First Catch of the Season

Sarah's dad Sam takes the first catch of the season off the hook - a pickeral, from Mirror Lake, on South Lakeshore Drive, Browns Mills, New Jersey.

The Old Log Cabin on S. Lakeshore Dr Browns Mills

Tara's Tavern Cookstown NJ

Tara's Tavern

1 Cookstown – New Egypt Road

North Hanover, New Jersey 08562

American Bar and Grill

tarastavern@gmail.com

(map)

Tara’s Tavern is a destination, not a place that you will just happen to stumble on unless you are out driving in the Jersey Pines in the middle of Burlington County near JBMDL – Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst – the new name of the combined Fort Dix-McGuire AFB and Lakehurst Naval Air Station.

At the intersection just outside Cookstown, you can go to New Egypt, Browns Mills or Wrightstown, but anyplace else, well you can’t get there from here, unless you go through one of the places.

A former biker bar, the pool table and juke box are gone and in their place is a more refined, brass and glass tavern with a sophisticated yet low key air about it.

Tara Brunal, whose family once ran a spaghetti restaurant, knew what she wanted when she transformed this place, keeping only the mahogany paneling, putting in a small, horseshoe bar with plenty of TVs for the sports fanatics, and a row of big booths that separate the bar from the dining room, so you can bring the kids and not even know there’s a bar there.

When I first walked in it was nice to see a friendly and familiar fact – Howard Green, the former bartender at Clarke’s in Mt. Holly (now John & Molly’s), who happens to like good music and has brought some great live band that play late on some Friday and Saturday nights.

Both Tara’s father and husband are military men, and being so close to the base there’s a strong military presence about the place, and 15% discount for military personnel on food on Monday-Wednesday and Thursdays.

And the food is really good, though with a small kitchen there’s a limited menu, and not like a diner that has everything. Though the menu is small, there are inexpensive items for children and prices that are pretty steady averaging $8 for lunch and $11 (Cheese Ravioli with homemade vodka sauce) to $19.99 (16 ounce New York Sirloin), with nothing over $20.

Howey books the groups so you know they're good - 

Saturday, October 13

 The Steve Constantino Band

Saturday, October 20

 Karaoke

Saturday, October 27

 Billy Walton Band

Saturday, November 3

 BENT MUSHROOM

Saturday, November 10

 License to Chill  with Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez

Description License to Chill featuring Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, former drummer for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band!! 10pm to 1am - DONT MISS THIS SHOW!!!

Cookstown Diner, Cookstown, NJ

Old Log Cabin Hunting Lodge

Old Log Cabin Hunting Lodge - South Lakeshore Drive, Browns Mills, NJ