Star Tavern — Restaurant in Orange

Star Tavern used to be my favorite pizza in New Jersey, which is a pretty dramatic statement, but deserved. Unfortunately in the last few years, there has been a dip in the quality and overall experience, and it's just not the same perfect bar pie I remember.

My noble chum and I stopped by here for a very early dinner (technically lunner, I guess - it was 3:30pm.) this past Monday. That absolutely could have been part of the problem here; a devil's advocate might argue that coming during a decidedly "off" time didn't guarantee the best staff/product, though my counter to that would be that the restaurant was open for business and should have provided its best possible level of food and service regardless. Your mileage may vary. Anyway. Even though it was pretty obvious why, it was very exciting to procure an actual parking spot right next to their restaurant in the lot; I'm not sure I've ever had anything other than street parking half a block down from this place (which isn't ideal since this neighborhood isn't the best), so it was a promising start to the adventure at least.

I'm sure not everyone is going to agree on this, but I miss the authentic divey vibe Star Tavern used to have. It wasn't over-the-top grimy, but it was unique and felt more homey. Sometime in the past five years or so (I could be a little off on the timing), they did a massive interior overhaul and the personality just disappeared - it's weirdly gentrified now with a lot of sterile colors and paneling. I'll absolutely acknowledge though that I don't know if there's a legit back story that required the significant changes. Notwithstanding, it feels like an unforced error.

At my recommendation, we split a plain pie ($15ish) and my chum requested mozzy sticks. The pie is still good, but not great. The most significant issue I encountered is that it's not as crispy as it used to be. By definition, the crust/dough is going to be extremely thin, so if it's floppy it's much tougher to eat, especially when the cheese is on the watery side. And don't get me wrong - I think for this type of pie that's exactly how the toppings should be. I'm not sure what the best pizza in New Jersey is now, but this one for me is out of the running. A shame.

The mozzy sticks were surprisingly good, though we were both reasonably confident that they were just standard freezer apps. That suggests to me that they were heated up perfectly, and I thought the accompanying marinara sauce was excellent and reminded me of Pizza Hut (which I had to clarify for my dining companion WAS a compliment in this instance). A second order was accidentally procured and promptly consumed. I DO think it helped that the serving size wasn't egregious - it was six or seven sticks per plate. Coupled with a thin bar pie, I was able to walk out of there still feeling moderately frisky.

The service was uneven. Our waiter was very nice, but also inattentive in spurts. We'd be looking for him to, say, order another app, and see him 20 feet away intently staring at his phone. That actually also happened when we walked in - there were two bartenders manning the front who we had trouble hailing down to confirm seating because they were both focused on their phones and not the customers. It wasn't a busy time so I can understand that to an extent, but the minute you have patrons roaming around, that should be the priority.

You might have better luck coming at a busier time when the staff is more on their toes, but the chances of longer wait times understandably increase as well. This is still a recommendation, but I don't know that at this point I'd go too far out of my way to...

My friend and I came here on a busy friday night. We waited on line for about 20 minutes. As we neared the front of the line the hostess began seating two tops and three tops in booths. My friend and I got the short end of the stick and ended up landing a cramped table between the people at the bar and the table next to us. Very unpleasant seating, they weren’t thinking at all about how our dining experience. Guess because they were too busy. The couple on line right before us even landed a booth, which was very concerning as well. This is my second time at star tavern. the food was good the first time. Atmostphere sucked both times. The scampi wings were amazing the first visit but this time they were barely fried and not crispy at all. We asked for a well done anchovies and garlic pizza. It was good but not as good as the first time. The first time it was crispy, but the second time the pizza was floppy maybe too much sauce or not being cooked long enough. We also ordered a clam sauce pie…where is the clam? Didn’t even get to bite or taste anything. The fire department ended up coming in, in the middle of the whole ordeal so probably because of how many people were waiting on line and the over capacity of people. Can I please also mention the service? The hostess terribly sat us, and the server proceeds to tell us that we could move our table “if we want”. I’m sorry you should have sat us at a ready table or at least moved the table to a suitable place for us. She proceeded to yell back in my face saying I can go back on line for a booth if I wanted too. Great customer service skills! The table to my right had to use their individual chairs as a bench to slide across to get out of their chairs instead of moving because there was no space. We sat through the whole thing and ate our food visibly upset, and servers didn’t do...

I recently had a good time at this casual pizza bar with my friends , and I thought I'd share my experience! The pizzas here are decent, not mind-blowing but satisfying for a casual meal. They offer a variety of toppings, so there's something for everyone. Now, let's talk about the chicken wings – they're a must-try! They were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with just the right amount of flavor and heat. We couldn't get enough of them, and they're definitely a highlight of the menu. If you're looking for something lighter, they also have salads. They're fresh and a good option if you want to balance out your meal with some greens. Plus, it's nice to have that option for those days when you want to be a bit healthier. And of course, what's a pizza bar without beer? They have a decent selection of brews to choose from, which pairs perfectly with the casual, relaxed atmosphere of the place. It's a family-friendly spot, so it's great for a laid-back night out with loved ones. The service was friendly and attentive, which added to the overall positive experience. Prices were reasonable too, making it an affordable choice for a casual meal with family or friends. In summary, if you're in the mood for some decent pizza, fantastic chicken wings, a salad option, and a cold beer in a casual, family-friendly setting, this pizza bar is worth a visit. It won't disappoint if you're looking for a relaxed and enjoyable dining...