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Hat City Kitchen

Hat City Kitchen

(Now Closed)
Restaurant and Bar$$$$
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Tips and Reviews icon55 Tips and reviews
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  • Joane O.heart icon on user image
    Joane Osborne-JonesOctober 20, 2015
    My first time there was 10/17/15, Saturday date night. Went after 10pm, caught the band, some locals that were pretty decent. We got the shrimp and grits, and crab cakes.Nice ambiance nice chill spot.
  • Edwin A.heart icon on user image
    Edwin A.April 12, 2014
    Been here 10+ times
    Definitely try the fried chicken. The cajun clam chowder, the mac n cheese, the collard greens, and the blue and bacon wedge are also great. Try the bread pudding for dessert.
  • Trey S.
    Trey StudleyAugust 17, 2012
    Good soul food and live music, and an easy vibe. Shrimp po boy for an app, and fried chicken w/ black pepper honey glaze (add some hot sauce from the table) is the way to go.
  • Mateo R.
    Mateo RodriguezJuly 8, 2017
    Cajun and creole food in NJ. Abita on tap. Maybe more reminiscent of a Bucket of Blood in Lafayette then a New Orleans place, but our food was super good.
  • Frank R.
    Frank RimalovskiJanuary 21, 2012
    Wow! Totally blew away expectations. Get lots of plates & share! Shrimp po'boys, ribs & fried chicken were everyone's favs. Healthy pours & good beer selection don't hurt. (4 of 4 petals via Fondu) Read more
  • Nessa C.
    Nessa CMay 2, 2014
    Nice vibes, open mic was great. Definitely try and get a table seat by the stage, or at the bar
  • Anthony
    AnthonyMay 18, 2014
    Been here 10+ times
    An EthnicNJ.com favorite for Southern food. Must tries: The fried chicken and the mac & cheese!
  • Larry W.
    Great food, great music, great staff, great A/C. Tuesday open Mic, Thurs-Bar party w/Derrick Griggs & LOM (Love of Music), Fri-RetroFitz and Roadside Louie, Sat-Lance Doss,Sun-Al Gold Blues Jam 3-6pm Read more
  • Brandon M.
    Brandon McKoyFebruary 11, 2010
    Fantastic place to grab a bite, great environment, food, drinks, and music. If you're in the area you must do yourself a favor and stop in for a bite, you won't regret it! Read more
  • Jason K.
    Jason KaplanNovember 5, 2011
    Best southern food in nj this place in nonprofit so all the money they make go's to the community and artists so come help support them
  • Tiff O.
    Tiff OMarch 15, 2013
    This place has great food and live music. The bartenders are also very nice and the crowd is diverse
  • Rich M.heart icon on user image
    Rich MolinaFebruary 27, 2014
    Great food, Angry Orchard is on tap, and great live music six days a week.
  • Joane O.heart icon on user image
    Joane Osborne-JonesOctober 20, 2015
    Shrimp and grits and mini crab cakes. Drinks and live music.
  • Sam B.
    Sam BakerAugust 25, 2012
    Been here 5+ times
    Use your Anerican Express card and get $5.00 back on any tab $10.00 and over. It makes this place even more special!
  • Gregory B.heart icon on user image
    Gregory BurrusDecember 23, 2015
    Been here 10+ times
    love the wings and fries, service is great
  • Chris S.heart icon on user image
    Chris ShelleyJanuary 11, 2015
    The music, food, beer selection, wait staff and atmosphere.
  • Sadira H.heart icon on user image
    Sadira HassellJune 5, 2018
    Everything so far. Great service!
  • Craig T. W.
    Craig T. WoodMay 12, 2018
    Post-dinner drinks and live music. Across the street from Boccone
  • Nancy G.
    Nancy GuilbertJune 18, 2012
    First time there. The server was knowledgable about the menu and made some good recommendations. That said, the service was slow. Appetizers came before the drinks. Entrees came half an hour later.
  • Jerseybrownstone
    JerseybrownstoneJanuary 13, 2012
    Been here 10+ times
    Host asked if we had reservations when there weren't 6 people in the restaurant. Patrick the server made up for it 5 mins after we arrived. Thanks Patrick!
  • Naeema C.
    Naeema C.October 29, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    Do yourself a favor and order the zucchini sticks with extra sauce on the side.
  • Yocasta B.
    Yocasta Brens-WatsonAugust 31, 2014
    Try the catfish. It's worth it.
  • Lauren P.heart icon on user image
    Lauren PeckJanuary 28, 2018
    Mac and cheese is AMAZING!
  • Erin R.
    Erin RiceMarch 13, 2013
    Not a Pizza place! The food is delicious though- Southern style!
  • Tutheart icon on user image
    TutAugust 21, 2013
    There mini crab cakes are delicious !!!!
  • Tia
    TiaJanuary 13, 2012
    Been here 5+ times
    Ask to be seated in Patrick's section! Great customer service!
  • Larry W.
    Great food, wonderful friendly staff, a musicians home away from home and the best bar in Essex county. Read more
  • Rose M.
    Rose MeadeJuly 24, 2011
    Sunday jazz jam... Sweet. There's a ton of talent on this side of the Hudson. First time here.
  • Corinne M.
    Corinne MurrayFebruary 28, 2012
    best mac and cheese, they did soul food right. However, the burger was kind of plain and burnt.
  • Lj P.
    Lj PoughDecember 8, 2013
    The fried chicken is great
  • Anthony
    AnthonyMay 17, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    Excellent mac & cheese.
  • Mary M.
    Mary MeadeOctober 17, 2011
    Everything is delicious! Ribs were awesome.
  • Adam W.
    Adam WolfJuly 19, 2019
    Closed except for special events
  • Xavier J.
    Xavier JenkinsSeptember 26, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    Live music and great food!
  • Christi T.
    1st time here. I'd love to see a show here tho
  • Tom S.heart icon on user image
    Tom SauerNovember 29, 2014
    Good Sunday Brunch
  • Will W.
    Will WilliamsSeptember 21, 2012
    Try The Chipotle Calamari
  • Lorren C.
    Lorren CMarch 11, 2011
    Been here 10+ times
    Great MAC'n Cheese, service is sometimes questionable.
  • Ms. W.
    Ms. WhiteFebruary 18, 2015
    DO NOT Order the shrimp grits!!! Especially if you hate unseasoned tomato sauce and bland grit patty/cake!!
  • Michael S.
    Michael SchmittApril 29, 2010
    Best Guiness on tap in NJ and the wings are very good!
  • Skywriter11
    Skywriter11December 27, 2014
    Tried to go for brunch & chairs were on tabletops no hours posted or on answering machine. #disappointed.
  • Thurmon C.
    Thurmon CohenMarch 29, 2013
    Speaker Oliver was in the house tonight!
  • Gloria E.
    Gloria EstevesMay 11, 2012
    Good food, drinks, and music.
  • Tolulope F.
    Tolulope FalaeApril 26, 2013
    Great band!
  • Joana B.
    Joana BeJuly 9, 2013
    Service took a little long, I was left so hungry that by the time I got the food I wasn't even hungry anymore!!
  • Lisa R.
    Lisa RichardsonSeptember 19, 2014
    JT Project Band
  • Jamil M.
    Jamil ManganJanuary 31, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    The service here is inconsistent & poor. Yet the most happening place around here.
  • A C.heart icon on user image
    A CampbellMay 25, 2013
    Tip? Don't leave one,matter of fact don't go here. My friends and I spent almost 4 hours at this place for terrible service and amateur "soul food"
  • Dave C.
    Dave C.January 8, 2012
    Been here 5+ times
    Always live music goin on!
  • De Metha H.
    Drinks suck! Cover charge to listen to music!Food good, service just OK! I'm in no rush to go back!
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