Glad Tidings

As crisp autumn winds begin to blow, grab your favorite sweater and head over to the charming Gladstone Tavern for warm mulled wine, Grandpa Chet’s pumpkin cake, and some neighborly cheer.

When chef/proprietor Tom Carlin purchased the 1847 colonial farmhouse in 2005, he spent one year meticulously transforming the former Chatfield’s Bar and Grill into what has become a favorite gathering spot for the local equestrian set. 

For area foodies, Gladstone is clearly a one-horse town. On the front porch resides the resplendent Sir Pennysworth, a 120-year-old horse statue that has been greeting guests for decades.

Original and traditional American fare is served up in a spacious dining room graced by a massive stone fireplace. Or you can grab a bite at the bar, on the terrace, or on the old-fashioned veranda where an occasional canine secures a spot under his master’s table.

A veteran of Manhattan’s renowned Gotham Bar and Grill, Carlin puts his innovative twist on American cuisine, garnering critical acclaim from city slickers as well as country clientele. Signature dishes include handmade pumpkin ravioli, slow-roasted duck with maple glaze, and grilled steaks and chops.

Devotees swear by comfort food like bite-sized crab tots, Tavern burgers, farm salad, personal-size bar pizzas, individual apple pies, homemade ice cream, and fruit sorbet. If you have a youngster in tow, be a hero and order the kid-pleasing wagon-wheel pasta with a root beer float and house-made chocolate chunk cookie.

Al fresco dining (often with live music) runs until October 16. Expect a crowd if you come by on October 17, when the Tavern will be full of equestrian enthusiasts following the annual Far Hills Steeplechase Races. The pumpkin menu returns the week of October 26, and Halloween tricks and treats are planned for October 30 and 31.

The terrace seats 50 in front of a slate bar and a second stone fireplace, while an adjacent garden yields fresh herbs throughout warm-weather months. The cozy Upper Tavern room, a venue for special celebrations and corporate events, can accommodate up to 50 seated guests, or 75 merrymakers for a stand-up cocktail reception.

Giddy-up to the Gladstone Tavern for dinner—served daily from 5 pm—or enjoy lunch, offered Monday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.

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