Washington House Restaurant

Really nice place, we were surprised by the tent area in the back, but it was pretty warm and comfortable, and had a really ambiance. The service was great and everyone was very attentive. They had a deal for 1 dollar oysters when we were there, and the rest of the food was pretty good too. Overall a cute place and I'm glad we gave it a try!

Nestled in suburbia NJ, Washington House delivers a nice selection of American dishes like roasted chicken (yummy!) and delicious seasonal fare like Frikadellar. You may be fortunate to be served by the reserved yet devilishly charming and creative bar tender...who will custom make drinks like the "JT", a combo of St. Germain, pomegranate juice, ginger ale and muddled mint. Makes for a lovely meeting place for friends and families alike. Highly recommended. Ask for Thomas for sure!

What a great place to eat. Awesome atmosphere. Food was amazing, from appetizers to dessert. We will def go back, highly recommended. Executive chef Mr. Rodriguez was professional and welcoming! Great job👍

Hands down one of the best restaurants I’ve been to over the past few years. Food was out of this world, dessert included. Service and location perfectly complimented the food and its quality. For the love of god - get the brownie!

Love Washington House! Been going for years. Manager is on top of everything. Great service, great drinks and bartenders🙌fun food options, had shrimp tacos, fresh peach salad and beautiful fresh shrimp cocktail w a watermelon margarita😎Yum Yum Yum! Sat under the umbrella on a gorgeous day!

We stopped in here for the first time in several years and were really surprised and impressed by all of the work that has been done to expand the dining on the patio/terrace. I’m worried though that the incredible focus on increasing the number of tables may have come at the expense of service and quality of food. We had to wait quite awhile just to order drinks and it took longer than expected for our food to arrive. As for the food, my main complaint was with the fish and chips. It was really bad, more like a kids order of fish fingers (see the picture) and soggy as well. From a pub or tavern like this i expect a nice sized piece of fish with a crispy outside. A bit disappointing overall which is unfortunate because they have done as good job on the covered terrace.

This was my first time here I was out showing property to a great client who used to work at my office when she was in college, she graduated and she is ready to buy her first home. So proud of her She googled restaurant in the area and this one came up. So we went and we loved it I got home and told my husband we must have to go so he can try it. The place is beautiful the staff is very friendly and best of all the food was amazing….truly a great place with great food and ambiance

Incredible dining experience. First time here, so we started with Oysters, white bean dip & tuna tare tare. My wife had the salmon which was cooked to perfection. I ordered the pork chop, which was BANGIN. One of the best that I've ever had! My only wish list: A better bourbon and rye offering.

Food was great Service was exceptional Ambiance was traditional Loved it all! We have been there a number of times and we never get tired of it!

While visiting family in New Jersey, they introduced us to the Washington House. The restaurant appeared expensive with a pretty exterior. Pleasantly surprised how reasonable it was. The food was so delicious. The biggest surprise of the night was a dish with the same name as my husband. Eloy's Queso Fundido. My family knew this and brought us there to surprise us. Come to find out that was also the chefs name. All the dishes were delicious. Chef Eloy was so gracious. Highly recommend the Washington House Restaurant.

From my two visits in a row this past weekend (and Michelle serving us - and recognizing me both times),my opinion is even more firm that this restaurant is a must try. Absolutely anything you order from here tastes amazing. Service is blitz-quick,everyone is super polite and efficient,the ambiance is chic and upscale. One of my top 5 favorite places to eat in New Jersey,no doubt!! Don't worry about parking,as street parking nearby is free (up to 2 hrs),and they happen to have a huge parking lot nearby for when it's super busy in town. If I had to pick my go-tos at any point,that would be their French Onion Soup (they don't skim on cheese!) and Churros...especially when fresh from the oven. Give it a try,you'll be coming back for more!

Excellent service & fantastic food, love love this place! Never noisy but full of people, young old family couples, a lil bit of everything. Highly tecommend!

I don't understand why the reviews for this place are not higher! We tried going to another spot first but there was an hour wait so we came here and were sat immediately in their "tent" without issues. The decor is cute and it was very comfortable. Great menu with lots of GF options and mocktails that all sounded amazing. I got a Scottish salmon over risotto and they asked me what temp I wanted it cooked at (great first sign). I ordered it medium rare and it came out PERFECTLY with a nice crust sear. Risotto was delicious. My sober mule was absolutely so refreshing and flavorful. I also tried my friend's boom boom shrimp and would get that next time. All the staff were efficient and the food came out so quick even though we were by no means the only people there. This place deserves more love!!

Worst service I've experienced in a very long time. We waited at least 10 minutes before our server appeared and her first words to us were "Do you want to order?" Not "Hello, welcome, my name is..."etc. That was the only time we saw her. She never once reappeared once to check on us. We had to ask another server for our check. The food was ok which is why I'm giving two stars. The staff seemed overwhelmed and untrained. We skipped coffee and dessert and called it a night.

Had an excellent meal here. Miguel, our server was very attentive... he gave us great suggestions. The Chop Salad is a must try! So light but so delicious! I also loved the Seared Scallops Dish! What a great restaurant, will be returning soon!

Food - great. Ambience - clean and sophisticated. Service - weird. What's with the headphones, waiters? Also, one of our party was the victim of a freak accident while at the table and staff acted like nothing happened, then finally offered us complimentary desserts and coffees to atone, then charged us for the coffee anyway. What?

Squeezing a table into every last centimeter of a room does not make for a pleasant r dining experience. Our table for two was tiny and jammed into the room. My left elbow was literally hitting the pillar column making it very difficult to even eat. When you are that uncomfortable how good the food is doesn't even really matter.

Most items were very good, The tartar appetizer was average. My braised short rib was also average which was disappointing after waitress suggested it. A little unimpressed over all after the money spent even without alcohol. Very nice restaurant atmosphere though.

Good food , nice place when you need somewhere close. $1 oyster nights are the best. Basking Ridge does not have a lot of restaurants so ...kinda of a go to place.

I had my Rehearsal Dinner & Welcome Party for my wedding weekend at Washington House and everything was PERFECT. The food, service, ambiance, staff, everything. Sam and her team were incredible to work with. Washington House was able to accommodate our large rehearsal dinner of 65 people that led into a cocktail party of 100+ people. Our guests couldn't stop talking about the food, service, and how beautiful the place is. Highly recommend for your next event!

I have been here several times for dinner, trying a variety of dishes and have been happy every time. The Fried Calamari - spicy remoulade*, marinara, lemon is a great starter. The Lobster Thermidor Toast Points - Maine lobster tail, melted gruyere, fresh dill is a unique favorite. The Butternut Squash Soup - cinnamon spice cream, micro greens was awesome. For the main course the Fish & Chips - battered cod, French fries, tartar sauce, lemon wedge is a solid version of one of my favorite 'bar' type foods. The Asian-Style Salmon Burger - miso, shitake mushrooms, wasabi aioli, avocado fries or side caesar salad is quite tasty and if you choose the side Caesar to go with it, you will be very pleased. The place is huge. The permanent heated tent they have I am sure more than doubles the capacity of the original restaurant. I have never seen it at full capacity (and frankly I wonder how the kitchen would be able to service everyone if it was) so you usually have the grace of a more quiet meal with space around you. For dinner, since most businesses are closed at that hour in the surrounding area, parking on the main street is easy to find as well and at 25 MPH it is quiet enough not to be dodging speeding cars either.

What a great find! I work in the area and this was close by while also off the beaten path from our office. The inside of the place in cozy yet modern and the wait staff was fantastic. I got the blackened chicken & farro salad and asked for Salmon instead of chicken. The chicken came with the salad regardless so the waiter put it on the side for me a take home later. The salmon was amazing, crispy on the top and tender and perfectly cooked on the inside. The salad itself was wonderful and I am still thinking about it! It was creamy yet had that crispness you want in a salad and all the flavors worked great together. I also later had the blackened chicken which was seasoned great having a nice little kick. Definitely a place I would frequent again if in the area or for a work lunch.

The restaurant has seemingly outgrown itself. The outdoor seating area, which is under a big tent that the town allowed to be constructed, holds a significant number of guests, and they now have the indoor space available for seating. Service was very slow on a not very busy evening. Food is as good as always, but seems like the kitchen is having a rough time keeping up with the expanded space.

What a perfect dining experience for my husband, our son and his fiancé! This was first time back since only outdoor dining was allowed during the pandemic and first time experience for our soon to be daughter in law. The service was excellent taking orders, great waiter I wish I could remember his name, and the servers who bring the drinks and food were equally polite. Service was extremely efficient. Constant attention. Great variety for mixed drinks! Between the 4 of us there were different items ordered with beautiful presentations. Their clam chowder, onion soup, fried calamari all excellent. Entrees of sesame crusted tuna, crab cakes, beef filet tips and frekadella (danish meatballs) all amazing. Each course came out piping hot,simultaneously. A big win for us, am so sorry we didn't take photos but trust me the presentations really did justice to the delicious flavors. There was no room for dessert! Perfect ending to dinner as we exited the restaurant a beautiful double rainbow. The pot of gold was our amazing dinner.

The Washington House is the perfect date night stop. Excellent food, calm/ charming environment - sit at the bar for a casual custom cocktail or move to a private table in the living room by the fireplace. They have plenty of seating inside or outside in a covered/ insulated tent. The menu is fantastic. Best clam chowder I've had in years. We enjoyed craft cocktails, lobster appetizer, roasted chicken... the list goes on. Definitely pop by and see for yourself !

We had a wedding reception there and Samantha the general manager was amazing to deal with throughout the whole process. Marc onsite ran the event great. The service from Michelle and Edgar was top-notch. None of the guests went without something the entire time. They anticipated everything and we're constantly watching for who needed a refill who needed something extra, etc. Can't say enough about the two of them and how well they made the event go so seamless. Everything went smooth as silk. I couldn't believe how well it really did go. The food was amazing everybody at the wedding reception commented on how great the food was. It was really like a five star restaurant meal at a reception. Lots of food options for the guests, and like I said the service staff was on top of it immediately. Definitely highly recommend this venue for special events or dining. Additionally, if you're around on Wednesday and Thursday, one dollar oysters and they're delicious. Thank you, Sam, Marc, Michelle, and Edgar and the entire staff at the Washington house restaurant!

I took my family out for a nice Valentines's dinner and had reserved a table for four in the heated tent dining area. The food and service were excellent, everything from the appetizers to the drinks and main entrees was on point. However, my reason for the three stars is that, despite being told at the time of booking that we would be seated in a heated tent, there was no heat at all. All the diners, including us, had to keep our coats on throughout the entire meal just to stay warm. Looking around, there were no heaters in sight, so why advertise a "heated " tent if there's no actual heat. At the end of meal, our server came by and asked if we'd like tea, coffee, or dessert. Since it was Valentines's Day, we decided to share a dessert along with some coffee and tea. When our server brought the check, he apologized for the cold dining conditions and mentioned that the coffee was on the house as a courtesy. Really? The best they could do was comp tje coffee. No discount on the meal, no complimentary dessert! Give the misleading reservation and lack of real effort to make up for the inconvenience, I can only give this experience three stars , and I'll think twice about dining there again.

No better way to start the summer than with a fun seasonal watermelon drink, WH carries a nice variety of seasonal specials and even a mocktail menu. Very family friendly, children's menu supplied upon request. Easy street parking, we were seated in a cavernous tented space behind the restaurant (cool breeze but would recommend rsvp to sit inside during the dog days of summer). Our food was good but my favorite was a dish not pictured, the seasonal St. Louis ribs. Portions are shareable, we were too full for dessert but it appears to be the main event as there were many birthday's being celebrated. would come back & try something new.

Best thing about this restaurant is the setting. Inside is like a house or inn and you feel like you're sitting in what used to be the living room or dining room. There is a big tent with tables connected to the house which didn't seem attractive to me, it's stuffy and noisy and would be uncomfortable on a hot day. I give the food 3.5 out of 5 stars. I ordered the sesame crusted tuna which comes with bok choy on a bed of rice. I asked for medium rare and it came cooked to medium which dried it out. Service is also 3.5 stars. Polite but long waits for her to come back to our table. She was busy but the place was only half full so I can see why other reviewers have complained about service. All in all it was good enough for me to come back but just barely.

My husband and I just had our wedding reception there. The attention to detail that Samantha ( Sam) & Marc brought to this event was nothing short of top notch. Everyone raved about the food and how delicious everything was. The wait staff Michelle & Edgar went out of their way to make sure everyone had what they needed at all times. We had one of our Aunts in a wheelchair so accommodations were made for her so she felt comfortable ,and our one niece and nephew had their 2 small boys with them, they even commented on how wonderful everyone was. The ambiance was so elegant. We cannot say enough about The Washington House and the amount of effort and hard work they all put in to make sure that this special occasion went flawlessly. Thank you:)

We sat in the tent outside. It's so cavernous and cold. We waited 10 min for anyone to even look at us. My cocktail was good and my Ahi Tuna bowl was delicious but so expensive!!

Wow, the food was so excellent here! Also love the really open and casual atmosphere, where it feels almost outdoors in the tent area. All of the appetizers were excellent, but I really loved the tuna tartar and the artichoke dip. Scallops were perfect and delicious. And then for all the desserts...it's hard to pick a favorite because all were incredible, I would just pass on the donuts because they tasted like baking soda. A really great place for a large group or even a business dinner. Highly recommend! Ps. Parking is limited so have to park on the street!

The service here is adequate, yet the dish I ordered, the housemade raviolis was not. The sauce and the raviolis themselves were to up to the standards of this restaurant. I was very disappointed.

Stopped in for the first time for lunch with a colleague. Nice and cozy space, great service, and delicious food. Seating is available in one of three areas: an outdoor tented area, bar area and dining room. We sat in the dining room and it was cozy. We both enjoyed our lunch: butternut squash soup, French onion soup, salmon, and chicken and farro salad. Definitely recommend if your looking for a spot in the area.

Happy we found this place. It was perfect for our large group, but would also be intimate enough for date night. My fish was cooked perfectly and the curry sauce that it came with was perfect without being over powering. Service started out rough as we had a large party and we were 'not allowed' to pull tables together but luckily a large table freed up between cocktails and appetizers. Once seated the staff was very accommodating, well informed on the menu, and able to navigate those with sensitivities to the right choices.

I had the filet mignon, which was cooked perfectly. Not the restaurants issue it was almost tasteless. I had to put a large amount of salt to get any taste at all. It really isn't their fault, no one could tell if a piece of meat would be good or not. It was sitting on top a large portion of risotto. It had pesto mixed in and it was not good at all. I ate the steak and left the rice. Considering the price, I don't think I will be going back there anytime soon. When I make risotto I use a lot of butter, chicken stock and white wine, people usually love it. putting pesto on it well it wasn't good that is all I can say.

I only went it to share a few cocktails with my friend after a late lunch and I just have to say. Not only was our cocktails fantastic the bartender was so lovely. He checked it and gave just the feel of you going to your friends house and they made you a drink. Really was a nice experience and I'd definitely come back! All the food looked fantastic!

Absolutely 5 Stars. Everything here is top notch. Each course was delicious and the cocktails were amazing. You can certainly tell by the presentation of our dinners that the Chef and cooking staff are highly trained and are very passionate about their cooking. Service was excellent. Michelle our server was wonderful. She made sure we were enjoying our dinners and never lacking anything. The staff monitors the rooms to ensure the tables are kept clean and they are never intrusive. Washington House is superb in all aspects.

Food was just OK. I should have been suspicious when the chef recommended medium well for a pork chop. It was medium well, salty, and dry. The calamari was hot but greasy. Sauces were just meh for flavor. Will not hurry back.

Really nice space but I feel like this place is going downhill. Service is super impersonal with waiters carrying around iPads and using secret service like ear pieces to communicate. Biggest issue here is the food. The menu is just too large and ambitious for them to pull everything off. Our last visit in Jan 2025 for dinner featured horribly overcooked steaks and misleading menu descriptions. Our 2 filets ordered medium both came completely grey - overcooked by several minutes. Adding insult to injury, we requested a potato side listed on the specials menu. It was listed as "pommes aligot" which is a very specific preparation of gooey, silky, almost pourable potatoes run through a food mill or ricer loaded with cheese. What arrived next to the steak? Roasted fingerling potatoes cut in half and covered in a mystery sauce. If you're going to put a classic preparation on the menu, deliver it. If you can't, call it what it is. This was like ordering chicken parm and being served a fried chicken drumstick with a pizza pocket on the side. We were there with our hungry and impatient kids and since the waiter was no where to be found we couldn't discuss the steaks. It really shouldn't be hard to cook a steak medium, this place is trying to turn too many tables and can't maintain a high standard for their food. Might return but won't be ordering $50 steaks again. I'd say stick to the burger, sliders, fish and chips and maybe calamari. Basically it's a nice restaurant interior where you want to stick to "bar food".

I went here on an absolutely freezing day. The heated tent outside was great. The heated floor was even better snd a nice touch. The food came out in a timely manner. Everything tasted great. It was a nice surprise place I didn't know existed and will definitely come back.

Overall a decent restaurant. The food wasnt amazing but aside from one shrimp dish I ordered, everything else was pretty good. The calamari had a great flavor and the tartars were tasty. Unfortunately the shrimp dish was not fresh, the shrimp tasted of chlorine and the one shrimp I tried to eat, was not deveined. In attempt to simply just order another dish instead, or server had the manager come over who kindly apologized and took my new order. In lieu i ordered the veggie burger and that was very good, actually being able to taste every veggie in the patty as opposed to a mystery mush many places serve. Worth coming and checking this place out.

Everything was good enough. The initial service we received was fantastic -- our wait for drinks & apps was basically nonexistent but once our entree order was taken I think he just wrote us off as "done" and didn't bother to check in again. The food was similarly just okay. The cheese on my burger was completely burnt and I had to scrape it off. My mother asked for no onions but still there they were. The mocha brownie was all brownie no mocha. Nothing too crazy to say I wouldn't recommend coming here but there are definitely better spots out there. My number one gripe about Washington House, however, is this: the host called the morning of our reservation to confirm and asked if we were celebrating anything special. Because we mentioned it was my stepdad's birthday, she said they would put a candle in his dessert and make it nice for us. Dessert came -- no candle, no "happy birthday." My stepdad said he didn't mind but my mom certainly did. As a former restaurant host and server, don't tell the customer you're going to do something like this (especially for a birthday, anniversary, etc.) without noting it on the reservation or informing the server so that they can actually follow through.

Service is outstanding . Very high noise level in the restaurant. Very fast paced atmosphere. Food is very good. A bit pricey. Given I think at the price range I been to better restaurants. It's worth a try however

I always look forward to having dinner in a new restaurant, while catching up with friends. Sometimes I wonder whether "eating out" was just an excuse to see each other, or "meeting up" was just a pretext to try a new place to eat out. Ok, it's both. The starters were really good here. Fresh oysters- not so briny, smooth and quite refreshing. I luv the tiny bottle of vinegar with minced garlic & peppercorn. Then we had the Roasted Beet Salad with the plumpest shrimps - seared to perfection atop the most delicate slice of beets. The combo was just subtle sweetness. I love, loved it. I wish I took pictures of the apps, but they were devoured instantly, lol. My House Crab Cakes were pretty good. We shared a piece, or two of each other's dishes and I liked the lamb, the best. I should try the scallops next time and the Churros!

We had wanted to try this restaurant for a while and I'm glad we did. Our waiter was attentive but very businesslike; we would've appreciated a little more personality and smiles, but that's just us. The drinks and food were wonderful; my friend and I both had seasonal cocktails and the pork chop. The pasta and filet my husband and friend ordered were enjoyed as well. The decor is tasteful and homey and it was nice to see other diners dressed up a little as we were. It's sad going to a nice restaurant just to see everyone in sweatpants and flannel lol.

19 for burger w side salad. Delish! Very nice Service! Clean. 'Tent' is big bright and beautiful ! There is no way the glorified outhouses should be associated w a menu w this high prices! Smelly, foot pedal flush like on a boat. It was as clean as it could be but just wrong. Only 1 for Men n 1 for Women; I imagine a line if that huge tent was full! Cute lil town block!

Having several visits to the Washington House over the past several months, it has become one of our favorites in the area. Food quality and service remain consistently high. Daily Specials are frequently varied following seasonal trends and product availability. Although the Dining Room hss reopened for Dinner, we have come accustomed to and often prefer to enjoy people watching and the relaxed atmosphere of the tent.

A once quaint little restaurant (so I was told) is now a tent city with airplane bathrooms that don't flush. And if this isn't enough to make you second guess eating here, maybe being dive bombed by multiple flys throughout your meal might do the trick. The food was very average at best, and the service was absolutely NON EXISTENT. So please tell me why anyone in their right mind would want to eat here? Go ahead... I'll wait.

While George Washington did not sleep at Washington House, he did seem to sleep, live and eat everywhere else in the area before he had to leave in a bit of a hurry to escape the advancing Redcoats (which of course led to Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware a few miles west of here). With that said, Washington House is a great local spot for good food and drinks. The restaurant has essentially moved to a semipermanent outdoor space which is well built and very comfortable.

The food is phenomenal, however the service has been horrendous our past few visits. Yesterday we went for $1 oysters to celebrate a birthday. After waiting for someone to come up to our table for twenty minutes, the waiter wasn't sure where the oysters were from. We were then given the wrong drink, and never checked on throughout the night. Food is good, but not worth it for the expensive price tag and lack of service.

Great service. And food came out timely. And that's what 2 stars are for Appetizer sliders. Very small very dry. I don't mind a small burger but when you make it so small it's easy to overcook which they did Appetizer steak fajitas. Meat very chewy and no flavor. It was definitely re-heated steak and a dollop of sour creme and avocado on the side. Salmon burger was mushy and inundated in some kind of mayo? It's a nice atmosphere and it was lunch time but I had been looking to come here for a long time for our anniversary and it really was a major disappointment

Amazing Food! Amazing service! Difficult getting reservations since it's so popular! However worth the perseverance

Food was very good and numerous choices to select from. Extensive bar selection as well. Sat inside and was very comfortable. Service is important and wait staff was very attentive as well as the support staff. Definitely would go back!!

Very nice local spot in Basking Ridge. You can either be seated in what I call the Great Hall, a "temporary" structure build for service during the pandemic or charming interior rooms and bar. Broad selection of foods including salads, burgers, seafood and more creative fare, all well-prepared. Very good selection of wines by the glass, and the house beer is always fresh and crisp. Nice to have such a reliable place close to home.

I enjoy introducing friends to this gem. I will always be grateful to have had a place for my friends and I to go during the pandemic and have continued to support them. Their outdoor tent, with radiant floor heating, provides a comfortable environment. Last night I had a Caesar salad with grilled salmon.... A personal favorite... and as always it didn't disappoint. Their staff is always professional and attentive. I look forward to going back soon!

We are relatively new to the area but read other reviews, so we went there for lunch last Monday. There were five of us, two adults and three kids, so we chose to sit in the tented room in the back. The adults had different burgers so we could share, and the kids shared fries with three sauces and a potato side. It was amazing! Service was excellent, as was the food--a nice place to take a family.