Novelty Burger and Bar

I came here last night after returning to Hotel Indigo. It didn’t take long for me to find this burger joint, it is right around the corner from the hotel. Figured I would give it a shot, because I love burgers and the monday special was $ 3 domestic beers, $ 5 imports.
The burger I got was the Devil’s Cheddar Burger, and was very good. My experience at the restaurant was a very good one, and I plan on coming here every night for dinner for the rest of my trip so I can try everything out. I was also surprised to see that the prices are very reasonable for being so close to the Devil’s stadium.
I was very impressed with the level of service I received from Adam, it was almost like he could read my mind when I wanted to order another beer. I travel a lot for work, and its not often I get someone like Adam, that is able to provide great service, and quickly, no matter the volume of people in the restaurant.
If my burger had come out at a medium rather than a well done, I would give this place 5 stars.
*Editing to 5 stars after next day visit for dinner and drinks. Awesome staff that makes you feel at home. Usually feels weird eating and drinking alone on business trips. Would recommend this place to anyone traveling solo, especially for a warm and fun experience!

Very good burger spot and you can order off of either the mercato pizza menu or novelty. The staff tries very hard and the food for a quick dinner or lunch is well above average.

Second time coming here: sorry to say it will be the last. I got the fried chicken sandwich this time. Big mistake. It was solid and cold throughout much of the chicken. It was definitely cooked, but I think that they either let it get cold or frozen and then re-​fried it. Whatever the method of cooking, most of the sandwich (particularly the thicker portions) was cold and difficult to chew through. I don’t like making a fuss so I politely are my fries, paid the bill, and left. It’s a shame. I really liked the burger the first time I came here but this just is one of those things that makes me afraid to come back.

Solid choice when near the Prudential Center. Great selection of beers on tap and the burgers on the menu are cooked with a sear that bring extra flavor. Just try to order it medium to medium rare otherwise it can come out on the overcooked side…

Came here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch and it’s pretty empty. Typical for Newark. First impression upon walking in was how spacious and how nicely decorated the place is. There’s a nice big bar with broadway lights style decorations, and diner style high tables. There are more regular tables in the back too. Menu has a good selection of burgers, fries, drinks, and alcoholic drinks. You can also order Mercato’s menu from here, which is super convenient. Mercato’s has great pizza too by the way.
I ordered a Brie burger with all the way fries and my boyfriend ordered a novelty double burger. I didn’t notice that burgers came with fries and when I tried to order an extra all the way fries the waiter told me he’d just upgrade my fries so it’s cheaper. Great service. Someone on here commented that the single burger is small, but it definitely isn’t. And I’m not a small portioned eater. The burger would be 3.5 stars, it’s a tad overcooked, and the patty was not seasoned much. I personally prefer a well seasoned patty. But overall, with all the other condiments, it was a very tasty burger. The all the way fries were amazing! Definitely a must order.
They have a few flat screen tvs that played shows and ESPN, so this would be a great place to watch sports while grabbing drinks at the bar. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this place as a spot to hang out after work, before games at Prudential, or just when you want a burger!

Nice Location in the heart of Newark’s Downtown very clean, friendly and fast service !! The Wings and Vanilla Shake i ordered was A1 !, and they provide parking free parking near the business which is recommended.

I have been to these burger spot twice. The first time was terrible, they had just opened and the wait staff did not seem to be trained at all. Everyone was running around looking confused, and we waited over half an hour for our food (and we were on our lunch break). The staff did not even seem to care. The owner, did, however, apologize to us. On top of that, when the order did finally come in, they gave some of us the wrong orders (they gave beef burgers to a vegetarian!). The burger itself was actually quite delicious (i got the devils burger) and juicy. However, make sure you get the double and not the single, as the single is not enough to fill you up.
The second time I came back, the service had improved significantly. We did not have any of the issues that we had from the first time, and I really respect that they were able to quickly correct their operation and get to a professional level. I’ll be back here, as I really enjoyed the food!

Went there when it first open, i think they were working the kinks out. I would give it another try. The owner is very nice and passionate. It’s worth a second look.

3.5 to be exact. Service was decent food was decent. The one cocktail we got was very sweet, sent it back but beer was clean and crisp. Would return but wouldn’t make my go to spot. Good for pre-​gaming.

From my experience here at this establishment the food is good. They have a healthy selection of beer however I was not a fan of the cocktails. I had the chili cheese hot dog and the price was decent. The environment gave me a Johnny Rockets 1960’s feel. The service was a little overwhelming with numerous employees behind the bar however my general experience was pleasant.

The guy and I went in here right before a hockey game. I think it was a bit new, because the waitstaff looked like they were in the weeds (but it was right before a hockey game).
Anyway. I enjoyed the bar look to it, there were some games on which is also nice. The waitress would only take one order at a time… (Can I take your drink order? I will come back for the food) which was a bit annoying, but again… weeds.
I got the portobello sandwich and the guy got a regular burger… We received them VERY quickly. so we were happy there… the fries were very good… again… happy… The sandwiches? SO made up for the disarray. Mine was so good and full of flavor! YUMMY, YUM! The mushroom was a bit small, so I could have eaten two… but I would not have minded because it was so darn good.
The guy likes his meat medium rare and he said it was cooked perfectly.
two thumbs up and I will go back when I have a chance.

This is an undiscovered gem a short walk from the Prudential center. What make it a good value is that you can order from their menu or Mercado Tomatoe pie menu in Novelty. You can order a pizza for the kids and burger for yourself and it is a good value. This place has a nice bar and about 10 table and has very good burger and exceptional french fries. They have large screen TV and will put on whatever you want.
The burger was super juicy and Staff was very friendly. They just opened recently and are working out the kinks. But, this place will be getting more business when people realize that they do not have to fight to get a table at Dinosuar and they can walk 39 yards up Broad Street to Mercado and Novelty Burger.

The burgers are ok. Nothing to go crazy over. The fries are regular. The chili cheese hot dog was pretty good but again it was on the tiny side for 4.50 for a hot dog. The drinks were good because I love crushed ice, but other then that it reminds me off beat Johnny Rockets. The only plus is they serve alcohol.

Went back to Novelty for a second try the other day for lunch. They’ve really turned it around. Last time I went, the burgers were tiny, the staff was unfriendly, and the atmosphere was awkward. There was nothing memorable about it.
As soon as I walked in there for the second time, I noticed a difference. When I sat down at the bar I was greeted immediately by a new bartender named Adam. He introduced himself and shook my hand. Really appreciated that. Adam was great the entire time. He was always doing something. He was never just standing around. Every time somebody walked in the door he said hello to them even if they weren’t coming to sit at the bar. It’s the little things like this that bring customers back.
I ordered the California burger. The person I was with ordered the same thing but without the avocado because she said she tried it before and it tasted funny. I had no problem with the avocado. I ordered the double. It came out perfectly cooked. The size of the patties were noticeably bigger. The portion of the fries it came with also increased. It took every bit of energy to finish all of it. I probably could have gotten the single burger and been totally fine.
A couple of the managers came over and talked to us for a bit which was really cool. They talked about some of the things they changed since the soft open and also discussed some of the things they planned on doing.
It seemed like everybody that was working there at the time was working hard, and it wasn’t even that busy. But they always had something to do.
All in all the food was great and the service was even better. Definitely a memorable experience and I think this will be my main burger spot.
Give it a shot!

⁵⁄₅ stars. Amazing staff! Great food and value.
Up and coming restaurant with a upscale vibe. Will definitely return!
The staff was engaging, personal, and attentive. The people made our visit!

I have a better name for this place… how about «over priced Tiny burnt burger».
The novelty is because its by a hokey stadium they are making burgers that can double as the hockey pucks.
I ordered a burger medium well and it came burnt to a dry crispy burger chip thing. The fries were just standard frozen french fries that you can get in the frozen isle at Shop Rite.
Next door at Krausers you can get a mean bacon cheese burger twice the size and cooked to perfection for under 5 bucks.
For 1 beer and 1 burger with fries… drum roll please… just under $ 20 dollars. SERIOUSLY? so a family of 4 at Novelty burger would be a good $ 70 bucks for lunch unless you starve 2 of your kids. Does the owner of this restaurant realize that repeat customers are what make a business last. So trying to get as much money out of your customers as you possibly can in one visit is poor business practice. Even if the burger was outstanding, the price will prevent me from going back.
The atmosphere is good and the waitresses are very friendly… the one star was for the outstanding weight staff.

There’s nothing novel about Novelty Burger. But after dining in here, I’m pretty sure I know how it got its name. I could have read an entire novel between the time we ordered and the time we got served (40 minutes). In fairness, there were 5 of us, it was a Friday, and it was their first week in business. Still, you can’t expect Newark’s business professionals to wait 40 minutes just to get their food during their lunch break.
Onto the food: The menu says all their burgers are cooked in a «precise 140-​degree hot water bath for over 40 minutes so they appear pinker than other burgers, but are fully cooked and pasteurized but very juicy.» They go on to say the burgers are then seared on the griddle and that they are all cooked medium. Yet, our server asked us how we wanted our burgers cooked. We all ordered them different ways, and sure enough, they all came out pretty much at the temperature we ordered them. So, which is it? Are all the burgers cooked medium? Or are they cooked to order? And how come one came out medium-​rare when it was supposed to be cooked medium in the sous-​vide bath?
Either way, my brie burger ($ 9 for a single, $ 11.50 for a double), was delicious, but unfortunately, that’s it. Everyone enjoyed their burgers, but left hungry (the patties are no more than ¹⁄₃ lb., possibly only ¼ lb.) It’s pretty clear to me that the fries, despite being advertised as «100% all natural,» are frozen and somewhat tasteless, but at least they’re complimentary with the burger. The same cannot be said for other burger joints in the area, such as BURG, where the cheapest burger is $ 8.50 and the fries are extra, but better.
If you know me, you know I have a pretty low tolerance for burger joints that don’t do shakes. This place, at least as of week 1, does not do shakes. Sure, they have some machine that poops out random flavors like pistachio and cappuccino, but they don’t sell shakes.
Overall, I can’t tell whether I’m in a diner, a sports bar, or a movie theatre (the giant light-​blinking sign above the bar is somewhat distracting, and annoying). Aside from that, I’m pretty sure they’re required by law to have a sign on the bathroom indicating the bathroom is a bathroom, but maybe that’s in transit.
This place is owned by the same people as Mercato Tomato Pie, right next door. It’s very obvious based on the Puck fountain soda and the menus, which are also printed on the same paper with the same font. I recognized some of the staff from Mercato Tomato working here to get the place on its feet, which I appreciate.
I may give Novelty another shot, but I hope I don’t find myself saying «Tomato Mercato should have just stuck to pizza.»

Could not believe how slow this place was. Ordered burgers to go on my lunch break so I only had an hour. The woman taking our orders at the counter promised us it wouldn’t be more than 15 minutes to get our food.
Well, I spent my entire lunch break waiting for this burger. The process took just under a full hour for a TO-​GO order.
On top of that, I was with 3 others and we all ordered at the same time. Our orders trickled in over a 30 minute time period.
Don’t even think of coming here if you’re trying to grab food and don’t have an entire afternoon to dedicate to it. Take the time to drive to Harrison and go to 5 Guys, it’ll take less time

If you’re looking for a good burger — Give it a shot
If you are in a hungry rush — Go somewhere else
Food:
I ordered the Brie Cheeseburger (contains brie, onions, mushrooms, bacon, arugula and novelty sauce). Surprisingly I enjoyed the burger, it was juicy –i asked for medium well– and flavorful. The «novelty sauce» itself did not shine through enough for me, but with ketchup it was just fine. The fries were tasty but if you don’t like salted fries i don’t think you’ll enjoy these. And I found the fry portion a bit small.
Décor:
I love the décor, gives you a Johnny Rockets vibe, but with a sports bar feel (3 big screens playing sports and movies and a fully stocked bar)
Service:
Now I know its been maybe a week since they’ve opened so I’m giving a grace period for them to get on their feet. But first impressions last. Service is slooow and chaotic. Not really sure where to go to order. No front waitress to seat patrons so you basically just walk up to the bar and wave someone down to place your order. I can only imagine what seated service is like (as I did takeout).

I stopped here for some quick eats before the Devils/​Panthers game last Sunday. I’m often in Newark for Devils games, and I am pleased to report that Prudential Center is finally have a positive effect on the area around the arena. I remember a time when the only place to eat after games, was in the train station.
Now outside the arena are the Dinosaur BBQ, Chipotle, and this place. There is a pizza place too, which is the same restaurant is this. You can order from here or from the pizza place. Ok.
I walked in with the gf and sort of awkwardly stood there. No hostess. We were instructed to seat ourselves. MAYBE A HOSTESS WOULD HELP. #1
We both ordered sodas. They advertised a fancier soda selection than normal and with free refills. That seemed like an awesome treat to me, and I actually enjoyed my birch beer.
I ordered a Brie Burger and split a loaded hot dog with my gf. Both were tasty. They advertise the burgers as being flash frozen or something like that. Regardless they both were good, but small. I thought the fries were pretty sparse too.
The bill was only 33.00 for 2 burgers, a dog, and sodas for each of us. I think that’s pretty fair. So why am I only giving this place 1 star? Glad you asked…
The service was poor. No one came to check on us after getting our food. I really would have like to ask for mustard. Also no one offered us a refill. At all. I had to ask for one when the waitress came over and handed me the bill. I was very thirsty. This would be a good food, but bad service 3 star place,…but wait, there’s more.
My gf and I were seated right by the door. The first issue was someone came and held the front door open a good 3 minutes while his wife finished a smoke. Super uncool. Now I’m cold and it reeks of smoke. MAYBE A HOSTESS WOULD HELP #2
Then just as we were finishing our meal, a homeless guy walks in. He immediately comes over and starts hassling my gf and I for money. MAYBE A HOSTESS WOULD HELP #3.
Anyways the manager type sees the homeless guy hanging out and comes over and agressively chases him out the door. Ok, so you would expect the manager to come over and apologize for that. Right? Rigght? NOPE. He stone cold walked away. So I went up and informed him that he really should have apologized to my gf and that we wouldn’t be back. He seemed surprised. I guess this is his first restaurant… and hopefully his last.
What a trainwreck .I’m very disappointed.