both. I get it that you're busy, and pretty much one of the only games in town. But their attitude seems totally misplaced in an establishment like this. It's difficult to describe it. Not necessarily rude or arrogant, but just clueless and foggy. The servers are usually friendly, but they also seem lost on an island on occasion. Food wait times can be excessive, and they tend to just disappear during those times. One big sin this place has been guilty of more than once is poorly staging timing of apps and entrees. They should not be delivered practically on top of each other, and this has happened enough times to be more than just a one time nuisance. On the other hand, we've also experienced entrees arriving 30 minutes after apps, so go figure. The vibe inside is pretty cool. The bar area can be raucous during peak times. But you can also catch a much calmer mood there on off times and late nights. The dining area is nice, and the bar area outside hosts musical acts at times. Hard to call this place a true smokehouse. The ribs and other BBQ items come slathered in cold or lukewarm sauce, which is not how a true smokehouse serves them up. But you can find decent sandwiches, seafood and steak options away from the BBQ. They ought to rethink what they want to be as a restaurant. Drinks are on point, mixed strong and a good assortment of cocktails to choose from. We'll keep returning. But it's hard to get overjoyed about this place. It's not a compliment when you go in expecting some type of issue every time. I can't help but think that if they had better competition in the area, they'd have to step up their game to remain relevant. read more

I was expecting a full on, old-school BBQ based on a previous Yelp review. Not the case. From the outside, it's hard to tell what decor/inside will be like. But once you're in, you can tell it's trying hard to be a semi-upscale bar with contemporary dining room (with attached package store to boot.) One thing I noticed right away how l*o*u*d it is in this place. Decent selection of beers, with emphasis on microbrews and regional brews. Menu is a strange mix of $20+ entrees and less-than-$10 sandwiches. I had a burger, which I thought was average. Their smashed golden yukon potatoes, on the other hand, were quite delicious. I was longing for some hardcore bbq, but didn't find it. Probably wouldn't hit this place again if given choice. That said, this is a God-send if you live in Pitman, as there are slim-to-none choices for anything resembling remotely interesting food. read more

I have come here now on many different occasions, because it literally is a block down the street for me. The beer selections is very good, but besides that, I am not sure if I would be a regular if it weren't for the convenience. The atmosphere is definitely cool. Near the bar, it is more classy/sporty, but they have a dining room for finer dining and a back porch that is heated. There is an atmosphere for everyone. For a drink and bar snacks, I like the place. There is one bar tender who is super nice, attentive and friendly. However, besides him, I have had terrible experiences with bar tenders. They rarely come over and if you ask questions about any of the drinks, it's as if you are burdening them. A lot of their drinks are on the pricier side, but I do enjoy the specials they run. Thursday night is their happy hour night and they have half price beer and $1 sliders..great deal! Wednesday they have live music and $4 wine of the month, which is one of my favorite deals! My favorite snacks to get are the wings, which are generally good, but not always consistent and the crab cake sandwich...that is delicious!! We have also gone for dinner. The food is very good but pricey. If you are looking for a fancier, seafood like meal, this is a good place to go. I like to stick with the bar-type food, tho. Overall, I suggest going for a drink, especially when they have a good special! read more

First order of business: Everyone in my party of 4 adults and 2 kids enjoyed their food. Tasty, good-sized portions. The kitchen knows what it's doing. It's the waitstaff and service that needs help, and lots of it. The poor kid tasked with our high-top table in the bar area just couldn't get his head screwed on straight. Nice guy, just lost. I cringe at thinking what it would be like if the place were busy. The food seems pricey for what you get. While it's a big portion, it's just a main dish. No sides. I paid about $25 and got ribs. The ribs were good. Not earth-shattering. Good mid-line restaurant food. Nothing with that. Want some cole slaw? You'll get a somewhat greasy/oily mix of cabbage for an additional $4. Atmosphere is decent, but really odd to me. I'm not from around here, so the combination of bar / restaurant / package store is kind of weird. You walk in and to the left of the hostess station looks like a convenience store selection of beer and wine. Maybe that's normal in this part of the world. Never seen it myself. Then there's a patio entrance with a live band that plays an odd mix of 60's protest rock, and there's an electric sliding door like from a grocery store that constantly swooshes open and shut, so you get these random increases in volume from the well-performed but strange selection of Vietnam war tunes. The level of finish-out inside is nice. read more

Ask about portion sizes before you order unless specified on the menu already. Ordered from Specials menu Cajun Shrimp and Scallops with rice $30. I'd imagine 5-7 shrimps 5-7 Scallops for that price.... 2... 2! 2 Shrimp 2 Scallops for $30... ridiculous. Beer selection is good, food taste is good, servers are good. Work on those portion sizes or specify how much your getting. Menu doesn't say how many wings you get either. read more

Went there with my husband and was greeted immediately. We got to our table and our waitress came right over and took our drink orders which came out quickly. We ordered the steak egg roll appetizer which were amazing. My husband ordered a burger and I had the veggie wrap and each came with homemade potato chips. All was very good and reasonably priced. We will be returning. read more

I've been here many times to meet friends though nothing ever changes the menu is very limited most people complain about their selection of food but I guess if you're just going there to have a beer to meet friends I would definitely recommend. read more

Let me apologize for not leaving a review sooner. Carolina Blue has been my go to spot for well over a year. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu but the smokehouse wings are on point! I get a full order for myself each time I go. I just recently went on 1/25/2020 and ordered the ribs. Sorry vegans but these are ridiculously good! read more

I like Carolina Blue for drinks. They have interesting specialty drinks like a Moscow Mule (in a copper mug), and I enjoyed the cucumber gin and tonic that they serve. I will certainly be back for more drinks and snacks As a "smokehouse" I was disappointed, in fact I should have been suspicious when most of the reviews seem to talk about the drinks and seafood. I ordered the pulled pork (which did not come with cole slaw). It lacked smoke flavor and was drenched with bbq sauce. The salad and the grilled zucchini that I ordered were both very good. I believe the server said that the dressing on the salad was a champagne vinagerette, and was tangy and tasty. The zucchini was simple, a little bit of seasoning and grilled well. To me, Carolina Blue is a bistro or something like that. Calling it a smokehouse gives a false impression about what to expect. As a bistro, or whatever, I think it is pretty good. But I won't be coming back for BBQ. read more

I haven't been here in about 2 years, so I was a little hesitant when suggesting this for dinner with family. But I have to say, I was surprised/pleased. We sat outside on the covered patio. There is both covered and uncovered patio options outside. There is also 2 separate dining areas inside: around the bar and a quieter dining room. Decor is nice. Patio looked great/clean. There a plenty of drink choices. They have some standard beers on tap, including some quality brews (Stella, Sly Fox, Golden Monkey) and then have some rotating specials (Flying Fish XPA). Bread was served for the table. We started with the steamers, oysters on the half shell and calamari. All were great. The steamers were deliciously garlickly! Dipping sauce for calamari was tasty and it was lightly fried as it should be. The menu has a nice mix of sandwiches, salads, soups and steak and seafood entrees. The menu isn't huge, but there are plenty of options within each "category" so there should be something for everyone, even the pickiest eaters. The "Grill" included meats and seafoods, with choices for sauces to top them with, such as soy and ginger. All of our dinner entrees were very good. We had crab cake sandwich (served with house made chips), crab cake entree, macaroni and cheese, and filet and arugula salad. The crab cakes were a nice size, no filler; and broiled/baked (not fried, thank god!). The others that had them thought they were very good. I agreed, but thought they could have used some more seasoning. But the fact that they didn't have any filler trumped the lack of seasoning. The smoked filet on the salad was fantastic. The mac and cheese was good, but the cheese flavor wasn't very sharp (just okay). Again, not enough flavor here. It was also noticeable that the tartar and cocktail sauce were not house made. I know this is such a small detail, but when you're going through all the effort to house smoke meats to make your restaurant stand out, this would have made a nice difference. There are different specials nightly, and live music. The patio would fit a larger group well. Not sure about the dining room. There were a couple of high-top large tables in the bar as well. We would definitely go back. read more

A fine platform for Dining and Dancing. Carolina Blue offers Live Music on their Popular Outdoor Deck and Features a Fire Pit and Outside Bar. A Covered area protects people from the hot sun. There are limited Drink Specials, and Tasty Menu Choices. I've Found the food quality to be hit or miss. Service is ALWAYS very good! I suggest the Beer Bucket Special, The Moscow Mule (Cool and Refreshing!), Hush Puppies and the Oysters! If you're planning on going during a Live Band Night, I suggest you call and reserve a table the day before. It can be quite packed! read more

Carolina Blue - Barbeque Near Me - Pitman, New Jersey

The smoked sampler is usually great its just not always consistent. When its right - its out of this world. When its not - its still OK. This place is best in the spring or fall when you can sit outside. They have a decent beer list as well. The rest of the menu is hit or miss and can be a little pricey so I stick with the smoked stuff. read more

This is one of our favorite local spots. There aren't too many other places around but you can always rely on Carolina Blue for a good time. Whether you sit at the bar, in the dining room, or outside, you're sure to have a great experience. The ambiance is cozy and makes you feel at home. If you're lucky enough, you can catch some local musicians there performing or a fire outside. My favorite drink is their hot apple martini served in the fall/winter. I love their sea bass and crab fries. Also try the grilled zucchini as a side... sliced thin and perfectly seasoned! Next time you're wondering where to go, check out this local spot and you won't be disappointed. read more

Went to Carolina Blue for Restaurant Week and boy was it a great!!! The decor doesn't match the elevated cuisine. The Duck Ruiellete with the cherry sauce was sublime and the Monk Fish with he Scallop Moouse was Devine. It's a hidden gem in Pitman. I highly recommend going and experiencing this food that will transport you. read more

This spot is awesome! Great atmosphere, good food, and craft brews is a mixture for a good time and that is exactly what they got going on at Carolina blue. My usual order is the wings and the shrimp spring rolls but their smokehouse burger it knock your socks off good. read more

Carolina Blue - Barbeque Near Me - Pitman, New Jersey

Carolina blue. What a night. My husband brought me here for dinner for our anniversary. He made a reservation and we were seated on time or maybe earlier. He wanted me to catch a glimpse of the entire menu (as i must take forever at a new dining experience!). This place has a rather comforting atmosphere. To the left is the restaurant side with attentive, kind, and helpful staff. Bill was awesome. He knew the menu, he was patient, it was freezing and he helped with that matter (im not one of those but the lady who was next me complained...after she left the next lady sat down with jacket gloves, boots and her purse to keep her warm js) Now the real deal...THE FOOD!!! It was great. Well I got to meet one of the owners, Brad... He was great. A great host, nice guy, nice conversation. No complaints here... He suggested the roasted duck which was a special for the night. I ended up with the pork strip. It was juicy and the apple chutney went well with it. My husband had a flat iron steak he ordered medium and he got it well...it was still good, just not what he ordered nevertheless still tasty... The sides are amazing. The mac n cheese is pretty good. We tried the mashed potatoes, cream spinach, sweet potatoe fries, asparagus, and roasted potatoes... Just go... I thought it was worth it. Im going to go again. read more

The food is fine as are the drinks. I dined at Carolina Blue a number of times and have always found that the service was no up to the quality of the food. I've only had lunch here but there are, oddly, few BBQ items on the lunch menu. read more

Very cool spot, that has great potential, but it needs some more experienced/better bartenders. I hit up this place with a large group of friends for dinner. I arrived before everyone, so I went and sat at the inside bar to catch a drink while waiting. Well, not only did I wait for my friends, but I also waited to get served a drink - and that's with 2 bartenders working (one of them being a service bartender) and with me sitting right next to the service bar. I waited...and waited...and waited. And, it wasn't like I mixed in with other customers because I sat with 3 empty bar stools on each side of me. I waited so long it was almost a game to see how long I could sit there without getting served. Finally, the service bartender turned 90 degrees, saw me and got me a drink. Definitely could tell the bartenders were inexperienced. I could understand waiting if the place had been mobbed but this was around 6:30 pm, on a Saturday, and it was fairly quiet. My friends finally showed up and we got a table on the outside patio. The waitress service, for our table of 16, was great. The waitress rocked it. The food was good. The atmosphere of this place is very cool and if I were rating this place on atmosphere alone, I'd give it 5 stars. It's just a shame that my first impression of the place was tainted by the bad bar service. "You don't get a second chance to make a first impression." read more

First of all let me say that I Wish this place was better. It's basically a bar with ok food....but it is way overpriced. For what they want for lunch or dinner, I'd rather go to a proper restaurant like TERRANOVA on Delsea Drive. I've sat outside as well as inside....the Fireside seating is nice outside. Poor service, not so great food and too high prices leaves me wanting a lot more. : ( read more

The food was mediocre and the fly situation was absolutely disgusting. We swatted lots and lots of flies the entire meal. It turned our stomachs that we covered our food and never finished. We counted 10 that were just sitting on the pictures and backs of booths. I would have been better sitting outside. Told waiter and the hostess at the front our disappointment..."Sorry...were trying to get it under control". That's what hostess said. Never took 1$ off the bill. Imagine what the kitchen looks like. If the dining area is full of flies I'm sure the kitchen is too. I have never experienced anything like this. Also, waiter was just ok. Only another table in the dining room and he was forgetting things we asked for. I will NEVER return. read more

Awesome food! And great drink selection! You can choose from smoked selection (ribs, wings, bistro), fish (ahi tuna, salmon, sea bass), great apps (buffalo shrimp, calamari, soups, and salads),and awesome signature cocktails (Moscow Mule, fresh margaritas) read more

The food is good. Just good. Nothing special. What made me write a 2 star review is the service. We went in on a Sunday night. The patio was pretty full, so we sat at the inside bar. We ordered hummus and a meat plate. And for our entree, a BBQ Sampler and mac and cheese (to share). It took an hour for the hummus to come out. An hour? For pitas, veggies and hummus? Our entree came out without the mac and cheese a half and hour after that. The bartender said I never ordered it. I did. It was really not very crowded inside. My husband and I commented that I can't imagine how long it would take when they were REALLY swamped. Like I said, the food was okay. BBQ chicken a bit dry and I've had FAR better wings that took a fraction of the time. read more

Food was average, but the staff was very friendly. The problem is the gnats or flies that are all over the inside of the windows that swarm around you while you're trying to eat. It's terrible! read more

Great pub atmosphere and really good menu. We stop in regularly and are always pleased with the bar snacks and drinks.

We always order the same stuff...Mac and cheese, smoke house burger...and it's always great. The place is lively, booming with locals, families in a semi sports bar setting. The staff is efficient and friendly. They have an excellent craft beer list and the wine list is 2 1/2 stars...Kenndel Jackson is their better choice for wine by the glass :-/ (but much better than other near by places) The ambience is lively... (lots of noise from the tvs, bar area and crowd) Word to wise, don't go when it's very crowded...always call ahead or your service, food and wait time will easily suffer...learned that the hard way. ...otherwise it's a good casual place to grab a bite to eat read more

Carolina Blue - Go for the bar, not for the restaurant. Let me explain: I have visited Carolina Blue on numerous occasions and agree that it is a nice place, but there is room for improvement. Here is why I say don't go for the restaurant: The tables in the dining areas are a little crowded. It is obvious that the owners wanted to fit a lot of tables in the space, and I understand why - more tables = more customers = more $$$. I'm totally down with that but some of the basic foods on the menu are definitely overpriced. I will admit that some of the prices are justified, such as the barbecue ribs, but some of the other menu items are simply priced too high, i.e. the cheesesteak; its basic, nothing special about the roll, overall not a lot of effort put into it to make it a little unique. And due to the large amount of tables in the dining areas it gets pretty loud in there and it is hard to hold a nice conversation with your dining partner(s). Their bar, however, is better. They have a decent draft selection, but there are no drink specials ever, that I am aware of anyway. The bar does get quite lively and packed, which is what a bar should be and it gets pretty fun, especially if you are with friends. The bartenders are attentive and don't mind holding a conversation with you and treating you more like a friend than a customer. One thing management cannot control that I wish they could is the dress code of some of the clientele. When I go out I dress for the occasion, which is a different manner of dress than when I mow the lawn. I wish everyone understood that. There are only a few things that irk me more than someone that cannot step it up and wear a collared shirt and pressed trousers when they go out to spend some decent money at the bar. Carolina Blue is nicely decorated and tasteful which should attract the appropriate guests, but I just don't get why anyone would think gym shorts and sneakers are appropriate dress for this kind of place. Ok, rant over. Final verdict on Carolina Blue: Pro's - Tasteful and appropriate decor, fun and lively bar scene, good beer and wine selection, quality food and grill work with an extensive menu, outdoor patio and live entertainment during the warmer months. Con's - Menu and drink prices are a little too high for the geographic area, crowded dining area, gets a little loud for my taste. Come to Carolina Blue and hopefully we will meet so we can make some bad decisions together. read more

Very good food. Very poor bar service. Not the first time we have had this experience. We won't be back again!

Decent place with a casual atmosphere that would suit most people. Outdoor patio, nice bar and a good size dining room. We ate at the bar, service was good from one of the bartenders but while we were sitting there a shrimp plater came out of the kitchen and one of the shrimp happened to slip off the plate and on to the register, now you would think the bartender would send it back but no he put the shrimp back on the platter! Stay way from the vertically challenged, bald bartender! I don't think that a restaurant should be judged based on the poor habits of one individual so I rated this place a 3. The food and drinks were a 4 and the overall service / cleanliness based on the shrimp incident a 2. read more

I have eaten here several times now and in general it's a good place to eat. Good food. The issue I have more is about the atmosphere. It's very odd, and cold!, when in the tap room and having the deck area open to a parking lot. There is no scenery. Additionally, everything is al la carte. So things are pretty reasonable price wise until you realize your burger doesn't come with anything etc. So for us, I think it's nice to go to on occasion. I think we would frequent more should the menu be a little more cost friendly. read more

First impressions. Beer/package goods being sold to the left of entrance making for a less than appealing site. - lighting and decor dated -music does not compliment what ever theme was suppose to be - my menu was different from my guest mine was 2 sheets of legal size paper handed to me -filet minion, dry and lacked fresh flavor - OK most difficult part , menu not explained so I order 1/2 rack as my entree, well first time I get the meat served without a starch or vegetables, when I asked I was told " the ribs are sold alacart. A heads up would of been fine. - gentlemen sitting next table over asked the waiter if they were serving Salmon to a 12 year old due to the small portions -bread was very good. -server needed to brush up on menu. -parking is ample - overall disappointed but I see a lot of potential especially seeing the demand for this type of Restaurant in this rural area. *the above review is solely my non- professional opinion and based on my experience. No mal-intentions read more