Scotch Plains Tavern - Essex, Connecticut

S. M.

Went to see the band, Avenue Groove. They were awesome! Their singer, Laura, has a fantastic, power voice! The musicians in the band were excellent as well! Lots of people dancing, fun time! I would also have liked it if they mixed in some 2000's music in as well which they used to do.
Great time was had by all !
A few of us ordered appetizers. The coconut shrimp were a good size & delicious & the flatbread with figs, ricotta, arugula, & honey was really good too.
The place itself is nicely decorated, good atmosphere, and nice clean bathrooms ! Recommend! 🤘✌️👍

Stephanie D.

This is another top favorite for a nice night out. Scotch plains is beautiful inside and out. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful warm night and loved the open fire tables with the outdoor bar. The menu has so many wonderful fresh choices and of course I had to do the French Onion soup. We shared a salad and ordered prime rib and a burger. Between the great service and perfectly cooked food there is not one complaint from us. The drinks were made perfect and my husband and I are already looking forward to going back. This is a must try if your in the area.

David M.

Family group came here after the Essex Steam train, and from the looks of it, so did everyone else. SPT definitely embraces the Christmas atmosphere but doesn’t skimp on the service or food despite the droves of people heading straight from the train.

Our kids were accommodated with boosters/high chairs, a kids menu, and children’s cups (with lids/straws). The waitress was friendly and visited the table frequently. I had the Buffalo chicken wrap and it was delicious! Fries were great too.

We did have to wait a bit for our food - but given how swamped it was, I kind of expected as much. And, the waitress was attentive with drinks, etc, in the meantime.

The layout of the pub is great. We could hear the one-man-band coming from upstairs even though we were downstairs. There are side rooms and even an elevator between floors. I love a pub with live music - especially if it’s not overpowering the entirety of the building.

If I have one note for improvement it’s to find a gluten free kids menu option.

Jeremy F.

We had our small wedding reception in the private dining room on Sat Feb 15, 2025 for 23 people. The room was warm and comfortable. The food and service were excellent. We could not have asked for a better day and would recommend Scotch Plains Tavern to everyone. Thank you so much for helping make the day special.

Brittney K.

We enjoyed our visit here. Our waitress, Anca N. was awesome and her husband, who also was a waiter, was hilarious. The atmosphere was amazing, inside and out. An acoustic band was playing upstairs which sounded really good.
As for the food, it was good, nothing fancy but tasty.

Nicole W.

Very disappointed in the service I received my last visit. I’ve been numerous times and I’ve never had an issue and that’s why we went back. My boyfriend and I ordered dinner. When our meals came out my boyfriend’s order was wrong. In fact the whole meal should have gone to another table. I tried to eat slow so we could eat together but I finished my meal before his meal came out. We gave the server a chance to resolve the issue which he didn’t. We asked to speak to a manager who only issued an apology and still no remedy. Their resolution was taking one drink off the bill. We were not rude and did not make a scene and still left the server a 20% tip. As someone who is in sales, when there is an issue on our end, we offer solutions immediately and don’t wait for someone to complain because we value customers and their repeat business. We felt very brushed off by the manager who seemed annoyed and inconvenienced that we asked them to fix their mistake. We won’t be returning.

Mark L.

Great place, I always stop when I’m in the area. Great food and beer selection. Love the outdoor seating with fire pits

Menu

https://www.scotchplainstavern.com/menus/

James H.

The mysterious town of ESSEX has a Victorian feel and several secret spots. Scotch Plains Tavern is actually in a modern building about 2 miles from I-9 Exit. It has excellent quality food & live music entertainment upstairs in a bar area that can accommodate 50 diners and 20 more in the bar area. I always judge a bar by its burger 🍔 & this place makes a very good one. There is space to dance if you come on a date or with friends when the bands play. The 1st floor has an outside patio setting for eating with about 15 tables and is very nice and clean. This place is perfect for a party of 2 to 8 people. The bathrooms are very clean and handicap accessible. This is perfect lunch or dinner place with a large menu. My guess is local residents eat here 4 times a month and are never disappointed. There are about 8 booths inside on the 1st floor so in case of rain or cold; you will find seating. The parking lot is free and holds 30 cars. It is gravel, not paved. Worth a visit or three.