"We knew there were people in Bergen County that wanted this type of restaurant nearby. And my partner's sister who lives in the next town over told us this place was available," said Beckert. Liquor licenses are easier to come by in New York over New Jersey, he added.
The restaurant's mainstay is its availability of 40 daily brews, including six on tap, bottled and canned beers, mostly from local breweries across four states, along with some mainstream labels like Beck's and Corona.
The extensive beer menu pairs nicely with a wide array of entrees the owner calls "comfort foods.”
“We have macaroni and cheese and short rib grilled cheese everybody likes. And the Cuban Spring Roll is pretty popular,” said Beckert. The sandwich features pulled pork and ham, with Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard.
Suffern is also ideally suited to their suppliers. The area is rich in breweries, Beckert says.
"We get our beers from not just New York and New Jersey, but Connecticut and Pennsylvania too," he says.
The appeal of craft beer knows no boundaries. In fact, men and women alike, and people of all ages, enjoy it because there are vast flavors to enjoy, says Beckert.
Some prefer IPA, India Pale Ale which "has nothing to do with being from India but was made by keeping it in the hops longer,” and others like that you can select a beer with flavors that taste more like wine, for instance.
"There are just so many choices. People like that. Craft is ever-changing. I consider all beer craft beer. Our focus is local, craft beer. It is fresh. It is generally unique because you're (often) getting beer you can never get again. Some smaller breweries produce a one-off and they have seasonal beers only made one time a year. That's what people like about it. It’s unique,” he says.
Craft House is open every day.
Reservations: recommended
Address: 150 Lafayette Ave, Suffern, N.Y.
Phone: (845) 547-2555Click here for the website.
Hours: .Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday Brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dinner, 3:30 to 9 p.m.
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