Local Favorite Hangout Offering Good Value

The quaintness swallows you from the moment of entrance. 

Wood-paneled walls, exposed bricks and an enclosed coziness envelop you as you are presented a choice of the bar lounge or the dining room area.  A snugness is hidden in every corner of the restaurant, promising to bring people together.

Complete with 17 TVs, two large flat-screen monitors, an award-winning "Central Jersey's Best Salad Bar," a full bar and a menu delivering American classics, McCarthy's is suitable for a variety of occasions from family dinners and after-work meals to date drinks and a late-night hangout for young crowds.

Supplementing the restaurant's liveliness, several events are scheduled for each day of the week.  Tuesdays welcome local softball teams after games for the 49-cent Wing Night, during which wings, pizza and beer specials reign. 

On Wednesday evenings, DJ specials perform, and at 7 and 9:30 p.m., free poker tournaments are held in conjunction with America's No. 1 poker league, World Tavern Poker.  On Mondays through Thursdays after 5 p.m., customers are presented with pizza deals. 

The interior space contains reminiscences of vintage and bucolic elements, surrounded by wood for tables and wall panels, and framed black-and-white photographs of movie celebrities and sports figures.  A large flat-screen TV was set on ESPN when I was there, showing the Hawks playing the Knicks.

The menu specializes in American classics such as burgers, wraps, sandwiches, salads and pizzas. Particularly famous is the restaurant's steak by the ounce—$1.99 per ounce—and filet mignon by the ounce—$2.49 per ounce (minimum of 8 ounces). 

An early bird menu is served every day of the week from 3 to 6 p.m. that essentially miniaturizes portions of select entrees and includes the salad bar, vanilla or chocolate ice cream, garlic-mashed potatoes or baked Idaho potatoes.  All this is available as long as you purchase a beverage and pay in cash (with an ATM available within the establishment, my waitress informed me). 

Each early-bird entree costs between $9.99 to $10.99.

My close friend from high school, Andrew Hartmann, downed a few glasses of Stella Artois while we shared the Combo Appetizer Platter that consisted of buffalo wings, chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks, and their respective sauces of bleu cheese, honey mustard and marinara. Andrew chewed and thoughtfully described the arrangement as "standard bar food," and declared, "the mozzarella is crunchy on the outside."

I tried an 8-ounce filet mignon by the ounce that came with garlic-mashed potatoes and a vegetable side of broccoli and carrots. It was easy to appreciate what was essentially nourishing comfort food, the soothing nature of which was accentuated by the unrelenting rain that fell outside on the night we went.  

Andrew chose the fresh Atlantic tilapia that was accessorized with a baked potato and sauteed mixed vegetables that he found "fresh, crispy, perfect." Several filets of tilapia were piled neatly on his plate in what was a generous portion for a decent price of $15.99. 

Andrew's overall impression of his dish was that of a good home-prepared meal.   

For dessert, we went with the special: Caramel Apple Cake. A cinnamon spiciness constituting oral aromatherapy gently guided our pleasant dinner between old friends toward completion.

Patrons interested in organizing private parties can reserve the non-smoking main dining room, available only on Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 4:30 p.m. (for other times, negotiate with the manager) for a minimum of 25 to 65 people at most.  Four courses may be selected from a private party buffet menu.

On McCarthy's website, where photo galleries of customers at the height of enjoyment in celebrations are displayed, patrons are given the option of subscribing to an e-mail newsletter to remain updated on promotions and new events.

Revelers of the fast-approaching St. Patrick's Day would do well to celebrate at McCarthy's where, starting on March 13, hot corned beef on rye and a corned beef platter with potatoes and cabbage will be served. Celebrations planned include DJ performances from 4 p.m., a bag piper from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and a Guinness Limo Tour.

Maintaining the spirit of community service and involvement, McCarthy's has continually participated in the Wounded Warriors Project, a nonprofit organization, through a collection of funds at the restaurant.

For more information, visit the McCarthy's website.