P.K.McCools
2709 Dune Dr.
Avalon, NJ
368-3555
By HEATHER HOLTZAPFEL
To become successful in a business one must be dedicated, creative and love what they do. All of these characteristics apply to Pete Curcio and Kas Bracale. They are owners of a small restaurant called P.K. McCools, located at 2709 Dune Drive, in Avalon. The restaurant is now in its second year and already they have a loyal clientele who are spreading the word that it’s the place for a great casual, homemade sandwich or meal.
Bracale and Curcio, originally from the Roxborough/Manayunk, Pa. areas, made a permanent move to the Cape May County area just a couple of years ago to open their own restaurant at the shore. Bracale, who had her hand in the restaurant business as a manager and working in kitchens for many years, saw it as an opportunity to fulfill one of her dreams. Curcio has spent many summers in neighboring seashore resorts as well as Avalon and grew found of the family-friendly atmosphere.
The couple began their food serving ventures together in 1998 as vendors for special events held at Penns Landing in Philadelphia. They would specialize in roast pork sandwiches with provolone and spinach, tomato pies, and Banana Screams. In 2001, there attention was drawn to Avalon by Curcio’s son, who ran an ice cream store on Dune Drive. The couple took over the small ice cream parlor that served smoothies, frozen fruits, ice cream and its signature item -- the Banana Scream, made with 100 percent bananas.
Just last April, the couple was presented with an opportunity to open a storefront with a kitchen. It gave them a chance to expand their menu from ice cream to serving complete meals. They ran both businesses last summer and then once the season ended in the fall they combined the ice cream store with the new restaurant at the now present location.
Their dedication spurs from the determination of serving customers on a year around basis. They remained open all last winter and were well-received with the locals and surrounding business people. “We wanted everyone to taste our foods and see what we were all about,” said Bracale. “I was always running sandwiches to construction crews or to the real estate offices just to give them a sample of what we had.”
P.K. McCools has relied a lot on word of mouth. “We want the vacationers to come in,” said Bracale. “They usually have their favorite spots to go and don’t know about us yet.”
Those who have discovered the small, lively restaurant have nothing but great things to say about it. “Besides the fact that (Kas and Pete) are the nicest people, (P.K. McCools) is a nice place to go and the fact that they are open year around -- that makes it substantial,” said Jack Binder who is a regular customer since it opened. “There are only a few places that are open year around and the menu is so varied enough that if you are a healthy salad eater right on through steak sandwiches – there is something to accommodate everyone.”
In the short amount of time they have been in business they have not only gained loyal customers, but dear friends as well. Curcio loves to chat with his clientele. “We have gotten to know a lot of nice people here,” he said. “A lot of the older folks like to reminisce about their days in Avalon.” If you chat long enough with Curcio maybe he’ll share one of his original jingles with you – he’s full of them.
There’s a reason P.K. McCools is rapidly becoming popular and that’s because of its home cooked foods and its playful atmosphere. The restaurant’s décor is a spin off of the couple’s personalities. You’ll find Rolling Stone and Jerry Garcia posters as well as a jukebox, retro collectibles, and a surfboard hanging from the wall. It’s colorful and fun and is a great place for the children. “We wanted to do something a little different,” said Bracale, whose place is just blocks away from upscale restaurants and ice cream parlors.
The menu is very unique to Avalon. It features breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts. Bracale arrives at 6 every morning to begin cooking for her customers and works throughout the day prepping, marinating and mixing recipes to be served that evening.
McCool’s rise and shine breakfast menu features some hard-to-find items like the smoked salmon and whitefish salads served on Le Bus bagels or whole wheat wraps or grilled banana bread served with whipped cream, sliced bananas and raspberry sauce. There’s also a Cajun omelette on the menu as well as a crabalaya omelette made with lump crabmeat, Cajun seasoning, sausage, New York cheddar, sautéed onions and peppers in a bayou cream sauce – if that won’t wake you up, nothing will. Breakfast is served until noon daily.
The lunch and dinner menu offers an array of burgers, steak sandwiches, salads, finger foods, pizza, hoagies, wraps and daily entrée specials.
The cheese steaks are Curcio’s specialty. He picked up the South Philly method from the owner of D’Alesandro’s in Roxborough, Pa. – so you know they are good. Bracale likes to experiment in the kitchen by offering a variety of recipes including her homemade egg salad sandwich and many unique combinations like the health sandwich made with avocado, cucumber, provolone, tomato and greens on multi-grain bread and the green sandwich made with broccoli rabe and provolone cheese. There’s also the surfer dude ranch wrap with buffalo chicken, pepper jack cheese, buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. The signature hoagie is the “Manayunker” consisting of proscuitto, genoa salami, roasted peppers and sharp provolone. Another signature sandwich is the buffalo burger which is made with 100 percent bison meat.
To cap off any meal at P.K. McCools is the dessert menu. The pies and cake offerings are straight from Mainly Café, a well-known restaurant in Manayunk. There’s the freshly made triple chocolate mousse, banana coconut tart, key lime pie, carrot cake, Alsatian tart and peanut butter and chocolate mousse cake. For the kids and young at heart a full ice cream sundae menu is available to eat in or take out. Even the original Banana Scream is still available.
Keeping to its kid-friendly atmosphere, P.K. McCools features magician night every Sunday at 7 p.m. when children are invited to be entertained by Benjamin the Magician. Kiddie karaoke is featured every Wednesday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. According to Bracale, some other forms of entertainment are in the works to keep with the originality of the restaurant.
Whether it’s a fast meal, or a family outing, P.K. McCools is a great place to visit.
Seating is available indoors or on the deck, delivery is available to your home or on the beach, catering is available, BYOB. For more information call 368-3555 or fax your order in to 368-5959.
Rob Seitzinger can be e-mailed
at seitz[at]catamaranmedia.com or you can comment on this story by
calling 624-8900, ext. 250.
Check out his Cape Cuisine food blog