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Since the word “pub” historically refers to a public house used as a cozy gathering place for the community to unwind together with great food and drink, it happens to be a fitting moniker for one of the crown jewels of Ciconte’s Restaurant Group. The Village Pub—with locations in Sewell and Swedesboro—is perfect for any occasion, including a family dinner, happy hour with coworkers, watching the game with buddies or enjoying live music.
“We are a neighborhood spot where families, friends, music and sports come together,” says Scott Kronberger, director of beverage and front-of-house operations for Ciconte’s Restaurant Group, which also includes Ciconte’s Pizzeria, Cinder Bar and Landmark Americana.
“We do a mix of different activities. We have trivia at each location, both themed and regular trivia. We also have live DJs at both, we have acoustic acts at Swedesboro and we have full bands at Sewell. And in my opinion, we’re the best spot to watch an Eagles game, bar none. There is truly something for everyone.”
Sure enough, the Sunday specials to watch the reigning Super Bowl champions include $3 Miller Lite drafts, $4 Miller Lite bottles, $6 Cape May Brewing drafts, $6 High Noon and Sun Cruiser cans, $5 Arnold Palmer cans and $5 Corona bottles. Not to mention, the lively atmosphere makes celebrating every touchdown by the Birds even more enjoyable.
Speaking of fun vibes, The Village Pub Sewell has become the go-to destination in South Jersey to hear a renowned local band, either while sitting at the bar or hitting the dance floor. That was one of the missions in 2015 when Ciconte’s Restaurant Group took over a space that had previously been home to multiple other bars that never fully caught on.
“We had a vision from the beginning that we wanted to be a place where you could see bands and bring that aspect of live music back again,” Kronberger says. “It took years to build that, but I think it’s the premier live entertainment venue in the area now. We really have the top-tier bands: Split Decision, Goodman Fiske, The Juliano Brothers. We get the big acts as far as cover bands, and it’s a great venue to see a show. It’s a party every Saturday night and people love it.”
Widely popular DJ Johnny Looch also spins records once a month at The Village Pub Sewell and regularly packs the house as well.
As for the menu, it is not one typically found at the neighborhood watering hole. Sure, there are traditional favorites like wings and nachos, but also unique offerings such as Zucchini Fritters and Doritos Papas Locas for appetizers, a wide range of burgers and sandwiches like the Drunken Cutlet, with vodka sauce, mozzarella cheese, pesto and cherry peppers smothering a chicken cutlet on toasted ciabatta.
“We have an incredible chef team, and they’re able to take everyday favorites and put a creative spin on them,” Kronberger says. “They make things just a little bit different, so it’s food that you don’t get everywhere. It’s elevated pub food, and the consistency of the food, the consistency of the beverage and the consistency of the service just makes it a recipe for success.”
That creativity carries over to the newly installed brunch menu, available in both Sewell and Swedesboro every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We have excellent cocktails, like an Espresso Martini Flight and a Mimosa Tower,” Kronberger says. “We have traditional favorites like Avocado Toast, Chicken and Waffles, different versions of Benedicts and the classic Steak and Eggs. But we also have Cookies and Cream French Toast, Bananas Foster Fried Doughnut, Egg and Bacon Pancake Stack, Oat-Free Crunch Bowl, Very Berry Smoothie, and different omelets. There are really interesting items, and there’s also a DJ spinning the whole time, which is another cool part about it. It’s really been growing steadily.”
Across Ciconte’s Restaurant Group, there are also special events to attend, like the Glassboro Craft Beer Festival this fall at Landmark—featuring music by Goodman Fiske—and a holiday pop-up coming to The Village Pub Sewell called Winter Wonder Glam, which will include drink and food specials in a festive atmosphere.
Clearly, the company is committed to the communities it serves, and The Village Pub in particular takes pride in being a place for South Jersey residents to come together.
“We’re just trying to continue doing what we do: deliver a great product and keep making people happy,” Kronberger says.
The Village Pub
Sewell
(856) 270-2522
Swedesboro
(856) 832-4586
TheVillagePubNJ.com
