A Winning Horse: Horseneck Tavern in North Caldwell

Horseneck Tavern
North Caldwell
11 Bloomfield Avenue
973-287-6850

Open: Lunch, Fri-Sun; dinner, daily

Price: $$

Style: Classy meets casual. The dimly lit bar attracts a lively crowd; red leather banquettes brighten the separate, date-worthy dining area. There’s al fresco seating in the warm months.

The Scoop: The tavern opened in 2016, but its name dates to the Colonial era, when the local area was known as the Horse Neck.

The Menu: Start in the bar with a flight of wine, tequila or American whiskey. For an appetizer, don’t miss the pierogi, fresh made daily in the kitchen. The potato-stuffed pillows are pan-fried in olive oil for a crispy exterior and served with sour cream and caramelized onions. Other starters include the Fontina-stuffed meatball; charred octopus; and an exceptional beet salad topped with Humboldt fog cheese. Mains range from a signature burger (with portobello mushroom, crispy onions, pancetta and blue cheese) to baby back ribs (half or full rack) to a whole roasted Amish chicken (pictured), suitable for sharing. At the high end: an 8-ounce filet mignon and a 16-ounce New York strip, each with two sides. The kids’ menu has six choices.

Heads Up: Happy hour (4-7 pm, Monday-Friday) is made happier with $1 oysters. The bar has live jazz Wednesday-Thursday and acoustic music Friday-Saturday. Use Uber and get 50 percent off your next cocktail.