TAP Gastropub has changed its monger to Tap & Bitters. Located within the Somerset Hills Hotel in Warren, the property is owned by 6R Capital Group and managed by Valor Hospitality Partners.
Located at 200 Liberty Corner Road, the restaurant is helmed by Rafi Hasid, a restaurateur with over 20 years of culinary and leadership experience, who wanted to bring the incredible cuisine and New Orleans vibe to Warren. Hasid drew much of his inspiration for the new and improved Tap & Bitters from his travels to New Orleans, a city he has fallen in love with and has visited more than 50 times, and his beloved Cajun-Creole restaurant in Manhattan, 1803.
The reemergence of the eatery is inspired by New Orleans in both the restaurant and bar concept, which feature contemporary takes on Cajun cuisine plus offer an extensive list of craft beers and cocktails, and a vibrant atmosphere that evokes the Big Easy spirit and flexible dining and event spaces for a truly unique culinary journey.
“I’m thrilled to bring New Orleans’ one-of-a-kind spirit to Warren through Tap & Bitters’ refreshed dishes, cocktails and atmosphere,” Hasid said. “I have no doubt locals and visitors alike will enjoy the Southern-inspired curated menu and will feel as though they’ve been immersed in the city I love.”
The new menu features items influenced by New Orleans’ culture, dining and drinking scene. Guests will be transported to NOLA as they enjoy a variety of dishes, such as Cajun broiled oysters, Louisiana Cajun chicken wings, signature gumbo and more. The menu will be updated seasonally, with a focus on incorporating fresh ingredients and sourcing local produce and products wherever possible. The beverage menu will be expanded to further infuse New Orleans’ famed cocktail culture, utilizing a variety of different bitters, fresh herbs and more. There are staples from the former restaurant that will remain on the new menu, including the expansive tap line with local craft beers and the local favorite “Tap” Burger.
Additions to the décor and interior of the restaurant include more communal seating areas, cozy benches and low set tables, fresh greenery and plants, antique brass jazz instruments hung throughout and changes to the music to ensure guests feel immersed from the moment they walk through the door. There will soon be a variety of unique events and programming taking place at the restaurant, as well as regular live music.
“We’re excited to see Rafi’s vision come to life,” said Scott McArthur, general manager of the Somerset Hills Hotel. “The restaurant is a fantastic complement to the hotel and an incredible culinary experience for our guests visiting from near and far.”
Tap & Bitters originally opened in 2003 and quickly established itself as the local watering hole and go-to eatery for Warren locals and visitors. Hasid and the team are looking forward to continuing this legacy of the restaurant while enhancing its atmosphere by adding unique elements infused with New Orleans flair.
