The La Cantina Restaurant officially OPENS SATURDAY May 21st in Blackwood Gloucester Township, in the property which was last open as Amanda’s Bar None!
This is one of our most eagerly awaited restaurants based on reader comments and messages!
And yes they have the bar license from Amanda’s… and while it looks mostly the same on the outside, things have changed up a lot on the inside!
Mark from 42Freeway has stopped in several times and met with the new owner Melissa as well as Ariel. Both are really wonderful people who are eager to serve the community with delicious dishes and tasty beverages!

Familiar Outside, All New Inside
If you aren’t familiar with the location, they are at 630 Lower Landing Road next to the entrance to Lakeview Apartments and the Route 42 North entrance.
As mentioned, most would remember the property as “Amanda’s” with it’s large center square bar and some additional table seating.
Amanda’s closed four years ago, and since that time there were some promising efforts to reopen as other restaurants, but the challenges of Covid pandemic impacts proved too much at the time.
But for 2022 Melissa and her team have taken over the property and brought a completely new experience to Blackwood, both in the menu and the interior!

In La Cantina there is still a bar, but it is completely new and relocated!
They have moved the bar over to the left wall with a beautiful backdrop wall that really gives a rustic centerpiece feeling to the room.
They have a full bar license, so beer, whiskey, run… tequila are all available.

So it may sound like I am focusing too much on the bar aspect when in reality…. before the place was a bar that served some food.
Now, La Cantina is a restaurant where you can also get a drink.
Well not to mention that liquor licenses in Gloucester Township and most South Jersey towns can be tough to acquire, so it’s somewhat of an automatic big deal when something new opens!
With the bar off to the side, the majority of the room is set up as a dining area with a mixture of booths and tables.
It’s like the room did a flip-flop… giving up room at the bar and picking up a lot more table seating.
Well like I said… it’s a restaurant first!

I spent most of my time in my visits chatting with Ariel who shared some of their hopes for the future… really exciting things to come… but the focus now is on getting the restaurant open, the customers in the door, and leaving with smiling faces and full stomachs!
Menu
I have not tried their food yet (but will be back this weekend) but from the menu and the photos I’ve seen… well everything looks awesome!
Mexican favorite entrees include quesadilla, tacos a la Cantina, fajitas, ceviche de camarones!
Other entrees include langosta rellena, churrasco, salmon a la plancha… many more! At least a dozen to choose from.

Appetizers feature fried calamari, nachos, tostones rellenos pollo, chicken wings and more.
A variety of salads and Caribbean soups are available; Sopa De Mariscos, Sopa De Pollo. and Sopa De Camarones.
Rounding out the menu are kid’s meals, desserts and of course.. beverages!
We just highlight a few of the items. We know 42Freeway fans love new restaurants so simply stop in and give them a try!
And tell Melissa and Ariel you’re there because of 42Freeway! 🙂
And of course you can order on DoorDash!

Links and Location
La Cantina Restaurant
630 Lower Landing Road
Blackwood NJ, 08012
856-302-5675
Hours
- Mon-Wed: 10am to 11pm
- Thurs-Sun: 10am-2am
Instagram Page: Go Follow!

