Non-fastfood off of the turnpike?

September 14, 2011 10:35 AM

Driving from NYC to DC tomorrow night, looking for food options that are not fastfood at the rest stops along the NJTP or 95. Any good spots that don't involve serious detours? The catch: must have a vegetarian friendly menu.

We'll be leaving Manhattan at 6:30 and want to keep up the pace so we don't get to DC (well, Bethesda really) too late. My lady-friend is vegetarian, so if there were a vegetarian restaurant not too far off the highways that would be perfect. In essence I don't want to go more than about 10 minutes from the main route to find something.

posted by jrb223 to travel & transportation (9 answers total)

The rest stops along NJTP are all basically shilling out the crap-tastic Burger King and Cinnabun horsecrap, but the Delaware stop is a. a lot nicer, and b. has a few more options. Although, it's still fast food, there's a Baja Fresh and Brioche Doree, so it's a little better.
posted by General Malaise at 10:45 AM on September 14, 2011

Yeah I was basically going to write by General Malaise did. That's a tough strip for eating anything good. I'd probably get something quick in Manhattan before you leave.
posted by 2bucksplus at 10:50 AM on September 14, 2011

My family always used to stop at the Golden Castle diner by Wilmington. It's in Delaware, about halfway through the trip, so a good stopping point. It's about 3-5 mins off of I-95, Exit 8B.

It's a diner, so it's not terribly healthy, but it's pretty fast, they should have vegetarian options, and it's nice to get out of the car/rest stop parts for a bit.
posted by foodmapper at 11:04 AM on September 14, 2011

We make that drive several times a year, and always try to stop at Baba's Kitchen in Baltimore. Just a bit farther off the highway than a rest stop and it's good and affordable and has some excellent vegetarian options.
posted by JoanArkham at 11:15 AM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Veggie Heaven, in Teaneck NJ. 7 minutes off 95. Rated 2nd best vegetarian restaurant in Bergen County.
posted by exhilaration at 12:54 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Get off the turnpike at Exit 2. Be confused that you got off the turnpike and feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. Go to Vesuvio's Pizzeria in Swedesboro, a couple miles off the turnpike. (Link goes to google maps.) Also has ice cream. If you stand behind the place and peer through the woods you might be able to see my parents' house.
posted by madcaptenor at 1:27 PM on September 14, 2011

I live in Baltimore and didn't know about Baba's Kitchen. It's only about 3 minutes off 95 once you take the Key Highway exit, which is the first one after the Fort Mc Henry tunnel.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 2:46 AM on September 15, 2011

Jose Tejas in Woodbridge, N.J., seems to fit your description.
posted by troywestfield at 6:28 AM on September 15, 2011

Thanks Everyone. This time on the way down we stopped in at Jose Tejas - the vegetarian fajitas seemed particularly enticing. It fit the bill nicely. We're excited to try the other marked answers on subsequent trips.
posted by jrb223 at 2:16 PM on September 18, 2011