Patio dining at Washington's Crossing, NJ

@jerzgirl (9208)
United States
June 27, 2017 2:25pm CST
Every Monday and Tuesday, a friend and I do dinner at various places we find represented on Restaurant.com. Sometimes they don't live up to the hype. Other times they exceed all expectations. Then there are those that are mostly so-so, but still a nice getaway. This was one of them. After having been up this way a week earlier to try a Cuban restaurant, we had seen this tavern just before crossing the Washington Crossing bridge and thought we might try them out sometime. They were listed, so he bought the certificate. I love eating outside in nice, not hot, not windy, weather. The evening was turning out to be just the perfect night. I didn't even know they had a patio when he asked if I wanted to eat out there. YES!! As you can see in the photo, the Crossing bridge is right behind the tavern, but what you can't see is the Delaware & Raritan River Canal that is now part of the D&RR Canal State Park. There is an identical canal on the other side of the Delaware River simply named the Delaware Canal. There were people strolling along side the canal as well as bikers enjoying the evening's perfect temperatures. Fireflies were blinking on and off and it just seemed so nice. The only drawback was that every table but two were covered with dirty dishes or other diners. The one waitress wasn't removing them except when new customers wanted to sit outside. When she did begin to clear tables, she simply placed the dirty dishes on a table next to us instead of walking inside with them as she went to the kitchen. Despite that, we enjoyed our hamburgers, me my fries and he his salad and French onion soup. I'd go back and I'd hope to be able to sit outside again on such a temperate evening as the sun was setting. It was just really a very relaxing setting, despite the lack of bussing.
4 people like this
4 responses
@rebelann (110809)
• El Paso, Texas
27 Jun 17
Sometimes it can be a turn off if the staff isn't removing dinner ware regularly, but otherwise having dinner on a patio would be a total plus.
3 people like this
@jerzgirl (9208)
• United States
28 Jun 17
I don't know what the issue was - whether it was a night they aren't normally busy so they only had the one waitress on or whether someone didn't show up to work, but in either case, I'd think taking several inside each trip to the kitchen would make the final cleanup easier. Still, the night was perfect as was the view, so it didn't ruin it for me. I was relaxed and was glad I was there.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9208)
• United States
28 Jun 17
@rebelann I did. I already wasn't expecting The Ritz. A very blue collar kind of place. But, the setting was just so pleasant, it would have taken something really nasty to ruin it.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (110809)
• El Paso, Texas
28 Jun 17
At least you had a good time @jerzgirl
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Jun 17
I can see that it must be a nice setting and view there.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9208)
• United States
27 Jun 17
It's one of those parts of New Jersey that people don't really know exist. Only minutes north of Trenton, but feels so far away from city life.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9208)
• United States
27 Jun 17
Patriots Tavern patio dining
Here's another perspective - after some diners left.
@bunnyjun (142)
• Hangzhou, China
28 Jun 17
In the distance , i see that fading light of dust plated a gold layer on the houses,adding fairy feeling to the whole picture
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9208)
• United States
28 Jun 17
It was just a really nice view all around looking out from the patio. I love that there are parts of NJ that defy the assumptions people have of the state.
@bunnyjun (142)
• Hangzhou, China
28 Jun 17
wow, i like the sunset
1 person likes this