Cartridge Brewing — Restaurant in Hamilton Township

Cool location and vibe. We've been here a few times and enjoy the food and beer. You order your food and drinks from your mobile phone and they bring it out to your table when it's ready. This time around, the kids got pepperoni pizza, and my husband and I split the parmesan garlic wings, soft pretzels and beer cheese, and the chips with onion dip. The chips and onion dip had great flavor, and the kids enjoyed munching on the chips as well. The wings were decent, the parmesan garlic sauce was very good, but the dryness of the wings keeps it from being a better rating in my book. The soft pretzels and beer cheese had good flavor, I do wish the beer cheese was a little more sharp/pungent, but I'd order them again they way they are regardless. I didn't love either the beer or the cider I sampled (the bartender didn't mention what the seasonal cider flavor was that he brought me but it was tart with a sweet finish and felt like green apple to me). On that note, for their beers/ciders, you can order samples to try for free, 5oz pours, a glass, 32oz, or 64oz. There was also a flight option, which my husband took advantage of. The server who brought out the flight for my husband, unfortunately spilled some of the beer in my husband's lap (not a lot but enough to make stains on his shorts) which was frustrating because it could have been avoided since the table was empty at the time and he didn't have to cross my husband's lap to place the flight on the table. We finished up most of what we could eat, paid our tab on our phones, and then began looking around for to go boxes to take our food with us. I found them behind the bar (just ask the bartender for some), would be nice if that was noted on the app or table, etc. Lastly we made a stop by the restroom before our trip home and when I went to shut the restroom door a giant roll of toilet paper fell and I tried to catch it but it still caught my daughter's shoulder on the way down(see photo for where it was originally hanging on the back of the stall door🙄). I get it and it gets busy and you may only have time to drop off a roll instead of filling the dispenser but it wasn't particularly busy at the time with plenty of open seating around 4pm that they could have put the paper in the dispenser instead of hanging it from the coat/purse hook. Overall, we like it here but hope to continue seeing these minor things...

Our first visit was about 6 weeks ago and the food was amazing. We’ve since been back 3 times and every time has been disappointing.

The business model of QR code ordering is great when you aren’t bothered by a server and don’t have to wait to order another drink or pay to leave. However, its weakness is that no one takes accountability for the food and service.

Of the 4 times we visited we had to get our own water, silverware and plates 2 of the times.

One day, we order what were probably the best wings we’ve had with 2 sauces (served warm on the side) and the very next day (yeah, we were there 2 days in a row - those wings were that good) we ordered the same wings and this time they were served tossed in one of the sauces with the other served cold on the side. In this case there really needs to be someone communicating between the kitchen and the guest. I’m a former server and I can’t imagine how someone would try to convey any specifics of their order if they had not worked in a restaurant.

Today our $14 caesar salad was swimming with dressing - inedible honestly. Someone I’d never seen before cleared the plate if barely touched dress…I mean salad. Was I supposed to complain to this person? I hate complaining to any service person, much less a person who probably takes zero ownership of that poorly made salad. If the QR model is to work in this case that salad should have never gone to the table visibly swimming in dressing or should have been addressed when left uneaten by the person taking the plate.

This is not the McDonalds app. People are paying good money for this meal and the service should be there to support it.

Like someone else said, I’m not a complainer. I don’t typically bother with reviews but the first meal I had was so good and this place feels so peaceful in the little valley away from the city. Hopefully things change...

I have been here a couple times prior to my visit today and it's been very good but I needed to revise my review after today's visit. I wouldn't normally change a review based on one visit but it seems policies have changed so I feel it needs to be altered.

The new system is basically if you don't sit at the bar, don't expect any attention unless you put forth the effort. You order via a QR code which is perfectly fine as many places do this but they also have servers that provide attention. My wife and I were joined by a friend and she had completed her order prior to us and she didn't get her food until 15 minutes after we did. This wait could've been negated had someone actually paid attention to the table to see this was happening. It wasn't until she walked up to the bar to let one bartender know who was already inundated w/ guests and other drinks needing to be made. So he disappeared for a few minutes then someone showed up w/ her burger. I also ordered a burger so the disparity in time can't be b/c of the food that was ordered. I put in special instructions for my meal that were not recognized. Wife ordered beer cheese w/ her fries but received ketchup and, again, who do we tell? The bartenders that are already too busy as it is? Have to get up if you want refills unless the room temperature water sitting at the table is good enough for you. Also keep in mind for those who cannot move around well b/c they will be even more screwed than we were.

I am writing to be descriptive to show the flaws in this approach. I fail to see how this model will ever work and the fact that two couples that were leaving when we did expressed the same displeasure suggest it will not.

TL:DR

Sit at the bar and you're good (assuming they get your food right), if not, you're basically on your own. Food was still good even though it took a long time and...