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    Steel Wheel Tavern

    4.0 (526 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 1:30 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Steel Wheel Tavern Reservations

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    Steel Wheel Tavern Photos

    STEEL WHEEL TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Steel Wheel Tavern

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sopha D.

    Solid bar/restaurant with lots of seatings inside and some patio areas. Friendly staff and quick service. They serve food at the bar but I only ordered dessert. I had the banana pudding, it was perfectly moist and not too strong on the banana. The beers were cold and refreshing on a sat night listening to live bands? Couldn't get any better! Def recommend Steel wheel for a drama free night out. But keep in mind they do get pretty busy by like 6pm. I believe they do take reservations, def make one if you plan on visiting. Otherwise you'll be on top of others by the bar aka don't be that annoying kinda person.

    Stephanie S.

    A cozy, very popular Ridgewood spot with good food--but come prepared for tight seating and a lively atmosphere. We stopped in mid-week for a family dinner after work and even on a Wednesday the place was buzzing. The restaurant itself is pretty tiny, which makes for a cozy atmosphere but also means tables are very close together. If you can, I'd definitely recommend making a reservation. The menu is somewhat minimal, but the food overall was good. I eat gluten-free and noticed the options were a bit limited, which made ordering slightly challenging. I ended up going with the sea scallops. They were nicely cooked, but the portion was smaller than I expected--five small scallops with some vegetables. For the price, I do wish the portion had been a bit more generous. I have to admit I left still a little hungry. My dad ordered the short rib grilled cheese and really enjoyed it. That was probably the standout dish at our table. My sister ordered the honey bourbon chicken and said it was okay, but afterward she mentioned she probably should have gone with the short rib grilled cheese instead. One surprise of the night was live music on a Wednesday. I usually enjoy live music, but since we were hoping to catch up as a family it made conversation a little difficult. The music was fairly loud for such a small space. Service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. They also have a rewards program, which worked out nicely--my dad received a complimentary dessert for his birthday. I ordered the crème brûlée, which was a great way to end the meal. A couple practical tips: parking in Ridgewood can be tricky. The restaurant advertises valet parking, though we didn't use or see it during our visit. If you find street parking, make sure to feed the meter because the town is known for giving out tickets. In warmer months they do offer some outdoor sidewalk seating, though it looks fairly limited. It also appears they have a happy hour, though we didn't arrive in time to try it. Overall, I'd recommend checking out Steel Wheel Tavern--just be mindful of the timing of your visit, especially if you're hoping for a quieter dinner.

    Desiree F.

    I stopped in this bar and grill to get dinner. When I arrived I found parking on the street nearby. I walked in and they had a live band playing! I sat and was served by John and he was great! I had: Vodka Martini Twin Maryland Crab Cakes Half Roasted Duck Wagyu Burger Keylime pie The food was delicious but that burger was my favorite! It was super tasty! All in all I had a great experience!

    Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Fries
    Chris E.

    The sandwiches here are AS GOOD AS THEY GET ANYWHEREEEE. Having frequented the Ridgewood downtown area numerous times over the years, I figured we'd eventually get to Steel Wheel Tavern, but never did I think I was totally missing out all of these years. We FINALLY made our way to Steel Wheel on a really pleasant Friday evening recently for a 5:45PM reservation. For some reason I had anticipated the restaurant to be more like a pub/bar atmosphere, but it was quite family friendly with groups of parents and young kids surrounding us. Our waiter wasn't the most pleasant server, but we assume it had nothing to do with us because he seemed pretty curt and fast with other tables too. As for the menu, it's as New American as it gets as it's filled with a hodgepodge of appetizers, salads, meat entrees, burgers, sandwiches and sides. To describe our meal, it was sort of a roller coaster of highs and lows. First, we started off with an appetizer of Rhode Island Calamari. It was mostly good, but it was sort of an inconsistent bag of really well-fried pieces and others that were just soggy. In addition, where was the rest of it????? We definitely felt like we could have used A LOT more in the serving. For our entrees, first, we ordered the Kids Fish and Chips for our two youngins to share and it was anything but kid-sized! In no way are we complaining as I'm a "more the merrier" type of person, but it was wayyyyyy more than what our kids could eat, so we definitely felt like we made the right choice with ordering just 1 kids meal for them to share. However, with all of the praise we had for the serving size, the fried fish was such a disappointment. The fish was soggy, soft and, yeah there was breading around it, but resembled anything other than fried. It might have been the worst fish in a fish and chips I've ever had. On the positive, the fries were super crispy and delicious. As for my wife and I, she ordered the French Dip Sandwich with Fries and I got the Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Fries. Unfortunately, the waiter and my wife had a slight miscommunication for us wanting to sub out her fries with sweet potato fries and he ended up adding it to our order instead of subbing, so we got a chance to try the sweet potato fries too. Let me just flat out cut to the chase and say these were some of the verrrrry, verrrrrrry best sandwiches we had everrrrr eaten at a restaurant!!! Period!! They were so dang good. The beef in the French Dip Sandwich was so tender and sooooo delicious with the au jus. We loved every bite of it. Same can be said for the Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese Sandwich. In fact, it might have been the best grilled cheese sandwich I ever bit into. Yes, I'm going there. The short rib was absolutely delicious and mixed in with a perfectly grilled cheese??? Absolute perfection. For the kids meal, they also got their pick of 1 scoop of ice cream or sorbet, in which we choose the Rainbow Sherbet for them. Anyone who orders a kids meal for their kids, make sure to make space for the ice cream/sorbet because it was one heck of a large serving. Yes, the food got mixed reviews from us, but the sandwiches definitely made our meal. Besides the predominantly good food here, there was also a live band that played some memorable hits and, on those beautiful days, there are outdoor seats you can plop yourself down at. P.S. For anyone who loves staring at trains all day, the Ridgewood train station is directly across the street from the restaurant.

    banana bread pudding
    Alexa F.

    I received a giftcard to this restaurant, so my husband and I decided to check it out this past Saturday night. We enjoyed our experience here! We were seated right away and the main dining room was cozy with a fire place along the wall. They even had live music (which was really good)! Prepare for it to be a bit noisy given the circumstances. We ordered the loaded tots, NY strip steak, Wagyu burger, banana bread pudding & key lime pie. Food was served hot & was tasty - the burger was cooked perfectly and one of the best that I have had in a while. We would definitely consider coming back here again either for a date night or dining out on the weekend.

    Lobster grilled cheese with a side salad
    Jennifer M.

    The food was very tasty and the service attentive, despite it being crowded for Mother's Day. My only issue was an old fashioned that was cloudy and salty.

    Sarah C.

    It's been ages since I've been to Steel Wheel Tavern, but I decided to pop in for a fun cocktail meetup with my mom. It was early afternoon, so we had no issues getting seats at the bar. While my mom stuck to the same drink, I opted to try a few different ones. The bartender was absolute fabulous, concocting everything perfectly. I can't recall the last time a bartender was so on point with every drink. While they don't have a lot of food options for me, I can definitely say the drinks are worth stopping for.

    Fried Mozzarella Sticks
    Daphne M.

    Hubby and I stopped here Saturday for a quick dinner date before our daughters performance and enjoyed it! Nice local bar with TVs and a live performer was perfect for a warm Saturday in Jersey. We started off with the fried mozz which was tasty but could've been a little warmer to achieve that gooey cheese feeling. I had the Bourbon which was delicious, I loved the sugar stick! Great touch. For dinner I had the crab cake with grilled/charred brussel sprouts. The crab cake was flavorful with a great crisp but soft texture inside. Brussel sprouts were amazing and I loved the charred flavor, absolutely elevated the veggie. Hubby had the wagyu burger medium rare with the truffle fries. He said the bun was soft/buttery and enjoyed the burger. The place was packed bar and sit down area but our waitress helped us not even 5 mins after seating and was attentive the entire time. We will definitely return if we're ever in the area again and highly recommend it to locals if you haven't been yet!

    Vegetable Spring Rolls
    Jess D.

    My first time here and everything was so great! The perfect spot for dinner with friends or to watch a game at the bar. The staff was so nice and made great recommendations. Some of my favorites I tried were the braised short rib potato skins, the vegetable spring rolls and the cornflake crusted chicken blt sandwich. The truffle fries are a MUST!

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    2 months ago

    Always a god meal. Busy bar and live music. Music can be a bit loud & can make it hard to converse.

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    2 months ago

    This is just a bar review. It's run of the mill. Mediocre tap selection. Will try it again eventually and update the review.

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Excellent little place good service, good food and a good bar. Wish I had one near me.

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    1 month ago

    Ordered 1 regular and 1 cheese burger. The burgers where so over cooked super well done. Barely edible . $65.00... no drinks

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    7 months ago

    Great bar, great food, great live music, great vibes, great location! Family friendly.

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    7 months ago

    Nice location in the heart of Ridgewood, solid food, service and price. Will certainly visit again!

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    Page 1 of 14

    Ask the Community - Steel Wheel Tavern

    Do you have trivia night?

    Hi Sherri, We have live music seven days a week a the Steel Wheel Tavern, so we do not have a trivia night on our schedule. In your opinion, do you think folks would be… 

    Are there bands playing on the weekend?

    Yes! 2 sets Friday Saturday and Sunday during the day (until football season).

    View All 5 Questions

    Park West Tavern - Almond Chicken Nuggets

    Park West Tavern

    3.6(425 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    I had ordered a gift card through their website but was having difficulty receiving it via email…read more The manager Claudio worked with the third party for me to ensure I got my gift certificate no problem. When we went to eat (our first time), we were able to sit outside which was nice, the service was wonderful and the food was so beyond amazing. The potato croquettes were to die for, the ribeye eggrolls were so tender but crispy, and my husband said the wagyu burger was dreamy! All around 10/10 experience! Thanks again to Claudio and the rest of the staff for helping us out to make our experience that much better

    - The spacious, modern interior has a cozy, romantic feel while still maintaining a relaxed vibe…read more- Service was cordial and attentive; there was a small mix-up with one of our orders, but it was promptly corrected - Overall, everything was enjoyable: the wagyu steakhouse burger was beautifully cooked to medium as requested, with a juicy, perfectly seasoned patty topped with a generous portion of portobello mushrooms and onions; the hanger steak sandwich was delicious, with thick, chunky, tender strips of well-seasoned steak cooked on the rarer side of medium; the kids' cheeseburger sliders were nicely cooked and surprisingly juicy despite being well-done; the kids' mac and cheese featured perfectly cooked pasta shells in a creamy, gooey cheese sauce; the almond chicken nuggets were the one disappointment--the crust was chewy rather than crispy, though the flavors were very good, especially with the sriracha mayo and bleu cheese

    Photos
    Park West Tavern - Inside

    Inside

    Park West Tavern - Kids cheeseburger sliders close-up

    Kids cheeseburger sliders close-up

    Park West Tavern - Private Dining Room

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    Private Dining Room

    The Craftsman - Main dining room

    The Craftsman

    3.8(314 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    Excellent service! Portions were generous and I could…read moreeasily have shared my meal. The dining room can get loud.

    I imagine all these great reviews are from folks that enjoy the cocktail menu and the night life…read more For me, 2 stars is being generous. We ask if they have outdoor seating and they tell us they do, then they proceed to seat us in an area with windows and ceiling! And right next to a large and very loud Bridal shower (that would have been nice to know, we would have asked to be seated as far away as humanly possible.) Then we sit for 30 solid minutes without a peep from ANYONE. Then suddenly a confused looking young lady steps up and informs us "no one told her we were here." Guess that's OUR problem? Placed a drink order and another 20 minutes passes when I am informed it is no longer on tap. Drinks finally arrive, the "Craftsman IPA" is flat and "off" tasting. White wine was warm as if it was sitting in the sun. Food was not much better sadly. The Calamari was flavorless and tough - apparently someone forgot the Asian drizzle that was supposed to go on it. It was also that "fake" calamari where every piece is exactly the same size and shape. The "stuffed" meatballs were stuffed - with air! Literally nothing but a hole in the middle. The artichoke and crab dip had a strong fishy taste, it was so bad I feared it was tainted. To their credit they took it off the bill, eventually. And from the moment our drinks arrived earlier,, our server never once checked back on us for another drink, do we need anything, how is everything etc. Hey Craftsman - do better! Maybe some training in the kitchen and out on the floor is in order.

    Photos
    The Craftsman - Crispy Brussel Sprouts

    Crispy Brussel Sprouts

    The Craftsman - Garden dining area (indoors)

    Garden dining area (indoors)

    The Craftsman - The bar

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    The bar

    The Rail Yard Tavern

    The Rail Yard Tavern

    4.0(290 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    We have been going to the Rail Yard Tavern for the last 4 years. I only have one complaint. It can…read morebe loud. But it is also a bar so that is a bit understandable. The food never disappoints. They serve pizza's that my wife and I will usually split as an appetizer. They do a 10" and a 16" pizza. We always split a 10" and they are always good. They have a traditional type of bar menu. Sandwiches, burgers, steaks, pasta etc. They also have a very good bar with many draft beer choices. We have been making our way around the menu but my go to is the rail yard melt on rye instead of the roll. All the people who work there are great. If you are looking for a place to go that is simple and always good the Rail Yard tavern is worth a try. They also have a gluten free section to there menu.

    10/5 Stars!! We…read morerecently had my Mom's 60th birthday party at the Railyard Tavern. I worked with Bob in coordinating everything. He was very accommodating and quick to reply to email. He was a big help in answering any question I had. Our party was roughly 25 people and we reserved the back room for the party. The back room was big enough for all of us to fit comfortably without it feeling cramped. We ordered the apps ahead of time and were told that they would be ready at 5:30. Sure enough, at 5:30 all of the apps came out and they were a big hit. Everything was fantastic. We got some large pizzas, nachos, mozzarella sticks, potstickers, and calamari. There was practically nothing left. The entree's were great and came without delay. I didn't hear a single complaint from any of the guests. I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about our waiter for the night, Alan. I don't think I've ever seen someone be so on top of things before. He handled the whole room essentially by himself and somehow it never seemed like there was a single hiccup the whole night. He was beyond excellent. He was such a good communicator and kept me in the loop with timelines and was overall very organized. He played a significant role in the night going as well as it did. My whole family, and most importantly my mom, had such a wonderful night. And I have Bob, Alan, and the rest of the staff to thank for that.

    Photos
    The Rail Yard Tavern - Front window

    Front window

    The Rail Yard Tavern
    The Rail Yard Tavern - Pizza

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    Pizza

    Lula - 8/3/25

    Lula

    4.6(56 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    07/25/2026 The Mrs. and I came here for our anniversary (33)…read moreand everything was very good as was the vibe in the place. Outdoor seating available, but large windows, which were open last night. We were seated promptly at a window seat and Diana came by pretty quickly to take our order. You have to try their Focaccia bread. They do a little something special that makes it so crispy outside, but fluffy and buttery on the inside. My wife ordered the "The Clam Jam" (beer-braised littlenecks, Calabrian chili, house sausage and Espelette Butter). She love the dish, as did I the one clam she allowed. I ordered the Hamachi Crudo (Organic cherry ponzu, lime, jalapeño, shiro dashi, pistachio gremolata and red onion.) This is a very fancy ceviche, with cherries and all the fixins' which I would gladly order again... My wife's entrée was the Goffle Road farm half chicken (crispy fingerling potatoes, herb butter & roast chicken jus). Gotta say, they Lula's does a great job with this chicken. I stop by Goffle Road farm and the chicken is superior to pretty much anything else, but this came out with such a light crispy skin and so juicy and tender. Excellent! My entrée was the Elite Prime Grass-Fed Coulotte steak (Pomme puree, crispy sunchokes & black garlic jus.) The steak was done to perfection and the potatoes puree were so very creamy and good. No dessert tonight... just a couple cups of coffee and a little walk around Ridgewood. Busy place! Lula is a BYO!

    I cannot say enough, good things about this restaurant. It completely exceeded all of me and my…read morehusband's expectations both in food, service and atmosphere. The hospitality was incredible. We went there for my birthday. All the staff knew it was my birthday and they also knew that I was eight months pregnant and wanted to make sure that I was comfortable. The food was exceptional. The wait staff was so nice and provided recommendations while not pushing any one dish. We got the focaccia, softshell crab, Peking duck and chicken liver for appetizers. The softshell crab was the best I've ever had, and I would come back to this restaurant for this alone. The Peking duck was juicy and tender with the most incredible slaw type salad underneath it. The focaccia with the butter was also phenomenal, the owner actually brought it out to us and we had a nice conversation with him and you can tell he just poured his heart and soul into this restaurant. The focaccia is definitely not an appetizer to be overlooked just because it is bread. While I couldn't have any of the chicken liver mousse, it looked stunning, and my husband said that it was incredible and so light and fluffy, and it was a massive portion. I look forward to when we come back when I'm not pregnant and I can eat it. For dinner I got the Arctic char, and my husband got the pork. The Arctic char was unbelievable. It was piping hot and literally just melted in my mouth with each bite and the side that came with it was a mix of asparagus, mushrooms, farro and I don't know what else, but it was fantastic if I could have that side on its own as well, I would order more. My husband's pork was crispy and delicious with another incredible slaw topping, and it was so massive he has to take home like a third of it for dessert. We had the lemon meringue tart for dessert, which was also incredible and so refreshing for a dessert. All of the food was outrageously fresh and just outstanding. This restaurant is our new favorite place and on the way out we even made a reservation for three weeks from now to come back. This is probably the best restaurant that I've eaten at in Ridgewood hands down and I'm so glad that they are in the area. The restaurant adds a new vibe with food that is so phenomenal to match. I would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area as a MUST try. Of course me and my husband will be going back in a few weeks and we can't wait.

    Photos
    Lula
    Lula - 8/3/25

    8/3/25

    Lula - 8/3/25

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    8/3/25

    Steel Wheel Tavern - bars - Updated September 2026

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