After a fire 30 years ago Mastoris restaurant in Bordentown was able to rebuild and has been a family favorite restaurant ever since. It has expanded into a bakery, banquet hall, bar and lounge.
“Everyone has a Mastoris story,” says Roger Price, the current President of Mastoris. He goes on to say, “You could go around here at any given time and people will tell you they have been coming here for their parties, christening, birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations because it’s a family spot.”
We sent three VOICE staffers to Mastoris to provide a three part review.
THE LOUNGE
- By Beryl Zonese
- Reporter
The Vibe lounge at Mastoris is a sports bar. There are bright and flashy multicolored lights, pop music that sets the tone for a relaxed atmosphere, comfy plush booths, and giant 40 inch televisions lining the walls each showing different sports and after-game interviews.
A simple order of roasted lemon oregano chicken comes with a side of wild rice and spicy roasted vegetables. The chicken is golden and speckled with herbs. There is a strong aroma of oregano as well as garlic and lemon.
The chicken is juicy, with ample fat dripping down its sides. As you bite through you taste a collaboration between the lemon and herbs. Each bite is smooth, satisfying, and flavorful.
The vegetables are beautifully rich with a balanced mixture of peppers, carrots and zucchini. The fat from the chicken seeps into the medley of vegetables–a spectacular combination.
There is also the wild rice, awakened by the chicken and a hit of lemon. You will want to take bite after bite.
THE DINER
- By Ashley Jackson
- Senior Reporter
The diner room at Mastoris can be found by going straight through the bakery. It has the nostalgic 1950’s mom-and-pop style, the counter-top glistens, the stools are sturdy, and booths are spacious.
If you find yourself hungry for a great appetizer you have to try Nona’s Mozzarella Sticks. They have a cheese pull that stretches so far you may need another person to test its length. Dense and chewy, but it truly shines at the sound of a single bite. [CRUNCH!!!]
Talk about a perfectly fried crust. Sadly you may find the marina sauce a bit watery which somewhat weakens the dish. Still, you’ll be fighting for the last stick. Nona would be proud.
At a recent visit I found the chicken quesadilla was the least impressive of the bunch. Gamey chicken in between a paper-thin, lackluster tortillas. It’s a departure from their previous iteration of the dish that was served jam-packed with fresh chicken and mouth-watering gobs of cheese.
Thankfully the chicken parmesan saved the day. Despite the overwhelming obstacle of watery marinara sauce, Mastoris serves an impressively juicy, hearty chicken.
The chicken was seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano, garlic and onion powder and they each worked in tandem to create a cohesive, flavorful dish. The pasta was delicious, but when added with the chicken was elevated to another level . There was a desirable ratio between chicken, pasta, sauce, and cheese to get that coveted “bit-of-everything” bite each time.
THE DINING ROOM
- By Elijah Parkman-Williams
- Senior Reporter
My family loves coming to Mastoris at least once a year and we come with an entire feast worth of hunger.
The dining room fills with laughter. Then comes the scent of fresh cinnamon and cheese bread and that is usually the point where my family’s bickering quiets down.
The first wave of scent is from the cinnamon bread. It’s flaky and still warm from the oven. Take one bite and it is evident why this is always seems to be sold out at the bakery up front. The cinnamon sugar will fill the palette and if you dare add a little butter, the flavors are only elevated.
The cinnamon is spectacular but the cheese bread is to die for. Let’s be honest, most people aren’t going to choose the milder flavors of cheese bread over cinnamon, but then you eat it and it all makes sense. Grown adults can be seen giddily eating this bread. The cheese sticks to the roof of every diner’s mouth and that’s only made clear when the sound of smacking bites bounces from table to table.
Another perfect dish is the chicken pot pie. The crust lacks that crunchy top you long for, but the magic is just under the hood, chicken so succulent you’ll drool for the next bite, vegetables so vibrant their color attracts the eye of the diner. It is a delightful dish.
At my last visit I thought my food was good, but then I tasted some of my mother’s dish, penne pasta with vodka sauce and bacon. Talk about an overwhelming dish, this is what I hope everyone experiences when they come here, perfection. Al dente noodles dressed in the best homemade vodka sauce I have had in a long time. Do yourself a favor and add the bacon, because if bacon was made for a dish, it was for this one. After tasting the salty bacon and creamy noodles, remember that you are still eating off your mothers plate and she will eventually want her food back.
EDITORIAL NOTE: As of January 1, 2022 Mastoris closed its doors for good, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as a primary reason.
