Gaslight Atlantic Highlands

Thanks for the mention @Esic55

The man is correct, I do have a review on my website for Gaslight.

Personally, for the most part I've had great experiences with beer and food there. You're not going to find a better variety of beers in Atlantic Highlands than at Gaslight - so if beer is your main focus, absolutely go there.

But, I'm curious as to what the bad stuff you've heard about refers to

 

More than likely. If you saw a guy with a camera taking pictures while women with me that day rolled their eyes in unison... definitely me.

 

This seems to be the way to find you everywhere!

 

Indeed, I might be wearing a Hops and Horns shirt soon so that I stick out a little more.

 

I really like Gaslight. Love their burgers and the chicken tacos. Beer selection is great.

 

I guess my one question for @groverbeer123: Other than the mixed things you heard is at what time and what day you might approximately be going at.

The reason I ask is because the space is narrow and at peak times it can get a little rough to do seating. I usually sit at the bar, so it's hit or miss for me, I don't usually do tables. Some of the tables are somewhat communal as well. They are currently working on the space issue - they will be adding a second floor and I believe, a rooftop deck, in the future, but I doubt that happens in 2016.

Some of the issues I've heard are similar to those of Copper Canyon, which makes sense since they are owned by the same group of people. Most of the issues have happened at peak times.

Their beer selection is pretty great and sometimes they'll have a Carton/Kane that aren't available at the breweries as well.

Their social media is kinda MEH right now so if you're depending on that to get selection before that, you might be disappointed.

 

Beer selection is excellent. Food is good to very good if a bit overpriced for what it is. The service, much like Copper Canyon can be a bit odd. For instance, even if the place is empty they won't let anyone stand near the bar (must be seated). It's been an issue for us with a larger group several times.

They definitely see themselves as a restaurant with the bar aspect being a bit of an afterthought. While there is nothing specifically wrong with the place, I get an uncomfortable vibe like I walked into someone's house and asked them to cook for me at both Copper Canyon and to a lesser extent Gaslight, and I know other people who feel the same way. Curious if that was the mixed review the OP had heard.

 

Copper Canyon is notorious for the "hurry up and eat" approach. They will literally tell you that you have to leave soon because they have reservations for that table.

I just go to the bar and avoid this and have a Carton Canyon while I'm at it.

But I know too many people who love the food at CC enough to endure the treatment - which is odd to me.

 

The bar at Copper Canyon will also not let you sit there if you are having dinner at the restaurant. You can eat at the bar or have a drink if you're not going to eat but if you plan on eating they try to funnel you to Blue Bay Inn's lounge which they also own. The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth so I very rarely go even though the food is excellent.

They once seated me (45 minutes after my reservation, on my anniversary) at a table in the bar room that every single service person had to hip check to get past. When I asked to be moved to another table, they told me they would move me to the back of the list and wait another 90 minutes. We got up and went across the street to what was at the time Ama. It's almost like they have the opposite of the Danny Meyer model for their restaurants, trying to succeed in spite of making people the opposite of special.

Again, the food is really good, and in the case of Gaslight, they're just not competing with anything remotely similar locally. Man, I miss Twin Lights Taphouse!

 

Yeah, it's kinda heinous to be honest. At least with Gaslight, the bartenders have always been pretty good.

I do love their bourbon BBQ wings, too. Those are absolutely awesome.

The one other place with a decent tap selection is the Chubby Pickle, but it's a lot more limited than Gaslight and it's also in Highlands. But they've had stuff like Bolero Snort, Magnify, Carton, and Kane all at the same time.