I typically keep my opinions on restaurants to myself because I don’t think it’s fair for me to judge. I have a culinary background and have worked in restaurants, foodservice and hospitality my entire life, including at some truly excellent organizations.
That said, I honestly can’t tell you the last time I had a great experience at an NJ restaurant. It feels few and far between. I’m okay with decent food and service at this point and have come to expect “okay” or “good” as the ceiling. There are a lot of reasons the industry struggles in NJ, but it seems to get worse and worse.
Yesterday, after working outside all day, I really wanted a burger and a beer. Against my better judgment, I went to Dublin Pub, since the other two times I’d been since they reopened weren’t great either. This visit was just a terrible experience all around.
I’m used to unengaged or rude bartenders in NJ, but this crew was useless. I watched people trying to get their attention to order or get their check. I even had to yell “hey” across the bar for a woman who couldn’t get anyone’s attention while they were eating a plate of fries in the corner. For context, there were maybe a dozen people around the bar and three bartenders.
A runner and maybe a "cook" were standing around with them doing nothing. Eating, wiping their hands on their pants, then preparing drinks. Not a hand-washing attempt in sight. An obviously inexperienced manager kept walking by and didn’t say a word. Meanwhile, an older server who was actually working kept coming back to the bar looking for drinks that were taking forever.
After I finally ordered, the bartender threw the standard setup at me...a roll-up and salt and pepper shakers. The pepper shaker was completely empty, but at least it looked like it had just gone through the dishwasher.
My $21 burger was a pile of goop on a soggy roll. I wasn’t sure what the inspiration was, but it was awful---shredded lettuce and some kind of sauce that made it hard to take a bite without the whole thing falling apart.
No one checked back. No offer for another beer. I had to grab the bartenders attention from across the bar again to get the check.
The final touch: a separate credit card fee. I noticed the receipt was for a different amount because they tack on a surcharge...in 2026.
I understand margins are tight, but when food, service, cleanliness, and basic engagement are all missing, adding a surcharge feels like the wrong place to focus. Focus on providing a better dining experience and revenue may improve—you won’t need to add silly fees on top of an overpriced, shitty meal.
Not sure why this experience annoyed me enough to share, but I’m sure I can’t be the only one. Restaurants do not need to be perfect. Most guests will forgive an off night, a wait, or even an occasional miss from the kitchen when they feel someone cares. This just felt like no one did.
