OT: Your Favorite Neighborhood Bar in NJ

May 11, 2010
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What is your favorite neighborhood/local/ family owned bar/pub/tavern that is CURRENTLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS in NJ?

-No chains
-No bars in different states
-No bars that have already closed for good

Name your favorite and why
 

Tango Two

Heisman
Staff member
Aug 21, 2001
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May 11, 2010
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Knotty Pine Pub in Wharton always got a good Sunday afternoon NFL crowd.
I’ll bet they still do.

Good wings, they have an outdoor patio area too.

It’s close to the Rockaway Mall
 

RUinPinehurst

All-American
Aug 27, 2011
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Gyp's Tavern in Branchville. Local color. Cheap eats. History. Stopped in a few times while hiking the AT in NJ a couple seasons ago, accompanied by a number of old RU buds. Good times.
 
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Jumba72

Junior
Nov 27, 2005
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Grapevine Tavern, first liquor license in Jersey City, first building on 5 Corners. Huge porcelain urinals, old school prices.
 
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RU Golfer

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Dec 4, 2009
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Kinchley's - Ramsey
DP's Pub - Garfield
Belmont Tavern - Bellville
River Road Tavern - Piscataway
Cryan's Tavern - Annandale
Broadway - Point Pleasant
The Ark - Point Pleasant
Miracle Pub - Toms River

Just to name a few that have not been mentioned.
 

S.W.A.I.N

All-Conference
Nov 23, 2004
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Just googled to see the sad news. RIP Buzzy’s in Piscataway. Most fun job I ever had.
 

mildone_rivals

Heisman
Dec 19, 2011
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I don't much hang at bars these days. But went out for a drink with a buddy last weekend, we wanted a quiet place 'cause we had to talk a little business. He wanted to go to the Bonefish Grille in Woodbridge. I was skeptical, but figured why not give it a shot.

Turned out to a very fun place. And quiet, so you could actually talk to people.

Only two seats were open at the bar, right next to a couple of very beautiful young ladies. The one closest to me starting flirting with me almost the minute I sat down (she was a little drunk - I mean, she'd have to be). Turns out, she was the mother of the other one.

I would've swore the mom was late 20s at most while the daughter was early 20s. Honestly was mind-blowing how young this mom looked, and she also had a 28 year old daughter and a 2 year old granddaughter. Holy fountain of youth!

Anyway, if you're into relatively intimate places, quiet, decent scotch selection (I had 18 year Macallan at a very reasonable price), and extremely friendly customers, I can recommend that place. I'll go back for sure.
 
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RuSnp

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Jan 14, 2004
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I don't much hang at bars these days. But went out for a drink with a buddy last weekend, we wanted a quiet place 'cause we had to talk a little business. He wanted to go to the Bonefish Grille in Woodbridge. I was skeptical, but figured why not give it a shot.

Turned out to a very fun place. And quiet, so you could actually talk to people.

Only two seats were open at the bar, right next to a couple of very beautiful young ladies. The one closest to me starting flirting with me almost the minute I sat down (she was a little drunk - I mean, she'd have to be). Turns out, she was the mother of the other one.

I would've swore the mom was late 20s at most while the daughter was early 20s. Honestly was mind-blowing how young this mom looked, and she also had a 28 year old daughter and a 2 year old granddaughter. Holy fountain of youth!

Anyway, if you're into relatively intimate places, quiet, decent scotch selection (I had 18 year Macallan at a very reasonable price), and extremely friendly customers, I can recommend that place. I'll go back for sure.
The OP specifically wants to limit the convo to "no chains" and you suggest Bonefish which is in 30 odd states and has maybe a dozen NJ locations alone lmao.

That said, I'm heading there now based on your description.
 

mildone_rivals

Heisman
Dec 19, 2011
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The OP specifically wants to limit the convo to "no chains" and you suggest Bonefish which is in 30 odd states and has maybe a dozen NJ locations alone lmao.

That said, I'm heading there now based on your description.
I confess I ignored the OP’s rules. But yeah, check the place out. No idea if the food is any good, or if the beer list is good, or how they are at mixed drinks. But intelligent, friendly, beautiful women and good scotch was plenty good enough for me. Oh and the iced tea was good and strong.
 
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RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
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I don't drink much, but I love bars, mostly of the unpretentious/divy type moreso than upscale places. Good food, a friendly staff and decent music are musts for me.

Olive Branch in NB - best place to watch RU sports, plus great wings/bar pies

Hailey's Pub in Metuchen - good food (especially some traditional Irish dishes), very friendly, some good bands

Waiting Room in Rahway - maybe my favorite bar burger anywhere (now that Liberty Tavern in Fords is closed) and good music/bands

Irish Pub in AC - the most "Irish" pub I know of - and I know from Irish pubs, lol, having spent about a year in Ireland over about 10 trips in the 90s and 2000s and having been to 27 of the 32 counties, including pubs in countless towns.

The Anchorage in Somers Point - very good food and a great bar

The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park - great burgers and great original music

McDonagh's in Keyport - another really good old school Irish pub
 

Jackson206:)

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Sep 29, 2006
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I don't much hang at bars these days. But went out for a drink with a buddy last weekend, we wanted a quiet place 'cause we had to talk a little business. He wanted to go to the Bonefish Grille in Woodbridge. I was skeptical, but figured why not give it a shot.

Turned out to a very fun place. And quiet, so you could actually talk to people.

Only two seats were open at the bar, right next to a couple of very beautiful young ladies. The one closest to me starting flirting with me almost the minute I sat down (she was a little drunk - I mean, she'd have to be). Turns out, she was the mother of the other one.

I would've swore the mom was late 20s at most while the daughter was early 20s. Honestly was mind-blowing how young this mom looked, and she also had a 28 year old daughter and a 2 year old granddaughter. Holy fountain of youth!

Anyway, if you're into relatively intimate places, quiet, decent scotch selection (I had 18 year Macallan at a very reasonable price), and extremely friendly customers, I can recommend that place. I'll go back for sure.
A milf and a gilf- not bad.
 
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JC_in128

Junior
Mar 9, 2023
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Thirsty’s in Branchburg. Nothing special but great drink prices and really good consistent food. Willy McBrides also in Branchburg. Good food, great beer choices and live music a few days a week. I saw someone mentioned the North Brunswick Pub. I loved that place, in the old location 25+ years ago. New location is good the few times I was there but the old place was great. Spent a night with a bunch of neighbors there so many years ago. It was in the middle of a bilizard and we all walked there from our condos at Governours Pointe then walked back through lots of heavy snow. I know I went on a tangent but NB Pub brought back memories.
 
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May 11, 2010
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I don't drink much, but I love bars, mostly of the unpretentious/divy type moreso than upscale places. Good food, a friendly staff and decent music are musts for me.

Olive Branch in NB - best place to watch RU sports, plus great wings/bar pies

Hailey's Pub in Metuchen - good food (especially some traditional Irish dishes), very friendly, some good bands

Waiting Room in Rahway - maybe my favorite bar burger anywhere (now that Liberty Tavern in Fords is closed) and good music/bands

Irish Pub in AC - the most "Irish" pub I know of - and I know from Irish pubs, lol, having spent about a year in Ireland over about 10 trips in the 90s and 2000s and having been to 27 of the 32 counties, including pubs in countless towns.

The Anchorage in Somers Point - very good food and a great bar

The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park - great burgers and great original music

McDonagh's in Keyport - another really good old school Irish pub
I used to hit up the old Waiting Room close to the train station, I heard they had moved down the block
 

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
64,376
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I used to hit up the old Waiting Room close to the train station, I heard they had moved down the block
Yep, they moved about 15 years ago, even closer to the train station. The old place had a great outdoor deck, but was small inside, while the "new" place has no deck, but is huge inside with a great bar. Was definitely the "home" bar for many of us from Merck: we had holiday parties and various other work celebrations there and they sponsor our softball league.
 
May 11, 2010
72,487
56,950
0
Yep, they moved about 15 years ago, even closer to the train station. The old place had a great outdoor deck, but was small inside, while the "new" place has no deck, but is huge inside with a great bar. Was definitely the "home" bar for many of us from Merck: we had holiday parties and various other work celebrations there and they sponsor our softball league.
I was more of a Butch Kowals patron the brief time I lived in Rahway , total dive.
Had live music on weekends
*The flick, The Wrestler filmed some scenes there along with Frenchys in Roselle Park
 

newell138

Heisman
Aug 1, 2001
35,608
45,107
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Johnnie’s tavern, boonton

Hoovers tavern, parsippsny

Riverside inn, Cranford
Have not heard Hoovers for many years but that was a good time back in the 80s

Back in the day it was Patti’s now Olive Branch. Went there every Friday and Saturday when I lived on Guilden St to start the night. Met my wife there when she was a bartender and waitress. Now it’s The Deauville Inn or Twisties in Strathmere and Anchorage in Somers Point
 

RW90

All-American
Feb 2, 2002
8,322
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Thirsty’s in Branchburg. Nothing special but great drink prices and really good consistent food. Willy McBrides also in Branchburg. Good food, great beer choices and live music a few days a week. I saw someone mentioned the North Brunswick Pub. I loved that place, in the old location 25+ years ago. New location is good the few times I was there but the old place was great. Spent a night with a bunch of neighbors there so many years ago. It was in the middle of a bilizard and we all walked there from our condos at Governours Pointe then walked back through lots of heavy snow. I know I went on a tangent but NB Pub brought back memories.
As far as Branchburg bars go, I'd also add The Royal. It's a small dive bar, but the food and especially the burgers from next door are excellent. Same owners also own Chimney Rock.
 

KK1827

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Nov 4, 2023
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In the 4 towns ive lived in

Fairfield- Nekos tavern
New Brunswick- olive branch
Hoboken- 8th street tavern
Roseland- Jim Johnson’s (sneaky one, doubt anyones ever heard of it but youll feel like youre in 1960)
 

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
64,376
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I was more of a Butch Kowals patron the brief time I lived in Rahway , total dive.
Had live music on weekends
*The flick, The Wrestler filmed some scenes there along with Frenchys in Roselle Park
Never went there. Another great dive bar in Rahway was Koza's, which closed around 2000 or so.

Also, The Wrestler featured Cheeques, a locally famous strip club in Linden, which is where the Marisa Tomei character worked (although the interior shots were from Stiletto's). A few other NJ locations were in that film. Great movie.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/oscar-nominated-movie-filmed-in-nj/1882939/
 

Barnaby&Neill

All-American
Dec 10, 2010
6,946
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Lucky 7s in Jersey City was a great spot when I lived in those parts 10+ years ago. Olive Branch in New Brunswick (and Clydz is a great neighborhood spot though different vibe than other spots named here). Had some fun nights at McGoverns in Newark too.
 
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