Hat Tavern
“There is also an outdoor patio seating area where I went to a yelp event once..”
“The bar had some great cocktails, a wide variety of craft beers, and yummy sangria!”
“I've heard that their Saturday and Sunday brunches are legendary, but I haven't actually been.”
Hat Tavern
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I hadn't been here in 15 years. The place looks more updated and upscale since my last visit! There is an outdoor patio where you can sit, inside has plenty of tables, and the bar has a few tvs with tons of microbrews. The bartender was very friendly and helpful. The food was very good. Not outstanding, but very good. Cost me $28 for a burger and beer, similar to Manhattan prices.
I came here for lunch with my toddler-aged daughter, hubby, and mother-in-law. We were all quite satisfied with everything. Upon entering, we waited for a minute or two for a friendly hostess to appear and seat us. When we got settled, service was just excellent til the end. They gave my daughter a cute printed cup with water and a straw and a coloring placemat/menu and 4 Crayola crayons.
From the Tapas section of their menu, we ordered Fried Lump Crab & Vermicelli Fritters which arrived hot out of the fryer, crispy on the outside, very crabby on the inside, and with a very slightly spicy Cajun dipping sauce. I highly recommend this dish. I then had Ale House Sliders of nicely seasoned beef, maple bacon, beery cheddar, and a "special sauce" in 3 mini potato rolls which came with my choice of a large basket Onion Rings (other choices were Fries or Sweet Potato Fries). Very satisfying flavor-wise and portion-wise. We ordered Grilled Cheese from the kid's menu for my daughter. Besides a yummy dill pickle, it came with fries which she loved! My mother-in-law ended up eating most of her grilled cheese proving that it was really good. I would definitely come back here.
I have been to The Hat Tavern a few times for 2 previous Yelp events. However, during my recent stay at the Grand Summit, I was able to go with my boyfriend for a sit down dinner and we both agreed it was one of the best. meals. ever.
I am new-ish to seafood and tried the swordfish special. It was my first time eating swordfish and the butter sauce with jumbo shrimp on top was amazing. We also ordered calamari, the scallop sliders (which I tried and loved during a previous Yelp event and was actually the first time I tried scallops!) and the drunken spicy clams which I devoured. Everything was perfect and although we ordered a lot of food and were both stuffed, it was relatively inexpensive for the quality and quantity of the food.
We definitely plan on going back when we are in the area again and definitely recommend trying it if you are in the area!
I only know about Hat Tavern because of a Yelp Elite event. So glad I got to that one! Known for their burgers and sliders, this place is a solid find. Located in the Grand Summit Hotel, it's great for drinks or a bite whether you're a guest or just in the area. The bar is small, but does it job, and there's an outdoor area which is a bonus. Cute and quaint (although a parking lot is behind you), it's a nice outdoor space. Burgers are great, including their turkey burger, one of my faves. And they have a handful of speciality burgers to choose from, as well as entrees, including lots of sandwiches, fish, and daily specials. Large selection of craft beers on tap, as well as new and old variations of delicious drinks; something that I really liked on their menu from a tasting and marketing perspective. Their kids menu deal is fabulous – kids under 3 eat free – and there's a good variety to choose from for those picky eaters.
Welcoming to families, there are sometimes more kids than adults in this place, at least at the earlier dinner hour; and as a parent, I appreciate that, especially when my kid decides to be louder than usual! Great place for lunch or dinner, to catch a game (lots of TVs throughout the place) and when you just need a delicious burger and beer.
I attended a birthday party for a friend that was held here in their private party room. The staff was very accommodating and helped make my friend's special occasion a special one.
This is a restaurant in the basement of a classy Tudor style hotel. I honestly was afraid when I arrived that I might have been a little underdressed, wearing jeans and a zip up sweatshirt, but as soon as I descended the stairs from the main lobby into the restaurant I knew I was going to be fine.
The first thing you may notice as you walk in is the size of the bar, which is massive. They have a great craft beer selection with quite a few varieties that I've never had before, including some local beers.
The food menu is VERY sandwich heavy, almost to the point that I wouldn't come here for an elegant dinner (as you might otherwise think to given the classy hotel it's inside), but I certainly would drop by for a bite to eat after work.
One of the items that you will see served with most of their sandwiches are "jersey fries" which I've never heard of before. Turns out they are frozen, large cut potatoes with some type of batter on the. They ere probably the most disappointing part of the meal (other than the under ripe tomatoes on my sandwich), since when one normally thinks of the New Jersey Boardwalk, fresh cut fries come to mind.
We went for a quick lunch after Short Hills Mall shopping. We both had burgers, me the traditional American cheeseburger, she the Jersey burger with Taylor ham. Both perfectly cooked to order (they are single patty, 1/2lb Pat LaFrieda brisket/short rib blends), nice toasted bun, terrific fries, nice pickle wedge. A plus for not charging to sub onion rings for her fries. Nice cocktails, and they comped us one of her pomegranate martinis-because, sadly, a children's party was being held there and the super entitled parents were letting their precious children run totally amok. I mean screaming, running the length of the bar/restaurant, shouting at the top of their lungs, crying when they lost hold of their party balloon. Two sets of three people came to the bar and left!
Anyway, we'll go back but turn on our heels if a similar situation arises. It used to be if you lived in the area you knew better . . . but I have a fondness for the quaint, preppy old hotel and tavern inside, regardless of the nouveau riche who can afford to eat there but not know how to act. Four stars had the place not been overrun!
We stopped in The Hat for a nightcap after attending an event upstairs. The place was packed, but we were seated right away. The live music they had was great, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. We had a pitcher of sangria, an order of wings, and a flatbread pizza. The sangria certainly did the job (luckily it was a short stumble back to my room upstairs). The wings came out piping hot, with a great sauce on them. The flatbread was also very good, with a thin crispy crust. All in all, our stop in the Hat Tavern was a great way to end a fabulous night at the Grand Summit Hotel.
This is a restaurant inside of a hotel. It has its own entrance or you can enter through the hotel.
I parked closer to the hotel entrance so went through there. I ordered take out so wasn't here too long but it looked like a neat spot. It was a typical bar. On the day that I want there was actually live music which was kind of cool.
The prices aren't bad at all. Very good prices and the burgers were great. Their fries is also really amazing, and the onion rings! Skip on the Mac and cheese.
Overall worth trying if you're in the area or staying at the hotel.