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- My family of 5 spent $120 at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. Most of our teens loved the chain, but we may not go back. (businessinsider.com)
Family’s First Foray into BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: A Mixed Review
Central Florida – A local family of five recently embarked on their inaugural dining experience at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, a popular chain making waves with the younger generation. The $120 meal, encompassing drinks, an appetizer, entrées, and the much-hyped Pizookies, left some family members eager for a return, while others remain on the fence.
For years, the parents in the family had largely steered clear of chain restaurants, but their teenagers’ growing enthusiasm for establishments like Chili’s and Applebee’s has shifted their dining habits. Their 17-year-old son and his girlfriend, self-proclaimed connoisseurs of chain dining, have consistently lauded BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, prompting the family’s first visit to the establishment.
BJ’s, with its roots tracing back to 1978 and its foray into brewing its own beers in the 1990s, now boasts numerous locations across the US. With a branch conveniently located just minutes from their Central Florida home, the family, including their teenage daughter, decided it was time to experience the chain firsthand.
A Smooth Start to Dinner
Arriving at their local BJ’s on a Tuesday evening around 6:30 p.m., the family was pleased to find the restaurant uncrowded, allowing for immediate seating. Their server promptly greeted them, providing an overview of the extensive menu.
The Allure of the Pizookie
BJ’s is particularly renowned for its signature Pizookie desserts – warm, skillet-baked cookies topped with ice cream. The son and his girlfriend are such ardent fans that they often visit solely to share this sweet treat, especially when seasonal variations, like the recent Spooky Pizookie, are available.
During their visit, BJ’s offered a special Monday through Friday “Pizookie Meal Deal” for $13, which included an entrée such as fried chicken or deep-dish pizza, and a personal-sized Pizookie. Options to add an appetizer or upgrade to a full-sized Pizookie were available for an additional $4.
Drinks and Daily Deals
The family began their meal with a round of sodas for the teenagers and mother, while the father opted for several glasses of wine. Sodas, priced between $4 and $4.50, came with complimentary refills.
A Tuesday special meant the father’s cabernet was half-off, costing only $5.50 per glass. BJ’s also offers other daily specials, including half-off pizzas on Mondays and $13 loaded burgers on Wednesdays.
Mozzarella Sticks: A Jenga-Inspired Appetizer
Following the son’s recommendation, the family ordered the $14 mozzarella sticks to share. Presented in a unique, Jenga-like stack, the golden-brown sticks were a hit, offering a satisfying “cheese pull” and a flavorful marinara dipping sauce. The nine sticks proved ample for the group, leaving room for their main courses and desserts.
Entrée Highlights and Disappointments
The father enjoyed his $16 order of boneless wings, opting for the sweet and spicy Asian glaze. He found the portion size satisfying and expressed interest in returning to the bar for more wings and BJ’s specialty beers.
The mother praised her $13 Enlightened Strawberry Fields Salad, chosen as part of the Pizookie meal deal. Filled with candied pecans, blue-cheese crumbles, strawberries, and grilled chicken, the salad was so delicious that she plans to recreate it at home.
However, the daughter’s $13 chicken Parmesan entrée, also part of the Pizookie meal, was a letdown. She found the sauce overly sweet and the chicken dry. The server, noticing her disinterest, was exceptionally understanding and offered a new dish, ultimately providing a 10% discount on the entire bill-a gesture the family deeply appreciated.
The son, a self-proclaimed picky eater, was thoroughly pleased with his $15 classic cheeseburger and fries, declaring it among his favorite chain restaurant burgers.
The son’s girlfriend, also leveraging the Pizookie special, chose the $13 pizza-and-salad combo. Her Caesar salad and barbecue-chicken personal pizza were both visually appealing and reportedly delicious. The availability of gluten-free pizza options also caught the mother’s attention.
The Pizookie Phenomenon
The teenagers’ enthusiasm for the Pizookies was not unfounded. The mother, the son’s girlfriend, and the daughter each selected their own Pizookie variety. The mother upgraded to a full-sized gluten-free chocolate-chip Pizookie, the son’s girlfriend chose a regular chocolate-chip, and the daughter opted for strawberry shortcake-all served with vanilla ice cream.
Despite initial skepticism, the warm, gooey, buttery, and chocolaty Pizookies exceeded expectations. The mother even confessed to envisioning future date nights solely dedicated to sharing the dessert.
Final Verdict: A Mixed Bag
The total bill for the family of five came to just over $120, or approximately $25 per person, which felt like a reasonable value given the variety of food.
While the son and his girlfriend remain loyal fans of BJ’s, the parents are undecided about a full family return. They might consider a quick stop at the bar for snacks or to indulge in another Pizookie, but the daughter’s less-than-stellar experience, coupled with a preference for supporting local, independent restaurants, has them hesitant to bring the whole family back for dinner. Nevertheless, the allure of that “really delicious” Pizookie continues to linger.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse did not respond to a request for comment regarding the family’s dining experience.