Bus Stop Music Cafe

 

An eclectic eatery is striking quite a chord on Pitman’s Broadway Ave with a huge selection of vintage vinyl, live indie bands and organic treats.

It might seem difficult to be all those things rolled into one, but the newly redesigned Bus Stop Music Café manages to pull it off, serving as a pleasant, unpretentious addition to the town’s main drag.

 

Earlier this week, I visited the record-store-turned-café with my dad, a fellow music lover – we were floored the moment we stepped through the colorful threshold.

Light streams through the large picture-window by the entrance, illuminating the cozy dining area, which is furnished with sleek tables for two and richly patterned wood floors.

Vintage album covers line the walls, leading us towards a separate area in the back, where a large collection of records, CDs and cassettes are on sale. Strains of soul music float overhead, mixing with the smells of freshly brewed coffee and the familiar woody scent that comes with old record stores.

My dad stood affixed to the wall, mesmerized by the displays, pointing out the albums he remembered buying during his childhood and lucrative college years. 

“See this album?” he said, pointing to one by Philadelphia rock-band The Hooters. “They used to play in the TKE house kitchen in the 80’s. And this album, this was recorded in Monmouth where you were born!“

This is a definitely a place for music lovers – the food and coffee, while delicious, takes a bit of a backseat.

The café and food area just opened last fall, but the menu is already fairly solid. Choices are varied and made with fresh, organic preservative-free ingredients.

Continuing the music theme, the menu is a play on words, with “Yellow Submarine Sandwiches” and other dishes named for famous artists and bands. There are a few vegetarian options available, although I would like to see more in the future.

The “Flaming Lips” appetizer, a mildly spicy black bean dip topped with shredded cheese and served with a plate of organic corn chips, was a good start, but would be better served warm. Ours came to the table chilled, but the flavors were good and the chips were delicious.

I recommend trying the “That’s Amore” pizza quesadilla with organic tomato sauce, or the fresh tomato bruschetta, appropriately named “Bruce-chetta Springsteen.”

 

Specials rotate daily, with choices of hot soups, salad, and grilled sandwiches. I chose a grilled Panini with spinach, tomatoes, Portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and melted havarti cheese, served on an herbed ciabatta roll with organic kettle chips.

My dining companion tried the “Berlin,” a specialty hot dog with organic sauerkraut and mustard. While hot dogs may not seem very high on the culinary scale, he assured me that this one, served flattened and grilled like a Panini, tasted just like a Reuben sandwich.

A drink menu offers typical coffeehouse staples like lattes and espresso, in addition to many varieties of herbal tea. I tried the “Superstar” yerba mate latte, a sweet and exotic blend of cocoa, Brazilian mate and Rooibos. They also stock Izze sparkling juices, which are fairly hard to find, but delicious.

My favorite part of the menu, beside the use of local and organic produce, is the prices – eating here fits in to my budget, with the most expensive thing on the menu coming in just under $7.

The café has a relaxed atmosphere during the day, with customers hanging out for a few hours or reading in the cushy antique chairs by the large windows overlooking the street. During the nights, the eatery transforms into a venue for local indie bands, with live music every weekend and open mic nights on Tuesdays.

Overall, the Bus Stop Music Cafe a great place to hang out before at show at the Broadway theatre or sip some java while listening to great local jams.

Bus Stop Music Cafe

148 South Broadway Ave
Pitman, NJ 08071

Hours

(856)-582-0009