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    William Penn Inn

    3.9 (476 reviews)
    Open 9:30 am - 1:30 pm, 3:00 PM - 7:30 PM

    Services - William Penn Inn

    Catering services

    William Penn Inn Photos

    Business Info

    WILLIAM PENN INN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - William Penn Inn

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    Reviews With Photos

    Carolyn F.

    We told them our grievances and they offered to send complementary gift cards and talk with the chefs about making sure the meat is the correct temperature! The manager was very nice! When you order medium or medium well you don't expect to get raw almost rare! He said thank you for letting him know so that he can correct it.

    For hubby - 11/27/2025
    Cam E.

    William Penn Inn is a tremendous landmark Inn and restaurant serving traditional American cuisine since the 1700s. We were here for our annual Thanksgiving dinner with my husband's family. Their waitstaff does a great job handling the large turn-out of patrons every year. The food is quite good. We each had many choices besides turkey to enjoy. Wishing you and yours a blessed healthy happy Thanksgiving! Thank you!

    Delicious green beans and potatoes au gratin
    John K.

    We had a wonderful time at the William Penn Inn. This is an establishment that has been around for a very long time. Many of our parents would visit this restaurant on anniversaries and if we were lucky they would bring us along for special occasions. Years later I can see what all the fuss is about. The bartender made my boulevardier just the way I like it. Our server was on point all night. Everything was delicious from my lobster schnitzel to the seasonal bread pudding. Still as exceptional as I remembered, I'll be back again soon.

    Tiramisu
    Reviewguru C.

    Excellent dinner at this historic location. We had seen this spot several times as all the trees surrounding the restaurant is always fully lit up with small bright lights. Finally got a chance to visit, as we were hosting friends who were visiting from out of town. This restaurant has been in service for over 300 years. We made reservations at the Monet room. Room has rich wood finish with lots of wall paintings Our server was nice. Got the soup of the day ( chicken), seafood and tiramisu. As a group, we also got crab dip, which was delicious They have two banquet halls for private parties. The parking lot is huge, so there is no issue with finding parking spots. Pricey place, but worth a visit for special occasions

    Petite Caesar Salad
    Arthur N.

    I have dined at the William Penn Inn on several occasions over the past few years; and, interestingly enough, each has been characterized by some quirky little incident that sticks out in my memory like the proverbial sore thumb. On one occasion, for example, I attended a private celebration for a friend's son who had just graduated from law school. Once all the guests had been seated, along comes a young woman to take our beverage orders. When asked what I would like to drink, I responded: "A glass of pinot noir, please." A blank stare... "What's that?" Needless to say, I don't think it's too far-fetched to expect that someone employed as a server at an upscale restaurant like the William Penn Inn have at least a nodding acquaintance with wines. Not that he/she needs to be an expert, but they should, at the very least, be familiar with the types of wines the restaurant has available. This is obviously the fault of management for improperly training its employees. During another visit, our group of three couples decided to enjoy a cocktail at the bar before being seated at table. The bartender was a mature woman who was - to put the matter as delicately as possible - downright rude. She never cracked a smile, never uttered a greeting, she just stood in front of us and barked out a "Yes?" I mean, it was like we were intruding into her private space. There was no one else at the bar at the time, so she certainly wasn't overwhelmed by other responsibilities. Her attitude was just so caustic, so downright nasty - and for no apparent reason - that we simply looked at each other and then quietly got up and left. Certainly not the most pleasant way to begin an evening. On my most recent sojourn, the question of accessibility became something of an issue. Our party of five checked in at the main hostess desk. From there we were shuffled off to another hostess desk, where we were informed that we were to dine in the upstairs dining area. And while no one in our party was handicapped, two members did have some difficulty with stairs. Could we possibly be seated on this floor, we inquired. Hemming and hawing... and they would have to check... No, sorry, not in the main dining room, we are very busy this evening, but we could seat you in the tavern... And we were promptly shuffled off to a third hostess desk at the tavern, where we were finally allowed to be seated. Get the picture? Shuffle is the definitive key word here. An individual restaurant is certainly well aware of its own spatial idiosyncrasies, and the possible difficulties these may pose for potential diners. In the case of the William Penn Inn, the downer is an extremely steep stairway leading to a second-floor dining room. Therefore, if there is the possibility that patrons may be consigned to this area, the matter of accessibility should immediately come into play, and it should be initiated by the restaurant itself. This means at the moment of reservation (whether by phone, in person, or online), so that diners will not be treated to the indignity of a game of musical chairs, as we were, at the time of arrival. As luck would have it, however, the gentleman we encountered at the tavern managed to secure our party a cozy corner in what I consider the coziest room in the house. Our excellent server was also an added plus. And that leaves the cuisine... which, in my opinion, has always been eminently forgettable. But on this occasion, unfortunately, it was very nearly beneath contempt. Starters like the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail and East Coast Oysters received pretty good marks. The Petite Caesar Salad less so. The real disappointment, however, arrived with the entrées. Those that ordered various renditions of beef seemed to fare the best. On the other hand, the Maryland Crabcake lacked flavor; and Penn's Seafood Plate - baked crab imperial, filet of Atlantic salmon, three shrimp scampi, baked potato, sautéed garlic spinach - was the bland-leading-the-bland, the chief culprit being the significantly less than exciting overcooked salmon. Bad enough, to be sure... but my Sautéed Calves' Liver was nothing short of horrible. Drowned beneath a viscous sea of what tasted like the saucier's revenge, the liver itself was a minefield of tough, barely cuttable fibers and was, therefore, disgustingly chewy... a sure sign of overcooking. Simply inedible. Our server was very accommodating and immediately asked if I would like to order something else. I opted for the Chicken Marsala, which, as it turned out, wasn't much of an improvement over the liver, as it, too, was drowned in sauce and also rather tough and overcooked. The evening was not a total loss, however, as the one redeeming gastronomic feature was the extraordinarily delicious Peanut Butter Mousse Pie.

    Allyson M.

    This is my mama's favorite restaurant and we took her for her birthday. It is truly classy and the food is delish. They offer a prefix menu as well, which has a lot of the menu favorites. The attire is casual to dressy, no jeans or sweatshirt type attire. The service is excellent and professional. The ambiance is high class. Definitely a great place for special occasions. I recommend this place and prices are reasonable.

    Seafood special

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    1 month ago

    I had two daughters married there,4 months apart. Every event, and dinner I've had there has been great.

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    26 days ago

    My family took me out to dinner for my birthday. There were 10 of us. We had a private room, which was really nice. The food was delicious.

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - William Penn Inn

    Is Thanksgiving dinner an option?

    The past couple years they have had a Thanksgiving buffet dinner.

    May I make reservations for the prix fix menu?

    My family and I went during mother's day, I think my sister made a reservation for prix fix menu. I would call and ask when making a reservation.

    Does the tavern accept walk-ins?

    I believe you can visit the bar without a reservation but if you are going to sit at a table you should make a reservation.

    What is the dress code? Do men have to wear suits or sports jackets?

    If you're dining in Penn's Tavern, suits/sports jackets are not required. But it is a more formal dining area so they wouldn't look out of place either. Sweatpants and ragged jeans would look out of place.

    Does anyone know if they do a brunch with Santa?

    I do not believe that they have brunch with Santa.

    View All 7 Questions

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    Mary - A Burger

    Mary

    4.9(20 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    My husband and I eat out a LOT, so admittedly, we are hard customers to please. It's why I rarely…read moreleave reviews - good or bad. But when we finally had the opportunity to get a reservation at Mary, I felt compelled to write one. It didn't just "not disappoint", it exceeded every expectation we hoped to have. We sat at the bar, which gave a cool bar vibe with our own bottle of wine (which you don't always get at BYOs), and we had a clear view into the open kitchen. Plus, the service was perfectly on point throughout the entire meal. We started with the ceviche, which was a very generous portion for us to share, and absolutely delicious. I was planning to order the burger, but when the waitress told us it was always on the menu, I opted for the blackened swordfish... and, boy, was I glad I did. My husband got the pork chop; I snagged a bite and it was amazing, too. Both entrees were also very generous portions, and my leftovers were just as good the next day (maybe even a little better once the flavors blended together). We finished with a brownie dessert, and when we finally got the check, we were pleasantly surprised at how reasonable it was. Overall, it was one of the best dining experiences we've had in a long time, and I can't wait to go back and get that burger!!

    Great intimate BYOB. The food was spectacular. The menu changes monthly except for a few staples…read more We had a Mexican corn appetizer with the homemade sourdough bread. NY strip with brown butter scallops, cioppino, and burger. The apps and main courses were stellar. For dessert we ordered both the cookies and cream plate and fresh berry cobbler. Everything was outstanding and the service was spot on.

    Photos
    Mary
    Mary - Prawn toast

    Prawn toast

    Mary

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    The Pub - Put everything on the side for nachos

    The Pub

    4.1(45 reviews)
    41.1 mi
    $$

    Got to utilize my #Resy credit through #AmEx Gold and dined at this gem in downtown Bordentown…read more @oldtownpubbtown had a great drink and dine line up with their seasonal and classic cocktail selections from Margherita Flights to old fashioned spirits. Drink Selection Cantera Negra Margarita Flight: Crazy for coconuts, habanero pineapple, strawberry basil -AND- Maple Old Fashioned: Redemption high rye, muddled orange & luxado cherry, maple smoked glass, maple simple syrup, black walnut bitters Food selection Pulled Pork Nachos: Shredded cheddar and jack cheeses, black beans, jalapeños, pico, and sour cream drizzle. Other choice of toppings were chicken or Chili. -AND- Steak Tacos: Marinated steak served with pico de gallo, red cabbage, sour cream on flour tortillas Might be a regular, when I find the time during the day to get a little buzz and snack. This place is for sure a must stop and try. From the saloon aesthetic to their professionalism and class, this definitely is a Bordentown Gem #resycredit #amexgold #nomnom #foodbuzz #oldfashionedbuzz #weeklyspecials #nom #noms #bordentownnj #newjerseydigest #fortheloveoffood #wunderlust #foodlust #nomlust #nomdiaries #oldtownpubtown #bordentown #newjersey #nj

    The food was so good and so inexpensive. Fish and chips for $8?? Who does that these days?…read more Casual, quiet and loved the locals at the bar!! Real feel of local NJ, just good food, good people and good prices!!

    Photos
    The Pub - From the front

    From the front

    The Pub - Steak nachos and house fries

    Steak nachos and house fries

    The Pub - Back parking

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    Back parking

    Lucky’s Roadside Stand

    Lucky’s Roadside Stand

    4.8(10 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    There's a lot to share about this newly renovated space. It holds multiple pop-up style…read morerestaurants, a craft brewery, and eating space to enjoy your food or beverages. What really makes it unique is the fact that you can place your food order and then go grab a craft brew in a plastic cup and then walk back to get your food. Or, if you prefer to bring your food to the bar area, you can do that too. We had a hankering for burgers and wanted to give Lucky's a try. I'm glad we did and it was an enjoyable experience. We ordered a share basket of fries which were perfectly cooked crinkle fries. They had ketchup available as well. We each got a burger, one classic and one Oklahoma style which had two patties. The classic had more of a Kaiser roll whereas the Oklahoma had a potato bun. The meat was fresh, not frozen and cooked nicely on a flat top. The onions on the Oklahoma were sliced incredibly thin but for some reason were not soft enough to bite through (my only disappointment). It's easy to find as the doorway is right down from Rita's on Ridge Avenue. Give it a try!

    I haven't had a burger from Lucky's since my days of drinking down in the Yunk many moons ago…read more Glad to see they came to Ridge Hall. Since they are not open for lunch during the week I made sure to stop in on a Saturday in November to grab a burger. Normally I'm a burger purist but on this trip I decided to go with their Oklahoma Onion Butter Burger and a side of fries. I paid via credit card when I ordered.(they were not accepting cash). After about 10mins or so my order was ready. The burger has (2) patties and onions. Flavor was on point but the overall size of the burger was small for me. I could have easily eaten two of them. The side order of crinkle cut fries was equally small and they were just warm. Overall the meal was good and I would eat here again. However if I'm craving a top notch burger I will probably choose one of the other options in the area.

    Photos
    Lucky’s Roadside Stand - Lucky's as you enter the floor

    Lucky's as you enter the floor

    Lucky’s Roadside Stand
    Lucky’s Roadside Stand - The brewery where we grabbed our beer

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    The brewery where we grabbed our beer

    The Metropolitan American Diner & Bar - Outside The Metropolitan Diner

    The Metropolitan American Diner & Bar

    4.0(819 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    This review is long overdue! We absolutely love the Metropolitan Diner. We've been here for…read morebreakfast, lunch, dinner, and happy hour, and they've been consistently excellent every time. In my opinion, they have the best happy hour in the area. It's every day from 5-7 PM, which is a refreshing change from the typical Monday-Friday happy hours that end at 6. We usually sit at the bar, and the bartenders are always friendly, attentive, and make you feel welcome. The happy hour food and drink specials are a fantastic value. It's easy to enjoy a great evening out for under $50, which is becoming harder to find these days. The crowd is usually friendly too, making it a fun place to relax and socialize. As for the food, I honestly can't remember having a bad meal here. Everything we've ordered has been flavorful, satisfying, and generously portioned. Unlike many restaurants today, you don't leave feeling like you paid inflated prices for tiny portions. If you're looking for a place with great food, excellent service, an outstanding happy hour, and a welcoming atmosphere, the Metropolitan Diner is definitely worth a visit. It's become one of our favorite local spots, and we'll be back many more times.

    What happened here, they used to be decent. I came in a few weeks ago with my six year old only to…read morebe told we "had to be done in 45 minutes because there's a large party coming in". We didn't stay, I felt that was rude and dismissive. My wife and I did come back today because they open at 10am on Sundays. The food was absolutely horrible. We ordered the eggroll sampler and fried pickles as an app. The eggrolls were tasteless, and the fried pickles were so greasy we couldn't eat them. Then on to the entrees, I ordered the brunch burger and my wife the French toast with bacon. French toast is what it is...not much you can do (and I still question my wife about ordering it). The burger, flavorless and overcooked. To make this experience better, the bacon for my wife's side and on my burger...completely raw. The food took a long time to come out, so no excuses. The service was good and I don't blame them for this. But far too many missteps. This is not just a mistake on one item...this is a restaurant that's lost its way.

    Photos
    The Metropolitan American Diner & Bar
    The Metropolitan American Diner & Bar - Bar Area

    Bar Area

    The Metropolitan American Diner & Bar - Pearl Sugar Belgian Waffles

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    Pearl Sugar Belgian Waffles

    William Penn Inn - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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