Parkside Tavern — Restaurant in Morristown

I want to start off by saying that I never leave reviews. This is my first review that I have written about an establishment. I have worked in the food service industry for a few years and I understand things happen, however, the experience I had on Saturday 8/17/24 was not great. My sister and I have been wanting to try Parkside Tavern since it's opening day. The interior was gorgeous and it was very nicely built. However, we had a subpar experience. It started off with the host not knowing where to sit us and seeming very confused on the layout of the restaurant. Almost immediately after sitting down, someone came over and asked us if we wanted tap, sparking or still water. We told him that we wanted tap water which he never came back with. Then, our server came over and we placed our drinks, asked for water and food order all at once. My sister and I both ordered the burgers. Our food came out quickly by someone other than our sever. Our sever who took our food order never came back to check on us after our food came out. Only one person checked on us as my sister and I were nearly finished with our meals. Another sever then came over and asked if we were finished with our plates. We were and then asked him for the check. My sister and I put down both of our credit cards to split the bill since we both got the same meal. A different person then came over to take the check. My sister and I were waiting for 15 minutes without anyone coming over with our check. Finally, a different sever came over and quickly explained that there was an issue with our check and they were trying to figure it out. about 5 minutes later another man came over to our table who I presume was one of the managers. He told us that the sever charged our cards for another table's check. Both my sister and I were charged $66 to our cards for a total bill of $133. Our bill was supposed to be $48 with $24 charged to both of our cards. The manager explained to us that he did not want to charge us twice, so the $40 will just go back into our accounts within 1-2 days. We have still yet to receive our money, but hopefully we will. Then, the following day on Sunday 8/18/24 both my sister and I woke up with food poisoning symptoms which we got from the burger since we both ordered the same thing and both had the same food poisoning symptoms. Our symptoms were so bad that both of us had to take off of work Sunday 8/18/24. We called the restaurant around noon and spoke to a manager named Kate. We were calling to inform the restaurant that either their burger meat, or vegetables they use for their burgers might be bad since we both got food poisoning. Kate told us that "food poisoning does not happen overnight but she would talk to her chef and owner and give us a call back" we never received a call back. I told my sister during our meal that I would go back once they were more established and fixed their kinks, giving them the benefit of the doubt since they just recently opened. However, I do not think I will be returning based on...

Updated review:

So this is a drinks only update - but it is important...

Dropped in July 23 while an event was happening outside - it was busy.

Parkside did not get the memo so the main bar was closed.

The small bar was slammed - and this is my main point - this establishment is still serving 10 ounce beers well below the rim so an actual 8 ounce pour for $10+.

Every other bar or restaurant is serving the exact same beer in a bigger glass for the same price. In most cases 16 ounces. That makes this bar an average beer price of $20 per pint (PLUS 3% CREDIT CARD SURCHARGE).

Why would I drop in for a casual drink at $20.60 per pint?

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

We went here during the soft opening period at 4pm on a Saturday before the place filled up for the evening. I have uploaded a menu photo as they do not have any online menus at the moment.

We sat at the bar and the first thing to note is the staff are excellent. They are clearly still in learning mode, but were super pleasant and attentive even as the bar did get busier.

I think the restaurant has a real identity crisis. It claims to be a French style bistro - the menu does not reflect that and neither does the ambiance. It is more like a faux Cajun French restaurant even down to the music. Show me ANY restaurant in France serving Po'Boy sandwiches and steak frites with chimichurri sauce as they do not exist...

Down to the food we ate: The appetizers were the highlight - beet salad and the chicken liver 'mousse' (was a pate and not a mousse). Both were good, not great. The mains were a real disappointment - a totally bland and dry spaghetti Provencal pasta and Moules Frites. The sauce for the mussels was nothing but anise (Pernod) and fennel just in case there wasn't enough anise in the dish already. Way too overpowering and unbalanced. The mussels were mixed at best and were not that fresh. The fries were very average.

Like many restaurants these days they are happy to serve an 8oz beer for $9 which is trend I do not like but can't blame them as it is becoming the norm. The wine by the glass list is ok but again they do not state the pour size (probably supposed to be 125ml) and for $15 (ish) per glass is on the mean side and my pour was well below 125ml.

Overall, I won't be going back any time soon till it sorts out the menu and what style of food they are serving - if I go back before then it is because the staff were...

My son and I met here for dinner and enjoyed incredible cocktails and a delicious dinner. Sometimes when you dine at a tavern, you give up a little in terms of choice and taste on the food selections...this was NOT the case at Parkside. We both ended up ordering the Salmon Meuniere...and it was cooked to perfection! My only complaint was that after getting cocktails and an Shishito pepper appetizer, we had to move because we were literally being swarmed by ants that seemed to be coming out of a windowsill plant. We first thought there were only a couple, so we killed them and moved on...but then we noticed at least a dozen more! Our waitress was lovely, and happily moved us to a booth, and the hostess came over to check on us and apologize...but I was expecting something in the way of a free drink, or having our appetizer comped, or something...because although we acted casual, and appreciated being moved, it was disgusting to be swarmed by ants...and I spent most of the meal feeling as if something was crawling on me (even though I knew my itchiness was psychosomatic LOL). Anyway...the ants put a slight damper on what was otherwise an...