Quick Bite: Taphouse 15

Taphouse 15
Jefferson
75 Route 15 South
862-437-1300

Open: Lunch and dinner, daily

Price: $$

Style: Spacious gastropub bedecked in wood, tile and stone for a rustic yet modern look. Dining areas are well staffed with super-attentive servers.

The Scoop: Owner Tom Apostolopoulos opened in December 2015, renovating the New Orleans Steakhouse, which his father ran for almost 30 years.

The Menu: Starters run from the obvious (wings) to the unexpected (Thai calamari, tuna poke and risotto fritters). Any of the 10 wood-fired pizzas can be shared, as can the generous salads—such as the tangy Southwest chicken chopped salad, adorned with house-made tortilla strips. Feel free to ask for an extra bowl of the irresistible strips. Short-rib grilled cheese tops the list of eight sandwiches. Entrée standouts include crispy herbed salmon (pictured), pan roasted and served atop a tasty bacon-corn hash; and the grilled shrimp masala, topped with mint-yogurt sauce and served over spiced jasmine rice. For those with lusty appetites, the skillet sundae is a Frisbee-sized chocolate chip cookie warmed in the wood hearth and topped with ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

Heads Up: Weekends are packed. Taphouse 15 doesn’t take reservations, but you can call ahead and jump the line.