Hidden Gem in Jersey: Billy & Madeline's Red Room Tavern

So rather than go to one of my usual Parsippany-Hanover-Dover-Morristown area ethnic haunts, I had a hankering for a burger. A tavern burger. The kind of place your uncle would go to. I was trying to find the new Joe Jackson CD at Target (nope, they only have it online), and wandering back down Rt 10 I spotted a bunch of neon. That can't be part of the overpriced Italian joint... must be behind it on Parsippany Rd. So I take the turnaround and sure enough, it's a red barn-like building -- a tavern! Billy & Madeline's Red Room Tavern, next to Billy & Madeline Hair Cutters. So I pulled in.

As soon as I stepped in, the owners came over to say "Hello" and shake my hand (my loner spidersense kicked in -- why don't I recognize these people, or are they trying to get me to join a cult?). Second worry came from the platter of mussels I saw. "God," I thought, "Have I stumbled into a gastropub in Jersey?"

No, just an Italian tavern with a bunch'a seafood. Good signs: hand-drawn specials on a whiteboard. A big old fashioned ring-shaped bar. No smoke. And wait! What's in that steel bowl? Pickles, cherry peppers and green tomatoes! (pardon the craptacular cell phone pix)

They're spicy, kosher-y chunks as wide as long.

The menu has a bunch of things I want to try, but I had that burger jones, so I went for a blue cheese burger ($8.95, +$2 for a swap of onion rings for fries). Everything comes with soup -- tonight it's home made (yes I know many of you hate that phrase in places other than a home) pasta fagiole or tomato florentine, I went for the former, even if I can't quite spell it.

Nice flavor level, a few good-sized chunks of sausage.

The burger was pretty darn good.

Only a lettuce leaf for accompaniment, no frills, that's good. I prefer a bun to a kaiser, but not too stiff a roll. Blue cheese is nicely melted. The patty is perfectly medium rare. It's 'charbroiled', not griddled, so it's not really a tavern burger, but I'm happy happy. A couple extra pickle chunks, and I'm sated.

I'll be back. Lots of things to try, like those mussels, bar pizza, tavern steak, texas chicken, a bunch of seafood items, steak sandwiches, and the very strange sounding buffalo calamari salad. Very friendly service, nice atmosphere, a true hidden gem.

Billy & Madeline's Red Room Tavern.
Whippany, NJ
07039
(973) 428-3319