Have you ever driven by the little retro styled ice cream place on Rt. 29 in New Jersey and wondered what it’s like? If you’re like us you have. Actually, if you’re like us, you’ve tried the ice cream during the summer, been a bit disappointed, and continue to wonder if the restaurant portion of the place is any better. Well, it is. A lot better.
Upon first glance, It’s Nutts – Rt. 29 Titusville, NJ – looks like a forgotten landmark of 1950’s Americana roadside dining. Like so many of it’s kind, the exterior of the building appears several years past due on a renovation. When you look more closely it’s actually not so bad. It’s just a bit old, and well worn. Such a closer inspection also reveals a parking lot full of cars and motorcycles at lunchtime on a weekend. Most of the car’s makes and models sit in stark contrast to the worn-out appearance of the eatery. When we entered we found, to our surprise, the austerity of the front to be entirely deceiving.
The dining room offers a warm, inviting, fun family atmosphere. With 12 tables (3 booths, 3 two-tops, 6 four-tops) it is an intimate feel, made cozy on a fall afternoon. The wait staff was quick and courteous. Our server, Theresa, confirmed what we’d heard about their specialties, recommending pizza and specialty sandwiches on our next visit. In fact, we had one of the latter on this visit, the French Dip Au Jus. She also satisfied our curiosity about the true vintage of the place. The current management took over, with a lease, seven years ago from the owners who founded it sometime in the late ‘60s.
Both of our sandwiches, a Philly Cheesesteak in addition to the Dip, were quite to our liking. The quality and prep are a step above the average “greasy spoon” joint. In fact most of their specialty sandwiches are set off with a unique twist. The French Dip comes with brie. The average price of most lunch platters comes in at around $7.95. They also have a basic sandwich menu that averages $5.95-$6.95. We checked out some of the other guests plates and saw an abundance of pizza and fried chicken, both of which looked good.
What makes the dining experience at It’s Nutts a completely enjoyable one is the atmosphere. Similar to many of Bucks County’s best loved eateries, the clientele is a diverse cross-section of people. Due to it’s location on the New Hope/Lambertville motorcycle pilgrimage route, any weekend visit is likely to be occasioned by a group of bikers (such as ours was). However, like so many of the patrons, even the bike gangs are decidedly sanitized. It is comforting, relaxing, and fun to see families mixed with artists and seniors and most everything in between.
It’s Nutts comes with a high recommendation. They are open Mon-Fri 11a-9p; Sat.& Sun. 8a-9p; offer delivery and take-out services. We certainly plan a return visit, just don’t go for the ice cream (Jack ‘n Jill).
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