Dine In: Carmen’s Table Brings Puerto Rican Comfort and Barbecue to Gloucester Township
Photo courtesy of Carmen's Table BYOB Instagram
BY REBECCA ACEVEDO | Front Runner New Jersey.com Dine-In
GLENDORA — Outside Carmen’s Table, smokers offer a glimpse of where the cooking happens, while fresh herbs and tomatoes grow out front. Inside, the decor is simple and unpretentious, a comfortable setting for an everyday meal.
But it was the homemade pernil and the smell of Puerto Rican cooking permeating the space that reminded you of the Isla.
That connection feels fitting for a restaurant built around a mother’s recipes and a daughter’s wish to share them.
Owner Roselyn Gonzalez named Carmen’s Table after her mother, Carmen Gonzalez, who was 76 when the restaurant opened March 27 in the former Kitchen 519 space. Carmen wanted a takeout business for a long time.
While raising six children as a single mother, she sold homemade Puerto Rican dishes to neighbors for additional income. Her recipes now help shape the menu at her namesake restaurant.
“98.9% of our menu is from scratch; all our sauces and my mom’s Sofrito is on practically every dish,” Gonzalez said.
Carmen’s Table brings together Puerto Rican cooking and barbecue, a pairing that reflects both the family’s heritage and the building’s history.
“We’re doing BBQ because the last restaurant in this building was BBQ as well, and I figured we could give the community something they love,” Gonzalez said.
For Gonzalez, the ingredients also offer a way to connect with nearby businesses.
“I believe in working with the community and utilizing different small businesses. I get all my produce for Tony Morelli’s Market, and now I’ll be putting my neighbor G&M Market’s broccoli rabe sausage on our menu,” she said.
During our visit, my husband and I started with the relleno de papa. The stuffed potato appetizer arrived crisp on the outside, with a savory filling and a satisfying balance of potato, meat, and seasoning.
What stood out was its lightness. For a fried appetizer, it avoided the heavy, greasy feeling that can overwhelm the flavors inside. The crisp exterior gave way easily, allowing the filling to carry each bite.
Our homemade lemonades offered a refreshing balance to the meal. I ordered berry, while my husband chose traditional. Both struck a good balance between sour and sweet, with enough tartness to refresh the palate between bites of pork and fried food.
The pernil was the highlight of my meal. Well seasoned and tender enough to pull apart easily, the pork melted in my mouth. It reminded me of my mother’s cooking, the kind of food that brings you back to a family table before you have finished the first bite.
My husband also ordered the pernil, adding cheese and onions to his. These were sandwiches, but they were hearty portion sizes. The dinners looked larger and shareable.
Alongside mine, the sweet plantains leaned fully into sweetness. They tasted almost like dessert, offering a contrast to the savory pork.
The fries were cut by hand, another detail that contributed to the meal’s homemade feel.
Gonzalez said the best sellers are the pork and pinchos. They also have chicken ones. Though we didn’t try them, both are staples of a summer Puerto Rican BBQ.
The setting suits the food. The dining room is straightforward, and the smokers outside connect the restaurant’s barbecue identity to something diners can see for themselves. The herbs and tomatoes growing out front add a personal touch. Our meal came to $49. Diners should also note that the restaurant charged a 3% processing fee for card payments.
Gonzalez said customers have helped spread the word in the six short months they have been open.
“I have to say, I found my village. Our customers are amazing; they are extremely supportive (sharing) by word of mouth and forwarding our posts.”
Although BBQ may say summer, Gonzalez is planning for the holidays and the fall season.
“We are working on a seasonal menu, family packages, offering catering for special events and Sports nights. We are also doing $10 platters for students and a 10% discount for essential workers and first responders,” Gonzalez said. “New Items are Salmorejo (crab stew) and seafood and shrimp soups. We are also hoping to get some pasteles alcapurias for the holidays and virgin coquito.”
Carmen’s Table feels suited to the days when you want to sit down, eat well, and enjoy a meal without much fuss.
“My restaurant stands out because the experience is like going to family dinner and the fact that my food is from scratch, made with love”
Carmen’s Table is at 200 E. Evesham Road in Glendora. The restaurant opened as a BYOB.
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