A&W Steakhouse

Best steak in town. We love this place. Very clean and a very friendly staff. If you are ever in a good mood for a great stake stop bye

I usually don’t like to slam a place with a bad review after just one visit, but it has to be done.
This past weekend, a group of 10 of were celebrating a friend’s birthday who really wanted steak. We originally wanted Longhorn, but we were told the wait would be an hour or more, so that’s why we decided to head to A&W. Prior to arriving, I called A&W just to make sure they would be able to accommodate a group our size. On the phone, I was told, «Oh, most definitely.» So we arrive and realize immediately why it would have been easy (supposedly) to accommodate a group of our size: there was not a single soul here on a Saturday night. This place is small. The menu is also lacking in variety and options. There was one waitress. We were happy to see that we had the place all to ourselves. We originally thought, «good call on the back-​up plan.»
That is until our food took an EXORBITANT amount of time to arrive. Our food took nearly 2 hours to be placed in front of our starving faces. Whenever asked in that 2 hour period when the food would be expected to arrive, the waitress would respond, «It’s on its way.» I’m not a big red meat eater, so I ordered one of the few menu options that didn’t contain red meat: the fish po’boy. Should be simple enough, right? Slab of fish on a piece of bread with some coleslaw. Welp, would you believe me that everyone at my table who ordered their steaks and pork received their food before me? All of our food didn’t even come out at the same time, so I don’t understand what the hell was going on back there. The waitress tried to explain that the food took so long because a member from our party ordered her steak well done, but guess what? Her steak arrived, and you wouldn’t believe it, but it wasn’t even well done! It was medium! My poor starving friend had to have it sent back just to have the meat come back well done and smelling rotten. I don’t know what was going on back there, but you certainly do not want to piss off people who have 1. been drinking 2. are starving because they’ve could’ve watched an entire movie from beginning to end in the time it took to receive the food they ordered. Thank goodness we enjoy each others company so much. I can’t even tell you if my po’ boy was necessarily good because I was so hungry, I scarfed it down in seconds without a chance to savor it. Oh! When ordering my po’ boy, I had asked to substitute my fries for their garlic parmesan fries to which the waitress told me, «No problem. We can do that.» Did they do it? Nope. Two hours and they couldn’t even get the damn order right.
I think there was only one chef and that may have been the problem, but knowing that, wouldn’t it have made sense for the girl to give me that heads up when I called asking if they could accommodate our party? I mean, that would have been the smart thing to do. Instead, this place wanted our bill so bad, they made us pay for it. They tried to compensate by giving us a free round of drinks which I appreciated, but it was our friend’s birthday. It was supposed to be a special night. Plus we had an infant with us and she ended up staying up way past her bedtime because these people couldn’t give us a straight answer as to when we could expect our food. We could’ve just stayed at Longhorn and waited for a table and we probably would’ve still received our food before we received it at A&W. Terrible. I do not recommend this place at all. Even if we hadn’t had to wait as long as we did, I still wouldn’t recommend it. There was nothing special about the food and the options were lacking. Serious disappointment.

I don’t know why all of Bayonne is not in this gem. If you are going to Long horn you are losing. Mind you, I like long horn, but let’s face they are a chain, and this place is truly a steakhouse.
Their steaks are the softest, most flavorful steaks I have ever eaten. Truly. The filet mignon is the best, especially if you are not a big steak eater. I love the ribeye! Yummy! They are have this lemon spinach side that is to die for! Not everyone can do it correctly as spinach is easily over cooked, but theirs is a science! If you are in Bayonne or close, this place is worth the trip!

In town on business and staying near the airport. Knew I needed to eat dinner before returning to the hotel, so cruised the streets of Bayonne looking for a nice pub or small restaurant. Almost gave up until I saw A&W. Thought it was an Irish bar from the outside. Dining alone so figured I would try it.
It’s a Wed night, so very few customers inside. I was seated quickly and had a very pleasant meal with attentive service. Dined on hanger steak, med rare, and smashed potatoes, along with a beer (Goose Island IPA) and then a glass of cabernet.
Waitress brought me a basket of walnut raisin bread, toasted, which was a nice surprise. The steak was well-​seasoned and cooked to perfection… couldn’t ask for it any better. Potatoes were inspired but a bit dry. Wine recommendation was spot on.
I would definitely return, and recommend it to others. Give it a try, perhaps mid-​week when they aren’t busy. I really enjoyed my meal.

Horrible! If you have «Steakhouse» in your name, you should be able to serve a decent steak. I’ve had better at home. We went as a group on 6. By the time we got our order, half of us were served cold food. Appetizers were decent and by that I mean edible and hot (thank god!) but overall just disappointing!

Food was good. The male bartender that worked in the morning was very accommodating. I didn’t get to enjoy cheddar with my eggs but the meal was great. I’ll b back for more brunch.

It’s a little pricey for the look of the venue. The bar is right by all the tables. Parking is also a little hatd to find. The server was the bartender, luckily it wasn’t busy. I tried one of their fearured drinks and i was pleasantly impressed. The food was delicious. The crab cake appetizer was great. It was flavorful and a good serving size. The entrées were also a good serving size. I had the pork chops. They were juicy, tender and cooked perfectly. I will be returning to try some on their other options.

We tried this place over the weekend and found it overpriced and underserved. Save your money. You will be disappointed.

Had dinner last night at A&W Steakhouse. Food was great, our waitress was outstanding. Loved the appetizers (mussels in white wine and fried pork bites with a chili sauce) and my hangar steak was done to my exact specifications. I like it rare, I got it rare. Our drinks were good, too. I had a margarita and my husband had a hard cider. I wish they were in a better physical location, 22^nd & C is ugly but the bar is really nice looking.
The waitress, who was also bartending, was excellent. Food was great. I didn’t have any complaints, neither did my husband. I just don’t understand why there weren’t more people there. The happy hour prices are fantastic.
Reading through the mixed reviews on here I can see that the food seems to be consistently good but service can be an issue when it gets crowded. The biggest problem seems to be that they can’t get enough business to hire more people, so when a lot of people show up (like restaurant week) service suffers and they get negative reviews. The food is great. The drinks are well-​made. The location sucks. I wish they could move and bring that beautiful bar with them.
There’s nothing else like this in Bayonne. You can’t compare Longhorn’s cheap, chain food to this. This is fresh and delicious. Interestingly good menu with truffled potatoes and great specials. I will be back.

I love this place. My husband and I came here for the first time in November and I was hooked. Their crab cakes are amazing!!! We ordered the calamari this time and it’s was yummy too. They out little strips of peppers and olives on top.
Both times I’ve had the filet mignon. Super Delish. I had the house sauce and the bechamel cream pepper something… They were pretty good! I can’t wait to go back! This is my go to steak place !!!

A&W is a solid establishment for good drinks and great steak, especially in Bayonne. If your from Bayonne then you know your usual choices are really good Italian or the choice of Houlihan’s, TGI Fridays or Longhorn’s Steakhouse. A&W saves the day when craving a perfectly cooked steak.
My wife and I visited on a Friday evening for dinner and sat at one of the bar area hi top tables. There were a few couples at the bar and maybe a group in the back dining area.
We started with some drinks of course. She went for the $ 3 blue Margarita, which she enjoyed. I just got a Stella. One can never go wrong with Stella.
For an app we tried the Calamari, which was topped with thinly sliced black olives and peppers. It was accompanied with a nice sweet chili sauce. Loved that it was lightly battered.
We chose the Rib Eye and my favorite type of fish, the Filet Mignon (j/k…bad inside joke). They were both as ordered medium and medium well. I love the shoestring truffle fries they put a top their steaks. We chose the Thyme Corn for a side to share.
We actually got dessert in house as we usually just order to take home but this dessert needed ort attention right away, as it was a Chocolate Lava Cake w/​Vanilla Gelato. I would return just for this dessert. So gooey, so chocolatey. It was heaven.
Overall a great experience for a local place just a few blocks from home. James and Risqué engage everyone at the place in a pleasant way and make sure everyone has a good time. Our server Michelle was really nice. Even got to try some Goose Island IPA on tap by recommendation of Risqué.

The food here is very good! First time here I had the Filet Mignon and it was great! This time I had the Tuna, again, great! I’m starting to think anything I order here will be great! If your looking for great food in Bayonne you have to try this place!

I have been meaning to try A&W since it opened. I love burgers. I especially love a good steak house burger. So today when I couldn’t find any parking any where near my apartment and wound up in front of A&W I stopped in. The place was dead and I was the only customer. That’s kind of weird and has never happened to me before. I eat out about 4 or 5 times per week. The bar manager, I believe his name was Tom, engaged me when I wanted to be engaged and was otherwise either working or watching the Rangers.
The burger was AMAZEBALLS! I thought I would have to go to NYC or at minimum, Edwards for a thick, juicy burger that was cooked to a perfect medium. It was seasoned perfectly and the bun was lightly toasted. I had to cut it in half to eat it.
I was stuffed when I finished. I couldn’t even touch the shoestring fries. Normally I need ketchup on a burger. Or steak sauce. Or hot sauce. I did without here. The beefs natural flavor and juices were more than sufficient.
I am SO HAPPY I found a spot for a burger and a brew. I will most definitely be back when I am HANGRY! I wish they had a better beer selection. But this is Bayonne and they have to pander to the locals.
Also, note my experience is different than those trying restaurant week. I ate at the bar.
**withholding a 5^th star pending trying the tuna**
**edit** brunch got me a little drunk while I was doing laundry. Food was still good. $ 20 for 2 screwdrivers and a burger is a good value. Will be back.

A poor excuse for a steak house and even a restaurant. I wonder how this place is still open. I actually took my mother here for mother’s day for convenience. It was a waste of money. Food was horrible, service was poor, and the cooks walked through the dining room like it was the kitchen. The menu is set up like a big time steak house but the food comes no where close .
Just a warning for restaurant week … stay clear of this establishment.

I HAD TO INFORM THE SERVER THERE WAS ALGEA IN THE WATER PITCHER!
I don’t even want to give this place one star.
You would figure during Hudson Restaurant Week, this place would be trying to get repeat business. Nope!
We placed our order at 8, and by 9:15 never received our appetizers. After the owner walked passed the table 10x we finally pulled him over. He said they ONLY had one person in the kitchen cooking! Wouldn’t any owner, at that point, get their hands dirty?! Take off the scarf and jacket, and get in the kitchen!
Every table was neglected and waiting for their dishes for over an hour.
At the end, we left after almost an hour and half. No apps, no salad, uncorked bottle of wine (for 8 people)…nothing.
Avoid this place at all cost!!!

I don’t know what self respecting establishment would be understaffed during a Friday night dinner service at peak hours. Our party of 9 had reservations made for 6:45 PM. We placed our orders at 7:00 PM, but did not receive our appetizers until approximately 8:30 PM. Who knew that pouring salt, I MEAN, soup into a bowl took that long? We were there for a total of 3 hours, spending 80% of our time waiting… AND it was not like there were a lot of people.
Each of us made our selection for our three course meal from the prix fixe menu, priced at $ 30 per person. A deal you may think to yourself as you review the list; however, you should STOP and save yourself from the treacherous experience and long wait. (If you’re on the way there now, turn around!!! You’ll thank me later.)
Four people from our party (including myself) ordered the filet mignon medium well. We could not fathom the reasoning behind the inconsistency in each of our steaks. The side of spinach (or swamp goop) tasted like I swallowed an entire pepper shaker. For dessert, I chose the chocolate «lava» cake which was more like an overcooked chocolate cookie. It was a mystery to all of us where the «lava» went.
As previously mentioned by other reviewers, the owner was more concerned about his scarf rather than the satisfaction of his customers. He came to our table and asked our opinion regarding the service. We were all honest about how the food lacked quality in preparation and taste, but he was in disbelief and stated that WE probably did not order the steak correctly… He can be in denial all he wants if his ultimate plan is to lose his business.
To sum it up:
FOOD — 0 (Poor in quality unless your preference is burnt and salty.)
ENVIRONMENT — 0 (Perhaps dark so you can’t see other people’s face of disgust or the piece of HAIR served with your steak.)
SERVICE — 0 (I don’t think I really have to explain myself again.)

A&W Steakhouse, I wanted to write a good review but I just can’t. My friend and I browsed the Hudson Restaurant Week (HRW) options this past Saturday and landed here because of their great deal. It was a 3 course meal (with a filet mignon entrée option) for $ 30.
We arrived around 7:15 and left 2.5 hours later. Having eaten only two courses. The bartender seemed to be doubling as the server. He was trying hard to balance the bar & all the tables. He was super nice and funny but that can only offset the long waiting time so much. The manager (I think?) later came out to help with the tables and offered his apologies for the long wait as well. He explained that they were overwhelmed with the HRW response. He even had to turn people away. Mind you the restaurant was probably only half full.
I started with the calamari (which arrived an hour after we ordered). The calamari was fresh and tasty but I think it was a little heavy on breading. It was served with a sweet and spicy chili sauce which worked but tasted pretty generic like it was out of a bottle. For the entrée, I went with the filet mignon. When it’s offered on a prix fixe menu, how could you not choose it?! I ordered it medium and it arrived a slightly overcooked but it was still tender. The char on the steak was also a bit much for me. There wasn’t a ton of flavor but luckily it came with a port reduction sauce. That and the fact that it’s a good cut of meat made the dish. We both ordered the dulce de leche cheesecake but got it to go (we were pretty antsy to leave as you can imagine). I had it later that night and it was such a let down. Lacking in flavor as well.
As we patiently (and then impatiently) waited for our food, we were hoping that it would be so delicious it would make us forget how long we had waited. Unfortunately, A&W did not come through. I don’t venture out to Bayonne very often but I would be willing give them another shot since other Unilocalers seemed to have a good experience. I’m hoping my poor experience can be attributed to their lack of preparedness for HRW. I hope to update my review with more stars if and when I make it back here!

Longest. Meal. Ever. Can you call it a meal if there isn’t actually any food being eaten? We arrived at 7:15pm and left at about 9:40pm, after only 2 courses.
To start, we stood at the door waiting to be seated for like 7min while the (manager?) tended to the bar and then cleaned off and set a table for us. There were other tables available that we would have gladly seated ourselves at if we had been asked to do so.
I reeeeally didn’t want to give these guys a bad review. I truly felt bad watching them struggle the way they were but there just wasn’t enough to save them. The owner (?) was heard/​overheard apologizing for the ridiculously long wait time throughout the night. He said that restaurant week hit them harder than expected. Does that make it acceptable to wait an hr for our (fairly small portion of) calamari and French onion soup appetizers? Sadly, no. The calamari was was pretty bland and both were acceptable but certainly nowhere near the best I’ve had of either.
And then the wait… again. This time for entrees. With assurances every 15−20min that the chef was «working on everyone’s entrees» and that our «food would be out soon», another very slow hr ticked away. Finally entrees came out! Hallelujah! However, like the appetizers, these were nothing to write home about. Not bad, but again, not all that great. We both got the filet, her-​medium, me-​medium rare. I will give them this, my steak was a perfect medium-​rare, must give props for that. But the mashed potato side was a little on the salty side. The owner stopped by the table to ask how it was and we both replied «good», then he followed up with «Worth the wait?» and I had to give him the FOH face. He said he understood.
We decided to take our desserts to go since we had already been there for 2.5 hrs and had no intention of spending another hr there. While we waited for our dessert we overheard the next table telling the owner that they didn’t feel that they should have to pay the full price of the Restaurant Week meals they had just consumed. Now, I get it, it was a tough dinner to get through, but then again, the Restaurant Week prices are already drastically discounted. But he succumbed. Not sure what kinda discount he gave though. Also, I felt some kinda way that knowing we’re right next to this table and can clearly hear what had just happened, he didn’t offer to take a lil something off our bill as well, esp since we weren’t bitching.
We got our dessert and were elated when we were able to pay the bill and tip (small) in cash. We basically ran out. Later, at home, I got comfy and curled up to the cheesecake dessert. It was pretty bad. I only had a bite.
I could have let the hr wait between courses go if only the food had been great-​ish. But unfortunately, I can’t say I’d be willing to give this place another shot. Plus, I mean, it’s in Bayonne.

All these terrific reviews below really missed a few key points.
My boyfriend and I went here on a Friday night at 8pm – it was empty and remained empty for the duration of our meal. That was a bit unsettling. However, this restaurant is in a very bad location which may be the reason it isn’t getting the attention it might have elsewhere.
Overall, the steak was cooked well. However, for the location and price, it wasn’t anything astronomical. The décor of this place looks interesting from outside but the interior just seems unfinished and not ready to be open for business – they should really reevaluate that.
We probably won’t be back because although we weren’t disappointed in our meal, it was not memorable either. Just okay. There are better steak places. Perhaps with some better PR and better business administration, it may do well. I wish them luck as a Bayonne business.

We went here on a Saturday evening to celebrate my husband’s birthday. The place is nice looking on the outside, though it is always a bit disconcerting when you are the only people in an establishment during peak dinner hours on a Saturday; so we weren’t really sure what to expect.
A&W has a bit of a split personality: the front room is a sports bar with flat screens; the back room is more formal with a chandelier. However, the back room is a bit unfinished, with cable boxes exposed on a stage that is a bit out of place. Ask to sit at a table in the middle of the room, as the benches will have you sitting 6 inches higher than your date (awkward).
They have an extensive cocktail list, with 2 full pages of unique, fruity concoctions. I got the Marilyn Lush and my husband got a strawberry ale, and both were pretty good.
I ordered the french onion soup and he got the crab cake. The cheese on my soup was of good quality, but was not generously distributed. The crab cake had lots of fresh crab meat — and a bit of shell, too. Both weren’t bad, though.
We each ordered filet mignon. The steaks came beautifully presented with shoestring fries piled on top. They were really good, thick cuts cooked exactly as ordered. However, they were over-​charred (my first bite was really crunchy) and seemed to lack any seasoning at all, gathering flavor only from the sauce. In the end, I couldn’t eat more than a few bites because it just wasn’t enjoyable to eat. It would have been amazing had they just added garlic salt, butter, and worchestershire sauce and not let it char so much!
For dessert, we got the chocolate lava cake and apple tart, which were both ok.
We still had a nice time, but I think this place could be really amazing with a few changes:
1. put a curtain in the back to partition off the kitchen, stage, and wiring
2. lower those benches!
3. put just a little more effort in the décor in the back room — it needs more warmth, better quality furnishings, etc
4. season your steaks!
5. get a little creative with your desserts
I really want to support this place, as it’s local, and they are trying hard. I will give it another try, but I won’t order the steak.