Old Man Rafferty's

Very good food and service. Enjoyed going right before a show at the State Theater which about a 5 minute walk. There's many choices to meet everyone's tastes and even accommodated our gluten free friend. Would definitely go back.

I picked this place because their menu claims they have lots of gluten safe options. I asked about a gluten free menu and whether the fryer was shared or separate. I ordered the ribs and substituted all of the sides. When our food arrived, mine still had all the contaminated sides, touching the meat, plus the sides that I had ordered. I brought this mix-up to the waitress, who said she would talk to the manager, but then when the bill came, my meal was $18 more for the "extra" sides. Unsurprisingly, I got glutened from this meal. She also got my drink order wrong and my colleagues struggled to get their meals correct, too. My side salad arrived with the meal, not before like normal. This was a Friday at 7pm. The place looked well staffed, there were plenty of customers but still some empty tables. The ribs themselves were good, but weren't anything special. I ended up being charged $50 for a meal worth $20.

Encompassing 9,000 square feet and moving to the current establishment in 1990, Old Man Rafferty's, located on Albany Street, not far from the stately Old Queens campus of Rutgers, provides a comfortable and convenient stop for students and visiting families in New Brunswick. Upon entering as a first-timer to this location, it’s a casual bar and restaurant where the warm and relaxed atmosphere was perfect for lunch, which my friend and I had today. The interior reminds us of a country inn with a variety of different settings: a bar area, a large comfortable dining room with some semi-private areas for small parties, and outdoor seating in a garden setting when the weather allows, with contemporary music playing at just the right volume. The menu is very broad and has a lot of comfort food dishes, including some very good vegetarian options. If you're vegan or gluten-free, you should advise your server or contact the restaurant ahead of time. We ordered the all-day hand-held sandwiches: Prime Rib French Dip with House-made au jus, crispy fries, coleslaw, and Grilled Chicken on gluten-free bread, accompanied by lettuce, tomato, pickle, cheese, and steamed broccoli. They were certainly freshly prepared and tasty, huge portions, but not particularly over-the-top. Our server was Daniel, and the service was just what you'd want. It was a regular check-in, but not intrusive or pushy. As an added feature to this restaurant, there is a small gourmet deli/bakery featuring takeout sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, cookies, and desserts. It also has a small retail area with dry pastas and jarred sauces. Now I know why Old Man Rafferty’s seems to be one of the locals favorite places, which I can recommend.