Chow Down Casual Comfort Food at Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille in North Wales, PA
Lighting paints the bar’s liquor bottles green or “greene,” as it were.
Story, photos by Sharon Kozden
What do you do when you don’t feel like dolling up for a four-star restaurant experience, yet you also don’t want to hole up at home with takeaway, and the effort involved in cooking a meal is just too daunting?
What works for me is what lies between, namely a sports-bar and grill’s casual dining experience. No primping necessary. It’s doubtful anyone would even notice if I wore jammies, as so many sports-bar enthusiasts are typically tuned into some sort of game on one of the plethora of televisions lining the bar area and thereabouts. Like a little TV with your restaurant? Things is, I don’t much care for sports; I’m there to nosh grub in the comfort of my onesie. Since my visit to the Greene Turtle in North Wales on September 20th was an assignment, I opted for non-descript fleece clothing. Comfort food and cozy attire blend well.
The Greene Turtle originated in Ocean City, MD in 1976, hence the “turtle” bit, as MD is home to the Maryland Terrapins sports teams. Expanding into Delaware, Virginia, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the restaurants show no signs of letting up and intend to spread even further throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Initially owned and operated by several individuals, said owners began franchising the business in 2003. I recall asking what’s with the “e” on the end of green, and the manager began explaining timed with my food’s arrived, which is about when my attention wandered away from him and toward the food. The extra “e” perplexes me still, although not enough that I can’t sleep nights.
So the food. Let’s dig into that. We media invitees were the guests and sat together at a large table, where we got to know one another as food and drinks were served. Despite the Greene Turtle’s signature fresh fruit-infused drinks known as Boardwalks, I was again loyal to my go-to margarita. Others opted for the adult version of Boardwalks, containing whiskey or vodka. Needing to coat my belly before imbibing, the mouth-watering Rockfish Bites with Yuengling beer batter, Old Bay and tartar dipping sauce hit the starter-spot. The Bites alone were A+++, very fresh and delicately chewy … no jaw workout involved, no unpleasant watery post-bite spurt. The add-on trio enhanced the fish’s foundation.
Next up were Loaded Tater Tots with Fat Tire Beer Cheese, bacon, and homemade ranch dressing. I immediately picked off the scallions, as I’ve neer been a fan of anything in the onion family. A large onion in a pot for flavor is fine, but the tear-jerkers stop there. No way with the raw slices on my burgers. These tots were such a great example of casual, comfort food. One hot mess in the best way. And the foodstuffs kept on keeping on with oven-baked Jalapeno Poppers topped with cheddar, cream cheese and bacon. I almost nixed even a taster of these as, for me, any variety of hot peppers might as well be an onion. I can tell you their interiors were yummy. It was a rare treat to have bacon that had more meat than fat. Sometimes many restaurants serve bacon so fatty that by the time said fat is picked clean (you do that as well?), the remaining bacon portion appears similar to the size of a specimen in a petri dish.
Ready for the grand finale … the ultimate in comfort food other than mashed potatoes? Give me a “P.” The pizza arrived in buffalo chicken and margherita varieties. As with all previously mentioned gastro successes, these were no different in terms of quality and freshness. The margherita version with marinara, fresh mozzarella and basil was the culinary version of music’s oft-quoted “three chords and the truth” (making for terrific tunes). Not skimping on quality ingredients truly makes all the difference. For instance, did you know that “DOP” on a bottle of olive oil is what you should be looking for to signify quality? That’s a little factoid I heard recently on a radio channel foodie program. That buffalo chicken pizza was the most calorie-laden of those on the menu but worth every bite that went to my waist. Creamy. Melty. Piquant but not too-too.
When you’re on mission for casual food, check out a Greene Turtle near you. The establishment in North Wales? I’m sticking my neck out with little effort to give it “four “turtles.” Go terrapins!
Pretty simple façade, which is fine by me. Spend the bucks on the food, drink and interior comfort.
A-ha: now I’m making the terrapin connection between turtles and Maryland.
Interior shot clearly defines this a sports bar with the requisite presence of multiple televisions.
As if the string of televisions weren’t proof enough of this joint’s sports-bar status, this ‘Nova Cats display should remove any doubt.
Here’s one of the most refreshing-looking glasses of water I’ve ever wanted to sip.
Nice biodegrable switch from those controversial plastic straws. The green swirl is reminiscent of a swizzle stick.
These signature drinks look almost too pretty to drink, almost being the operative word. Bottoms up!
Always on the prowl for the perfect margarita to indulge in as well as to photograph.
Mouth-watering Rockfish Bites with Yuengling beer batter, Old Bay and tartar dipping sauce.
Loaded Tater Tots with Fat Tire Beer Cheese, bacon, and homemade ranch dressing.
Fill up on some oven-baked Jalapeno Poppers with cheddar, cream cheese and bacon.
Who doesn’t love a pizza? The buffalo chicken variety comes with buffalo chicken dip, cheddar, celery and ranch dressing.
The Margherita pizza features marinara, fresh mozzarella and basil.
Merch alert! You saw the consumed foodstuffs, so they hopefully have this in an XXL.
