PJ Finnegan's 274 Fairview Ave. Westwood, NJ 07675 Portabella Ciabatta If you need a break from the traditional hamburger and fries, the Portabella ciabatta is the perfect alternative. In lieu of typical meat and frites is a grilled mushroom on a ciabatta roll with a side salad. It's definitely a healthy alternative and a meal that a cow won't hate! #pjfinnegans #portabellaciabatta #downtownwestwood read more

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THE GOOD ---------------- + Sliced Steak Sandwich was solid. Strips of steak were a bit chewy, but the "famous mustard sauce" was unique and actually very delicious. Fries were extra crispy too + Garden Burger was tasty and very filling along with the side salad + Chicken Sienna was solid. A very traditional pasta dish with red sauce that our kids loved + Very, very friendly staff and customers + Service was excellent throughout the evening and our waitress was very accommodating + We encountered an issue with our food order and the pub went above and beyond to rectify it + The Westwood town area is very busy on Friday evenings, but there is surprisingly still plenty of street parking THE NOT SO GOOD ---------------------------- - A bit tight inside, but to be expected for an Irish pub RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = Pub was already half full at 5:45 PM, but still plenty of open tables throughout the evening read more

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- Early Friday evening dinner: bar counter was already full of happy customers with their drinks; tables are filling up but we were seated right away - Cozy restaurant with warm, friendly staff - Food is delicious: garden burger is a nice option for those looking for a lighter meal; sliced steak was a bit overcooked and slightly on the chewy side, but the mustard sauce was very tasty; chicken sienna is decent--kids enjoyed the pasta and garlic bread - Food is 3.5 stars but the service kicked it up to 4: we ordered the pasta dish for the kids to share; they served it already split into two plates without us asking; super thoughtful and very much appreciated! :) read more

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Visiting family from out of town and we decided to try this place. Ambiance: it was kind of loud but you could tell people were having a great time and I loved that happy environment. Lighting is dim but you could still read your menu, it's like intimate lighting. Our waitress was super patient and sweet! So was the young man that brought us our food and helped with refills on drinks. Food: Disappointed! I had high hopes for the chicken français but it was on the bland side and really just tasted like lemon juice and not really a classic lemon francais sauce if that makes sense and not really hot. I actually left hungry and my husband and I ended up getting McDonald's later on because even he (who isn't a big eater) was like I'm so hungry. My mom's food was very dry and my aunts meat (the Dublin steak) was very tough. My aunts boyfriend also had an issue with his meat (roast beef I believe) as far as flavor and the meat being kind of tough. My mom was the only one to send her food back because honestly the wait for the food was very long and the rest of us didn't want to wait longer. My brother got the Ruben and the one from mcalisters deli (it's a fast food place in the south if your not familiar) was wayyyy better in flavor, taste, and texture. He also got a Shepards pie to go (he's an eater lol) and he said it greatly lacked in flavor. We were actually there so long to the point as SOON as we got our check - some of us were literally still trying to pay our check- we were asked to hurry and leave because they needed the tables because we had been there a while. Yes, we were there a while but it was because it took so long to get food and our checks, it wasn't because we were just sitting there. I'm not sure if the women who told us to get moving like knew that we were still paying ect. Overall I gave it a 2/5. We visit this area a few times a year and probably won't be back. read more

P.J. Finnegan's - Chicken français with rice and green beans (vegetable of the day) - American Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

Everything about this pub is wonderful!!! the atmosphere, the people, and especially the food!! they have something for everyone, including great salads, appetizers, burgers, stirfry, and their signature steak open sandwiches!! I often go there for their delicious spinach. Salad served with their homemade creamy bacon dressing made, especially for the salad. And to top it off, the prices are excellent.!! You can get a really nice night out without breaking the bank.!!! read more

Went for dinner. We were able to get seated right away which I was happy about. I had the spinach salad with shrimp, the dressing was very good. My husband had fish n'chips. He said it was good. It was a little noisy but I think it's hard not to be since the rooms are so small. We'll be back. read more

What a shame this place has gone way down hill. Ordered my son a cheese burger from the kids menu and they brought me a regular burger. When I asked for a cheese burger they brought me a slice of cheese on a plate. I guess I was suppose to put this on his burger to make it a cheeseburger. The waitress was very rude the entire time. The bill was insane for not great food and terrible service. This place is your average bar fried food and no longer a good Irish pub. The bar had a nice welcoming feel to it but as far as food I was say stay away. read more

Ambience is so cozy. I felt like I could've been in Europe. Good pub food, although I wish there were some more Vegan options. Highly recommend nipping in for a drink or two, especially around led the holidays! Located in the cute and busy little town of Westwood, NJ. read more

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Friendly service, good food! Ambiance is like an Irish Pub~~ I felt right at home! Slainte! read more

First, I've been going to Finnegan's for years. I love the Irish pub feel and the food is consistently good. Last Sunday, I met my twin sister for a dinner and we sat in the back room which became like a noisy Chuck E Cheese party with loud children completely unsupervised regarding their noise. I could not hear any conversation that was taking place at my table. It ruined our experience! I eventually asked the kids - "shhhhhh - you're being too loud. Is it really the job of a patron to quiet down boisterous kids? I think not. Finnegans should have sold that as a private room- but to subject my party of 4 to that was insane. We will not be returning anytime soon. You showed poor hospitality. Our bill was over $200.00 so thanks for nothing! read more

I'm going to give this place for stars despite the fact that the wings were pretty awful to the point that I didn't want to finish them. The bartender was exceptionally nice and personable, excellent beers on tap, wonderful ambience, and gentle pricing. I'll probably swing back sometime and try something else on the menu, obviously the wings are outside of their wheelhouse and to be recommended against. However it still seems like such a great spot, and if you want to treat it just as a watering hole, that might make it a 5 stars. If I swing back and try something else on the menu, I'll update my review to let you guys know how it was. Especially at the pricing, this is too overall nice a spot to let a disappointing dish ruin my impression of the place, odd though that may sound. read more

P.J. Finnegan's - American Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

i went there 30 years ago..25 years ago..good food and irish coffee...the people who ran the place were just stuck up, rude, rowdy, ass holes..i moved from the bar to table because they made me feel unwelcome...the waitress was rude..again and again..i finally never went back ..the last people i want to spend time with..even if we do not talk...you need to be in..they are really to high on them selves..no irish charm here..more westwood bad attitude... read more

Stopped here for a quick bite to eat at happy hour. We're from out of town, and we're Irish... so, we figured this was the best spot! This place is TINY! we weren't expecting to walk into the bar and have all 4 walls of the place within a hop skip and jump. You walk into the bar with a small bar dining area to the left. The place is clearly a local favorite and the bar was jammed but the seating wasn't too crowded. My only initial complaint was the stale bar/booze smell (you know the one) that absolutely wraps you up when you first walk in. Luckily, if you walk past the bar to the seating area you can't smell it anymore (but, they should fix that!). We were seating quickly and got drinks in record time (my dad says his black n tan was top notch). The menu is pretty standard pub/bar food - about 75% of the menu includes something fried. But if you're not looking for healthy, no need to worry! Everything we ordered was simple and delicious; steak quesadilla, chicken fingers & fries, and the fried zucchini sticks. It was also so much food we couldn't finish the 3 appetizers. Overall, for a quick happy hour stop this place is a fantastic option! read more

P.J. Finnegan's - American Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

Was typical pub food, nothing special however what one would expect. The pricing was reasonable The service was good and the food came quickly and the staff was friendly The place itself is small, restrooms were small and tight however the place had a nice locals vibe and the folks there seems to be enjoying themselves read more

Pretty much a disappointment. With all the good reviews we actually decided to eat here instead of another restaurant around the corner. When we were waiting to be seated I noticed ALL the outdoor tables were available except for 2. There were about 4 empty tables. The host, which I'm not sure if he was the owner not, did not have great manners. He basically said his tables were filling up in an hour and was acting very weary about seating us. Finally he said "If you can make it happen we can make it happen" meaning if we can eat in drink in the time span of one hour we can sit down. He was very reliant on an app he had on his phone, which is fine but he should've paid attention to the foot traffic as well. He basically acted like he was doing us a favor for eating there. After that we already had somewhat of a sour taste in our mouth. We also noticed the smell near the building. The other diners actually said something about it and the server said it was the building next door. It smelled like sour cheese. Not nice to dine outdoors to. The service was fair. Most of the waiters were young kids. The food was absolutely nothing to write home about. I could've made it myself. The pub burger had nothing special about it, just a plain burger slapped with toppings on an English muffin. The fish and chips were ok, the fish tasted like it was pre packaged and had a ton of breading. Overall, I wouldn't come back. I really think this place is probably great pre-Covid but with the outdoor dining they could handle the seating a little better. It just came off as rude and really set the tone for dinner. read more

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A very cute Irish pub. It's quite small which adds to the charm. Food (I had fish and chips) was an adequate portion of two pieces of battered fish chips and a small cup of slaw. Dessert was carrot cake which was a bit dry. It's not a place to go if you want to sit and linger as it's always busy and the staff will politely ask you to move on. read more

adorable little spot. very homey! we sat outside and loved it. all wait staff was very nice and pleasant ! parking was easy. we started with french onion soup and the nachos. pretty good. my party had fish and chips which were delightful! I had the lean burger with swiss, yum yum! the chicken fingers as well, perfect! we even got more to take home with us. we will absolutely be back! :) read more

I thought this place was actually going to be a "real authentic Irish Restaurant " , well I thought wrong. I asked if they had Irish Soda Bread they did not have any which I was really surprised because almost every Irish restaurant usually always has homemade bread . They said "no sorry wd only do it for holidays or for a special meal". My mom and I came here for lunch least to say the only thing good here was the French Onion Soup was delicious. We both originally wanted the fish n chips until I asked if the fish was fresh or frozen , of course the waiter said the fish was frozen what a big disappointment. We both decided to get the Sheppard's Pie it was alright they wasn't any flavor to it . The place was cozy but very cold and everyone was sitting ontop of each other. I'm still trying to figure out why was there a crowd there when the food was very mediocre. read more

P.J. Finnegan's - Sheppard's Pie. Lack of flavor. - American Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

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Man this place is amazing, the ambience is dope. The place is welcoming, the bartender an older gentleman with a bald head his pour is top notch. Unfortunately didn't get the opportunity to try the food but will come back here for sure. read more

Not quite sure what was wrong with me that I originally gave this four versus five stars - call it being young and not knowing any better. Finnegan's is my Westwood staple - from the decor (college pennants hanging overhead, pictures on literally every inch of wall space, a bar with just enough room to make it cozy), to the amazing bartenders (Jim, Rich, and Gavin are always standouts, and it's always great to chat with Luke), to the great drinks, this place is just a total gem. The more often you come, the more people you'll meet, which makes this place all the more special. Amazing prices, and like I said, the service is so wonderful and bartenders so personable that you'll feel welcome from the moment you walk in. Small TV's in the bar (perched up at ceiling height), so not a wild sports bar vibe, but makes for a more intimate, fun, neighborhood kind of vibe during games (we've watched a bunch of the current World Cup games here and haven't missed a big screen at all). Pro tip - ask for the chipotle sauce with the zucchini fries.. my husband would strongly recommend ordering the Guinness burger or the Southwestern chicken spring rolls (with extra chipotle sauce). read more

The food was awful, not as described or ordered. my friend and I ordered Philly cheese steaks ,medium rare. The rolls were hard to the point of being stale, the "beef" was shredded and diced and way overcooked. A single slice of American cheese was glued to the top of the sandwich. I took a small taste and left it on the plate. My friend ate his because he was "starving" and dislikes wasting food. My wife's beef was supposed to be on rye but arrived on a single slice of untoasted white bread. The only salvation being the gravy that covered it. The waitstaff did not return until the bill was presented ,and there was an unexpected item that we did not order or receive on the bill. They removed the unexpected item and the price of one "cheese steak" We will never return and hardily not recommend it anyone who should ask us. read more

The beer was ice cold the wings and hot pretzels were delicious the cheesesteak was fantastic the staff was friendly and courteous

Love the red Reuben Great beer selection Very good dessert selection Good atmosphere look forward to getting back read more

Highly disappointed. I found a piece of glass in my drink, I was beyond mortified that I ended up leaving after one drink. I recommend being careful and stick to bottle beers. read more

I've lived in Westwood for almost 10 years and every time I think this restaurant can't get any worse it does. Food is absolutely horrible and staff is even worse! No hostess ever there to seat you and you basically have to climb over drunk people to find staff! Totally unauthentic Irish food and should be ashamed to call themselves an Irish pub. Nothing taste like it's made from scratch or even any heart! Really wish we could get an authentic Irish pub in town not just a watering hole for local corrupt town drunks!! Btw frozen food bought then fried is not good at all unless at McDonald's or burger king read more

This place never disappoints. The food is fantastic! I absolutely love the atmosphere and the way they handle there safety precautions during this time. The pictures posted are some of my favorite meals from here. read more

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Fabulous New York Irish pub, bar restaurant in the heart of Westwood. Solid menu with traditional Irish pub favorites and much more. Terrific array of iPA and other fine beers. Great spot. read more

We visited during the week of St.Patricks Day where we saw several customers wearing fisherman sweaters . You must try their deliciously warm and crispy French fries and onion rings that come with the hamburger. Their Guinness beer is the best my husband ever had since he was visiting West of Ireland, too. read more

Haven't been to Finnegan's since pre-COVID and tried tonight. We sadly spent half the dinner trying to remember WHEN we had a worse meal. Sad when the service was actually very good. Blackened pork chops were inedible as they were coated in pure salted seasoning. Little connection with blackened. Baked potatoes were rock hard, uncooked and cold. String beans cold and bland. Incredibly disappointed in a $100- meal for two that could not be eaten. Will sadly not return. This used to be one of our favorite places read more

Great atmosphere! This little pub reminds me of the places I used to hang out in when I lived in England and Ireland. The decor is charming, pictures all over the wall and college flags hanging from them ceiling. There are two small dining rooms and a bar in the front. I would definitely recommend if your into local, small bars. I highly recommend the spinach and artichoke dip to start, and Dublin steak sandwich. Thinly sliced steak with a mushroom gravy over garlic bread and served with a side of crispy fries, never a disappointment! Last night I had the Oktoberfest special with a glass of Malbec and side salad. Everything was delicious as usual. Great job to everyone at Finnegans! read more

3 Cosmos on a Saturday afternoon courtesy of Rich. Some say he's cranky, I say he's a ray of sunshine who makes me laugh. This bar always delivers on ambiance, good vibes, good friends and good food/drinks. read more

P.J. Finnegan's - American Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

Very good service. I came with a group of five on a Friday night. It was pretty crowded, but we got seated as soon as there was a table. A sixth member arrived after we were already seated and they were very accommodating. I ordered French onion soup and the red Rubin sandwich. They were both fantastic. 10/10 I would definitely come back :) read more

P.J. Finnegan's - American Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

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Been coming here off and on for years. Still a great place to grab a burger. It's an Irish pub, nothing fancy but everything they serve is spot on. Service is friendly and accurate. Great place to hang out and have a beer or just to grab a quick meal before or after a movie or game. You'll feel welcome and well fed. read more

Service: great service and fast Decor: good Ole irish pub with a ton of old school pictures of ny and nj and pendants from schools from all over the country. Love it. 5 stars Food: great food and a chef who knows what they are doing, 4 stars This place is a great watering hole for twenties crowd after 10 pm on the weekends. Pretty good for singles in the area read more

P.J. Finnegan's - Fish and chips. A'hoy! - American Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

Small pub off the main street in Westwood with great atmosphere! Came here with coworkers for a small gathering. Even though the place is small, it is full of charm with numerous pictures of people and places literally everywhere that will quickly grab your attention and have you looking even at the ceiling in fascination. Definitely suggest trying their Palm beer, it is a light yet hoppy beer. I also got to try their special Skirt Steak with peppercorn sauce that was tender and delicious with the side of broccoli. The staff was very friendly and the place was clean while maintaining the pub ambiance. read more

I have lived in westwood for over 20 years, and have personally and with sadness witnessed the steady and consistent decline of this place. I have always rooted for their success and have always wanted very badly to like PJ's, as we have had a longtime glut of alternatives in the area for a decent Irish pub. This business clearly caters to a very select group of regulars, paying little or no attention to anyone outside of their circle, and God help you if you are coming in for the first time looking for a decent experience. You are first greeted with walking through a crowded wall of drunk people who mostly refuse to move out of your way in order to continue on your quest to the host area at the back, where are you are likely going to wait a long time before finding anyone. We have been there many times when the bar was crowded and most of the dining tables were empty, with no one eager or present to seat us. This place clearly makes its fortune on the alcohol served at the bar so should stop pretending they want to serve food. The time is long overdue for a competitor to come along and give this wonderful downtown area some real competition and get Finnegan's up on their toes, to shape up or ship out. Food is a disappointment and nothing like the good authentic Irish food as it is presented to be... Don't come here expecting to have some fabulous Irish fresh cooked fish and chips, as their fish is frozen, as is most of their other fare. Have had great experiences here in the past, but it has been well over a decade since. Hang it up and let's pave the way for a real gastropub to come in and show they want to be there...and deserve to be occupying this valuable real estate. read more

Feeling knackered? It's time for a pint! The bartender will not look at you funny when you bark that in his direction - he was born in Ireland - and I believe it. I have to say, every time I come here, I fancy myself in an Irish pub: the Guinness may not be as good, and base-ball is on the tele, but outside of such minor quibbles, you can't tell which side of the pond you are. So sit back and sip your Guinness. I have ordered other beers here, but it just didn't feel right. The crowd is well-dressed and friendly, too, which surprised me a bit in a Westwood dive bar. There's a restaurant as well - a load of bollocks if you ask me. I haven't tried the food, but I don't fancy myself dining there (it's oddly laid out for a restaurant). I like the bar, the atmosphere, and...a pint is a pint. It can get expensive, too - so watch the tab. If you want to get drunk in peace and have a chat with the locals, I can't think of a better place. read more

P.J. Finnegan's - Booze! - American Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

There is a reason this restaurant has been around for such a long time. It is small, quaint and full of energy. They have a great atmosphere and a really nice pub menu. Though I've had many things on the menu, my favorite is still the sliced steak. Quite frankly you cannot go wrong with either the mustard or peppercorn sauce, though I lean a little towards the mustard sauce. Oh and don't forget to try the French onion soup, it's delicious! read more

Awesome old school Irish pub! Friendly atmosphere, cold drinks, great food. If you're anywhere near Westwood and looking for a great afternoon or evening, PJ's can't be beat! read more

Favorite place for lunch/ dinner in Westwood. Sliced steak sandwich with the mustard sauce is amazing. Also the fish and chips and French onion soup. People who are complaining are being to harsh...it's just a little pub with great food, not a perfect 5 star fancy restaurant. read more