Pub 199 — Restaurant in Mount Arlington

I have wanted to check this place out for quite awhile and I finally made it there today. The food was great. The server? Not so much.

A woman greeted us and brought us to a table. Now, keep it mind, it isn't very fancy. Mostly round tables you would see at a catering all with older chairs. There is a lovely fireplace that had a great fire going and an impressive display of trophy mounts are on every wall.

It took 15 minutes for our server to acknowledge us. When we placed our order, I asked for a cup of coffee. "We don't serve anything hot," we were told. Um, okay. Odd, but whatever. Instead I ordered a Coke. My husband and I shared a shrimp cocktail, my husband ordered a burger and I ordered a hot (yes, it was hot) pastrami. Not a complicated order. And for the record, it wasn't that busy.

The shrimp cocktail came out quick enough. It was well chilled and was pretty good. Our burger and hot sandwich took almost a half an hour. Keep in mind, it wasn't that busy, but ok. We weren't in a rush. She puts our food down and is on her way elsewhere.

I will say, my sandwich was awesome. It then took me 10 minutes to try to get her attention. I asked if they had mustard, she said "yes" as she flew by. Well, after waiting another 10 minutes, I gave up and ate my sandwich because it was close to no longer being "hot." I guess I should've asked "CAN I have mustard" instead of "DO YOU have mustard." She spent the majority of her time nowhere near where we sat. I mean, she was at the complete other end of the restaurant arranging paper placemats at empty tables. If I saw mustard on another table, I would've just grabbed it, but I didn't see any, and it wasn't the end of the world.

This server was a champion at avoiding eye contact. Even when she would actually walk by us, you had to practically wave your hand in her face to get her to look our way. I wanted to get another soda, but couldn't get her attention. I always worry about being pushy in a restaurant, because, well, they are handling your food before it comes out. I will say when we asked for the check, that, she moved on.

It is also worth mentioning, they do not have dessert.

I understand the restaurant recently changed hands. so, if I may make a few suggestions. First, buy a coffee pot. Second, consider offering some kind of dessert. Third, perhaps retrain your servers to at least stop by once while customers are eating and ask if they...

I've been to this place several times because my Mom loves their cheap price on steamed clams. I've gone to make her happy but not anymore. She knows how much I hate this place so she doesn't ask me anymore.

Atmosphere: I don't mind the animals. In fact, they're kind of interesting. What I don't like is the rest of the atmosphere. It's very cafeteria like, the tables and lighting and noise...I feel like I'm in grade school at lunch, except for all the grown ups and animal heads.

The only thing in the whole menu that tastes OK is the shell fish, which is priced well. The problem? It is NEVER HOT. I've gone for the clams, lobster and crab legs. I've never had any served to me hot. The clams are usually warm, but everything else is served room temperature cold. And the drawn "butter" is NOT REAL BUTTER!! It's nasty and basically salt flavored grease.

Service: AWFUL. Especially if it's busy. Wait staff is always unhappy and rushed. They practically throw your food at you, sometimes spilling the "drawn butter" they charge extra for if you ask for more. Takes forever to get a problem corrected, if it ever even is, and forget about paying and leaving promptly. Getting your check takes forever.

Presentation. They use disposable plastic everything. It's so strange. All their drinks and sides, etc. are served in plastic cups and dishes...even wine!!! Wine is served in a regular plastic disposable beer cup. Strangest thing ever.

They don't take credit cards. Annoying, but also suspicious.

Drinks: WAY overpriced in comparison with the food menu. Prices of drinks are so not justified in this cafeteria like atmosphere, not to mention the presentation. I mean, seriously charging $9 for cabernet served in a plastic beer cup???? Ridiculous. ALSO, they have a rule that everyone MUST order a drink, and they charge for water!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Utterly insane.

There are people that LOVE this place. I don't get why. If you like to enjoy the experience of dining out as well as trying interesting and tasty foods, this is not the place for you. It's awful. I will NEVER...

I used to love pub199 I’ve been a customer there for about 15 years but my last 2 visits were terrible and reluctantly I had to put up this review. When I started going there I think it was $18 for the lobster and baked potato What a deal!!! Over the years the prices have gone up as to be expected. During the pandemic the prices jumped drastically and almost doubled but I was still a loyal customer. On my last visit No lobsters available (that’s the whole reason most people come here!) they did have lobster tails though. Wife and daughter got the lobster tails, I went with the steak, my son chicken fingers The food was horrible!! The lobster tails came out dryer than beef jerky and the steak had no flavor. Spoke to the waitress explaining that we love pub199 and we are long time customers and they took everything off the bill. Just charged us for my son’s chicken fingers. I was satisfied with this and felt they fixed the situation. Nobody is perfect and everyone is entitled to a mistake from time to time.At this point I was still a loyal customer. Then brought the family in again yesterday 3-9-25 No lobsters available! Again? Ok so we ordered a couple lobster tails and wife ordered king crab legs. The lobster tails where a little dry but not bad. Then we get the bill they changed us $70 dollars for just my wife’s meal!!! Very politely asked waitress if the bill was right? She said yes crab legs are market price and it says that on the menu!! Since when? I’ve been coming here for 15 years and crab legs have always been a set price on the menu. I guess you could say it’s our fault for not looking better at the menu but the waitress could have just said want to let you know market price today is $70 for the crab legs but she said nothing. I used to go there for good food and good value now they have neither. Anyway lots of changes down at Pub199 and after 15 years I wont...