May 23, 2024
By Giovanni Mule
Staff Writer
If you are looking for filling dishes that are a treat for your tastebuds, give Tommy’s Tavern + Tap a try. This Clifton restaurant, which is located on Route 3 West in Clifton, opened its doors in Dec. 18, 2020. It is one of 10 locations, with eight in New Jersey, one in New York and one in Delaware.
The moment customers set foot in Tommy’s Tavern + Tap, they recognize a friendly and relaxing atmosphere that continues throughout the entire dining experience. The restaurant has a homey feeling, with every booth spread out so it is easy to have a good conversation. The lighting is dim, which also contributes to the calm environment.
Whether you are looking for appetizers, entrees or desserts, this sit-down restaurant with friendly service has great options.
I highly recommend the bacon swiss burger ($19), which includes pepper bacon, melted Swiss cheese, coal-fired roasted onions and bacon aioli on a toasted English muffin with fries. This burger is loaded with every topping one can imagine. The meat is cooked to perfection and the roasted onions and bacon add an outstanding texture, making it one of the best burgers I have had in Bergen County.
I also recommend the crispy buttermilk chicken sandwich ($18), which includes chicken tenders, chipotle mayo, melted pepper jack cheese, sliced tomato and apple slaw on toasted ciabatta bread with fries. This sandwich definitely lives up to the hype, as the combination of ingredients is marvelous.
If you are interested in ordering an appetizer, I recommend the fried calamari ($18). I like its chewy texture and how it becomes even more fantastic when dipped into the marinara sauce and garlic aioli. I recommend this appetizer because it feeds at least four people and will leave everyone happy, especially because the marinara sauce has a pleasant sweetness and the garlic aioli has a unique tang that enhanced the taste of the fried calamari.
For dessert, I got a blondie ($9), which consists of a fried vanilla brownie with chocolate chips topped with caramel drizzle and vanilla ice cream. It was fantastic, as the brownie had a perfect crunch to it, the ice cream was sweet and the toppings added flavor. Some other desserts I would like to try are the brookie ($9), which is a fried cookie with ice cream on top, and the chocolate lava cake ($9).
Tommy’s Tavern + Tap has one of the most diverse menus in all of New Jersey. Whether you are in the mood for a burger, sandwich, salad, pizza, wrap or traditional large plate dinner, Tommy’s Tavern + Tap has you covered. The food is high quality and there is something for everyone, which makes it the ideal place to dine.
