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    Old Man Rafferty's

    3.5 (746 reviews)
    ModerateBars, American
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Old Man Rafferty's Takeout or Delivery

    Old Man Rafferty's Photos

    OLD MAN RAFFERTY'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Old Man Rafferty's

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    Wagu burger
    Ames A.

    We stopped by Rafferty's for dinner and drinks before heading to a show at the Stress Factory, and it was a fantastic experience. Even though it was very busy, the service was outstanding!

    Downeast cider
    michael a.

    As soon as I walked in I was greeted and seated promptly by the hostess and then the waitress came along and greeted me and took my order quickly as well. The place has a nice sports bar vibe to it with a touch of upscale dining in it. I started off with mozzarella planks it was very good the breading was perfect and the dipping sauce wasn't bad. My main course was the jumbo burrata cheese ravioli. It wasn't bad although I would have liked a thicker sauce because it felt too watery. But other than that it was very good and it filled me up. Overall it's a nice restaurant with plenty of parking and also within walking distance of the train station so it's very convenient for meet ups and dates

    Winter strawberry mule, pretzel, Philly  Cheese Steak Eggrolls, & Broccoli Bites

    We went there for my birthday. Everyone enjoyed the look of the restaurant. We got lucky and there was no wait to be seated. The food was all very good and there is enough variety in the menu to make everyone happy.

    Chicken Parmesan on garlic bread with zucchini fries
    Glenn A.

    A Rutgers institution, Old Man Rafferty's is just what my cousin and her husband requested when returning to visit their Alma mater from the west coast! Their portions are generous and the prices reasonable. Perfect Nostalgia eats!

    Chelsea N.

    After seeing mixed reviews here, I was happily surprised for lunch today here. Table of 4 sat right away around 1pm. Service was friendly and they have an extensive menu. Apps for the table were good, I especially liked the cheesesteak egg rolls. I had the grilled chicken sandwich which was plain but fresh. Their fries definitely stand out! So unique

    Vegetable risotto with salmon medallions
    Tom M.

    Nice variety of food options to fit every tastes. I requested a side of sweet potato fries which were good but wish it were crispier. In fairness, I had to wait a while since the server missed bringing it originally so it could've been resting too long. The risotto had ample portions and was very good. You can even make it dairy free. The salmon was cooked well and had requested it to be rare since most places over cook and dry out the salmon. The restaurant was empty when I arrived at 5:30. Street parking was readily available at that time. Food was certainly worth it but service was slow, not really knowledgeable about the menu, and not the friendliest.

    The Lunch L.

    What happened to Old Man Rafferty's? empty on Friday night? I just thought well I don't know what I thought. I should've walked out when i saw There was nobody there. My tacos were cold and tasted like they put Old El Paso salsa on them . The corned beef, and cabbage, spring rolls were just tasteless an On a greasy plate ! with mustard. I hate to talk bad about mustard. I never met a mustard I didn't like until last night. It must have been very old . Time to close the doors an start something new.

    Marjie M.

    Whenever I travel for work, I always look for places to eat. My coworkers and I stumbled upon that cute restaurant, and I was glad that we selected that particular one as the strip has several restaurants. Although it was a little dark, I loved the decor. You add books to your decor, and it will be a 10 for the book lover that I am. Street parking is tight, but we used the parking garage nearby. They sat us right away as it was not busy on a Wednesday night. Our server was great and recommended the lobster Mac, which was absolutely delicious, but I didn't like the fried brussels sprout (my taste). My coworkers were satisfied with their meal choices. Our drinks were amazing as well. It was a nice dining experience, and I will come back next time I'm in NJ.

    Pretzel was a bit cold and would be better with sauce on side as soggy with it under  maybe sat in back too long?
    Patti C.

    This place is a fun bar scene but dining is difficult if a game occurs that day they can't handle the crowd . Service was under par with no utensils or napkins on table and trying to track our waitress down was nearly impossible . Food is average. Sandwiches came with home made chips which were overcooked and cold . Vegetable stir fry was much too salty with undercooked rice . Pretzel was good yet a bit chilly as well . Have had better meals here but tonight sub par and probably due to more crowded due to game . Bathrooms were filthy with empty paper towels and toilet paper not on rolls . Hope they step back up to the place it used to be

    Steve S.

    Wifey and I went down to New Brunswick this afternoon to take our son to lunch at Old Man Rafferty's. Since it was a holiday...and a Monday, the place wasn't packed. We were seated at a table near the front window so we could also do some people watching. Our server gave us a couple minutes to check out the drink menu and Wifey had the Blood Orange Gin and Tonic and I had an Ommegang Three Philosophers (an excellent beer). They have a great menu here so don't think this is just pub food (though that's what we got). Wifey decided on the 1/2 sandwich (chicken salad) and tomato soup combo, my son had the Nashville chicken sliders, and I had the Rueben sandwich (with corned beef). We also ordered the Bavarian hot pretzel for an appetizer...it comes with a stone ground honey mustard and a cheese sauce. I gotta say, the food was simply great. My wife's tomato soup was honestly one of the best I've had and my Reuben was just about perfect. The corned beef was moist and tender and really flavorful. My son's sliders were really tasty, but he was hoping for spicier. We finished up with some coffee which was also surprisingly good. Overall, a solid effort. The service at the end was a little slow, but the food and the vibe here were great.

    Cheesesteak Egg Rolls

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    Overall fun ambiance, nice variety of food choices on menu, attentive service and don't forget the desserts - it's hard to pick just one!

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    Page 1 of 19

    Ask the Community - Old Man Rafferty's

    Best place to park?

    If you cannot get street parking there is a garage on Church St with entrances on Church and Patterson

    Is the brunch setup available on Saturdays too and how much?

    No brunch on Saturdays - Sundays only. The buffet is from 11 AM to 3 PM, and $32 for adults, and $14 for kids. An a la carte menu is available, but it's the typical menu - breakfast foods are only available from the buffet.

    Two for one question here, How much is Old Man Rafferty's Kobe Beef burger, and is it actual Kobe beef, or just Wagyu beef?

    It's 14.95 for the Burger and fries, and it's the actual wagyu beef!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Tavern on George

    3.9(178 reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    The food was great, the service was friendly and the ambiance was better than most tavern…read morerestaurants. I have been here before, and the food and service are always great. We were a group of 8. Each of us ordered something different and we were all very happy with our entrées. Everyone in the group said we would go back and that we enjoyed it!

    Tavern on the George is a convenient spot to have dinner prior to a show at the State Theater. Make…read moresure you have reservations, especially on theater nights, because it was definitely a popular spot due to their proximity to the theater. The menu is basic bar-gastro-pub type fare. I've been here twice with groups of 6. We've ordered everything from the burgers, to the chicken sandwiches and fish and chips. I ordered a Chicken Caprese sandwich and I enjoyed it the first time. The 2nd time I ordered the Veggie Wrap which I decided to turn into a sandwich. That didn't work so well. The burgers were good too. The items all had the option of fries or salad. All the food was good, except the fish and chips was batter and very little fish. The old school ambiance is really nice. The restaurant has an upstairs and downstairs dining area, each with its own bar. If in the area for a show, Tavern on the George has it down to a science getting all the groups in and out in time. Although, the food is nothing special, I'd come here again.

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    Outside

    Destination Dogs

    Destination Dogs

    4.5(1.3k reviews)
    0.3 mi
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    I arrived in New Brunswick by train, which is to say I trusted the machinery of civilization to…read moredeliver me to lunch. It did. A short walk later, I found myself at Destination Dogs, a place I had seen in photographs that suggested capaciousness. In reality, it is smaller.  This is not a complaint, just an observation.  I remember once hearing something about the contents of small packages. At 12:30 the place was full. Packed with humanity and appetite. I was seated quickly, as if someone had anticipated my hunger in advance. From the bar came the sound of construction crews discussing their midday rituals. Apparently this is where they come on Fridays, to repair themselves while they repair the city. It explained everything. Service was swift and attentive, a minor miracle given the crowd. I began with a Scotch egg, an item that seemed to have wandered in from another story entirely. I ordered it for that reason. I had always imagined my first Scotch egg would be eaten in an English pub under low ceilings and older regrets. Instead, here it was. Perfectly crisp, warm, and generous. The universe does not ask for permission. Then came the main event. The menu is an atlas of hot dogs. Domestic. International. Proteins in tube form arranged like possibilities. There is even an invitation to build your own, which I accepted. I attempted to recreate a favorite from Crif Dogs, a thing called the Spicy Redneck. Bacon wrapped dog. Pickled jalapenos. Coleslaw. Simple in theory. Destination Dogs improved upon it in every way that matters. The bacon crisped with purpose. The jalapenos spoke clearly. The coleslaw behaved. The hot dog itself seemed proud to be there. All of this, plus a 16 ounce beer, cost me about twenty five dollars with tip. A small price for order in a chaotic universe. Five stars. Not because perfection exists, but because this comes close enough to make the argument.

    Fun spot with awesome dogs and great vibes!…read more This place is such a cool restaurant/bar that feels like a local staple for sure. The staff is super friendly and know their way around the (very large) menu. Honestly, they have a hot dog or sausage combo for just about everyone. I let the bartender pick for me, and she nailed it. She chose an all-beef dog that was basically a Big Mac in hot dog form. I was skeptical at first, but wow this hit in all the right ways. Awesome presentation, even better flavor. I could've easily eaten three of these. I also tried the onion rings, the bartender warned me they were just "meh," and she wasn't wrong, lol. For round two, I went with an all-beef dog topped with pastrami this is basically a Reuben-style dog. Another win! Great flavor, great presentation. Overall, I'd totally recommend Destination Dogs if you're in the area. Just a heads up, if there's a game on, it gets loud. Like "can't-hear-your-friend-next-to-you" loud. But if that's your vibe, you'll love it.

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    Delta's

    Delta's

    3.4(704 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    Delta's a nice experience. When you walk in, you're greeted with a pleasant atmosphere, and the…read morehostess who greeted my friend and me was very welcoming to us as firstcomers. From the get-go, the staff is very kind, respectful, and quick to take your order. I got the cornbread, which, at similar restaurants, is typically free as a courtesy, but here it was $3. The cornbread was great; I'd give it a (9/10). Shortly after, our food came as I had ordered the fried chicken entree, which came with baked mac and cheese for an extra $2. From the bite of the mac and cheese, it came out really good; I enjoyed the crust and seasoning, and I would definitely order the mac and cheese again (10/10). I would give this restaurant 5 stars if only the chicken had come out better. It had a good crunch, but the taste was honestly pretty bland. I wanted some juice from it, considering it was dark meat, but it was also fairly dry. It wasn't the worst fried chicken I've ever had, but it definitely didn't make the list (5/10). All in all, this place was a good experience. The staff was nice, the wait wasn't long, and the portions of the sides and food are very big. The only improvement is that the chicken needs better flavor and less dryness. 3.75/5; good.

    I have never had an unpleasant time at Delta's. The food is always delicious, drinks are awesome,…read morestaff is friendly, and the vibes are A1. Best to make a reservation during prime hours because it fills up quick, especially for brunch and times when there is live music (there is a fee added to your bill when there is live music). I got the fried chicken meal with mac & cheese & collards shared at the table, mac is +$2 extra, but worth it! The chicken was fried to perfection, came out hot but not greasy. The collards had a lil kick, but no complaints. The drinks, babbbbbbby. Get the Delta Heat, comes with a little presentation and the drank be dranking! Delta's is always clean, bathroom is nice as well. Only FYI, there is a flight of stairs to get to the main dining area.

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    Delta's - Soul Folk Dumplings

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    Old Man Rafferty's - bars - Updated May 2026

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