The Thirsty Turtle — Restaurant in Cranford

Years ago, I swore I’d never step foot in The Thirsty Turtle again after a pretty rough experience—poor service, food that didn’t live up to the hype, and an atmosphere that just felt off. It was one of those “once and done” kind of visits. Fast forward to now: a good friend of mine practically begged me to give it another shot, promising it had completely turned around. I went in cautiously optimistic… and I’m so glad I did. From the second I walked in, the vibe was different. Warm, inviting, and full of energy. We sat at the bar where Katy was holding it down like an absolute pro. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and made us feel like regulars, even though it had been years since I’d been there. Her drink recommendations were spot on and her personality alone made the experience worth it. And then came the food. Wow. The Philly eggrolls were crispy, cheesy perfection, packed with flavor and seriously addictive. But the real star? The tuna tacos. Fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented—honestly, they were some of the best I’ve had anywhere. To top it off, the manager Ryan came over to check in on us, which showed a level of care you don’t always get these days. He made it clear they value every guest’s experience and that this “new” Thirsty Turtle is here to impress. Safe to say, I’m a believer now. I went in skeptical and left planning my next visit. If you haven’t been in a while—or even if you had a bad experience like I once did—do yourself a favor and give it another shot. You...

Amazing Experience at The Thirsty Turtle! February 25th 2025 around 3:30 PM

I can’t say enough great things about The Thirsty Turtle in Cranford! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The décor is beautifully done, creating a cozy yet lively vibe with just the right background music to set the mood.

The service was absolutely incredible, and we were lucky enough to have Stephanie as our waitress. She was phenomenal—professional, attentive, and had such a fun, outgoing personality that made our experience even better! If you get Stephanie as your server, consider yourself very lucky! As your time at Thirsty Turtle will be a blast! (Sorry if your name was misspelled)

Ordering was a breeze, and the food came out quickly, fresh, and absolutely delicious. We had the Tuna Tacos, which somehow got better with every bite, the French Onion Soup, which was rich and full of flavor, and the Cajun Chicken Sandwich, which was perfectly seasoned and hit the spot with every bite.

To top it off, the drink selection was fantastic. I had the Mango Cart, which was crisp and refreshing with just the right notes of mango, and the Asbury Park Sea Dragon IPA, an amazing IPA that delivered on bold, hoppy flavor.

This place is a must-visit, whether you’re looking for a great meal, top-notch service, or just a fantastic atmosphere to unwind. We’ll...

Just had to give the staff a shoutout after tonight. My wife (14 weeks pregnant) and I came in for drinks and dinner tonight and sat at the bar while we waited for our table. My wife began to feel faint, as she often does when she hasn’t eaten in a bit, but this time it escalated and she started to fall out of her chair, momentarily passing out. The bartenders jumped right into action with water and then ran to bring her some cookies to eat right away. Thankfully she came to and started feeling better soon after and we went to sit at our table once it was ready. After ordering our meals, she started feeling off again so we asked our waitress if we could take our meal to go instead, which they accommodated and even put in a rush to have it ready quicker. Throughout this scary moment for us, we were given extra care and attention which we couldn’t appreciate more. On top of it all, the manager took the beer that I had ordered off the tab and brought it for me to drink while we waited anyway. Every time we come here the service is fantastic, but tonight they went above and beyond to help us in a moment of need. Can’t thank them enough for their kindness and patience for us even on a busy Saturday night at...