Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ
Root beer has a very long history, that even started at the time when native Americans were making sassafras root beverages for medicinal purposes. It was even called at some point root tea, but the first pharmacist to successfully market a root beer brand, Charles Elmer Hires, decided to call it root beer instead of root tea to appeal to coal miners. It was 150 years ago approximately. There are many brands out there with different price points, and my brother in law, Ken, has decided to try as many as possible, the same way you would try wine or whisky.
Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ
Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ
I do not remember the first time I tried root beer. It was in the US for sure, as this is not a drink commonly found in Europe, and it is not uncommon to have tourists think that this is a beer and not a soda…I typically have root beer with pizza but this time, at Stewart’s, I decided to try a float, this place being known for it, their first root beer stand opening in 1924.
Root beer float at Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ
A root beer float is made by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to root beer. It was good, but I admit that it is not something that wows me. Still, decadent and refreshing, perfect with the double cheeseburger and French fries I got with my meal. I liked my double cheeseburger: the patties were well cooked, not dry, with a nice char, and with a slice of cheese in between and one on top. Of course, I had to have ketchup and mayonnaise. For $6.30, this was a good deal.
The wavy fries were also quite good: crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through. I just wished they had onion rings to make a perfect combination, but they ran out that day.
You may wonder what Jodi had: it was a grilled cheese that I totally forgot to photograph! I tasted it though and it was good…for a grilled cheese!
Double cheeseburger at Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ
French fries at Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ
I had a great lunch at Stewart’s: not only the food was good and cheap, but I also liked the atmosphere that is classic Americana. People were pulling up with their car and eating in it, the food trays conveniently hung to their door like you would see in old movies. We did not eat in the car but at one of the tables outside. Still, I loved it.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Stewart’s Root Beer- 347 Jaques Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
