Tavern 5 — Restaurant in Pequannock Township

2018, first visit was great…food and service were perfect, had a very nice time and couldn’t wait to go back.

2018, went back for daughter’s birthday, fly in her meatloaf gravy (still alive and kicking), no apology, free dessert, or comped meal offered.

2019, sat at bar and had pizza and beer while watching the game, a little $$ but good experience

2020, birthday dinner for myself, asked if I could sub potato for rice, was charged $6 for the change (there’d been no discussion that it wasn’t an even swap).

2021, first time out for dinner during pandemic, reserved outdoor table for 6 friends and spoke to hostess at time of reservation and again day prior to confirm (we had two high-risk people in our party), was asked to wait outside til table cleared, brought a us in about 25 mins later and tried to seat us inside. We reminded hostess that we were waiting for outside table, were told the one they had was accidentally given to another party, asked if we could wait for next table and were told they were all reserved. Asked manager to slide together 2 small empty tables for us and were told they were for others with reservations. Said that we were also a reservation so please do what you can for us now and deal with future parties when they arrive. Manager accommodated us begrudgingly.

2022, had promised I wouldn’t chance another disappointing meal here but went for drinks and apps with friends, got one of the special martinis and it was only filled halfway (as if it spilled on the way to the table), friends’ drinks were filled to the rim, waitress said that’s how bartender prepared my specific drink and there wasn’t anything else she could do for me (?).

That was my last time - I’m honestly fine with mistakes, but there were too many opportunities to do things right and mistakes handled improperly too often. I expect better for what they charge. It’s a shame because it’s a great space both indoors and outdoors and within walking distance of our house, but I’m...

Tavern5's website states: "Experience a warm, welcoming dining atmosphere for the entire family at our Pompton Plains restaurant.

The foundation of Tavern 5 was built on the values of family, community, and genuine hospitality. These concepts have created an atmosphere that provides a warm, inviting, and comfortable setting to dine."

And that is TRUE for our experience there. 💞 Our thoughts are here:

"Just want to thank you for so many things.  We were so fortunate to have chosen you today 💞.

The food was absolutely DELICIOUS, and all of us appreciated our meals so much. 😋

We brought our dear friend in, she having just recently lost her husband 😓.  She did okay there, in part DUE TO YOUR atmosphere and kindness.

Then a little later you welcomed our other dear friend, "from town", who suggested we eat at your place.  {I had actually been in to Tavern5 before, with 2 friends, both "from town", as you all say there in Pompton Plains,  and high school friends of mine}.

Then, we were loving our waiter, William; HE made the day so comfortable and special.  He's a love.  -- and, a very good, perfect waiter.

Then, unbelievably these days at places, you let us stay and talk and reunite, with no pressure to leave.  That is the Pompton Plains small town feel that I grew up in  💓, and that was the nicest way for us to be with my friend.

By now you can see that we are extremely grateful and appreciative for all that makes you- you. We thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my Pompton Plains heart...it was good to be "home" .

Thank you so much....and I assure you, we will be back.

Addition: I see that this previous older review did not post earlier, for some reason. It was sitting here. So I'll post it now. Delicious warm eggplant wrap! Great...

Called and asked for how long of a wait for a party of two. Was told there was no wait. 10 minutes later we show up and there's a 30 minute wait.

Update: went there on a week night and it wasnt busy at all. While the food was pretty good and I love the atmosphere, the service was horrible, Im not sure where our waitress was but she wasnt on the floor. We saw her 3 times, once every 25 minutes. We had to alert and ask for another waiter to serve us because things were not,looking well for her gratuity. Our meal came out from another server 20 minutes after our order and our waitress had not gotten our drinks, not our water or my glass of wine. She apologized for not being attentive and then continued to not be attentive and disappeared for another 20 minutes. It took her another 25 minutes to give us to go,boxes (we are packing up ourselves at this point) and to deliver and process payment of our check. We receive our receipt to sign and our card is not in the receipt folder. I go to the hostess at this point because I'm not waiting another 20 minutes. Card was found on the floor and our waitress shrugged it off and thought she must have dropped it. That was the final straw, I crossed out the 18% tip I had generously left and left her with nothing and the urging of my date. I have never done that in my 40 years and I dont need to leave a restuarant feeling like a jerk for the rest of the night. In retrospect, I should have contacted management but was fed up and actually thought we might be on candid camera at some point to see how much patience random people have for atrocious service. If managment is willing to rectify the situation I will update my review...