Very nice local restaurant for special occasions. They serve a nice weekend brunch or dinner. They have interesting seasonal cocktails and change the menu regularly so there is always a new drink the try. The staff is very helpful and accommodating. The building is a pretty, white, colonial- looking house, and is especially pretty if you are sitting in the sun room and overlooking downtown from one of the large windows. The interior decor includes some historical portraits, adding to the revolutionary motif. For dinner I would recommend ordering the Tuna Tartar appetizer which is served with guacamole and the Scallops entree which is serve with pieces of bacon. read more

Washington House Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Outside seating with well appointed rest rooms. Food and drinks were perfect as always. Service was slow but it allowed us to have some quiet conversation with our friends that we haven't spent time with due to COVID situation. Hoping to go back and enjoy the tented area soon. read more

we love this place! whenever we visit our kids in jersey we make a point to eat here. the outdoor tent is so pretty, the service is exceptional, the food terrific, and it's very accommodating for families with young children. their cocktail, wine and beer list are diverse. shout out to bringing the kids drinks right away and bringing their dinner first to keep things happy. I had the sirloin tips, it was excellent. two of our party are vegetarians and are always ble to find choices they like. try this spot, you will not be disappointed! read more

I hope they improve the food. Quality was level of good diner food. Missed on taste profiles. Long wait times to get service. Beautiful facility. Not what I expected. May try it again. read more

Went here the other night for my birthday and we had a great meal. Definitely will go back before I am a year older. This was one of those dinners that we spent half our meal talking about how good the food is. Always a good sign! The appetizer sliders were some of the best burgers I've had in years - perfect ratio of bun to beef and the taste was perfect. I went with no cheese or condiment because I wanted to taste it the way it was prepared. A good decision. The Chilean Sea Bass special was a perfectly cooked good-sized portion and I surprisingly liked the sautéed spinach it was served on (Popeye and I disagree and I don't usually like spinach). The avocado fries were perfect. We debated how they were able to prepare them so they were crispy on the outside while the avocado inside was still fresh and almost seemed uncooked (in a good way). Pure yum. And dessert time - the special Oreo Chocolate Mousse Cake was like a delicious block of chocolate with speckled Oreo. Tough not to like. And I highly recommend the churros unless you're one of those people who doesn't like dessert. The OMG drink was tasty - tequila and jalapeño and some other good stuff. The outdoor tent was huge and we were able to eat outside but almost feel like we were inside. Nice setup. I am not much a public bathroomer (especially during the Coviddays) but rumor was that we could only use outdoor toilets - they looked like super fancy ones but I assume not the same as the pre-pandemic bathroom situation. My smaller-bladdered tablemates didn't complain about them but some people might want to pee before they get here. Michelle was our WIT (first day waitress-in-training) and if she helps you, say hi for us! read more

Visited the Washington House this past Sunday for brunch w a party of five for a birthday brunch. Beautiful light filled atmosphere...service was perfectly paced with our server Veronica who was fabulous (no I am not a relative). Food amazing..down to the details of presentation the deviled eggs besides being delicious were a presentation masterpiece...how do they place that dill so perfectly on top? We are an extremely picky bunch..from the soups both delicious and large portioned...to the burger..eggs Benedict...omelets and fresh fruit...everyone was extremely happy! A must visit eat experience...we will be back. And I might add after Veronica found out it was my sisters birthday she brought out her biscotti w a candle! Cheers! read more

Washington House Restaurant - Candle w biscotti for my sisters birthday... - Bars Near Me - Basking Ridge, New Jersey

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Went in on a Tuesday to check out this place. We had the Steak Tar Tar and the Grilled octopus. The food was excellent. The male bartender who was only working there for a few months was very knowledgable and friendly. The atmosphere is very pleasant and they have a great beer selection. The only thing I found odd was the choice of music that was playing throughout the place. Pitbull isn't very relaxing dinner music. read more

Washington House Restaurant - Nice beer selection - Bars Near Me - Basking Ridge, New Jersey

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Outside deck is amazing. Service is great and food was really good. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the prices are a little high for the amount of food you get and drinks are definitely overpriced. I got the filet mignon tips with the mushroom gravy and risotto underneath. Really good but not a big serving. Steak was pre cut. I think only 4 small pieces. Maybe a total of 4 ounces of steak. No side dish, no salad, nothing came with the meal. Drinks can cost $18 to $22 each for their specialty drinks. For that price you would think they would be huge but they are actually average size! read more

Only the tent is available for a la carte dining Menu is varied and food is fine. The Caesar Salad was tasteless but the shrimp tacos and salmon burger were delicious. My vodka martini was like drinking ice water with olives so please specify a generous pour of alcohol. The tent is nicely heated and the circulation system has been designed for Covid prevention. It was great to get out and dine again. The reason for three stars is that the tent is very noisy. read more

Nice tented outdoor space. Ordered mostly appetizers to share. Decent menu options and execution but nothing particularly noteworthy.

This place has changed so much over the past 15 years, but it keeps getting better. Great live music in comfortable bar. Good food. Lots to choose from from simple salads to fancy entrees. Highly recommend. read more

The tuna for lunch is by far one of the best dishes ever! Always have a great meal here. Salmon is also superb. Salads are good, dining room is modern, Clean and very inviting. Making this one of my go to places as the food and ambiance are great. read more

Food is great. Service is great. Very clean. The architect that designed the place did a great job eg American Restoration. Love the sliding barn doors and wood floors. Only question Why do I have to wait an hour for horsdouvres? What is Scottish Salmon? Tasted good. read more

Washington House was fabulous! They really know how to do it. Their outdoor dining is done with such class, you feel like you're at an European bistro. The chef is superb there were five of us there for dinner and everyone's dinner was great. The service and atmosphere was beautiful. Can't wait to go back again. read more

Wonderful location and atmosphere. The menu selection and specials had a nice variety. The portions were a bit small, but very tasty. The establishment overall was very clean and the staff was nice and friendly. Only downside, not one staff member spoke English well. Host, bartenders, waiter, etc The waiter couldn't understand what I was ordering until I pointed to the menu. I was still hungry after dinner and ordered a side of avocado fries and the he brought me an avocado on a plate... lol read more

I had been trying to make a reservation here since Covid began and it is hard to get so plan in advance, but so worth the wait!! We went to celebrate a birthday dinner on a Thursday night - the live music, the atmosphere, the service, the cocktails and the food all exceeded expectations!!!! I recommend ordering lots of things and sharing because every dish was divine. We loved the burrata and beet salad, the juicy little sliders and Avocado fries which were all dressed perfectly and cooked to perfection and rival the entrees, so don't be shy and try try try! The tuna, sea bass, and pasta fresca were all delectable healthy size portions worth every dollar! Don't stop with apps and entrees because the the OMG cocktail is OMG good! We thought the conversation and ambience and food were good enough to stop and say this is the best meal we have ever had, but the desert did not disappoint and nailed it. It is rare to eat at a restaurant that checks all the boxes, go with friends get a picnic table, a barrel table, or just a regular table under the tent and be ready for some good food, good times, and good drinks! Enjoy read more

Kinda expensive for what you get. Food is good, and there aren't a ton of options around the area, but for the price, a short drive could find better options. read more

My husband and I recently dined here to celebrate our wedding anniversary. What a lovely evening we had. First a note about the space. This location has been renovated from the dingy, outdated and tired place it was to a modern, open, and clean atmosphere. There is a lot of natural light that filters in during the day. The bar is large and the bar area does not feel crowded. Due to the large, open rooms, the noise volume in the room can get a bit loud, but that is to be expected. Also, the bathrooms are very clean and well designed. Secondly, the service we received was excellent. The bartender was friendly and makes fantastic drinks. Our waiter did an outstanding job. He was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Finally, the most important part, a few words about the food. Every single dish that we ordered was excellent. We ordered the calamari and french onion fondue (I think that's the name of it.) Both were fantastic. They were were so tasty that I wouldn't want to have to choose one over the other. For the main course, my husband ordered the ribeye, which was prepared perfectly. I had the parpadelle pasta with braised lamb. SO good. What a treat to have homemade pasta! For dessert, we ordered the chocolate cake. It was excellent! When commenting to our waiter in how good it was, we we told wouldn't be on the menu much longer as new seasonal ones would be making an entrance. No worries about that because I always like to try new things! We also ordered several of the specialty cocktails on the menu. They were both colorful and delicious! If you are looking for a quick, average, or mediocre meal, look elsewhere. If you are looking to try something new and are up for a relaxed, but upscale, dining experience, give this place a try. While we didn't eat at the bar, they do have a bar menu as well if you are looking for a more casual meal. A lot of thought, effort, and care were put forth to create this classy and contemporary restaurant. Go with an open mind and an empty stomach and you will be in for a treat. Enjoy! read more

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The outdoor space is beautiful and spacious, perfectly adapted for Covid. We ordered about eight different dishes and I tried them all. Not a single one was short of excellent. Quality of food, preparation and service are top notch. The drinks were creative and perfectly satisfying. The service cordial and professional. I highly recommend this place. read more

Don't believe the haters. This place is really great. The interior is wonderful and the staff is great. You can tell they are just hitting stride after a few months of being open. My wife had a mushroom soup and I had a burger and fries. Both of which were awesome. (Believe it or not it is hard to do a great burger and fries.) They are starting to serve brunch in mid-September too. read more

Let's just start out by acknowledging the tremendous transformation of this space from the dump it used to be (sticky carpet, anyone?) to the beautiful, airy experience it is now. I'm very impressed with the care that went into reinventing this place. That said, some sound baffling may be needed in the near future, as all of the surfaces are sound reflecting and it was LOUD, even in the dining room. My dining companion and I both tried house cocktails, which were very good. I had the Bee's Knees, a gin-based cocktail with lemon that was quite tasty. The wine by the glass selection is fairly good as well. For dinner, I had the steak frites. The frites were crispy and delicious. The steak - which was ordered medium rare - came out on the high side of medium and although it had a nice sear on the outside, was virtually unseasoned and not very flavorful. My dining companion had the salmon entree, which he also felt came out overcooked but was tasty. My desert was the carrot cake cheesecake, which was delicious and came with a scoop of carrot-coconut sorbet that was amazing. My dining companion had a white peach sorbet which was also very good. One of the notable - and positive - things about the deserts is that there were just the right size and not overly sweet. Since the place has been open only a week, I'm hopeful that they will hit a stride and the service will improve. Our server forgot our bread, didn't bring a steak knife for my entree (not easy cutting steak with a butter knife), and couldn't tell me what cut of lamb was being offered on the menu without several trips to the kitchen. He also did not react well when we indicated that our steak and salmon were overdone - he seemed annoyed and did not offer to do anything about it. All told, I felt that the service was uneven, and that other tables in the dining room were receiving more attention that ours. In fact, the manager was circulating throughout the dining room and visited every table except for ours. In the end, we'll likely return to sample more on the menu and to track the place's progress. There's a dearth of good restaurants in the area, so I'm hopeful for Washington House. read more

Just meh from top to bottom. Service was over-eager, not welcoming. Every time my husband or I took a sip, our water glasses were refilled, which meant that we couldn't really talk with each other or enjoy our meal without someone right there. As I took my last bite, our plates were cleared before I set down the fork; and, mind you, the place was nearly empty. I also think our server was ill, which was a little gross. Food was ok, but not worth anywhere near 25-35 dollars a plate. The menu is incredibly limited. Decor is nice enough, but there's no ambiance or coziness at all. Bar looked a bit more relaxing but we won't be back. Rhiannon read more

I am floored about how good this place is. The staff, food and attention to detail was wonderful. We had had dinner at Tutto il Giorno in Southampton the night before and the food was the same amazing quality here except I felt the Washington house had done a better job with the sauces and flavors. The wait staff was also more attentive as we were the only ones outside but the timing was impeccable with drinks, appetizers and dinner. We had the house made shrimp dumplings and the octopus to start which were both cooked to perfection and the sauces were a beautiful addition and surprisingly flavorful. For entrees we ordered the roasted chicken and pan roasted branzino which were also amazing, cooked perfectly and so good that I ate the rest of my branzino for breakfast cold with the smoked roasted pepper risotto. I cannot wait to return. read more

Had a reservation. Wasn't seated until at least 8:15. Lots of people running around filling up water glasses. Food took forever. No thanks. Yawn. read more

Fancied the place up but in the end it is a step down. First off the place looks really nice and they have a good selection on drinks. Unfortunately, the food wasn't that good and especially not for the prices. I tried their bacon dip and was thoroughly disappointed. The Croque Monsieur was pretty tasty but not worth the price. To top it off they brought out the appetizer at the same time as the main. I wish they just kept it the way it was. Not every restaurant needs to be fancy. Especially if you don't deliver a high level product. read more

I've been to Washington House on two separate occasions for dinner, and also recently held an event there (a rehearsal dinner the night before my wedding). I've had a great experience every time I have visited. The atmosphere is very unique. Upon entering, you walk into a large bar area with beautiful exposed brick. The dining room is very warm and inviting, with lots of light coming through the large windows, sliding barn doors, a fireplace, and detailed molding carried through the walls of the space. They have an expansive beer and wine list - and a diverse menu as well. I ordered the Classic Burger on my first visit and the Berkshire Pork Chop on my second visit. When I came in for my rehearsal dinner I ordered the Guinness Braised Short Rib. Every meal I have had there has been delicious, but the short rib was definitely my favorite. After my rehearsal dinner, so many of my friends and family were raving about the food, atmosphere, and service. I highly recommend Washington House for dinner, but it is also a great place to hold a private event. The General Manager, Janine, was so helpful throughout the entire planning process. She met with me on two separate occasions to help plan everything from the menu to the seating arrangements, and she was always quick to respond to the many questions I emailed her leading up to the event. I will definitely be back to Washington House again soon, and look forward to my next visit. read more

We had an AMAZING meal and service. My mom ordered a "Fancy Nancy" cocktail and met Nancy who created it. Delicious! Shrimp Dumplings, Scallops, Steak Quesadilla and Carrot Cake. Bartender Rob B. was wonderful! Highly recommend! read more

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Love the food and drinks. Try the OMG. Ambiance great and different. A bit loud at times and hard to hear conversation. But a great vibe

I went there over the weekend again for lunch, and everything was fantastic. I had the bacon and lentil appetizer, and the flat iron steak (which was a nice portion for only $18!). The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare, and the bartender provided appropriate service (not too intrusive, but didn't pull a disappearing act either when needed). Again, per my prior review, the wine list is really nice at great prices. This time, I had two bottled beers (craft stuff...I can't exactly remember the names). I'm not a beer expert, as wine is my thing, but I would imagine a craft beer person would be satisfied with the draft and bottle selection. I wish this place was right in the center of Morristown, so I could walk there (though it may lose something if it weren't in Basking Ridge on that main road). I highly recommend this spot! read more

We decided to check out the indoor dining and do the a la carte menu. Everyone's food was fabulous! To start the chef came out and introduced himself bringing an amuse-bouche which was an amazing tuna tartare. We were with two other couples and we all ordered different items off the menu and everyone was in agreement that their presentation as well as the taste was outstanding. A few at the table ordered signature cocktails and those were equally as good. The desserts were fabulous as well. We will definitely return as well as the other couples we were with. read more

The appetizers were PERFECT - grilled octopus, shrimp dumplings and crabby melts. The dinner was GREAT - grilled chicken, scallops and lobster ravioli. The desserts were OKAY - apple crisp & cheesecake. Those at the bar were very happy with the large selection. read more

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I went to the Washington House with some girlfriends, and we would definitely come back. They made a great dirty martini, and they had an extensive drink and food menu to choose from. We had an appetizer sampler to start, which had chicken wings, mini sliders, fish sticks, and tuna tartar. Each thing was pretty good. For dinner, I split the tuna and lamb with one of my friends, both very good. The atmosphere was also very nice and quaint, but this place is a little pricey. read more

4 stars for food and presentation. Just be aware that portions are small and prices are big. Would come back but probably just do the bar menu. read more

Washington House Restaurant - The $13 Lafayette - Bars Near Me - Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Way too expensive Overcooked fries, awful Swiss chard (we asked for kale but got the chard) and slow service read more

Came here for a business lunch with an associate. On the plus side, the new decor is beautiful. A lot of light, warmth and ambiance, particularly in the bar area. The host and wait staff were polite and attentive and the service was overall very good. The food was not good. I ordered a $16. burger, medium rare. What I received was a slider-sized burger that hadn't seen rare since the Carter administration. It literally crumbled, it was that dry. Half of the fries were burnt. I would, sadly, hesitate to return. I don't place much faith in a high end restaurant that can't get a burger and fries done correctly. At least I got to expense my bad experience! read more

We visited the restaurant today for lunch and was surprised to discover the only dining was in a large tent on the parking lot. We previously loved coming here for both the crab cakes and the cozy decor. Checking the web page before our visit, it shows photos of both the tent AND the front interior dining room. The website also states that inside dining would resume in the Fall. However, when we arrived, we were told that they were only serving in the tent. The tent is large with lot of windows but looks more like a school cafeteria than a fine dining restaurant. Food - Very good. Dining Experience - Poor. read more

We keep coming for special occasions and usually had a wonderful experience: Food, ambiente, service.. This time, the only good thing was the food. The music was loud and completely inappropriate, and even though the place was half empty, the noise level coming from the other rooms was disproportionate. Worst was the loud voiced waitress Johanna, who really belongs in an Applebees, rather than an upscale place, rushing us through our meal, constantly interrupting us asking questions while we had our mouths full... Not qualified for this place. we will look for another place for our future birthdays and anniversay and drive less as well! read more

My family and I traveled to Washington house on a blizzard night. We made a reservation for 9 and they were happy to accommodate. The restaurant parking is in the rear. A nice large parking lot with handicap access. You can park on the main street, but if there is no parking, no stress! Make a left at the corner street and voila! The menu is a mix of different origins with seafood, steak, pasta, poultry and vegetarian options. I had the kale and brussels sprouts salad and octopus entree. I would recommend either one of these choices. My mom had the red sangria and loved it enough to get two glasses. For entrees the seafood pasta entree looked delicious and was a large size portion. The sesame tuna was another big hit. For dessert I would pass on the pear and raspberry sorbet special but definitely indulge in the brownie. The fresh berries and whipped cream was also very good and you could tell the whipped cream was either made in house, or at least it wasn't redd-iwhip. Also the waitstaff was very pleasant and patient. The manager was also there and he made sure everything was to our liking. They even re-made a dish that wasn't prepared the way it was originally asked. The restaurant was empty when we arrived but by the time we left it was much more populated, especially by the bar. I would return to Washington house with a group or just my spouse. And yes this is the place that used to have the glass opening in the floor with all of the dolls in it! read more

I went for Saturday brunch and the meal was the best food that I have ever had. I ate the following : Tuna tartar Crab cake eggs Benedict Iced tea (homemade) Mimosa Coffee Biscotti (homemade) The bill was around $55 before tip, which considering I had a 3 course meal is okay. That being said the food was phenomenal. There is only one other place I can think of with eggs as good (it's in NY). I will return. read more

Had a great meal here for my mother's birthday. Pricey, portions weren't very big but I did leave full at the end of the night. Started with the burrata with beets, so delicious. And had the sea scallops for dinner which was a light and clean dish but so so good. Excellent mix of flavors. Other people at my table had the lobster bisque, oysters, salmon, and rigatoni - all said they enjoyed their meals. Limited menu for vegetarians and service could have been better for the price of the meal, that's why I gave it 4 stars. I will gladly return. There was a band setting up in the bar area when we were leaving which would make a nice night out if just grabbing a drink at the bar. read more