Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern
Since we were featuring Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern, I really wanted to experience the restaurant. Members of our team have eaten there several times and had great feedback. I was feeling a little left out, so when the opportunity arose for me to visit this past week, I was delighted.
I live in Tenafly and perhaps hadn?t made it over there before because it is on the other side of the county and I had thought that it was too far. The truth is, it is an easy ride and much closer than I thought ? it?s a straight shot up Route 4 and over on to Route 17 and took about 20 minutes which is a small price to pay for such a spectacular experience!
This is the first time that I saw the restaurant at night and it is so beautiful. The Ho-Ho-Kus Inn is located in a historical building that has been completely restored and renovated. The trees outside are lit up with tiny lights and it sets the mood for a fine evening before you even walk through the door!
The owner, Laurie Hamm, met my dining companion and me at the door and gave us a tour of the restaurant. It actually houses three restaurants in one, not including the outdoor patio, which has an outdoor fireplace and outdoor seating, and looked very inviting. We started in the Tavern which is a very hip space with an exposed stone wall. The artwork on the walls is local memorabilia that has been donated by townspeople over the years.
The Tavern
The Tavern offers a very relaxed setting and a menu that offers casual fare ? so if you are jonesing for a burger and fries with a beer, this is where you can get an upscale interpretation in a chic atmosphere.
The Tavern also offers a kids menu with?real food in child appropriate portions. I love the experience of eating out as a family and I have always wondered why the kid?s menu is so limited ? I?d much rather expose my children?s palate to wonderful food without having to order the adult versions.
Our next stop was the Library, which also has its own bar. This space is so cozy, it reminded me of a quaint Vermont B&B. There were some couples seated there, along with a few groups of girlfriends, not many open tables.
The Library Room
Our final stop was the Crystal Room, a more elegant and formal room but still very welcoming and intimate. The tables were generously spaced which makes this a perfect destination when you want to talk or are having a romantic celebration. For a Wednesday night at 8 pm, the place was pretty full, so if you visit, reservations are a must!
The Crystal Room
The staff was very attentive and pleasant. Once we ordered, Robert, the Sommelier, brought us our wine and told us about the history of the Inn, which was founded in 1790. As the resident wine expert, Robert has personally selected the 340 wines on their wine list. They are the largest sellers of Cakebread in NJ and the wine list contains fairly priced classic and boutique selections which properly accompany the modern American cuisine.
Robert went on to tell us about their active events calendar. We had just missed the dessert wine and dessert sampling earlier that evening which was a real bummer because I am strong believer that dessert should come first!
The bread basket arrived. It took a lot of self-control not to devour everything in it! The bread is baked on-site every day and it was fresh and wonderful! I started with the beet salad with brie while my dining partner had the mussels. The very generous portion of mussels were served with roasted tomatoes and an incredible sauce. It also came with two outrageous piece of garlic bread ? seriously the best I have ever tasted. We used them to sop up every last bit of the sensational sauce. (It also came with a rolled napkin and a wedge of lemon so we could clean our hands before we moved on to our entrees.)
Golden Beet Salad with Brie
My friend had the Short Ribs, which are a signature dish and for good reason ? they were spectacular. We quickly devoured them. I had the Pappardelle which is also made fresh daily. It was served with lobster, porcini mushrooms, and tomatoes in a butter sauce ? a truly decadent treat!
Pappardelle
For dessert, we were treated with the signature banana split dessert ? including caramelized bananas, fresh cream, cherries, chocolate pearl candies and heath bar ice cream. We also had the chocolate dessert, which was deliciously rich yet extremely light, and chocolate chip cookies which were utter perfection.
Chocolate Dessert
I can?t believe I lived in Bergen County for as many years as I have and have never enjoyed this incredible restaurant. I loved the charm of the historic home, the modern food and wine, the great service, and the fact that I can choose the restaurant experience to match what I am in the mood for. It was an easy, warm atmosphere and a truly lovely night out. You can bet I will be back?.especially for the next dessert wine and assorted dessert tasting event! YUMMMM!
If you are still interested in grabbing a $25 for $50 worth of food and drink for dinner or a $15 for $30 worth of food and drink for lunch, you might be able to grab yours here. Quantities are limited and last I checked, it was just about sold out.
Source: http://blog.suburbanmomma.com/?p=816
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