Our Story

Where it Started

Founded in January 1984, Goodfellows was a vision created by a father and two sons who saw an opportunity and the need for a inventive casual restaurant in the greater Atlantic City area. They set out to offer our guests a dining expereince they wouldn't soon forget. Great food and generous portions made from fresh quality infredients all served in a casual comfortable atmosphere.  Today, Goodfellows is one of the most popular, well known Atlantic City area landmarks with customers that include singles, families, couples  and business professionals. Our full-service, casual restaurant serves a diverse menu with an Italian influence. Our friendly atmosphere is ideal for celebrating special occasions, hosting a business lunch or gathering for a delicious meal with friends and family. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Goodfellows has something for everyone offering a selection of freshly prepared foods using only the finest ingredients available. Favorites include our French Fried Lobster Tails, homemade Italian specialties, hand-tossed pizzas, choice steaks, seafood, baby back ribs, specialty salads, pasta, sandwiches, burgers and more. Goodfellows fresh baked goods and desserts including our deliciously rich cheesecake and pucker perfect Key Lime Pie, all popular favorites among our guests.

Our bar is a favorite gathering place to watch sporting events, relax after a hard day's work and enjoy a  cocktail and partake of some great food with friends. The menu features signature cocktails, chilled martinis, premium and ultra premium spirits, specialty non-alcoholic beverages, an extensive wine list. Goodfellows has the area's largest selection of microbrews both Imported and American specialty beers. When you step inside Goodfellows you will discover a surrounding that is warm, comfortable and inviting. The interior of our restaurant features rich woods, brick, Italian blown glass and colorful Tiffany lamps all used to create a cozy feeling.  As a well known dining and drinking destination, Goodfellows does not rest on our reputation, we ask ourselves daily how we can improve and continue to raise our standards in every area of the restaurant.. The variety of our menu, the quality and presentation of our food, and the efficiency of our service.

A History of Creating Great Foods

It was our Great Grandfather Nicholas Forte who Co-founded the San Giorgio Macaroni Company along with his cousin Girolamo Guerrisi. San Giorgio evolved from the Keystone Macaroni Company with only a handful of employees. Our father told us the story of how he remembers his grandfather Nicholas designing and sketching the "San Giorgio" logo.  You'll notice that same logo which appears on every box of San Giorgio Pasta to this day.  It depicts Saint George as he slays the great dragon, hence San Giorgio! Our father's memory is limited since he was a young boy at the time, but, he told us how they sold their long spaghetti noodles by the pound out of a small neighborhood store front in Pennsylvania. Nicholas then began marketing their pasta to other businesses and restaurants from the area.  In fact, my father used to ride along with his Uncle's Louie and Carmen Forte as they delivered boxes of their homemade pasta to local stores and delis in and around Philadelphia.

Our father began his food career 52 years ago in Atlantic City, New Jersey at Garwood Mills by the inlet section of the city. There, along with Garwood Mills, you would find the famous Captain Starns' Restaurant and Fishing Pier, the daily Sea Lion shows and speed boat rides aboard the Miss Atlantic City. Garwood Mills was the equivalent to large retailers today.  It was there that our father owned and operated one of the area’s most successful deli's and produce stores serving sliced meats, cold cuts and produce to all of Atlantic City.  A few years later he opened Chick's Restaurant in the seashore community of Brigantine, New Jersey.

Chick’s was located at First and Brigantine Ave, right on the beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Chick's became an Island institution and a well known landmark for many vacationers from Canada, down through New York, North Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley. For the next twenty-two summers he successfully operated Chick's and becoming known for great food at the New Jersey shore. Over the years he created many delicious dishes but the one he became well known for was his creation of the French Fried Lobster Tails.  And some point becoming known as the "Home of the French Fried Lobster Tails!"

We sincerely hope our commitment to customer service, excellent quality of food and value will bring you back to Goodfellows time after time and that your dining experience at Goodfellows is an enjoyable one. We are committed to maintaining the reputation we have earned over the years for exceeding customer expectations.  Our Family represents six generations of restaurateurs, manufacturers and lovers of great food and we know what's important to our customers. In order to ensure the highest quality, we use only the best and freshest ingredients and family recipes that have stood the test of time and millions of customer approvals over the years. Feel free to drop us a note if you have any questions or to share a story.

 
Welcome to our House,
John and James Cicarelli