Hilltop Tavern — Restaurant in Lodi

I love dive bars and have been to many. My joke is that I've never met a dive bar that I didn't like. Somehow this little spot had escaped my notice for a long time. I finally stopped in for a late lunch, and I liked the decor: old vibes, not well lit, lots of wood to the place. Wasn't crowded, wasn't loud. Cash only - inconvenient, but eh. And for a small spot off a busy street, the parking is excellent - surprisingly easy to get in and out of. I also see they've hosted some excellent local bands. There were maybe 3 other customers there when I arrived, another 3 or 4 came to drink and play darts while I was there - I was tired and not looking to interact, but their vibe seemed friendly enough had I wanted a conversation. Bartender was doing some sort of inventory or something, but eventually came over and greeted me friendly. I asked if the wings were breaded, she said yes, so I ordered a burger with mozzarella (breaded buffalo wings are a sin against poultry) . She came back with a burger with yellow American. I inquired, she explained that the only mozzarella they had was shredded and she thought that might get too messy, so I said no problem and just took the American cheese off. It was a good burger though. Are there better burgers in the area like at Steve's in Garfield or The Strap in Hackensack? Sure, but this was still a good, enjoyable burger. I had to help myself to some paper towels I spotted at a corner table. When I asked to settle the bill, I was charged for a cheeseburger even though clearly it wasn't the kind of cheese I had ordered and clearly I therefore hadn't eaten the cheese which the bartender saw me remove and saw left on the plate. Little things like that make a difference to me. The food looked gently priced, the beer not bad. The beer pricing was about average. In the end, a burger and a Stella beer put me back $14 plus tip. No regrets stopping in to experience the place (and I'm one who likes to get around to stopping in at every dive bar that I possibly can), but it didn't make my favorite bars in Northern NJ (a list of about 60, comprised mostly of dives). I honestly might've given it 4 stars, but as petty as a 50c difference might seem (unless I'm mistaken and the Stella was $5.50, which...), it wasn't the best way to part being charged for a type of cheese that I neither ordered nor ate. And if I'm mistaken and the Stella on tap WAS $5.50, well, it wasn't the best Stella on tap I've had and there's nothing special about the price. Overall, walking away $17 lighter, it wasn't a negative experience but I know I can walk away more satisfied elsewhere in the area at that price point. So from my experience, you won't walk away from this place wishing you hadn't stopped in, but it might not inspire you to return unless maybe you made it when a...

Last night I was at the Hilltop and was accucsed by the bartender of stealing $70..The bartenders name is Colleen..Colleen ask me to talk to her outside..She starts screaming in my face saying you stole $70.Where is the $70?.Asking me if it's in my pockets..I told her repeatedly I didn't take it..Still she's screaming in my face..Telling me you know we got cameras right?..I said go ahead check the cameras I didn't do it..So she's on the phone with whoever was checking the cameras and she's finds out it wasn't me. No apology all though she claims she did when she definitely didn't..She wanted to just drop the conversation and move on..I told her you should have checked the cameras first instead of straight up accusing me..If she used common sense that's what she would have done .Instead she's there taking no accountability getting angry and her attitude getting more nasty..She grabbed my beer out of my hand..All because she looked stupid assuming it was me without actually looking at the cameras first...If she actually had a sincere apology I would have let it go..I'm sure there will be no accountability taking place by the owners of the bar itself..But just writing this review to let everyone what to expect if you wanna check out Hilltop.She was unprofessional and handled the situation terribly..Just make sure you tell Colleen to check the cameras before she's decides to accuse you of stealing..She's extremely disrespectful and terrible bartender..I definitely will never go to...

The hilltop tavern was good after Ed's Tavern closed down... most would then go to hilltop. Freddy was there serving wings and sharing happiness with his friendly service and we would always give Freddy tips galore for his exceptional service... However hilltop Tavern has gone down hill.. There is a very racist bartender... her name is Laurie. I visited the hilltop tavern recently with a Dominican friend, a puerto Rican friend and a black friend.. Laurie refused to serve us because my black friend was wearing a doorag.. Laurie insinuated that my black friend caused a problem months before, yet my black friend has never even been to the hilltop ever. And she asked us to leave. I guess she assumed in her racist mind that all people of color are bad. And When we ask the local regulars they said Laurie is a known racist. If you are Hispanic or black... stay far away.. as Laurie apparently hates doorags.. and hates black people. There is no room for racism when minorities are bringing business to your establishment. Stay away from this place when Laurie the racist bartender is there....