Raise The Bar Lounge — Restaurant in South Amboy

I was on a trip and arriving into the area late, so I looked online for a place that would be serving food up until midnight, and this place fit the bill. In fact, reviews and pictures of the food indicated it may actually exceed typical pub fare.

So on a positive, the food WAS excellent, and perfectly prepared. Not only that, but it was a bargain for the price.

However, at the same time, my ears were bleeding from the excessively loud music that was blaring from the local DJ. Seriously, I can't emphasize enough how loud it was in there. In fact, I initially left after walking in, hoping to find an alternate place for a bite because of the volume, and could genuinely hear the music two blocks away still. I would get it if it were a party, but there wasn't a single person dancing and I would estimate the entire crowd didn't exceed 20 people.

I couldn't find an alternative open at the time, so I returned and ordered my food, which again, I was very pleased with.

It's almost as if this place has an identity crisis. On one hand, with the food quality, it appeals to a more mature and affluent audience, but then they serve their drinks in cheap plastic cups and are playing music loud enough to make contact with celestial life forms. Bartenders are friendly, drink choices are good, and the bar itself is pretty nice appearance-wise.

The overall experience was mediocre due to the identity crisis. My total bill for two entrees and 6 beers was under $50. I'd gladly have paid $75 for the same thing if I didn't have to be subjected to auditory torture and could have had my beer from a glass.

Then again, I was on a trip and not from the area, so I don't know much about the demographics...maybe it's the type of neighborhood where instead of making things more upscale, they should just serve cheap bar food and save...

I used to go to the Landmark when Bobby owned it years ago. The new owners have the live music facing the back of the bar so the sound is not loud when the front door is open. But DJ music is loud and people outside smoking cigarettes or just hanging with people smoking cigarettes are also loud. Called once to ask them to tell the people outside to lower the noise but nothing done. When bar closes they go home to quite area and sleep but do not care about people who are trying to sleep when outside bar. Food in pictures looks good so I may go and try it out. If this was helpful Please hit the like button...

I was here for St Patty's and it was absolutely crazy there. It was hard to get a drink because I could barely get to the bar and there were too few bartenders. Once you got a drink, you couldn't even take it in the enclosed outside area. I would have stayed longer if I could. They were smart and had porta potties. That being said, I couldn't bring my drink outside to use it. I didn't eat here either. I don't know if you could. We had one drink and left. We had a great time at the...