The Shepherd & the Knucklehead of Haledon, NJ

Reviews about The Shepherd & the Knucklehead of Haledon, NJ

• 5 / 5

  By Kyle Mastro
  Right away let's all acknowledge that this is possibly the best name for a bar ever. Also we should further acknowledge that a cool name alone is not a reason to visit an establishment.
  HOWEVER, in this case, the cool name is backed up by one of the best bars/dining experiences in New Jersey.
  
  The Food
  Simply put, the food is simple bar fare, but extremely delicious. My fiancee and I each had a burger and agreed it was one of the best we'd had in a long while. This is due in no small part to the beef, that carries the kind of intense, satisfying flavor one only finds in really fresh beef.
  Additionally the fries were RIDICULOUSLY GOOD. Finally, the appetizer menu includes a huge, Delicious German pretzel that goes great with the their beer.
  
  Beer
  The beer in this place is a reason to go by itself. They have a shocking number of taps, and it's good stuff. You'll find a number of taps from quality microbreweries. I found the selection to be reflective of some who has excellent taste in beer. Personally I indulged in a tap of the Anderson Valley Summer Solstice and Brother David Ale, both were wonderful and I'll note it's hard to find this brewery on tap.
  
  Ambiance
  This place is clean and without frills. Personally I loved it!!! Don't get me wrong, it won't impress you with the decor, but that's not it's goal. Rather this place succeeds in impressing you with it's awesome food and great brews. You can sit back, relax and enjoy a great evening. While this definitely has a bar element, we were there on a friday night and it's was rather noiseless. Shockingly this place wasn't filled with the typical loud, obnoxious bros ones come to expect in such establishments.
  
  Service
  Let me be clear, I hate to say a place is good in every category, it just seems to fanboy. But I have to give credit where it's due: the service was excellent. The waiters and waitresses with whom we interacted (curiously we interacted with a total of 3) were all extremely friendly and seemed really genuine. It's a good atmosphere and it shows in the waitstaff.
  
  Price:
  Very fair . . . that is all.
  
  Overall:
  There are alot of places that do good bar fare, but the Knucklehead does it better than nearly anyone. Do yourself a favor and drop in for a burger and beer.
  January 28, 2017
• 3 / 5

  By Hannah Noel Brudnicki
  Great place - food is a little overpriced and not that great. They only have a select list of imported, house and ipa beers. Probably wont be goin gback
  August 07, 2016