There are many restaurants around Elizabethtown College’s campus, spanning a wide variety of cuisines to satisfy any potential cravings. One restaurant I’ve visited fairly frequently is TJ Rockwell’s.
Located just above two miles from campus at 800 Mt Gretna Road, the Elizabethtown location of TJ Rockwell’s offers a cozy but polished atmosphere and delicious food.
My favorite menu items include the grilled chicken quesadilla from the appetizer section and the chicken tortellini and crispy chicken salads. I’ve also tried the pickle chips, mozzarella sticks and flank steak street tacos, all of which were similarly flavorful.
The Seventh Heaven also makes for an incredible dessert, though I tend not to order one since the meal and appetizer portions are large enough to be satisfied without it. Also, the Seventh Heaven is a pretty big portion on its own, making it perfect to share with someone if you ask for a second spoon.
The restaurant is set up with several rooms that are sectioned off by changes in elevation and atmosphere. The front area includes a bar and is often somewhat noisy, while the area closest to the patio is quieter but feels more crowded from the arrangement of the seats. The third space, a room with comfortable booths and a warm fireplace, is my favorite. The wooden tabletops and glass mugs used for fountain drinks makes me feel almost as if I’m enjoying a meal after an adventure in a medieval fantasy tavern.
From what I’ve seen, the building is also kept neat and clean, including the restrooms.
The staff are all very friendly and accomodating. When I went once with a party of about eight people, they quickly made sure they would be able to provide seating for all of us, though it helped that it wasn’t overly busy at the time.
Since I’m a bit of a picky eater, I also sometimes struggle to find items I’d like on the menu when I go to a restaurant for the first time. The staff were patient and let me take my time to look it over the first few times I was there, and didn’t hesitate when I asked for a few modifications to my order.
My only gripe with TJ Rockwell’s is its prices. Like many things recently, their prices have increased over the past couple of years, even removing a popular appetizer sampler item that Etown students were often sharing to save on cash. Still, the quality of the food and service are exceptional, so paying more than you would for a quick meal at a fast food restaurant is to be expected.
TJ Rockwell’s has become one of my favorite local restaurants, and I will likely continue to eat there while out with friends. The portions are filling and I often end up with some extra to take back to my dorm, and the food is always fresh and tasty. Even when busy, the atmosphere feels cozy yet sophisticated, and I haven’t had a bad experience in my several visits over the years.
