FOOD: Old Man Rafferty's [New Brunswick, NJ]

Some eateries pack so many tasty options into their menu that I cannot help but be pushed into making a game-time entrée decision. Old Man Rafferty's is just that kind of place--where you find yourself rereading the four choices you have narrowed it down to as you wait for a moment of clarity that never comes. So when the waiter walks over (for the fourth time) and asks if you are ready, you make the call in that one heated moment. The beauty of Old Man Rafferty's is that unless your game time decision results in an accidental order of something you don't like or are allergic to, you can't really go wrong.

If you are the kind of person who likes to start off your meal with an adult beverage, Old Man Rafferty's doesn't fall short with options in the beverage department either. There is a surplus of beer, wine, and cocktails to quench your thirst while mulling over the menu. The appetizer options are classic--nachos, wings, skins--but also incorporate some interesting contenders--buffalo chicken spring rolls and panko shrimp. Their theme is actually not having a theme at all--anything goes at Old Man Raffs.

[caption id="attachment_80633" align="alignnone" width="415"] Tomato Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_80634" align="alignnone" width="242"] Strawberry Elderflower Spritzer (Drink Special) - Strawberries, Mint, St. Elderflower, White Wine, and Seltzer[/caption]

The comfort food doesn't stop after the first course. When choosing your main dish, you can fill up on your favorite deli style sandwich paired with fresh potato chips and a pickle spear or warm up your insides with some barbecued ribs. One of Old Man Rafferty's culinary bragging points is their tomato basil soup. If you order it as a starter, you can expect grilled cheese croutons to top your tomato basil bliss. You can also order it as your entrée and have it accompanied by a buttery grilled cheese sandwich.

[caption id="attachment_80635" align="alignnone" width="449"] Grilled Cheese and Tomato Basil Soup[/caption]

You can always count on filling up your belly at Old Man Rafferty's and sometimes it's even hard to stop before the lining of your stomach splits. For those of us lacking in the self control department, Old Man Rafferty's solves that problem before the meal ever hits the table with the "Perfect Portion" option for many of its main entrées. This gives you a half-size portion, which is often more than enough for one person at mealtime.

[caption id="attachment_80636" align="alignnone" width="256"] Oriental Stir Fry - Perfect Portion Option[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_80637" align="alignnone" width="415"] Bar-B-Que Chicken Sandwich[/caption]

It should be known that if you are looking to have a quiet dining experience, Old Man Rafferty's should probably not be your first choice. This place has an energetic atmosphere that is great for a fun Friday night dinner with your best friends, a Sunday lunch with the family, and even a great date night spot. For those living out of reach from New Brunswick, Old Man Rafferty is not necessarily out of reach--there are two other locations is Asbury Park and Hillsborough. So bring your friends, bring your family, just don't bring any hope that you'll be able to settle on one main course.

Old Man Rafferty's
106 Albany Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901