The Store, a Basking Ridge Landmark Renamed as Ridge Tavern, Blends Country Comfort and Sophistication

The Ridge Tavern

55 S. Finley Ave., Basking Ridge, N.J.

(908) 766-9853

As soon as you step into the dining room, you can immediately feel the transformation of The Store restaurant from its 30-year history as a local landmark into its new life as the Ridge Tavern.

While The Store officially changed ownership in August of 2010 when purchased by Mark Marrazzo, owner of the upscale Tewksbury Inn in Oldwick, the name only changed to the Ridge Tavern early in May.  

The new menu mirrors perfectly the physical transformation, which is a nice blend of casual but elegant, with a hint of sophistication, without being overbearing. The restaurant remains in an historic building that is one of the most easily recognized commercial locations along South Finley Avenue in downtown Basking Ridge.

For those who enjoy a glass of wine or two, the wine list will prove to be enticing for several reasons – there is nice variety of wines from which to choose, at prices that are a throwback to when The Store first opened its doors 30 years ago. Where can you have a glass of wine for $6?

The new menu includes a number of classic comfort foods for which The Store Restaurant was well known, as well as an updated selection. The Ridge Tavern has found a way to offer a menu that includes some of the ‘oldies but goodies’ such as chicken pot pie, traditional fish & chips, and spaghetti and meatballs, while at the same time adding a nice variety of classic, yet intriguing new dishes.

The new menu includes: Bistro Chicken, a favorite recipe borrowed from the Tewksbury Inn menu which features a roasted chicken, with sautéed spinach, whipped potatoes, and a white wine thyme jus for $18.95; and a Grilled Marinated Hanger Steak, with whipped potatoes, asparagus, pearl onions, red wine jus, and crisp onion rings for $20.95.

Other tempting dishes include: pan-seared flounder with sautéed spinach, grilled potatoes, and jumbo lump crab champagne pesto cream for $19.95; and House Smoked BBQ Baby Back Ribs with sweet potato French fries, cole slaw and corn bread at $16.95 for a half-rack and $23.95 for a full rack.

If you’re looking for something on the lighter side, there is a nice range of salads including a Cobb with grilled chicken for $13.95 and a blackened mahi salad with mixed greens, bacon, and sweet chili vinaigrette.

It was difficult for me to choose between the Grilled Asian Salmon with soy glazed grilled salmon with sticky rice and a warm Asian slaw for $19.95, and the grilled 12-ounce pork chop with whipped potatoes, haricot vert, and caramelized apples for $18.95.

Since I almost always have salmon, I opted to venture in a new direction and check out the pork chop. I was rewarded with a dish that was amazingly juicy, and multi-dimensional in flavor. The caramelized apples added just the right bit of sweetness and the presentation was absolutely stunning.

The Ridge Tavern was a wonderful surprise. My only suggestion would be to light some candles and add a few flowers, silk or real, for a little bit of color.

Drinks: Full bar and wine list that ranges from $17 for a bottle of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc to a $65 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines by the glass begin at $6.

Overview: Wholesome country dishes with a nice blend of down home comfort and stylish sophistication.

Decor: Clean, classic décor in soothing earth tones with lots of natural wood, and wrought-iron light fixtures and other embellishments.

Desserts: All desserts are house made and include: apple crisp, Crème Brulee, flourless chocolate cake, rice pudding, Kentucky Bourbon Bread Pudding, cheesecake, hot fudge sundaes and the old faithful made famous by the Store Restaurant — the brownie ala mode.

Service: Attentive, yet relaxed.

Cost: $$ to $$$

Web site: http://www.ridgetavernnj.com