Tabor Road Tavern — Restaurant in Parsippany-Troy Hills

Our friends from Westchester drove down to dine with us at Tabor Road Tavern. The 6 of us get together every few weeks to dine at interesting restaurants. My husband and I recommended TRT as we've had good experiences there in the past.

Our experience last night was OK to "meh." The food ranged from mediocre to excellent, depending on the dish. The round table for 6 was tucked away in a corner of an enclosed porch-like area, or, perhaps a better description is a side room. The point is, it's off on the side and you miss out on the architectural elements and ambience of the main dining area. The great part - it was quiet enough for all of us to easily hear one another. The downside - I had to look at the parking lot all night. Also, as we sat there, a few of us were feeling hot. The fans in the rest of the area were operating, but our overhead fan didn't work. They apologized for the fan and offered to seat us at another table, but at that point, we didn't want to move. So, that was our choice.

Aside from the parking lot view which I truly did not like one bit (and we'd made reservations a couple of weeks earlier - it wasn't like we were walk-ins), the service was as slow as slow can be. And I'm saying this nicely. It took ages for our starters to arrive, then for our entrees to be served, and finally to get the desserts two in our party ordered. They did apologize for the slow service which helped, and proactively comped the 2 desserts. A thoughtful gesture which we truly appreciated. But still, 2.5 hours for dinner was more than we anticipated.

After our check arrived, we sat there for another long period, to the point that we had to get up and walk to another area to ask to pay.

The entire situation appeared to stem around the restaurant having several large tables filled (parties?) to attend to, which is fine, but they didn't have the bandwidth to serve everyone in a timely manner. It could have been waitperson staffing, kitchen staffing, or both. Apparently, our small party of 6 scuttled into a far away corner got the short end of the stick. I doubt if we'll return to Tabor Road Tavern again. There are lots of excellent restaurants to choose from with superb food and service. Our group often goes back to restaurants time and again that we've enjoyed. Sadly, this one wasn't up to muster, and I feel badly that we recommended it...

I can not believe the good reviews this place has gotten. It is overpriced average food in a nice setting at best. Ambiance is nice, if not overdone. Several people were there in what looked like they came right after work. I sat next to the host stand and watched them tell people hats were not allowed in the dining room. Ok, old school feel and trying to accomplish a upscale setting. I like that. But you put butcher paper on top of your linens because you are too cheap to do the laundry and don't offer a coat check? Not upscale old school in my opinion and makes you come off like jerks. But enough of that onto food and booze where the heart and soul of the restaurant are. I ordered the drink special called a Blood and Sand (scotch and cherry liquor cocktail) which was very good. Then, I ordered the halibut and the New England chowder soup both highly recommended by the server. With the meal I asked for a glass of chardonnay which they had two to offer. Asked what the difference between the two were and got told he would ask the bartender. Wait, your average wine by the glass is $14 and offer $400 bottles of wine and don't have a sommelier? Worse yet you only offer 12 wines by the glass and your servers don't know them intimately? But Joe over there can't wear a hat? OK.

Food wise the chowder had a runny base but was otherwise decent. Halibut came out on an over pureed and whipped bed of grits with a few kernels of corn in it to confuse the palate. That was surrounded by a line of Raspberry vinaigrette and another of herb infused olive oil. Nether really went with the dish and just made it look like the grits were protected by a moat of pond scum that had leaves in it. Fish was crispy but well overdone and dry.

Honestly, if all that cost me $45 - 50 they would have gotten 2 or maybe 3 stars. However, two drinks, entrée with no side, and a small cup of soup was $67+tip. If you want to charge that you need to bring your A game. So, if you are a $30,000 millionaire that has zero idea what good food taste like, good service is, and want to show up to try to look cool and like you belong, then this is the place for you. Otherwise, I would avoid. This place looks like an upcoming episode of Kitchen Nightmares to...

I have eaten at Tabor Rd Tavern many times since it opened. I have always referred people here and have never had bad service until today.

Other than a kind young hostess, we were not greeted with the typical Tabor Rd "Holiday Cheer", etc.

My employee and I came for a business holiday lunch. (Her first time) Our waiter did not introduce himself to us. (Had to ask his name.) Did not ask us if we had been before which is always done. Spilled the majority of my special martini over his hand and arm while setting it down and another large portion of it on the table. Other than an awkward apology and a new napkin, he did not offer to get me a new drink or a new glass which I had to clean off.

Oddly enough, a second round of our martini's came by later in the meal (with a cool garnish that our first set did NOT have) He asked us if we ordered a second round of Martini's and then we said we did not and how come our drinks didn't have garnishes except that the first round was half spilled. Another awkward apology and then walked off WITH the drinks. (He did take one of the garnishes out and put it in the remaining 1/2 of my martini lol)

We were not offered specials (maybe because of lunch hours - not sure) or any conversation about the meals etc. - the genuine conversation is part of what I love normally. We had to continually ask for our water glasses to be filled.

We got the donuts for dessert, which I have had many times before, and they were very overcooked.

Almost every time before at Tabor Rd I remember a manager at some point checking in with a smile and a quick chat. Although the manager walked by our table a few times and was behind the hostess station as we left, she never once made eye contact or said a word.

As I said, Tabor Rd. has easily been my "go-to" restaurant in the area. I was very surprised today. My employee said, "Wow not sure I would bring my boyfriend back here to eat like I thought when...