First of all, I need to get you to the AP Distillery. Their vodka is crazy smooth–even straight.
That said, my second comment/thought is…I don’t believe there is much out in that part of the county, so I’m not surprised it’s packed, but I know from going to the AP Distillery that they have very different ABC rules they have to follow, and I suspect one of them must limit the number of seats they can offer inside. AP Distillery’s ‘public’ space has a small footprint to begin with, and I think they have about a dozen seats at the bar, but damn if every cocktail I’ve had there hasn’t been worth the $12(ish). I don’t say this often, but these people CARE about what they’re doing, they love to talk about it if you’re interested, and I’m always happy to support them. Caveat: I’ve been in there when I could sit at the bar. Last night I walked by en route to the Biergarten and the room at the APD was PACKED with people standing 3 deep behind the chairs at the bar.
They don’t offer any food either, and I believe that’s because if they did, then they’d be considered a restaurant. And finally, every time you step foot in there, someone jumps you to ask “Have you been here before?” and regardless of the answer, they’re required to give you the ‘tour,’ which involves standing at the big window overlooking the distillery and listening to their BRIEF shpeil (sp?). Imo it’s totally worth it to then get hang time in a pretty spot with great drinks!
Yeah, I’ve been wondering about this place. Especially since my husband is suddenly on a bourbon kick and I thought a bottle of a local one would be a nice V-day present.
@CurlzNJ I think you have an excellent point. That area is really no mans land for bars.
Since I live in town, my s/o and I went on opening night a few months ago. Boy, was it packed! Bill had the Stillhouse ( bourbon, brown butter, and orange bitters), and I had the Pickle Rick (vodka, house brine, and a pickle). We both were incredibly unimpressed. Bill said his drink was all mixer and ice, and the bourbon didn’t stand out at all. My vodka did stand out, because it tasted like rubbing alcohol. The brine was incredibly weak- I’ve had tastier brines sipping from the go-container from the old Pickle Guy stand at Collingswood Auction. Since they wouldn’t make me a Collins, we took off.
Bill refers to them as “Cocktails for People Who Don’t Like Booze.”
"Since I live in town, my s/o and I went on opening night a few months ago. Boy, was it packed! "
I immediately rolled my eyes and thought: “Ok here comes a shill from a local”
Glad as I continued to read your impression was somewhat similar to mine. You had he vodka with a mixer and it tasted like rubbing alcohol, I had it on the rocks and the fist sip gave me the 'bad vodka" burn. That’s why I had to let the ice melt a bit to tone down the harshness of the vodka.
Quick question since you are from town, have you ever dined at the Green Meadow? I’m on a mission to actually find someone, anyone who has actually dined there. The place is a complete enigma to me and I have no idea how they stay in business.
Even though I’m under the age of 80, I have eaten there. Unfortunately, the last time was on Thanksgiving in the late 80s./very early 90s. I had the tiniest piece of salmon on the planet with an artfully dripped, very non-dilly mustard sauce with something like, three spears of asparagus (probably making a tower). Yes, I still remember the meal for these reasons- 1.) My late mother, who could declare herself full after eating a Hershey’s Kiss, said it was the stingiest portion she ever had and proceeded to order desert, and 2.) The check came to over $100 for three people. Golly! Nouvelle cuisine had come to Colts Neck!
I have no idea how the place survives, either. Maybe it’s where the Huddy’s crowd goes for a special night out.
Before the construction at 537 & 34 I take the Rt. 18 exit to go home so I generally pass there every night and I have only seen that one Cadillac parked out front. lol Well if your check was over $100. for 3 people 30 years ago, I guess they gouged enough people early on to keep the lights on for a few decades!
Perhaps you forgot that I ate at Green Meadows once. I was with my husband and our daughter who was around 10 years old at the time. So that would make it about 37 years ago.
I have no recollection of what we ate though since we never went back, the food must have been mediocre. I do remember we didn’t know until the end of the meal that they did not take credit cards, and we didn’t have sufficient cash to cover the bill. However, I did have checks with me. Even though they didn’t know us, they accepted that method of payment.
My apologies you are correct I did forget. Being similar in age to your daughter, I’m on a quest to find someone who has dined there in the last decade or two at least. I’m truly fascinated by it and might have to take one for the team sometime.
This actually made me check out their website, look at this:
WEEKDAY DISCOUNTS
Wednesday and Thursday
15% OffEntire Check (Including Bar Drinks)
NJ Tax & Your Servers Gratuity is NOT Included
Friday
50% OffYour Food Bill
NJ Tax, Bar Drinks &
Your Servers Gratuity is NOT Included
Saturday & Sunday
20% OffYour Food Bill
NJ Tax, Bar Drinks &
Your Servers Gratuity is NOT Included
Starting Wednesday, January 23rd
Sauer Braten
with Red Cabbage & Potato Pancake
20% off your check Wed & Thurs. including drinks!!
50% off food (not drinks) Friday night!! I might have to go on a Friday, they make it hard not to try them
(for those who like it, they do have frogs legs on the menu, I haven’t seen that since, well probably 1982!!)
Well the location of The Polo Club, previously Remington’s has been closed for 20± years. I know the town was on the owner to reopen the location under thread of revoking the liquor license, I have a feeling, though completely unconfirmed, that the town did pull the license because work seemed to stop here about a year ago.
I first moved to the area in 1994, I purchased my first home here as a foreclosure and as I inspected the attic after purchasing the home, I found all the kitchen plans for Remington’s. Apparently the previous owner had something to do with restaurant/kitchen builds, which is why I bought the house because of it’s beautiful and commercial grade kitchen.
at least Holmdel has a few chain spots and Patricias which seems to print $$$. I can’t understand why Colts Neck other than Delicious Orchards is such a food wasteland. With the $$ there it doesn’t make sense, I mean I know they can all just go to RB, Manalapan, Marlboro, Middletown or the like but you would think that there would be one joint at least for a quick trip to keep people in town…I guess Huddys by default is the big winner…
I heard Sen Joe Manchin (WV) on the news this morning mention this. Missed some of the conversation but I think there are still some logistics to work out.
