The Carriage House Restaurant — Restaurant in Millburn

We’ve dined at the Carriage House many times before shows at Paper Mill Playhouse, and it’s consistently a great experience. It’s a cozy, inviting spot with a lot of heart, and even though it gets busy before curtain, the staff handles it with ease. Everyone we interacted with, from the host to the bartender, was warm and welcoming. Service is quick, efficient, and still personal, which isn’t always easy in a fast-paced setting like this.

The prix fixe menu is one of our favorite parts. It changes with each show and is thoughtfully put together to match the theme. For The Little Mermaid, everything we had was delicious - the steak was perfectly cooked, and the portions were generous without being over the top. By the time dessert came, we were stuffed… but couldn’t resist finishing it anyway!

The cocktails are always a standout. The themed drinks are more than just cute names that go along with the shows, they’re actually well-balanced and enjoyable. The “Mermaid-tini” was delicious and so pretty! Layered blue and pink, with a pink sugar rim and a little edible flower floating on top, I felt like a mermaid sipping on it! You can tell someone’s really having fun coming up with these drinks.

The chef stopped by our table to check in, which was a nice personal touch, and the manager made his rounds too. The whole team always seems to be working in sync. You don’t always see that kind of presence in restaurants, and it really stands out.

From the food and drinks to the service and atmosphere, it was a genuinely great night. We’re already looking forward to coming back for...

My wife and I had a pre-show dinner on a Wednesday night. It was wonderful, and also very convenient to just walk out of the restaurant to the theatre next door.

We sat at one of the tables by the windows overlooking the veranda. Normally those are for four people, but when I asked if we could sit there, they said no problem. Much nicer than the tables for two in the hallway where we were first seated.

Our server Chris was excellent. Very friendly and attentive. There was a nice selection on the prix fixe menu. The shrimp appetizer had five huge and tasty shrimp. The duck breast and halibut entrees were a good size, expertly prepared, and tasty, though my wife felt the quality of the halibut was not quite up to par with other fine dining places we go to, though she still enjoyed it. French fries were extra, but definitely worth it--perfectly prepared. The Tahitian vanilla gelato and blackberry sorbet for dessert hit the spot.

There is a large wine list by the glass and the bottle, and we enjoyed glasses of pinot Grigio and Malbec. Of course all drinks, including after dinner expresso, are extra.

The restaurant was busy, but the noise level was only moderate, and my wife and I could easily talk to one another.

The ambience was nice--simple and tasteful rather than elegant. We had a 5:15 pm reservation, which let us have a leisurely two hour dinner before leaving for the 7:30 pm performance. Dinner was very relaxing, the different courses were perfectly timed, and we were never rushed.

We would definitely return for dinner the next time we have a show at the Paper...

Went to a dinner and show with my two siblings. Unfortunately, my siblings suffer from diverticulitis and other hereditary stomach conditions and were not feeling up to having the mandatory 3 course meal that night. The manager Joe was extremely condescending in telling us that if they didn’t eat they would feel awkward there. It was clear that he was attempting to shame them, and it was odd thing to say since at the end of it all, they did not feel out of place during the show whatsoever. The waitress Giovanna misunderstood my siblings health condition, and treated us as if they had an actual stomach virus by very sarcastically asking if she should wear a mask and avoiding our table entirely. Even after I tried explaining to her that it is not a contagious condition (as it is hereditary), she still very rudely and theatrically kept her distance while interacting with us, as if she was disgusted. It was very embarrassing for us as other tables noticed. We attempted to be light hearted and polite about the situation but she was still avoidant to our table.

I personally did have the food and was not impressed. My pasta had come out cold. I was never planning on going back because it’s literally a restaurant at a playhouse, but after this experience I’m really never coming back.

The show itself was very nice, but overall an unpleasant experience due...