The Stirling Hotel

I felt it was time to give another update on the Stirling Hotel Restaurant… I’ve been coming here now for many, many years. Its my regular hangout…
I really enjoy this place. Every Monday night from 7 to 10p the Stirling Hotel has great bands outside and in the winter they’re in the covered tent. They never charge a cover… If it’s a fund raiser event then they ask for a donation…
They are the only place around to have music on a Monday…
There is seating inside and outside. In the far back is the Beer Garden in the Grotto. There is a food/​bar stand and a huge tent with tables. Beyond that is the chicken coup with live animals for petting. The kids love this, and there is a horseshoe pit. On the other side is a corn-​hole tossing area.
In June, July and August on the weekends in the afternoon you can see a great band or two. It’s a family friendly atmosphere… Lots of music and dancing. They also host a car show event. Check their schedule for times and events. There are always changing beers, stouts and IPA’S.There is always some kind of theme going on and food is always paired with special beers of the day. The SH occasionally has local breweries come in and showcase their beers for a night.
They makes the best Moscow Mule around and they serve it in an authentic copper mug…
The food is very good and there are always specials. They change it up and have seasonal dishes along with their classics… Some of my favorites are the Thai Chili Calamari, The Burrata Crostini, Lobster Mac n Cheese, The Tavern Burger, Port Cheddar Burger Steak Frites, Fish N Chips, Cheese Steak Sandwich, and Margarita Pizza are just a few to mention. My favorite dessert is the Banana Pudding with whipped cream. It so creamy and light and the sliced bananas and whipped cream are to die for.
If you love craft beer then this is a place for you. The SH offers some of the best craft and IPA beers around with domestic and imports. They are always changing and unique… This is a family run business and people come from all over to sit in their outside patio and dine. In the fall and winter you will always see a fire burning in the outdoor fireplace with heaters all around. Many locals from neighboring towns also come here. It’s a very comfortable place. They have a parking lot around the back and when really busy you can park on the street or at the train station spots directly across the street.
The first week of every month you can hear the Ross Griswold Band, The Dead Cover Band This Old Engine, Bob Lanza Band some of the best Texas Blues around and Rock n Roll. These bands are really good. Again check their schedule to see whose playing… What is also unique is the person who books their bands Chip LaPointe is a musician and he will get up every now and then and sing with the bands. Chips voice is amazing. Waiter Dave Grieco too is a singer/​song writer he will get up and sing some of his original tunes. There’s a lot of natural talent at the Stirling Hotel…
If you want delicious food a casual atmosphere with friends, music, good drinks then this is definitely the place for you.

We love it. Great beer selection, kid friendly and always a good time. Best place in town!

The manager is RUDE, RACIST.
Don’t eat there, there are better sushi places in the neighborhood

I don’t know if I should be proud or ashamed of the fact that the vicinity of the Stirling hotel contributed somewhat to me and my husband’s decision to buy a house in Stirling. :-)
The Stirling Hotel is the go-​to location for fans of craft beer. The selection changes on a near-​weekly basis; we come here often just to try out new brews.
The food menu also changes seasonally and there’s so many great choices. My personal favorites are the lobster roll, the Mexican corn and the pulled pork sandwich. The wings here are also the best you can get south of Buffalo, NY.
Perhaps most of all, I love the sense of community at the Stirling Hotel. There’s always a cheerful vibe, especially with the beer garden in the back open. Families with children, young hipsters and older couples alike come here to enjoy the live music, great food and wonderful beers.
It’s truly a gem in NJ!

Absolutely adorable bar, restaurant and beer garden. We found it by chance when we were passing though. I would definitely come back. Great beer list and friendly staff and a do not miss outdoor café.

The food was decent but not amazing– like better quality bar food I’d say with a few creative dishes. All in all very happy with our lunch. It’s the fun atmosphere that makes this place worth the visit. Excited to come back for the Beer Garden!

Wow. Haven’t had a meal on this level since NOLA in New Orleans. Serious complements to the chef. Came here for brunch this past Sunday. I got the creole breakfast and every component was perfection. This meal was definitely made with fresh ingredients. Best 10 dollars I’ve ever spent. My husband and father-​in-​law both got the tavern burger and felt the same way. My mother-​in-​law got the chicken club and also loved it. It was also so large she will have lunch for a couple of days.
This restaurant was in no way what I was expecting. I expected a fancy hotel with a restaurant in the lobby. Instead there was this seeming small restaurant on a quiet road tucked away in Stirling. The inside was cozy but there is a great and very large outdoor seating area. Part of the kitchen is outside so you can actually see/​smell grilling taking place. There is also a large beer garden that is open in the evening.
In every way this restaurant deserves five stars. The service was great, the food was incredible, the prices were reasonable, the drink selection was awesome and the casual atmosphere can’t be beat. I will be back for sure.

Love this place! Sat outside. Great vibe –feels like vacation — all I need is the ocean!
This place has great music and the food and drinks were very good.
Tavern burger (medium) delicious and juicy!
Mexican corn — yummy
Beer 6 point ipa — very good catch it while you can.
Chipotle margarita — straight up — the menu says all the drinks are on the rocks so I asked for it straight up. It was very good.
Will be back!

First time here with the family, on a Saturday ‘late afternoon’, for dinner. Menu has lots of delish fried foods — which is always pleasing to my teenage boys’ palettes. A nice selection of beers for the hubby, and we’re in business.
As I mentioned before, we must have arrived around the time of a shift change — we started out with one server, and 4 ppl later, we still didn’t get lemon slices for our waters. Food came within 25 minutes. Everyone left full, and happy. Dinner for 4, around $ 80.

Absolutely my favorite bar in the area. They have an outdoor dining and seating area with a small bar that is embraced by wooden benches, decorative fence accessories, fire places and heating lamps. Definitely a little haven and a must stop on a warm summer night or nice fall afternoon. They have a beer garden that is open Friday-​Sunday in the summer; this has a bunch of picnic tables under a large tent, horseshoes and yard games. I also like taking a walk over to checkout the chicken coupe in the corner!
What initially drew me in was the offering of local and uncommon craft beers on tap, what keeps me coming back are the friendly bartenders and unique ambiance that is not common to find in central NJ.
Last night I had my first beer of the season on the patio so I’ll say I’m a little behind for the year but I will certainly be making up for lost time!

My favorite restaurant ever. When I lived a few blocks away would eat here multiple times a week. Great atmosphere, awesome beers/​drinks/​food, the best service and bar tenders. Real down to earth place that just makes you feel happy when walk through the doors.

Great selection of craft beers. Definitely worth a trip when it’s nice out. They have outdoor seating under a tent for dining… and a beer garden with tents and picnic tables if you wanna hang and drink!
Inside has a very tavern feel. Our party of 6 got seated after a 45 min wait on a Saturday night. Note: they don’t take reservations!
Didn’t have time to order apps or dessert this evening but I chose one of their specials for the night — Korean Steak Tacos. Remainder of the table ordered the same tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, and the chicken jambalaya.
Food came out incredibly fast. Probably 15 – 20 mins tops. Received 3 tacos with steak nicely cooked (wasn’t tough either). Ginger aioli was interesting and a good accent. The radish was okay and didn’t really suit the flavor profile of the tacos. Their «fried rice» looked and tasted like Uncle Ben’s rice from the supermarket. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their food and said it was flavorful.
3.5 stars for the food but I only had the opportunity to try their taco special. 4 stars for atmosphere and ambiance. Friendly and efficient waiter service.
Definitely worth the trip if you like beer and wanna hang with your friends. Come on a nice day and enjoy your beer outdoors!
— Parking is off to the side on a gravel/​dirt road.
— Bathrooms are cute AND clean!
Will definitely return to try something different from their menu.

Good number of craft beers on tap in a really beautiful space. Inside it is a bit cramped but there is a large outdoor space from spring to fall with fans and heat lamps. Food is yummy and varied. Tacos, burgers, wings, pastas, salads, and pizzas have all gotten hearty thumbs up from me and my friends.
Only downside is cost — no happy hour, appetizers are expensive, and few entrée items under $ 15.

While the beer/​food/​service here is great and worth a 4 star review, I gave it 5 because of the way I feel every time I go here.
There is this unspoken peaceful feeling from everyone that goes here. Tables of families that happen to sit next to each other leave as friends. And while it’s easy to write off what I’m saying as hyperbole, I swear I’ve seen this happen, and had it happen to me!
While the place isn’t necessarily set up to evoke a communal spirit from the patrons, it actively occurs regularly (especially on a nice sunny 76 degree day while sitting in their outdoor area).
As I pen this review, I’m smiling thinking about all my experiences I’ve had here and can’t wait to make a trip back soon.
Beer menu is excellent. The food menu is diverse and doesn’t really adhere to any particular style. We’ve had apps, sandwiches and entrees and never came across any dish we thought was a miss.
The more and more I write, the more and more I might have to take a trip over there tonight.

As others have said in reviews — this place in somewhat of a strange location towards the end of a street and on top of that it is hard to figure out exactly what you are walking into after you park your car, that is, after you park your car in where you think you should be parking for this place. Entering through the back — or is the back really the front? You make your way to the desk to be seated and for the Monday night there was a choice of «outside» which is in a tented area since it is still cool out, or in – choosing in we sat down for a nice craft beer and in my case fish and chips starting with a pretty amazing Thai Chili fried calamari special. The fish was average and the substitute for sweet potato on the fries made for a good meal with service that was actually better than we have had at most places. Overall a great experience!

Came here after searching for a new place to check out with my boyfriend and reading all the positive reviews. Despite all the positive reviews for this place I honestly can’t rave about our time here. First off the décor: dark (very dark) and cowboy/​western decorations with lots and lots of wood panels. Everywhere.
We took a table in the bar area and waited about 15 minutes before anyone showed up to take our order which is always a let down. By the time someone did come to greet us and get our drink order we already decided our whole meal. I had the off color troublesome beer which was interesting! It’s a blend of two beers with a salty and lemony taste. I wouldn’t have it again but it was fun to try. My boyfriend had the old tom fashioned cocktail which he liked — said it was drier than a typical old fashioned since it was made with gin but the sweetness helped to compensate for that.
On to our meal: I had a bacon and brie grilled cheese and my boyfriend had the PLAT sandwich. I loved mine! The Brie and bacon mixed with a fig jam and raisin but bread — yummmmmyy! My boyfriend said he’s sandwich was good but he liked mine better. We both enjoyed the boardwalk style fries that he had though.
All in all — not the best I’ve had but not the worst either. Definitely a real pub but with food that has a little more flair. They have a huge outside dining area as well as a beer garden that opens in the warmer months. I don’t think I’ll rush back anytime soon for lunch but I do see myself going on a weekend with a group of friends and enjoying the beer garden.

The Stirling Hotel is a Pub. The specialty is craft beer. This is a great place for adults to have a drink and quality pub food. Some reviewers think they should have a child’s menu but I disagree. I think some reviewers should pay full fare if they feel that they need to feed their children in a pub. They can always load their family into a minivan with pathetic stick figures on the rear window and go to a family restaurant with a children’s menu.
We went the Stirling Hotel on a Friday evening. We enjoyed a beer at their very busy bar while we waited for a table. The bartender was very patient and offered me two samples to insure I had a beer I enjoyed. Once seated in a quaint dining area, a rough looking gentleman introduced himself as our waiter. He honestly answered all of my questions and helped us make our selections.
We had the Portuguese Garlic Shrimp which were firm and flavorful. I had the short rib which was a huge piece of perfectly slow cooked beef. It could have been slightly more seasoned but never the less it was delicious. It was served with cheddar grits which were so much better than any grits I’ve had down south and some fresh spinach. My wife had the Dublin Style Fish & Chips which were made from fresh cod not some frozen mystery fish. Our waiter instantly appeared with a bottle of malt vinegar. We had a side order of macaroni n cheese. For dessert I had a fruit crumb pie and my wife had a key lime pie which she liked a lot.
The Stirling Hotel is exactly what I hoped it would be. It is a place to get high quality comfort food and a cold refreshing pint of craft beer. I will return soon to try their delicious looking burgers. I recommend The Stirling Hotel and hope to see you enjoying a brew. Just get a babysitter for your children and come without them.

I truly love this place. Such a «locals» spot with what could possibly be the best draft beer offerings in Somerset County.
We have been coming here for years, love to grab a spot at the bar but those are few and far between.
There is really nothing hip or cool about this place — except that it is totally hip and cool. A very simple, every day food menu but done well. I seem to always gravitate to the Tavern burger because when you can get a mix of brisket and short ribs — get it. I can always get a craft beer here that is quality and quite reasonably priced. Pleasantly surprised that I have been to get Ballast Point here often and am not so patiently waiting for the return of the Ballast Point stouts — Indra Kunindra please!

What a great spot.
Homey, welcome, and old-​school, Stirling Hotel is a GREAT bar in a quiet, local town. I came here with my wife for dinner last night with some friends, and it was our first time here. Definitely going to be coming back. Some highlights:
+Great feel
+GREAT choice of beers on tap for awesome prices (KANE, Elk Creek, 6 Point IPAs, River Head «Hip-​O-​Lantern,» RAMSTEIN Oktoberfest)
+BURGERS; Recommending the «Tavern Burger»; Pulled pork and beef with greens and a spicy mayo. Delicious.
Service was great, and the staff was incredibly down to earth and personal. They stopped down during shifts with us and chatted a bit, which just makes patrons feel awesome.
We live in Summit (about 15 minutes away), but we will definitely be taking a quick trip here once in a while for a good beer and solid burger.

No happy hour and it’s not a hotel, but offers 18 fine craft beers on tap for exactly $ 6.54 per pint, an outdoor patio plus a large beer garden on Fri/​Sat/​Sun in summer. Beers when we visited included 902 Dynomite black IPA from Hoboken, Kane double IPA from Ocean, Left Hand Introvert, Brooklyn lager, Harpoon summer, Terrapin Krunkles Downunder IPA, and many more outstanding choices. Love the beer choices here, craft lovers are well treated here!
An order of buffalo wings arrived hot (thermally) and delightfully spicy, properly fried and served with a side of bleu cheese (yay) but no celery (boo), 8 for $ 10.
Looks tiny from the front but it’s *enormous* out back. The Stirling Hotel’s back patio is covered and has ceiling fans so even on very hot days it’s bearable. And the beer garden is the real attraction — opens 5pm Friday with picnic tables under a huge tent, stays open Sat and Sun. Has a bocce court and a totally separate menu with brats and Bavarian pretzels out back in the beer garden, can’t get any of that inside.
Vegetarian rating at lunch: 2 stars for the modest choices. Fried pickle and burrata apps, a few salads, a margherita pizza, a caprese (mozz/​tomato) sandwich and a black-​bean burger. The fries are made in the same oil as the chicken, argh.