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Community Corner

Horse Racing and Fine Food Are Not to be Missed

Looking for something different? McLoone's Woodbridge Grille is worth a gamble!

I talk about restaurants a lot in this column, but what I’ve never talked about before is horse racing. Well, that’s because I love food and have never been to a race track in my life.  But, I’ve been in the market for some new and wonderful experiences to write about here, and McLoone’s Woodbridge Grille seemed to fit the bill, seeing as how it is actually inside Favorites, one of New Jersey’s few off track betting facilities outside of Atlantic City.

I will warn you right from the start, McLoone’s is THE place to be on the weekend, so parking was at a premium. We found a spot at the far side of the lot, and took a brisk walk to the restaurant, because where on earth is spring?

The first thing you notice when you walk in are the televisions. There is a TV at every booth, where diners can watch the races they’re wagering on.  I’m not a betting gal, so I wasn’t upset when the hostess told us there were no booths available. We sat at a table in the center of the room that still had a view of a television no matter where you looked.  There are no bad seats in McLoone’s.

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The wait staff is impeccably polite, and the food is delicious. I ordered the grilled chicken caesar salad and was not disappointed. The dressing had a vague citrus note to it, which was surprisingly refreshing and delicious.

But you’re not reading this to find out about the food or the service. You want to know about the wagering.

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Well, I’ve mentioned, this isn’t exactly my thing. I walked out knowing vaguely the same amount about horse racing as I knew when I walked in.  But, here are some things I noticed.  

First, the restaurant is definitely on my list of “nice” places.  However, the quiet dignity of the place is very roughly interrupted every so often, by a diner yelling at a horse on their TV.  “Show them how to RUN!” Hey, um, they can’t hear you, dude.

Also, yes, there were a few people who had an air of quiet desperation to them.  There were also those who walked around in gold chains, loudly declaring, “Yeah, I just cleared nine hundred.”  I was unclear about what he was counting, but I’m guessing it was probably dollars.

I was a little surprised by the number of families in the dining room.  It seemed that, in most cases, the kids loved watching the horses run, and the moms and dads were enjoying some adult conversation while the kids were glued to the TVs.  Genius!

After dinner, we left McLoone’s proper and entered Favorites, where I learned a very little bit about horse racing and the betting process.  I have to admit, it is a very cool thing to experience. At one point, even though I had no money down on anything, I got really into a race, just because the horse was named after my husband’s best friend.  I may have shouted a “Go, KYLE!”  Or maybe it wasn’t me. I’m not telling.

The process of placing a bet is almost entirely automated.  There are machines conveniently located throughout the facility that can take your wagers, and can even check your tickets to see if you’ve won anything, just in case you missed a race, or if you, like me, have no idea how most of the money in horse racing is won.  (There are apparently different ways to win. I had no idea. If you’re interested, the staff at Favorites is really knowledgable and happy to help. Me? I went to Vegas, dropped five cents on the penny slots, won nothing and called it a day. I had better things to use money on. Like shoes. I am no help.)

All said, I have to say I am looking forward to visiting McLoone’s again. Next time, I want to try one of the steak dishes, because they sound awesome.  Also, I have it on good authority that the artichoke dip isn’t to be missed.

Perhaps on my next visit, I’ll be brave enough to place a wager myself.  Maybe not.  Wanna bet on it?

McLoone's Woodbridge Grille is located at 3 LaFayette Road in Fords. Their number is 732-512-5025 and reservations are recommended on weekends and big "race days."  They are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Check their website for their menu and information about booking private parties.

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