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    The Windlass

    3.9 (458 reviews)
    Open • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    The Windlass Photos

    THE WINDLASS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - The Windlass

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    Bucatini
    Salomon W.

    Great location on the lakeside; the views are magnificent. Loud; not very good acoustics, certainly lively. Limited menu; high prices. We ordered zucchini blossoms (quite good) and calamari (hot sauce overwhelmed with red pepper flakes) for appetizers. My bucatini entree was very good. Our server, Nataly C, was fantastic, answering every request we made with a pleasant tone and manner (you know how some servers can cop an attitude when you ask for a clean fork?). Very enjoyable evening meal.

    cupcakes and cookies
    Stephanie T.

    I attended my friend's baby shower at The Windlass in Lake Hopatcong, NJ on a Sunday morning. There is plenty of parking. The event was at The Lake Room with spectacular views of Lake Hopatcong. There was a bubbly bar where guests can make your own mimosas from a display of prosecco, accompanied by assorted juices and a variety of fresh seasonal berries. I enjoyed making my own fruity and tropical pineapple mimosas. The brunch buffet consisted of scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon, mixed spring greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette, assorted seasonal fruits, yogurt parfaits, chicken francese, penne a la vodka, and garlic green beans. All the food I had was very good, flavorful, delectable, and filling. The staff were very friendly and attentive. They came around asking if we needed anything and cleared plates. Water, coffee, tea, and soda were included. The Lake Room is very spacious and has high ceilings.

    Classic burger and fries .. yum!
    Camille G.

    Amazing burger , cooked perfectly with very crispy fries and coleslaw. The view is amazing ! I really enjoy the friendly staff and Great service. I will come back soon Highly recommend stopping in for a great meal and service!

    Kate B.

    My friends and I came here and the laid back nature of the place and the location right on Lake Hopatcong was really was drew us in. Our waitress was super sweet, and when I was in between drinks and had her surprise me, the drink was delicious. It's a great family spot, there are a lot of tables (inside and out), and they had the cutest little booths outside on a dock that were reserved for patrons only getting drinks. The food was alright for bar food (the wings were the best of what we ordered), but we more came for the view and vibes! Can't wait to come back with all the nice weather we're having.

    Honeybee Martini
    Nicole M.

    Finally made it to the Windlass! We attempted to come earlier this summer without a reservation and learned the hard way. Fast forward to October and getting a reservation on a Sunday afternoon is east street :) We sat outside which is covered but the big garage doors can be opened when it's warm out. I had the honeybee martini along with the chargrilled oysters and caprese salad. It was perfect! Forgot to mention they serve you bread and oil when you sit down which is rare these days. It was so good that our server Colleen packed it up for us to take home. We really wanted to sit in the booths that are on the dock and learned that it's first come, first serve and for drinks only. No food service. So, after eating we sat out there with some drinks and watched the sunset. The experience was well worth coming back. I'm already thinking about coming back next summer!

    Evita N.

    If you're visiting Lake Hopatcong, The Windlass is one of those must-stop spots that really delivers the full lakeside experience. We came on a warm summer afternoon and scored a table right on the deck, with gorgeous views of the water, boats drifting by, and a nice breeze keeping things comfortable. The menu has something for everyone, from wood-fired pizzas to hearty pastas and fresh seafood. We went with the Crispy Buffalo Chicken pizza, and it was perfect.. just the right balance of heat and creamy drizzle on a crisp, flavorful crust. The drinks were just as impressive; my cocktail not only tasted fantastic but came garnished with a fresh orchid, which felt like a little tropical getaway in a glass. Service was friendly and quick, even though the place was busy. You can tell they know how to keep things moving without making you feel rushed. Between the great food, beautiful setting, and welcoming atmosphere, The Windlass makes you want to linger a little longer, order one more drink, and just soak in the view. Definitely a place we'll be returning to!!

    Elsie C.

    Came here twice. Once for dinner and once for drinks at the bar. Food was very good. Portions generous. Drinks at the bar were ok. We went at the tail end of the night on Valentine's Day . I think the bar staff was tired from a long day bc there was zero inviting atmosphere at the bar.

    Eggplant Caprese Sandwich (as a wrap)
    Mary K.

    Came in for a late lunch on Saturday of Labor Day weekend. They have a large covered outside patio that was really nice. They had a limited Red, White, and Bkue menu but it still had a ton of food choices. I got the Eggplant Caprese as a wrap instead of sandwich and my husband got the Hot Honey Chicken sandwich. Portions were solid. We are very hungry and eat everything. The fries were delicious!

    First time here!
    Pat M.

    The first time we ate at Windlass was when restaurants just started reopening at the end of Covid. Since then, we've been back to the Windlass a few times and it's always been very nice. Whether it's drinks at the bar, dining outside, or inside like this past Monday night, we've had good experiences. On this occasion, my wife and stepsons enjoyed a nice casual dinner. My cheesesteak sandwich was excellent and everyone enjoyed their meals. The cannoli cake for dessert was delicious! Service here is excellent! The staff does a great job taking care of the patrons!

    Marcela L.

    First let's talk location: beautiful lakefront view! Dining outdoors was the best! Booked a reservation online and they accommodated us when we were running a bit late. The view is absolutely amazing! Lots of parking! Service was also good. Ryan was our waiter and did an awesome job making sure we were okay throughout the whole dining experience. Our food did take a bit long to come out but it was worth the wait! Calamari and mussels came out quick and both were absolutely delicious. Calamari was perfectly fried and they gave both chipotle and marinara sauce. The chipotle sauce was yummy! I only tried the sauce from the mussels but it was so good! Next were the entrees. I ordered the shrimp scampi and it was by far one of the best I have had. It was so flavorful. Hubby let me try his pork chop and it was juicy! Everyone said the food was delicious. Dessert was just what we needed to end the evening. Had the lava cake and Reese's cake at the waiter's suggestions and he did not disappoint. Drinks were good too but the food was the highlight as well as the views. Will come back!

    Angela L.

    Come for the sunset, but definitely stay for the food -- lol! This place blew me away from start to finish: the views, the service, and the food were all top-tier. We started with the calamari and mussels -- both fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. For my main, I had the chicken parm, and it was a standout. Crispy, well-seasoned, and portioned just right -- I even had leftovers to enjoy later (bonus!). Dessert-wise, the lava cake was okay, but if you're choosing between sweets, run to the Reese's dessert -- absolutely worth it. Our server? A+ across the board. Friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. Can't wait to come back!

    Hugo Spritz
    Elena R.

    Beautiful spot! Came here with my family for dinner and the food was amazing. We really enjoyed the garlic shrimp appetizer and the Pasta Trio on Tuesdays is definitely worth it. Our server Joe was very friendly and informative and it was a beautiful night on the water. Definitely would recommend making a reservation especially if you're hoping to sit outside.

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    2 months ago

    Great atmosphere and friendly staff. They have the best Caesar salad dressing and their pizzas are delicious as well.

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    6 months ago

    Food and vibe are always excellent. We love the small plates and appetizers. Love their fresh take on cocktails.

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - The Windlass

    Is it dog friendly?

    The Windlass is a restaurant serving food. For that reason we must follow health code requirements - one of which is not allowing pets/dogs on premises. This includes, inside the main dining room, the outdoor pavilion, docks, and porch. We… 

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    Food is phenomenal. The service is great the ambience I drive over an hour to go there.read more

    I came back here for another party. I did have some different foods. Once again, the service was…read moretop-notch and friendly. We were served bruschetta first. I had this on a prior visit, and it was better. The bread was too soft and did not hold up well with the actual bruschetta, which was tasty once again, tons of freshness. The antipasto had fresh meats and cheeses, which were appetizing. I also tried the clams, mussels, stuffed mushrooms, and calamari. The clams and mussels appeared fresh and were pleasant while the stuffed mushrooms were small but packed with flavor. I am not usually a fan of them, but I really enjoyed these. The calamari was solid too, nice breading to fish ratio on most of them. The second course was penne vodka (similar thoughts from prior review apply). The next course was the house salad, which was better than I remember. For my main course this time, I had the salmon in a white wine garlic sauce with some vegetables. The salmon was a good-sized portion with plenty of the sauce. The sauce was a good balance and paired well with the appropriately sized salmon. For dessert, there was a white cake with a strawberry filling. They provided the cake, but not sure where it came from. It was not bad. The cake and strawberry filling was good, but the frosting as well as the icing was too sweet and had too thick of a layer.

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    4 Seasons Mediterranean Restaurant - Pork chop Milanese.

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    4.6(275 reviews)
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    We had such a wonderful experience at 4 Seasons Mediterranean Restaurant! From the moment we…read morearrived, everything was warm, welcoming, and enjoyable. The food was absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. I had one of their specials--a breaded chicken dish topped with prosciutto, spinach, and cheese--and it was incredible! Every bite was flavorful and perfectly prepared. My husband ordered the paella with chorizo and chicken, which was equally delicious and full of wonderful flavors. The portions were also very plentiful, making the meal an excellent value and leaving us with plenty to enjoy. The service was excellent as well. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome throughout our meal. We also really enjoyed sitting outside--it created such a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere and made the evening even more enjoyable. Overall, 4 Seasons Mediterranean Restaurant is a wonderful place for a great meal, excellent service, generous portions, and a beautiful outdoor dining experience. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and will definitely be back! Highly recommend!

    Christmas Eve with family and our favorite restaurant. The food was amazing especially for it…read morebeing so very busy. Appetizers were so good, the meatballs in lobster sauce are the best ever. So soft so delicious! I had the 7 fishes dish omg so big so good. I loved it so much. Hubby had his favorite shrimp and scallops in a lobster sauce over spaghetti. It's so good he won't even try anything else. Desert was also so good. If you get a chance to try the blueberry cake please do so. It's the best ever. 4 Seasons never disappoints! Merry Christmas and see you again very soon.

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    Caffe Navona - Sunday sauce with meatball, sausage, (one other meat I have forgotten)

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    4.4(316 reviews)
    7.3 mi
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    We've lived in the area for many years and hadn't tried Caffe Navona until last night. We will…read moredefinitely be returning, the food and wine were amazing! We thought without a reservation at 7p on a Friday we would probably have to wait awhile, when we arrived the parking lots (front and rear) were nearly full so we expected a wait. We were pleasantly surprised how many tables were still open both inside and on the patio. We only waited about 5 minutes to be seated. The filet mignon was perfectly cooked and seasoned and the sides were just as good! Pricing was very reasonable for the quantity and quality of food. We will definitely be returning.

    My lobster roll was good, no butter though, but at least not overflowing with mayonnaise, just…read morefresh lobster and plenty of it. The fries were sliced fingerling potatoes. My dining partner was happy with her calamari, that came in a plentiful portion. Service was fast on the beginning but we had to find the waiter to get our check. Asked in the beginning to split the bill, but waiter forgot ( I think out original waiter off shift) and we had to request it again. The slower service towards the end of the meal may be attributed to it being the middle of the afternoon, between shifts, and a slower period. My dining partner loves this place and had great things to say about the owner, and the support he provided front line workers during the pandemic. Ambiance is casual, with an extensive bar and seating. More parking in the back down the hill, in back of the restaurant.

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    Outside dining

    The Windlass - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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