I've never felt compelled to actually provide an online review, but here we are. My parents were here for my mom's birthday dinner. As I live out-of-state and couldn't bless them with my presence, I wanted to surprise them by paying for their bill. I called amidst a dinner rush and Chrissy, the bar manager, came in clutch as my eyes on the ground and serving as my accomplice in preventing my parental unit from opening a wallet. She also arranged for a birthday candle to be added to her dessert which was such a kind gesture. I can't wait to come home to NJ for a visit and try the Nutella empanadas which my mom said were "perfect!" read more

Happy Servers. Nice vibe and TVs . Worth another visit! Food was good but will try more next time. read more

Stopped at the Mule Barn for some early after appetizers and drinks. We had wings, meatballs and nachos. Everyone in the party was very pleased with the taste and quality of the food. The drinks were great. Emily was a fantastic and attentive server. The restaurant is in a historic location and the remodel honors that history. It is a great casual place for a quick bite and is usually pretty busy. We will definitely be back! read more

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I haven't been here in a while so the hubs and I decided to journey over for a winter Sunday lunch at MBT. For apps we had the pumpkin squash soup (a special), and hearty chicken soup in a breadbowl. As well as the nachos. Just because I suppose. All were great and flavorful although I couldn't finish the breadbowl. I also had the Claus Collins, a seasonal drink. It was perfect. A juicy Industry burger with sweet potato waffle fries and the Mule Salad finished off a delicious meal! The vibe was very relaxing and chill. Service was terrific. Will def visit again soon! Also, as we were leaving a bunch of yoyos kept trying to lure a wild fox closer and feed it their leftovers. Please do not be like the yoyos. read more

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The apps were really good!!and the atmosphere was really nice outside with live music. read more

Mule Barn Tavern - Honey sriracha wings and tuna nachos so good - Pizza Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

Location was the main draw but the vegetarian options were what made it. One in our party uses a walker and it was hard to navigate the parking lot. But if you pull up right in front of the restaurant to load/ unload it's not so bad. read more

We'd heard good things and after seeing a few photos posted we decided to take a rainy day drive down to check out the Mule Barn. We got there around 4:45 on a Sunday and were sat right away. I had the Osprey Nest as a drink. We started with an order of the calamari, which was delicious. Some of the best I've had. I didn't even get a photo because it was so good I forgot. We had a pizza, a burger, and the fish and chips. All were quite good and we'll most definitely be back. read more

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Great food! Lots of variety, tasty, nice portions and well priced! Cool vibe and FUN!

Frustrating thirty minute wait for a table that was empty during our full wait. Apparently everyone on the wait list has a ten minute grace period to respond and as a result many tables sit empty. We had to flag down someone to take our order after 15 minutes of waiting at the table. When the food finally came out it was all overcooked and horrible. The worst lobster mac and cheese I've ever had. The kids chicken fingers were inedible. Overall, long waits, awful food and inattentive service. Won't be returning. read more

Was told there'd be a table ready in 15 minutes- it took 40. These things happen, but there was no acknowledgement. Lots of people working but didn't seem very efficient. Long wait for mediocre food. read more

The bar looks great, beautiful view. The bartenders' service was very bad. We left the inside bar without eating because we sat for 30 mins or more with the menu, she never came back. Outside was worse - the bartender didn't come over at all after 20 minutes at a tiny bar with 15 people. She was cranky and did not acknowledge us and was rude to the people next to us for asking for water with their hot wings. Never delivered it. Music was great; atmosphere great. Hire new bartenders who are friendly and like customers. It was a Saturday at 5:00 - not too crowded. This place could be great - hire friendly people with a good work ethic. * read more

Went to the Mule today for the Oktoberfest the atmosphere was awesome the service was great the food was delicious and our server was pleasant wish I go her name as soon as we sat she was very attentive and and brought our drinks immediately the food came out fast. Our table of 6 had a blast. I highly recommend it was a fun time. The Oktoberfest decorations were awesome the manager Christina came to our table to check on us and brought us over tee shirts, cups we highly Recommend can't wait to go back and can't wait to come back next year for the Oktoberfest!! What a beautiful day at the Mule Barn Tavern!! read more

On a recent dreary, rainy, chilly late September afternoon, we drove out to the tip of Sandy Hook to the Fort Hancock area of the Gateway National Recreation Area to the 6-week-old Mule Barn Tavern. The building was used as a mule and horse barn when Fort Hancock was active. The structure itself dates back to pre-1900. The renovation of the building took quite some time and turned out great. Not only is the indoor space very cool, but the exterior was also preserved. So great to see another building saved that could have continued to deteriorate like many others at the Hook. When we got there some tables were taken and a few folks at the bar. We chose to sit at the bar. There was also overflow tables and a bar on second floor, as well as an outdoor patio when the weather is nice. Based on the rather low number of people I think the first floor could get quite noisy when filled up - which apparently happens on weekends. There are numerous flat screens with sports and a sound system playing classic rock. Our bartender, Adriana, was great. Not only attentive, but a lot of fun. As we checked out the menu, I ordered a Kane Head High ($8) on tap and my wife got a glass of the house Chardonnay ($8). She said the wine was good, but the pour was a little light. I decided to get the M.B.T. Classic Burger - swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and fries ($19). My wife ordered the Ahi Tuna Taco - coleslaw, radishes, jalapenos with Wasabi sauce ($21). I can't speak about the taco price, but I thought the burger price was a little high. OK to the food. My wife loved her tacos. Fresh ingredients, very tasty tuna and a good sized portion. My burger was huge, maybe 7oz. So, my thought about the price being a little high was wrong. I asked for medium, and it was cooked to perfection. It also had a nice little char to it as well. I am a burger snob and I have to say, this was one of the best burgers I have had. My only wish is that it was on a hard roll rather than the brioche bun. The fries were excellent as well. Bottom line. A fun place with very good bar food. Maybe a tad pricey, but worth it. The taco, burger, 2 wines and 1 beer came to $71.25 including tax and credit card fee (3% fee for using a credit card). read more

Mule Barn Tavern - Ahi Tuna Taco - Pizza Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

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Went back and this time the beer was flat. Food and service were mediocre. Very disappointing read more

Mule Barn Tavern - Bavarian pretzel - Pizza Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

Love this spot! Been coming here for a few years now. We love the atmosphere, food and service! We were so happy to see our favorite server Sheridan back this season! What a difference great service and energy makes to an experience and meal! We will now be regulars. Cheers! read more

Food was good, but unremarkable. Beautiful area and the service was good and friendly.

Quality food and drinks. At times it can be crazy busy but the service typically keeps up.

Cute place, hard to be vegan here but they were very accommodating we had the salad with black beans and cilantro dressing and a veggie burger which was tasty. Nice view across the street, if you time it right at low tide you can see the seals sunbathing on the rocks. Great use of the old barracks only took off a star because more veggie friendly options that aren't cheese and meat focused would be nice. read more

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Sat outside very nice good service food was very good. If you're in the area great place for lunch and drinks. read more

So far so good. Nice menu. Sitting on the out side patio Has inside seating as well private room upstairs. Live music. read more

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Great new restaurant/bar out at the end of Sandy Hook. When considering its remote location i didn't expect there to be a lot of people there when I arrived... I was wrong! We had to wait for a table for two, and I'm not complaining because I want this place to survive! Menu was extensive - I ordered a salad and a mixed drink. Extremely happy with both. Wish I had been hungrier as the burgers and other more substantial offerings looked amazing as well. I'll definitely come back to the Mule! read more

Recently stopped into the Mule Barn Tavern while visiting Sandy Hook and had a great time! This is a great little spot at the end of Sandy Hook in the Fort Hancock area, and adds a much needed spot to get good food and drinks while out there! Despite being out of the way at the end of the Hook, it was very busy and seems like a popular spot! The hostesses and servers were all very friendly! They have a good selection of drinks from the bar, as well as wine and a few local beer options in addition to the normal kinds you'd see everywhere. The food was great, and we really enjoyed the wings. They were very crispy and we got the sauce on the side, but the wings have great flavor even without it. The meatballs were also delicious, and the sauce on top of them was great. I also loved the little bit of ricotta underneath each meatball. The interior is beautifully done in this restored building, and with Christmas decor everything was very festive for the season. There's seating both up and downstairs, as well as a bar on each level. I really enjoyed my first visit here, and will definitely be back! read more

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Come hang with our favorite waiter Gabe! For beautiful sunsets, good food, and drinks! read more

Mule Barn Tavern - Pizza Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

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Like so many, we love the history and views at Sandy Hook! Adding to this special location was the opportunity to have dinner with friends at the Mule Barn Tavern last night. We experienced great service with food quality equal to fine dining. Along with a couple of delicious appetizers, we all had rave reviews for all our entrees: NY Strip Steak, Crab Cakes, Broiled Wahoo, and from the special menu Butternut Squash Raviolis. We were too full to have dessert, but the menu sounded fabulous. Congratulations on the beautiful restoration of the building and for providing a lively atmosphere with good drinks, good food, and good service. Continued success! We will all be back again!! read more

This was my first time at the mule barn, and it was a great experience. Our waitress, Sheridan came over and greeted my family with waters without us even having to ask as we needed them after a long day up on the beach. She gave us a clear rundown on what's best on the menu and my wife and I were very pleased with our meals. We had the Mahi Mahi Tacos and the lemon pepper wings and all i can say is we will definitely be back and look forward to seeing Sheridan again! 10/10 service. Great food! Worth the trip from Howell NJ! read more

Food is amazing we love coming here. Please, please, please hire an experienced hostess. Your front of house is terrible. How can you tell people 25 minutes with 10 empty outside tables and 15 empty inside on a weekend night. read more

I don't think the cooks care what they put on your plate!! Maybe if they took some time to present their food more carefully I'd consider going back!! read more

I was looking forward to making my first trip to the tavern. Upon arriving, my mother and I were greeted by the hostess and quickly seated. We arrived around 3pm, so between lunch and dinner and the place only had a few tables occupied. We both had very positive things to say about the decor and ambience of the restaurant. The server greeted us with a couple of minutes of being seated and drinks were quickly delivered. A really good start to our early dinner. We decided on the stuffed pepper eggroll, and it was very good though my mother thought the pepper was a little spicy for her taste. The meat was seasoned nicely and the beer cheese it was served with was very tasty. Not too long after we completed our appetizer, dinner arrived. My mother got the Juliet entree which was, Sauteed Chicken Breast with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Cream Sauce, Over a Bed of Spinach and mashed potatoes. It didn't look very appealing as the cream sauce had more a paste consistency and it covered everything. So, the whole plate was one bland color. The taste was just okay, nothing special. My mother ate most of it but it wasn't something she would order again. I had the steak sandwich, which looked very appetizing and presented itself well on the plate. The bread (hoagie roll) was perfect, and the steak was cooked to order (medium-rare.) There were fried jalapeno slices, a mayo frizzled onions and a bit of coleslaw. I added a little bit of A-1 to give it a little more kick. The sandwich was really good and something I would order again. The side of fries that came with the order looked like they were cooked an hour earlier and would have been better if they were fed to the seagulls. The fries spoiled an otherwise great dish. Overall, it was just an average dining experience. I will try it again, perhaps at lunch or dinner time and not in between and see if the food is a bit better. read more

Because I'm somewhat interested in Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook in general, I've been wanting to check this place out for awhile. I must say it was delightful. The food and drinks were good and generous, and the service was excellent. I will definitely stop by when I again explore the Hook. read more

Food - We just had the appetizers. The calamari were great, the Bavarian pretzel was huge and good. Service as also good Price - a bit higher than expected. read more

Went during their first week of being open to the general public. Amazing job considering what they were up against: New establishment and an over abundance of customers. Give them a month and it will be a well oiled machine with amazing food. We had the cheesesteak stuffed long hot peppers for an app and they were delicious. The burger was delicious as well and cooked the way we asked. Sliced steak sandwich was also very good.Cant wait to go back!! Keep up the good work staff!! read more

Mule Barn Tavern - Main dining room - Pizza Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

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New residents of Highlands and this is the first bar we hit. They immediately made us feel like family and knew our names. Between the mules and the view at sunset, it's hard to beat. We'll be back for the food very soon because the menu is awesome (and has tons of gluten free options) read more

Went Thursday afternoon at 2:10. The restaurant was 50% full. We sat down and waited 10 minutes for the waitress to acknowledge us and take a drink order. Drinks took 5 minutes +/-. She took our food order, 10 minutes later. The food took about 25 mins. I had a burger. Very greasy. The grease was forming a puddle on the plate and dripping down my arm. The fries were luke warm (at best) thin and very dry. While we were eating, the waitress didn't come to ask if we wanted another drink until we were done (another 20 minutes later). Bottom Line: Service is lacking and burgers are too greasy. read more

We absolutely love the Mule Barn Tavern! The food is incredible, the drink choices are very delicious and creative, order the Jetty Mule! My son just got back from college and couldn't wait to go for the wings, it was worth the wait on a busy weekend! The outdoor patio area with the new Shack Bar was so fun with the sun finally out! Visiting historical Sandy Hook on Memorial Day made it extra special! Looking forward to many more visits this summer! read more

Amazing first visit to this secret little spot. Hasn't been around long but should be around for a long time. Food was very good. Fun and diverse options for everyone. Stuffed peppers and calamari were both great takes of family favorites. Cheese sauce for the peppers and the fried lemon rounds with the calamari were awesome. Our group likes to share things. Burger, chimichurri chicken sandwich, ribeye sandwich, and tuna tacos were all hits. Definitely be returning to try more menu items. Perfect outdoor seating area. Decent views. Sunset is amazing. Perfect breeze. Nice bar area outside too. Inside looks nice and clean. Solid bar area with tvs for the sports ppl. Good beers on tap. Fun and inventive mules and drink menu. Something for every taste. Our server was awesome. Danielle was quick and attentive. Answered all our questions. Even gave us some history of the location. Our group actually commented on how nice it was to have great service. Always love going to a National Park for the beach. Clean, restrooms, safe, etc. Mule Bar just opened up another part of a place we frequent every summer. Plenty of parking. **If you tell the Guard station at the front of the park that you are just going to the Mule Bar they will waive the entrance fee too.** read more

Food was fresh , tasty and affordable. I ate at the bar because I was meeting a friend . Bartenders are friendly , attentive and helpful . I was thrilled by the wings ! Pork sliders were nothing to brag about. Atmosphere is very comfortable and fun ! Elizabeth (lizard ) was fun , entertaining and helpful . This place is a hidden gem on Sandy hook . Go there ask for Liz and have a ball read more

4th time here and the Mule Barn never disappoints. Today we figured we'd try brunch since we've come for burgers, pizza and wings previously. I had the Southwest omelette- highly recommend- the jalapeños gave it flavor but it wasn't spicy. My husband had the Breakfast for a King- the ribeye was cooked perfectly for medium and it was a nice cut as well. As always the staff was friendly and professional. Drinks were perfect- great craft beer list and cocktail menu. Highly recommend this spot!! read more

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Great spot to grab lunch or dinner! Perfect joint right on Sandy Hook! We enjoyed a wonderful lunch after a beach hike. read more

Mule Barn Tavern - Pizza Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

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Finally was able to get in for a meal. Sunday afternoon, spectacular weather. The wait was 1 1/2 hours so we walked the Hook--why not? We sat outside once seated. Service was a bit slow, evidently short on staff. But the servers and the food runners were literally running, obviously putting their best foot forward. I had a Garrison margarita but asked for a tajin rim instead of salt. Came out exactly as requested and perfectly balanced. For dinner my hub had the fish and chips and he said everything was very good. French fries tasted fresh cut, crispy outside but moist inside. I had the chicken rigatoni with chipotle cream sauce spinach and cherry tomatoes. Also excellent. The chicken was blackened with a perfect char. Just enough heat to make it interesting. Dessert? This is the beginning of the Jersey shore so what's more fitting than funnel cake fingers with chocolate dipping sauce and ice cream?? Freshly made and again excellent. I only have this a 4 because there was some waiting time. But Ashley or server and Steve, one of the runners worked as quickly as they could and kept smiling and were happy to be casual conversationalists with all the patrons. Hats off to everyone for a great job. We will be back, and regularly. read more

You know those restaurants that you say I havr never had a bad meal from that place. Well Mule Barn is one of them. I am at Sandy Hook a bunch and have stopped in numerous times and each time I am pleasantly surprised how beautiful this place is. The service has always been cheerful and attentive. The food is delicious. Today we had drinks, the southwest salad, jersey shore burger and portobello sandwich. All where super flavorful and tasty. For dessert we had the nutella empanadas and they were so delicious. Thinking about them right now. Nice job Mule Barn. Keep up the good cooking so we don't have to. Sorry no pictures because we were all so hungry. read more