Blue Heron Brewery & Event Center — Restaurant in Montville Township

The problems really began when we went for our tasting for our food selections. That's when I first thought that there was something suspicious about the event planner, who was new to us, Khadar. Initially, we had Mary Jane who we were told was no longer in her previous position, this was not a change we were made aware of until it was too late. In our first meeting after the position change, Khadar made a statement along the lines of " you can just rip the contract up that you guys made with Mary Jane, because I'll give you a whole new one." Anyone who has ever been involved in a contract, knows that when you SIGN a contract it's a legal binding document that must be entirely fulfilled or there is repercussions. Then at our second encounter, I became even more uneasy with this event coordinator. Khadar presented to us that "he could envision our ceremony on top of the patio, and he'd throw in the chairs because he liked us so much" At that time I stated I was sold on, and contracted, for our ceremony to be held at the natural amphitheater and pond and I did not have any want to change locations from what we signed and agreed to in our contract. It seemed to me as though something was off when he pushed for us to change locations like that. Fast forward to three weeks prior to our wedding, I emailed and called Khadar multiple times with no response. Finally my significant other emailed Khadar stating " You need to get in touch with us because we have questions." khadar immediately responded to him, stating "please call me" we called him on speakerphone and Khadar exact words were "guys we JUST discovered a problem, it appears as though we double booked your ceremony site". I immediately said to Khadar, "I'm going to stop you right there, because you asked us when we paid our 60 day payment to move sites and I had indicated then that we were not moving". After fumbling on his words he asked if there was any way we could think about moving the time of our ceremony, after our guest had already been sent invitations with a set time. After I calmed down and was able to logically think, we agreed AT THE COST OF THE BLUE HERON we would move our time from 4:30pm to 3pm and they would pay our other contracted vendors the difference. It had became a pissing match on who had more people and who they could manipulate into moving at that point. Therefore based off the Blue Herons inability to properly plan for multiple weddings on the same site, Khadar quickly agreed, also throwing in that they would provide "comps including free apps, and the balance of the venue paid in full, ect." The day of our wedding Khadar, who was supposed to be streamlining the times in which eveything was supposed to happen, was seen for a total of ten maybe fifteen minutes. We were an entire 10 seats short in our reception hall, causing our family to end up standing in the corner. The servers were very inefficient in their timing and even very unprofessional in the aspect that they were doing odd things like picking up the drinks off the tables when people got up to dance or use the restroom. The desserts were not served until 8:00/ 8:30pm, when our dinner was at 5:30pm, by that point everyone was dancing and mingling, so they had no urge to eat dessert. Then to top off our night, the accommodations that were to be paid out by the Blue Heron, to the DJ service, for adding time and breaking our contract, was denied, despite emails direct from Khadar to the DJ, indicating that the balance would be paid with a check to the company the day of the reception. As well as the request we received prior to us departing our reception, to pay a Montville PD officer that was providing "security" even though this $200.00 cost was never outline in our contract. In short, for what we paid for this venue, and the promises that were made, that we wouldn't need to be concerned with anything on the day of our wedding, we were very disappointed. We would not refer any of our friends or family to be wrapped up in the debacle we were caught in with...

Blue Heron Brewery is not just a burger-and-beer kind of place, it is an experience! Surprising for an eating establishment, but there is something for everyone to do.

Every Friday this summer they had a live concert with a local band. This Friday the band was the Breakfast Club Band playing songs from the 80s. The last concert of the season is Friday, September 26. Bring a blanket or a folding chair, if you want to sit on the grass overlooking the stage, or sit on the patio while you have your dinner or on the Sunset stone steps to watch the concert and the sunset (bring a cushion because the stone seating is hard on the butt and back. Someone said you can buy a blanket with the Blue Heron logo, which might be lovely as a memento).

If kids get bored and don’t want to listen to the concert, they can go to the playground, which is right by the patio. You can sit and enjoy your meal with a cold beer while you listen to the concert and watch your children play, all at the same time.

Before you get to the stage or the restaurant, you first encounter the nine-hole mini golf course on the premises. I am not a fan of mini golf myself — it always feels like someone is either right on your heels or is holding up the proceedings by taking too long (the few times I played that someone was usually me, so it always felt like too much pressure!). But, who knows, maybe next time I go, I might decide to try it. The landscaping is so beautiful with plants and decor and all sizes of rocks and boulders, that even if I don’t play well, I will enjoy the lovely grounds. And it’s only $6! Where can you get anything for $6 these days? By the way, when you are done with your 9 holes, you can ring the antique bell at the end to announce your success to the world. Though I didn’t golf, I rang the bell just because, why not, it was there! That alone was worth $6. It was surprisingly loud! It announced to all present that I was there and the party may begin. Hahaha. I understand that the owner, Bill, personally designed and built the whole thing himself! He certainly has an eye!

For dinner, I did have a burger, a black bean burger, and a beer, a Matrimonial Ale (brewed on the premises, a great tasting full-bodied ale!). Black bean burgers are really tricky to pull off — they are often either too spicy and firm or too bland and mushy. I should know — I have tried many recipes and have not yet succeeded to find one that was satisfactory. This one was quite excellent, flavorful with a little bit of a kick, not too much, just a little zing to make your taste buds sing, served with toppings on toasted honey bread. I really enjoyed it! Thank you chef for taking the time to make it.

FYI, the black bean burger is not on the menu, which is too bad because it is a good burger. Not many realize that calling ahead with a request is an option, but most vegans will think, “nothing for me to eat here,” and don’t go, which is unfortunate because Blue Heron is such a fun place to go to for an outing. It is also unfortunate for Blue Heron because, believe it or not, vegans like the good life too and they do have money to spend on good food. In fact, if there were a few vegan options, more vegans would come (and we are pretty...

Our wedding at Blue Heron was a truly memorable experience. The lakeside ceremony site was absolutely stunning, with the serene lake providing a picturesque backdrop. The fountain was a beautiful touch, timed perfectly to start as we shared our first kiss as husband and wife. The grounds were generally well-maintained, creating a truly magical atmosphere. However, we were disappointed that two dead bushes were left at the entrance to the aisle. Despite assurances that the landscapers would address this (on the day before our wedding), on the morning of the wedding, my mother was asked to cut them down herself, which was unacceptable. The Grand Ballroom was an excellent choice for our reception. The space was elegant and spacious, and the staff, particularly the servers and bartenders, were phenomenal. They were attentive, friendly, and ensured our guests felt well-cared for throughout the night. The food was absolutely delicious; every dish was flavorful and expertly prepared. Our guests raved about the meal, and we extend our compliments to the talented chef and kitchen staff. While there were a few minor hiccups with the setup, the decorations were beautifully executed according to our detailed instructions. We were however disappointed with the venue's interaction with our florist. Despite being a preferred vendor, the florist reported to us that the staff were rude and unhelpful, which hindered the florist's ability to fully execute their vision. The bridal suite was spacious and helpful for our preparations, but the lack of electrical outlets near the vanity proved to be a slight inconvenience. Adding outlets in that area would be a helpful improvement for future brides. Overall, Blue Heron provided a beautiful setting for our wedding. However, the issues with the dead bushes and the unprofessional treatment of our florist detracted from our experience. With a few minor improvements and better communication with vendors, it has the potential to be an exceptional venue for any couple's...