The goal this year is to try as many new(to me/us) restaurants as possible, repeating/visiting established favorites only when somehow warranted by circumstance. Pascal and Sabine, Poached Pear, maybe start taking on Montclair or finally make it to Watermark for a drink. So last night’s destination… TGI Friday’s. My life is just a little sad… But, to get it out of the way, after avoiding this chain for a long time due to its offering no vegetarian option of interest, I went specifically to try its Sedona black bean burger, and I’m essentially reviewing this one dish as there was otherwise nothing noteworthy or unexpected for a chain in either direction about my experience here last night. That said… Served with balsamic glazed onions, avocado, jack and Cheddar, chipotle mayo, and iceberg lettuce and tomato, though different from Houlihan’s excellent garden burger, this option is juicy(rare in a restaurant vegetarian burger) and quite definitely as good if not better. And it’s worth a little bit of humiliation to note that for any vegetarians in need of a quick, hearty, inexpensive meal, this is an extremely satisfying choice.
Joe D.
Place rating: 5 Hightstown, NJ
I been here a lot of times, always a pretty good experience except one time. I don’t want to focus on that. I have to say that Pelli is a great waiter. I am a regular here and he has been my waiter a handful of times. He is very efficient, friendly and kind. It’s pretty amazing when he can remember your drink order and bring it to you without even telling him! I haven’t seen him for awhile but he is here tonight and we almost didn’t have him as a waiter. I am thankful we changed our seat from the bar area which is extremely loud and hard to talk anyway. The food is always great and comes out nice and hot. I love coming to Friday’s, I believe it’s one of the better chains out there compared to Applebees or Buffalo Wild Wings. Friday’s, keep up the great work and have more staff like Pelli, he’s definitely a keeper!
Kevin M.
Place rating: 3 Old Bridge, NJ
Good drunk food. One can expect to grow impatient when you’ve asked for the check two times and it’s been about 30 minutes.
Carey M.
Place rating: 4 Parlin, NJ
I don’t know what these other people are complaining about lol… it’s just like any other Friday’s. Chill staff good food w nice drink specials. The bartender making the drinks is ver liberal with the alcohol lol… all my favorite sport son when ever I go! Nice spot! And it was clean when I went… I don’t know what these other reviews were talking about. Maybe they expected something high class lol it’s a Friday’s for god sakes
Jayna G.
Place rating: 1 Matawan, NJ
This place needs a ton of bleach. The entire place is sticky and filthy. The menus were falling apart, tables filled with dirty plates. The bathroom didn’t even have paper towel. If you’re lucky you may even hear the hostesses lovely stories of how they failed math. I ordered take out, I wish I could’ve returned it but the drive wasn’t worth it. The food was very very disappointing. Whoever is in kitchen needs to be informed that fries should be nice and crispy not soggy and uncooked.
K N.
Place rating: 1 South Amboy, NJ
I realize this is a chain, and I don’t usually write reviews for chains, but this Friday’s was definitely not optimal. My husband and I needed a quick meal last Saturday and stopped by, but it was pretty disappointing. The tables and menus are very sticky/dirty, and we came early in the evening. It was not busy. My meal came with french fries that were not at all cooked(soggy and white), and I was later charged for a new order after asking for different fries. Contrarily, my burger was very overdone. My husband’s dessert was honestly just a bowl of chocolate sauce with melted ice cream. I know these aren’t made to order meals, but we were at least expecting«okay» quality. This Friday’s is local, but we’ll be avoiding another quick trip in favor of somewhere else from now on.
Noel W.
Place rating: 5 Red Bank, NJ
Home away from home. Americana at its best. I grew up on TGI Friday’s steaks fried shrimp and happy hour. They have a great Sunday brunch too.
Jeanette A.
Place rating: 4 Tampa, FL
I have yet to have anything but a good time at Friday’s. They always have specials, especially by the bar area, if you don’t have a members reward card I suggest you get one. It basically gives you points towards free food, if you come often it makes sense to sign up for the free membership. This location was great; very clean, waitress was friendly and food came out quick. Can’t complain about the service or the food, will definitely be coming back.
Tony D.
Place rating: 4 Colts Neck, NJ
This is probably the best of the chain restaurants. We really enjoyed the food and beverages. During happy hour the place is fun. Prices are fair, service is good, and food is always good. After 10 pm the food and appetizers are much cheaper. We keep going here.
Cathy C.
Place rating: 1 Matawan, NJ
Absolutely disgusting!!! We went there for a late lunch and it was close by– their floors, tables and menus were gross! Menus were torn up — service was mediocre — we had to ask to have table cleared and drinks refilled– they brought us out a high chair which was full off remaining food and funk– it took an entire pack of baby wipes to clean it !!! We reluctantly ordered something simple like burgers and fries — burgers looked like they had been sat on for a few days — ordered a grill cheese and mandarin oranges for my daughter– the grilled cheese was greasy and we had to send back the mandarin oranges because of the other items floating in the same bowl– needless to say we didn’t take home the leftovers and left feeling very disappointed and disgusted– and in need of a bath after sitting in that place’ NEVERAGAIN!!! The Department of Health would have a field day here!
Luke V.
Place rating: 1 Old Bridge, NJ
Came here with friends for a few drinks and apps, didn’t even make it to the food portion, ordered three beers all three glasses were beyond dirty, they gave us three new ones with the same story. On top of the my Sam Addams winter tasted like something from a ten year old keg, flat and bad. Didn’t finish my beer and convinced my group to leave. I use to like this place. Plus on the way out smelled like rotting bar rags and a portajohn!
Daniel G.
Place rating: 1 Old Bridge, NJ
I went on a Sunday to the bar with my buds to watch the Major League Soccer playoffs. They had 10 tvs showing regular season american football some of them showing the same games. I asked the female bartender can you please put on the MLS playoff games on near our table, she asked«Is it football?» and I said yes its«Futbol». She puts it on a TV20 feet from our table at an unseeable distance. The experience was terrible therefore making the food terrible. I felt very disrespected because I was not treated with respect because I don’t watch american football. Not a very good American Dining experience.
Hayley T.
Place rating: 1 South Amboy, NJ
3 friends and I came in to eat dinner and were led to a table that had a plate on it which it wasn’t cleaned. A worker there named NICK yelled at us that we can’t sit there and said why are you up here? You’re suppose to be over there waiting to be seated. You can’t sit there! He continued to argue with us for a good 5 minutes until he finally gave up. Last time I checked You are suppose to treat your customers with respect. we got up and left after the arguing to go eat somewhere else. If you go here, worry if you have a waiter named Nick. Rudest worker I’ve ever seen.
Jonathan M.
Place rating: 4 Old Bridge Township, NJ
Food was good, service was good but a bit slow. But overall not a bad experience. Definitely one of the cleaner TGI Fridays that I’ve been to
Louis F.
Place rating: 2 Parlin, NJ
We go as a family because its close to home but the quality has gone way down lately. Not nearly as clean as it should be, and the portions are getting smaller. Fridays as a chain is ok but this one is not the best ive been to. Now we only go if there’s a bogo or 20% off coupon. I think we may even stop doing that for a while and wait to see if they get any better. Perhaps different management is in order.
Viet T.
Place rating: 4 Manhattan, NY
Just like any other Friday’s… I’m here when I get bored of everything else. The running red bull drink is pretty good. Love how they do. The 2 for $ 12 bucks meal thingy.
Eri E.
Place rating: 4 South Amboy, NJ
I like this place. Affordable food. Happy hours every day. After 10pm half off appetizers and $ 2.514oz glass domestic draught. Outside sitting. Best of all UFC fights broadcast, not always. Call for info :)
Joe C.
Place rating: 1 The Strip, Las Vegas, NV
This restaurant is managed very poorly and the wait staff is not courteous. Upon my visit my family and I were stuck in the hottest part of the restaurant. No free refills were ever offered on fountain drinks and the waitress was not readily available. My 15.00 chicken disk was the size of a half chicken breast the the waitresses response was«that is the portion.» Avoid this location if you can. Go to another location. Action needs to be taken to turn this place around. Really a shame.
Eric Y.
Place rating: 3 Old Bridge, NJ
There are many chain restaurants around town. This is one of them and depends on the time you go, the food might be cooked differently. During busy hours, the food tends to not be as well cooked as times as not as busy because the chefs are rushing and are not as careful as they should be. Even if you go late at night when there isn’t a lot of people in the eating area(away from bar) they cook a lot better. Depends on the wait(er/ress), some are very good in doing their job. When I went, there was half off appetizers which was the best thing because usually the appetizers are about $ 8 for one, and paying $ 4 was a deal! For the food, what my table ordered was, mozzarella sticks, fried potato skins, buffalo wings, oven-baked flatbread with spinach on top/etc, korean steak tacos, flat iron steak, and bruschetta chicken pasta. The Korean Steak Tacos are very good but you should not get the hot sauce on top because it over takes the flavor of the entire taco. The oven-bake flatbread is delicious with how thin and crispy it is. The flat iron steak was cooked perfectly, the way that I wanted(usually during when there is a lot of people in the restaurant, they over cook it) the Chicken past was delicious too. This place is a great place to go if you can not thing of anywhere else to go. It is great to just relax and talk without anyone bothering you.
Jeff M.
Place rating: 4 Jersey City, NJ
Just another Friday, Just another Fun place to go to with friends. Especially if you know the bartender its even more fun. Yeah lets make this one nice and quick. Staff here are great, they are quick with the service. Bartenders make great strong drinks here. I usually get the Jack Daniels Chicken, Shrimp and Ribs with a side order of dirty rice. I get a few drinks from the bar and right after that I get the dessert called Brownie Obsession, its a warm brownie served with Ghirardelli chocolate-fudge sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream, gooey caramel and pecans. After that, rent a movie and watch it with your significant other…;)