Caffrey's — Restaurant in Lacey Township

I never review any places, but my experiences here were so miserable. I moved to forked river recently from TR and wanted a nice local spot and I heard from a few people to try out Caffreys. The first time I went there I ordered Penny with vodka sauce. It was absolutely disgusting, I ate only three bites. ( I know I know, it's a steak house, the pasta wouldn't be the greatest, I understand that, but not this terrible where its not even edible.) So I was waiting for the waitress, who didn't even come by the table to see how everything was, about 20 minutes go by and she finally comes to our table , and had asked if I wanted a box. I explained to her very nicely and polite that I don't because I honestly did not enjoy it. All she said was okay, and took it away, she comes back with a check, ( usual restaurants would of took it off) but not this place. I said to her again very nicely, I do not believe I should have to pay for this, I barely even ate it, i took 3 bites. She was SO rude, said we only take it off if there was something wrong with the food. I said okay, but what was wrong with it was that it tasted so bad and bland that it was inedible. After arguing with her, she finally takes it to her manager and takes it off. Oh by the way when i was ordering my food she asked if I wanted a soup or salad ( I was thinking that came with the meal with how she was asking ...nope it was $2.50 for a meesly salad. I went back a 2nd time and got a differently younger waitress and she was nice and what I ordered was decent. My third and LAST time every coming to this place. My friend and I received the same waitress I got the first time. We ordered drinks, great they came out on time, my friend ordered sushi and I ordered wings. My friends sushi comes out right away and here I am over here, didn't recieve anything, 10 minutes goes by my friend finishes her sushi(which was pretty good), another few minutes go by still no wings . So 32 minutes later (I timed it) the waitress finally comes by and 2nd glaces our table, and stops and goes you still didn't recieve your food yet? I go nope, and so she goes to the kitchen and comes right back out with my wings, and doesn't even apologize for the wait. If you see a waitress that's looks to be in her late 50's and brown hair...just leave because it'll be the worst customer service you will ever receive ...oh and if you want wings with no meat on the bone...than you'll love it here, plus it looks very outdated. Don't waste your time, just drive to Tom's river or manahawkin if you want a nice cheapish meal out. Or just go here...

Let's talk hometown vibes! Caffrey's is a local spot in the winter for the locals and a place to visit while passing through or spending summers in the best bay-town area at the Jersey Shore! I remember the first time I ever step foot into Caffrey's. the year was somewhere around 2012. New to the area and in a new relationship, he opened my eyes to the beauty of Caffrey's. No wonder they have in business for so long! He took me on a date, and I had the best special ever! It was Mahi, Mahi with mango salsa. It tasted so fresh and delicious! Being a lover of food since a child, my eyes lit up like the first time I had my Grandmother's cannoli at the age of around 3 years old. As the relationship progressed, He opened my eyes to the night life at Caffrey's. It was there, I re-connected with others from Jackson, my real hometown. We would joke with the staff, who are still there, many trips around the sun later. There is a reason they are still there. The owners must be doing something right for employees to want to stay for so long at a restaurant and bar. Often times, we would close down the bar, listening to bands like, Psycho Daisy. Sometimes, we even had to go back in the morning, because, get this, we forgot to close out the tab! Flash forward to the fire that nearly ended Caffrey's. We were all devastated, those who were townies and even the surrounding towns. The battle to rebuild was a lengthy process. How could Lacey go on with such an iconic spot? it is our local "Cheers" hang out spot. The town felt lost without the coolest hang-out spot. It's a place to see old friends, make new ones and even get "your chops busted" by the staff who have been so wonderful throughout the years. When they opened the "Backyard," it expanded the clientele to a younger crowd, too. This is such smart business move! Kudos to the owners! The menu expanded to incorporate the favorite bar food and continue the music vibe that the indoor Caffrey's supplied many suns ago. So if you are looking for a sit down dinner or a party night, look no further, Caffrey's will not disappoint! Not only is the food super delicious, but it also has the best vibe ever! Take a chance on a Irish pub, who is more than just a an Irish Pub. It' provides a community family atmosphere like no other! I promise you will fall in love with Caffrey's the way I did. It will always hold a special place in my heart, the way Lacey does. Thank you Lacey for letting them rebuild in the same spot and allowing them to add an additional hangout spot too!

:Laura Monjoy The Mysterious Wave LLC,...

Moved to this area 3 years ago and have visited here numerous times. The first few years were excellent. Food was great, service was good. However, within the last year the service remains good, but the quality in food has definitely gone way down hill. Stopped in tonight with the family and ordered pierogies, buffalo blasts and pretzel bites as appetizers. The pretzel bites were over cooked and soaked in oil like they had been deep fried in old dirty oil. They were served with what tasted like a canned cheese sauce. It was gelatinous and lacking any real flavor. Reminded me of the nacho cheese sauce you get from a machine at old movie theaters. The pierogis were bland and served with scorched onions, missing any hint of the simplest of seasoning. I really wouldnt be surprised if they were a store bought frozen product. The Buffalo blasts really had the most potential. They were surprisingly crisp and loaded with chicken. They were simply very dry. Needed a bit of cheese or something else besides barely sauced chicken and they would have been better. We had to douse each bite in ranch just so we wouldnt choke. The real disappointment was the supposed "fish and chips." It was absolutely inedible. The fish was pale brown/grey, oily, had no crunchy crispy outer shell to it what so ever. The bottom of my plate was covered in oil. It was as if the fish went straight from the fryer onto my plate rather then onto a wire rack or a towel to drain. Then they had the actual audacity to serve it with house made potato chips rather than french fries. I get it's called "fish and chips" but everyone knows it is supposed to be served with crispy French fries, and thats what you're expecting. What you're not expecting are some half asked potato chips that were limp, undercooked, underseasoned and oily.

There had been a few prior visits before this one were we had sent food back, but this was the straw that broke the camel's back and we won't be returning. I know this means next to nothing to them but maybe they'll read this and realize that even losing one customer in this day and age is a bad thing and they'll try and do better for the people willing to continue to visit them.

Just as a last thought.... We sent back 2 fish and chips, $44 worth of food, and not a single manager could be bothered to come over to the table and say anything to us...I guess that shows how much the...