Tommy's Tavern & Tap, Freehold, NJ: A Restaurant Review

Tommy's Tavern & Tap, Freehold, NJ
Tommy's Tavern & Tap
3492 US Hwy 9
Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 543-0055
Website

Restaurant Highlights

Fare: Tavern comfort food

Price: Moderate

Food Quality: 2 Stars

Service: 2 Stars

Ambiance/Decor: 3 Stars

Overall Rating:  2 1/2  Stars

Note: Four star Rating System from 1/2 Star = Poor to Four stars = Best in Class

Noise Level: Very loud

Dress: Casual

Recommended For: Millennials who enjoy a high energy, trendy, sports bar tavern tavern with well made comfort food and a well stocked bar.

Not Recommended For: Diners who prefer an old world, low key BYOB restaurant with an eclectic menu.

Recommended dishes: When available, Tommy's Classic Coal Fired Pie, Tommy's Original Coal Oven Roasted Wings, and the Tavern Dip Sliced Prime Rib.

Liquor: Full bar service with hand crafted specialty cocktails, with a variety of craft beers, and a good variety of well wines by the glass and bottle.

Restaurant Review

Tommy's Tavern and Tap opened in early June, 2019 and immediately achieved instant success. This new Freehold Hot spot has experienced huge crowds, an overflowing parking lot, and unfortunately, long waits to be seated.

Any one wishing to get in without a long wait is advised to wait several months when the rush has died down. At this point the crowd includes millennials, older parons, and families. Once the dust has settled, the crowd will likely be largely made of of millennials who enjoy the high energy, loud, sports bar/tavern with trendy ambiance.

Tommy's Tavern and Tap is located at the site of the former TGIF on Rt 9, Freehold. The building has since undergone a complete renovation, from top to bottom, with the end result being an attractive, upscale, industrial chic, rustic look."

Tommy's Tavern and Tap is a family operation run by managing partner, Thomas Bonfiglio, his wife Yvette, and their daughters, Christina and Andrea.

Bonfiglio originally an attorney, operates two other Tommy's Tavern's in Staten Island and Sea bright. He is also the the former owner of the Dockside restaurant in Sea Bright, and Tommy's Coal Fired Pizza in Red Bank.

The interior has an open feel with a sports bar like ambiance with high exposed ceilings, hanging fans, and rustic, wainscoting wood walls with lots of large TV displays offering a view from every table in the house. The centerpiece is a huge bar with seating for 55, surrounded by booth/ table seating. During the warmer months there is outside dining on the patio surrounded by tall green arborvitaes.

The food is prepared in three separate kitchens—one for regular menu items, one for sushi, and the other for Tommy's signature pizza.

The menu is heavy on comfort food, sandwiches, pizza, and sushi. In addition to Tommy's signature pizza, they serve sharing sizes of Tommy's Original Coal Roasted Oven Wings, Stromboli, Calzones, Burgers, Sandwiches, Soups, Salads, Desserts, and a few items of Large Plate Entrees.

The quality of the food is a notch above the many other Western Monmouth County sports bars. But the reason you come here is for the high energy sports bar/ tavern rustic, ambiance with live bands and DJ entertainment

Older patrons, though are apt to find Tommy's Tavern and Tap too much to handle with the exceptionaly loud noise, and dim table lighting that requires a cell phone to check the menu.

Happy Hour is only available at the bar. Monday - Friday, 3pm -6pm

(updated June, 2019)

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