Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery — Attraction in Pilesgrove Township

I want people to know about the horrible experience I had at Auburn Winery as a returning open mic night performer and paying customer on Oct. 20, 2016.

My four-piece acoustic band walked onto the stage to play when it was our turn. We tuned our instruments quickly and were ready to play in seconds. However, we were forced to wait ten minutes as the sound guy for the night attempted to connect us to the PA system, but without success. Eventually one of the employees there (I believe her name is Bo and she’s a “trained sound engineer”?) walked up and told us to “begin playing or get off the stage.” Why the rude and unnecessary comment for something that was beyond our control? She then told our fiddle player to hold her fiddle up to a vocal mic for the entire performance because the sound guy couldn’t figure out how to connect it. It’s not as though we had crazy effects pedals or drums to mic; we simply had four acoustic instruments with standard cable jacks.

While we were playing, the sound levels were very off. My banjo was too loud, and we could not hear each other despite the fact that there are monitors right in front of the stage. Our entire performance, from setting up to playing, was one huge embarrassing debacle. Other performers I had watched during the night also had similar issues such as uneven levels or sound cut-off, the latter of which was due to faulty cables that ended up interrupting their performance mid-song. Luckily I brought my own cable.

When we finished two songs, I announced that we would play one more (playing three songs doesn’t seem unreasonable for an open mic night, right?), but I noticed our sound had been abruptly turned off. I looked over at the sound guy and open mic host Larry and asked if we could play one more song. Larry tersely and rudely replied, “No, you’re done.” Other performers, however, got to play three or four songs. This was very unfair, especially since the unreasonably long setup time was their fault, not ours. I think the main issue here was that they had a featured act play for ONE HOUR at an open mic night when eight other performers were signed up on the list! I could see thirty minutes, but one hour? Some musicians actually had to leave without performing because the featured opener took so much time away from everyone else.

I approached the sound guy immediately after leaving the stage and asked why they limited us to two songs because of their mistakes. He was unsympathetic and only said, “It’s beyond my control.” Really? The whole situation was completely within his control since HE is the sound person! If he’s not in control, then who is?

In addition, our fiddle player approached open mic host Larry to express her disappointment with our experience and to explain the fact that we brought out many people to watch us play, yet were able to perform only two songs. Again, like the sound guy, he was very unsympathetic and did not apologize for our disappointing experience. In fact, throughout the entire conversation he spoke sarcastically to her and even said, “Sorry, don’t care,” when mentioning that she brought out a lot of paying customers who are now disappointed. How unprofessional of him. This is not the way to treat musicians who are also paying customers and potential entertainment for future shows, and who brought out a crowd of almost thirty people who purchased food and wine and spent a lot of money to watch us play only two songs – two songs that those people could not hear very well to begin with because of the poorly-set-up sound system.

My band and I will not set foot in this winery again, either as musicians or customers, and I will not recommend it or its open mic night to others because my experience here has left me no reason to do so. There are such things as customer satisfaction and customer relations, and I don’t think this place has heard of either. My recommendation for Auburn Winery is to discontinue its open mic night until its owners hire competent, pleasant, and respectful...

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing an extraordinary culinary journey at Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery in Pilesgrove, New Jersey, and it was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I walked through the vineyard-lined entrance, I knew I was in for a treat.

The four-course dinner unfolded like a gastronomic masterpiece, with each dish skillfully crafted to perfection. The evening commenced with a delightful Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi Roulade that danced on the palate. The pillowy gnocchi, enveloped in a delicate spinach and ricotta embrace, set the tone for a night of culinary bliss.

The second act featured a Duck Confit Salad that was a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. The tender duck confit, combined with crisp greens and an array of vibrant ingredients, showcased the chef's artistry and attention to detail.

The culinary crescendo reached its peak with the Main Course - a Surf and Turf extravaganza. The Smoked Braised Short Ribs were a revelation, melting in the mouth with a rich smokiness that lingered on the taste buds. Paired with a Lobster Cake that boasted freshness and finesse, this course was a symphony of land and sea.

Just when I thought the experience couldn't get any better, the final course emerged – a Blood Orange Creamsicle Mousse Cake. This dessert was a sensory delight, with the citrusy zing of blood orange elegantly balanced against the velvety smoothness of the creamsicle mousse. It was a sweet conclusion that left me with a lingering sense of satisfaction.

The culinary excellence was seamlessly complemented by the impeccable wine pairings. Each course was thoughtfully accompanied by a wine that enhanced the flavors and elevated the overall dining experience. The knowledgeable staff and owners, who were both gracious and informative, added a personal touch to the evening, making it an unforgettable encounter.

Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery is not just a winery; it's a haven for those who appreciate the finer things in life. The attention to detail, the dedication to quality, and the passion for creating an unparalleled dining experience make this establishment a gem in the heart of New Jersey. Whether you're a wine enthusiast, a food connoisseur, or someone simply seeking a memorable evening, Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery is a destination that promises to exceed expectations. Cheers to an unforgettable...

My friend and I stopped in for lunch today as we were in the area. This was my 1st visit, but my friend has eaten here several times. My friend asked the 3 girls at the front desk if reservations were needed today which Samantha responded normally yes, as they are very busy on weekends, but they could accommodate us. We chose to sit inside and only 2 tables were occupied with several available outside. Hardly what you would think of when you hear busy. It was also 3pm, on a Sunday. We saw some open tables under the veranda and asked the young girl seating us if we could sit at one of those tables instead. She went back to ask Samantha and was told they were not available, so we thought maybe they were reserved. The young lady sat us at a larger table and cleaned the tabletop for us. I want to note that the seats were dirty, and majority of unoccupied tables inside were also dirty. A minute later Samantha came to us and told us we could not sit there as that table was for larger parties. We told her this is where the young girl seated us, and she looked at the table numbers and realized they were incorrect. We were then moved to a smaller table. Once again, the inside was nearly empty, so was this really necessary? We didn't appreciate Samantha’s attitude from the beginning. Those outside veranda tables remained empty the entire time we dined yet we were told we could not sit there and only the umbrella tables were available. Samantha was rude, ignorant, clearly lacking customer service skills and gave us an attitude thinking we moved our seating when an employee switched the table numbers. That type of judgmental personality does not belong in a customer service-oriented business. We were going to leave after our final interaction with Samantha, but our server Carly (?) approached us and was very attentive and exhibited great customer service skills, so we stayed for lunch. The food was delicious so compliments to the chef and to Carly, but we would...