White Owl Tavern — Restaurant in Wharton

I was driving through New Jersey on route 80 with my kids (ages 9&13) and found this wonderful restaurant. When we came in the hostess, Amy (actually one of the owners), let us know that there would be a 20 minute wait, but she said that she would do what she could to seat us as soon as possible. She was able to move around a couple of reservations and seat us right away.

When we sat down our waitress was incredibly attentive and helped us choose between different dishes. We started with the “Asian Zing,” ribs that fell off the bone and was accompanied by a great slaw. I ordered the “Unforgettable Sandwich” for my main, which truly was unforgettable. The combination of the short rib, horseradish, arugula, and melted cheese was perfect. The sandwich also came with seasoned fries, which we all agreed were some of the best around. One of my kids ordered the “Stuck On You,” a tender octopus dish with a creamy hummus and flavorful arugula salad with a pomegranate dressing. She loved it! My other kid ordered the fried mozzarella, which is entirely homemade, including the mozz. The staff was very accommodating and was able to put the toppings on the side. Would definitely recommend! For dessert we ordered the “Warm and Fuzzy,” which was a large skillet of warm berry compote, a brown sugar crumble, and vanilla gelato with whipped cream on top. It was a perfectly sweet end to a delicious meal.

While the food was great, the service, vibe, and ambiance was what set this restaurant apart. The owners, Amy & Rob, have really created a special place. From the moment you walk in the door, the smells and decor set the mood. You can find Amy keeping a watchful eye, making sure everything is running smoothly. They have clearly trained their staff to do the same.

I could not recommend this restaurant more, and was a perfect stop as we crossed...

UPDATE: We had a delightful dining experience at the White Owl Tavern (WOT) on our first visit, and since then have had the pleasure of returning several times since. Each visit, we’ve tried different dishes, and every one has been excellent! Most recently, we had their Cheesesteak sandwich, which was so good it could give Philly a run for its money! And the wings? Simply awesome! Plump, flavorful, and with each seasoning unique; my favorite so far is the Honey Buffalo. A great place, with awesome food and friendly staff.

We had a delightful dining experience at the White Owl Tavern (WOT) yesterday. The new restaurant impressed us with its cleanliness, maintaining a spotless environment that added to the overall enjoyment of our meal. The service was exceptional; the staff were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, ensuring that we felt well taken care of throughout our visit.

The food at WOT was outstanding. Each dish we tried was flavorful and well-prepared, showcasing the kitchen's commitment to quality. It was clear that great care went into crafting the menu and selecting ingredients. The starter dishes of mixto frito as well as the birra tacos were delicious. Our entrees of the Wolverine Smash Burgers and crispy salmon were also awesome. As for the fish n’ chips, although good, weren’t necessary the best we’ve had in the area (The Quiet Man in Dover gets our vote).

However, one area that did stand out was the price of the wine. At $16 for a small glass of Malbec, the cost was noticeably higher than what we've encountered at other local establishments. While the wine was good, the price felt a bit steep in comparison.

Overall, despite the higher wine cost, the excellent cleanliness, service, and food make the White Owl Tavern a place we’d gladly recommend and return to. A great addition to our lovely...

This is my second time to the White Owl Tavern and the best I can say is that it's "meh". The staff is extremely friendly, the vibe and decor of the inside is quite well done, but the food (and the most important aspect of a restaurant, obviously) is overpriced, and not thoroughly checked before being served. The attached picture is from the potstickers we were served. (And they were presented this way, so at least the chef and the server both saw how overdone they were, and still opted to serve them.)

The other folks that I've gone with have generally enjoyed their food. The Owl seems to be best at preparing pasta dishes (which makes sense because of the owners previous experience), but as someone who can't handle too much gluten, I've had to venture off on other entrees. Last time the wings were just average, and this time I had a $15 hot dog with potatoes, onions and peppers. I don't really mind the price since that's probably what you'd pay at a ballpark, but I would be nice to get a quality dog -- or at least a jumbo one -- rather than a standard frank.

The mixed drinks are pretty decent. The presentation is quite nice, and most of them taste pretty good, assuming you like everything very sweet. $15 for a mixed drink is probably okay (??) but $15 for a 6 oz glass of wine is INSANE. (And it's not even that great of wine.) I know alcohol markup is huge at restaurants, but that's just ridiculous.

Anyways, my biggest gripe is lack of quality control. Could I have sent the potstickers back? Sure. I would have done that at a dive bar where you can expect some honest mistakes, but not at a place where we paid over $200...