New restaurant to open at former Bridgewater Houlihan's in April
Since September 2022, the parking lot has been empty and the doors have been shut at the former Bridgewater Houlihan’s on Route 22.
But the 7,000-square-foot space will usher in a new crowd when the Stone Tavern, a family-friendly Warren County restaurant with a large menu of American and Italian eats, opens in April.
Mimicking the restaurant’s Phillipsburg location, “nothing about it will remind you of Houlihan’s when you step inside,” owner Steve Desiderio, a Bernardsville native and Bridgewater resident, previously said.
One hundred and fifty diners will eat under 14-foot ceilings atop acid-stained concrete floors surrounded by bronze walls in an industrial, modern ambiance.
Local accolades: You'll never guess which Central Jersey restaurant was named one of the best by Yelp
The 35-seat bar, which has been doubled from its Houlihan’s size and moved to the right of the entrance, will have views of 14 TVs.
“We really want this to be family-friendly and affordable, where you can feed a family for under $100 and also fit the needs of a sports bar with the NFL Sunday Ticket and baseball games,” Desiderio said.
Many of the partitioned walls have been removed for a more open feel, and the kitchen has been expanded and gutted. The bathrooms have also been renovated.
By August or September, Desiderio hopes, a 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio and bar will be installed.
Mangia: St. Ann's Italian Festa in Raritan returning this summer after five-year-hiatus
The restaurant at 1288 Route 22 East will serve wood-fired steaks, seafood, burgers, pizza and Italian specialties. The Phillipsburg location offers 30 beers on tap and events every night of the week, including live music, karaoke and Sunday brunch.
Popular dishes include the 24-ounce Cowboy ribeye steak; pizza topped with vodka sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms and prosciutto; gnocchi with vodka sauce and burrata; and wood-fired salmon.
Desiderio had previously said he plans to operate five Stone Tavern restaurants; additional locations in the Lehigh Valley and Morris County are in the works.
Desiderio opened Stone Tavern in Phillipsburg in 2022 after relocating it from Washington, also in Warren County, where it operated for nearly three years.
He has owned other various restaurants over the years, including Desi’s Brick Oven Pizza in Hillsborough and Desiderio's Market & Catering in Bedminster.
The Route 22 property has been the site of landmark Central Jersey restaurants for more than a half century, including Jack O'Connor's and the Stockholm.
Go: Opening in April, 1288 Route 22 East, Bridgewater; stonetavernnj.com.
Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Stone Tavern to open at former Bridgewater Houlihan's on Route 22
