Mule Barn Tavern Restaurant - Highlands

It was such a nice day to grab lunch, and this place was the perfect spot! Located near the old officers’ quarters in Sandy Hook, Mule Barn Tavern has both indoor and outdoor seating — but on a beautiful day, definitely sit outside and enjoy the view. You can even walk around Fort Hancock first and work up an appetite! Our server Brianna was amazing — super friendly, attentive, and always checking in to refill our drinks or see if we needed anything. The food came out fresh and hot. I had the Caprese Chicken Sandwich — crispy breaded chicken topped with mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil, and a drizzle of pesto and balsamic on a hoagie roll. So good! It came with seasoned fries. My guest got the Mushroom Swiss Burger with caramelized onions, roasted garlic aioli, and portobello mushrooms — another winner. They’ve got a bunch of appetizers that sound great, so I’ll definitely be back to try more. And true to its name, Mule Barn Tavern has a big selection of mule cocktails — highly recommend trying one! If you’re in the area, it’s the perfect place to grab a bite, enjoy a drink, and take in the sights.

The summertime vibes here are amazing. Plenty of parking, and right on the water. The drive in and out is really nice too, however at night it can be a bit spooky! There is no toll or fee to get into Sandy Hook itself, rather you only pay for beach parking from Memorial Day until Labor Day. So when you get to the Sandy Hook toll gate, you just tell them where you are going; visiting the lighthouse, going to this restaurant, etc. 10/1/2025: The chipotle chicken pasta is the best pasta dish I’ve ever had in my life. The sauce is absolutely incredible. You must try this dish. And the fish & chips too! NOTE: 10/5/2025, I’ve lost the last 3-4 days of my life to major digestive distress. I’m just now feeling normal again. That pasta dish was the last food I ate that had any sort of substance outside of my home. Do with that information as you may. I have just stopped eating anything outside my home for the time being. I do not know if we will ever return.

We've been planning a visit to the Mule Barn, and coordinated with a day at the beach. It was a beautiful day to sit outside and enjoy the patio. We enjoyed the outdoor area, and the food was great! The fries, as we know while not a health food, were fantastic. Our server was also great, friendly and helpful. Cold drinks, hot food. Good place, can't wait to go back.

Visiting Sandy Hook on a family day trip, and absolutely need to come back to this restaurant! The staff is friendly, informative, and awesome! The food? Absolutely incredible! I had the lobster Mac and cheese and I practically inhaled it!! Teriana, our server, was so sweet and made sure we were well taken care of!!! We adored her !! Thank you so much for a great first experience at Mule Barn Tavern!!

I think I've found my new Friday night dinner. Outside and inside seating both are great. We had the fried mozzarella,chicken nachos and hubby had lobster mac and cheese, son met burger and I had the chicken caprese. All were delicious. Only disappointing part was the sangria.

I gave the place a second chance and brought a friend for a late lunch during the week. The server was pleasant and helpful. I enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The idea of updating the old army corral building into a restaurant/tavern is great. The historic area and water views are wonderful. The first visit, our server wasn't with it and never brought us the small plates we asked for to share the appetizers.

Out on Sandy Hook this non-descrip building is the Mule Barn. We stopped in after the summer crowd left. Weather was perfect for a drink. We had a pretzel. I believe it to be one of the largest we have experienced. We would only stay for drinks and eat elsewhere.

We were ignored for the first 22 minutes while the place was only at 80% capacity. Had to go and ask to be acknowledged. Bloody marry was mediocre to say the least. The water came after the meal. Food was OK. We only ordered appetizers since everything was taking so long. The Bavarian pretzel was one of the best I had in the states, very close to the real thing (which is rare). The Coral Seafood was fresh and a good portion just a bit heavy with the salt. The calamari was also fresh and beautifully presented but the ratio of calamari versus fried lemons (which was a good touch) was not proportional (60-40). Maybe if you order fired lemons with a side of calamari it would be justified. The Atmosphere was ok. As a beach restaurant it should have mkre sea food options. P.S. almost forgot... when the food arrived, we had to ask for utensils for which we also waited 6 min. Waited for the check 10 minutes after we asked for it. Place has a potential but needs more personnel.

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!!

The teriyaki wings are incredible, and the service is top-notch! The beer's cold, the wings are delicious, and bartender Patty is absolutely fantastic. Picture of the bianco pizza!

We sat upstairs and had quick and friendly service. Appetizer was Cerviche. Delicious Hamburger with Swiss cheese and mushrooms. Delicious Chicken capresse sandwich. Delicious Everything had a highly quality handmade taste and feel. Definitely coming back again. Great experience

Stopped in at Mule Barn Tavern and was really impressed with the food and atmosphere. The lobster mac & cheese was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor -- the lobster pieces were fresh and tender, and the crispy breadcrumbs on top gave it a nice texture. Definitely a standout dish. The teriyaki sesame wings were another hit -- perfectly cooked with a sweet, tangy glaze and just the right amount of char. The sesame seeds added a nice crunch without overpowering the flavor. Service was friendly and the setting has that rustic tavern vibe that makes it a comfortable spot to hang out. Portions were solid, prices fair for the quality. The wait was a bit long thats the only complaint. Would definitely come back for the mac & cheese alone, but next time I'll try a couple more menu items. Great local spot in Highlands.

Came here for the first time for a wedding and it was a hit. The staff did such a fabulous job with everything, food was great and the space was nice. They were super accommodating. This tavern is located all the way down the Sandy hook beach with great views everywhere you turn. Would definitely come back for lunch or dinner.

A nice spot all the way down Sandy Hook. Seasonal specials with fun cocktails and beers on tap. The room upstairs can be rented out for special events. Friendly staff serving all kinds of tasty dishes from burgers and chicken sandwiches to crab cakes and short ribs.

Incredible restaurant built in an old army barn at Fort Hancock. Live music outside, cool AC inside to escape the heat, and a menu that delivered a nice verity for most anyone. The cocktails were delicious and well balanced while the service was quick and attentive. Overall great experience!

Enjoyed a delicious lunch on their outdoor picnic area. Fast and friendly service. Enjoyed the fish and chips, fresh and hot crispy beer batted flakey cod hit the spot. Wished the chips were the chunky British style but still enjoyed the thinner version. A pint of cold blue moon was the perfect compliment. Beautiful venue, lovely and clean ambience. View of the waterway was just perfect for a chill afternoon outside.

The Mule Barn Tavern was delicious and in such a nice spot on Sandy Hook. It was a nice drive down to the restaurant and the aesthetic goes along with the Hook and New Jersey. There was a member of my party with a gluten allergy and they are very accommodating for it. I ordered the Caprese Chicken Sandwich. It was very good and it was a large sandwich. The gluten free pizza is also a good option. I look forward to going back!

As an old-timer that used to come to Sandy Hook all the time when I was still young, dumb and fun... I'm not sure which part is more upsetting - the entrance fee is now $20 (I think we stopped coming when it was still $15 per car) or that there's now real/private businesses inside of the park. (Okay, it's the fact that you can no longer bring/drink alcohol to the beach. Boo!) Not only can you rent out the old military barracks (but those prices!) but here's a very hip and cool (and dare I whisper... trendy) restaurant firing on all cylinders. If you've ever spent some time over in PA - you know they're littered with those very cool brew-pub-eateries (Appalachian Brewing and Iron Hill Brewery come to mind) and that's what this place feels like. (Although I don't believe Mule Barn makes any of their own beer.) The place looks great, inside and out. There's a large staff constantly in motion trying to keep up. A good varied menu (food and booze). We were adventurous in ordering (salads to sandwiches to seafood) and thought they'd executed everything extremely well. (But those "Cape May" prices - like $9 for a pint of domestic beer and $30 for their lobster mac-and-cheese were a bit too rich for a cheap-o like myself. I mean... Sandy Hook is barely 'down the shore', right?!) A few times it felt like we were forgotten but we weren't in any rush. I'm easy to impress and I'd probably come back just to get another sandwich that would have one half of the bun being "branded". A cool far-off-the-beaten-path place to give a shot to.

Have eaten here several times, but yesterday was the first day it was nice enough to sit outside. Each experience has been lovely. Gluten free items are clearly labeled, but be sure to mention that you need it GF as sometimes modifications need to be made. Tuna nachos are delicious!Service has been friendly and attentive and we would absolutely go back.

Fun views. Far to get to but very fun experience. Food was pretty good especially for bar food. Would come back.

Awesome. Sat at bar and a great way to start summer. Bar manager (Christina) was great - engaging and some samples helped choose. So good food. Good service. Good weather and the Mrs for good company.

First time: a perfectly dressed,fresh apple walnut salad with spinach. Second time: the chicken Milanese salad. The breaded chicken breast cooked just right. Excellent dressing and not over dressed. Burger was declared excellent by the dining partner, who also enjoyed wings second time. Service was prompt and attentive. And what is better than sitting outside on Sandy Hook?

Good food and a good price. Place feels warm and welcoming and would definitely be nice sitting outside in the warmer weather but nothing special or over the top. Services was a little slow considering it wasn't that packed but nice place, would recommend for a bite to eat to just check out the place or if your out on the hook exploring and don't feel like going far to get something to eat!

Such a Beautiful place,love the drive to get here through Sandy Hook beautiful surroundings. Great atmosphere,great service. Great bartenders,and great food. Will not disappoint Best burger I had in sometime. Excellent wings.

Love this place. Great scenery and a really cool history. I have been there at least a dozen times and the food and service has always been good.

Busy and one server inside, but Deb rocked it! Got to everyone and was super polite and attentive. Food was delicious, environment fun and lively. We had a burger and a salad and split everything and it was perfect!

Great ambience. Dog friendly on the patio. Love the food. Pretzel was the best burgers good and drinks perfect. Service was slower but good bc we were chilling anyway.

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.

This little bar and grill is at the end of Sandy Hook right by the Coast Guard Station. There is outdoor seating as well as inside. Waited about 5 mins for a table which isn't bad. Food was delicious. We had the pork belly sliders as an appetizer and split the burrata, sausage, pork roll and cherry pepper pizza. Sauce was very flavorful and crust was crispy and sweet. Only thing wrong was they were very skimpy on the toppings. Nice place to visit in the evening where you can see the Shrewsbury River inlet. If sitting inside, ask to sit far away from the air conditioner; it was so cold and I was shivering because it was blowing on me. Also, our waitress was very nice but was forgetful and hard to find sometimes. Never came by to refill drinks or offer dessert when we were done.

I'm glad this place exists because there's not much else around here. This is the perfect place to cool off on a hot day and get a bite to eat! I ordered the margherita pizza. It wasn't life changing but had a good flavor. I'd come back!

HIGHLANDS/Sandy Hook: Mule Barn Tavern has been open less than a year and has become a popular hangout for a great meal, fun events, and a unique dining experience! The restaurant is located in a historic barn that was once part of Fort Hancock and is right on Sandy Hook Bay. We had a blast at their St. Patrick's Day party with a jamming DJ, leprechaun costume hats, a bagpiper playing traditional Irish music, and had a fantastic server, Christina, on a packed day. Leashed and friendly dogs are allowed at the outdoor patio where the sunshine is strong, so make sure your pup is comfortable. The menu features American-style food made with local ingredients and they are helpful in accommodating for dietary needs. In-season (Memorial Day-Labor Day), there is a charge to enter Sandy Hook, but when you arrive at the front gate, let them know you are visiting Mule Barn Tavern for free entry. 36 Kearny Road, Highlands, NJ 07732

Beachy ambiance; very nice view. We ordered Light House burger and cilantro salad; both were very good. Martini was not good (we returned it), but Bloody Mary was ok. Service was ok.

Popped in for a late lunch on a Sunday, one of the first warm days of Spring. The food is pretty good. I had the ahi tuna tacos, and the tuna was fresh and the wonton shell was a nice touch. I do wish it would have came with some type of fries, etc. My wife had the portobello pizza, which had mushroom, burrata, basil pesto and balsamic. It was very good. Pretty decent draft beer selection of local NJ breweries and an extensive "mule" menu. My wife had a bourbon one and it was good. Overall, nice to have a good pub on Sandy Hook.

Great food and drinks by the beach. It's the place to be in the summer. The calamari is delicious, and mule drinks are fun themes

The food is good, however; the outside seating is only available for guests who bring dogs ;( -S from Port Monmouth, NJ

Such an amazing addition to the Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, NJ (also - Atlantic Highlands). You would expect that a restaurant in this location would have mediocre food quality at astronomical prices, but that's not the case at all. I've eaten here a few times already and each meal was spot on and totally affordable; especially for being the only restaurant in the #nationalpark Menu items selected today included: * Patriot Burger: 10 oz Burger topped with Slow Cooked Braised Short Rib, Arugula, Candied Jalapeno, Bacon, BBQ Sauce, and Cheddar Cheese * Industrial Burger: 10 oz Burger topped with Cheddar cheese, bacon, onion rings and BBQ sauce And while I'm leaving this review, it is super important that we talk about how nice, helpful, and energetic our waitress was. Thank you for a great experience. Nestled at the scenic tip of Sandy Hook in Highlands, New Jersey, a landmark restoration project has breathed new life into the historic Mule Barn, transforming it into a magnificent American-style tavern. Mule Barn Tavern not only offers a delightful dining experience but also pays homage to the area's rich history and the significance of restoring this extraordinary location. Check Them Out @mulebarntavern

Delighted to have a place to eat and drink in Sandy Hook again! Indoor, outdoor and dog friendly! Water & sunset views from many tables. (Great Osprey viewing for bird nerds) Husband had mahi tacos and gave them 4 stars. I'm vegetarian, not many interesting vegetarian options--the usual portabella sandwich, a couple of salads, pizza & a so-so 2-star mushy veggie burger. Subbed onion rings for the French fries & they were not bad-had a little kick to them.

Lovely space, the staff is well trained, warm and homey feel. Small beer selection for a tavern, and while they were out of several items on tap I'm cognizant that on Jan 2nd they can be given a pass on that-and our wonderful waitress Emily made a couple trips to the bar to check. Love that they have a Jermann Pinot on the wine list. Meatball app had great sauce and ricotta but the meatballs had a tough exterior and interior. Great for sharing, as there were four. Coulda dropped a slice or two of bread on the plate for $15, no? Burger had terrific char flavor, but my burger was nowhere near the (as rare as possible) request. Were we not on a time constraint I would have sent it back. Terrific fries, just need a shake of salt. Maybe a pickle spear on the plate for color? I'll return, but the food needs to match the ambiance/charm and the wait staff.

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

The tuna nachos are amazing! Plenty of tuna and not too much sauce. We love the drinks here! Always great and very unique. We stop here for lunch whenever we hit Sandy Hook.

so many gluten free options! GF buns for burgers, and one of the better GF pizza crusts i've ever had. they went a little light on the cheese for the margarita pizza, a little disappointing but that's okay i'm lactose intolerant anyways. tried the espresso martini and spicy margarita, both good drinks! nachos had little flavor. a little pricy for the type of food but that's okay. vibe inside is cool

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!"

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. *

The mule barn tavern is a neat little pub near the Coast Guard base on Sandy Hook. I've been there a couple times and honestly it's a bit hard to find. There's no signs pointing you where to turn and no sign out front... or side, even the entrance is a bit elusive. It's nice inside, kind of a new modern attempt and a vintage look. The tables along the outer walls have a bench on one side and the chairs on the other are a bit lower, let the shorter people have the bench. The bar is nice but doesn't seat many. There's some high top table also and an upstairs dining area however I haven't see it yet. There is not view of the ocean, the inlet, or the bay. Service is laid back, just the right amount of attention. Orders are filled in a timely manner and everything that comes out of the kitchen looks terrific. The burgers are humongous! They have a nice menu with salad, pasta, steak, and seafood choices. I had the lobster salad sliders and they were very good. Big chunks of lobster with crispy veggies and mayo. I have to say the bread to salad ratio was too high and in retrospect I should have combined everything into one sandwich and ditched the second roll. I wasn't thrilled with the fries. It's like they were sitting under a warming lamp too long, they were chewy, not crisp, and doused with too much salt. I enjoyed the burger egg roll appetizer but it had no zip, I asked the waiter for hot sauce which helped tremendously. I didn't eat too much so I could enjoy the entree. My GF decided not to have any of the appetizer, for 1 person this could be a meal in itself. She had the meatball calzone which seemed good but actually it was weirdly greasy. Equally, it's served on a metal tray with paper so when she cut it she had to dodge the black checkerboard parchment coming up with a fork full of calzone. Overall this place is a good joint to sit at the bar and drink. after a good buzz you can order some really eye appealing mediocre food. We had a calzone with a side salad, the egg roll appetizers and the lobster sliders, 2 iced teas and no alcohol and the bill was $100 bucks including the tip. That's a bit pricey for lunch I have to say overall this turned out to be a tourist trap. Try it for yourself. There's little choices for food on the hook.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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.