Chimney Rock Inn Whippany

Welcome to Whippany: Where We Snuck in Before It Was Cool
Ah, Whippany. A town so thrilling, we immediately focused on the nearest establishment serving fresh food and cold drinks: Welcome Chimney Rock Inn.

We managed to wrangle our first meal during their glorious pre-launch week. Yes, you heard that right. My wife and I, acting as the culinary spies, snuck in and ate at the bar. It was glorious chaos—the culinary equivalent of a dress rehearsal where not all the props are out and the actors are still mumbling their lines. Naturally, not everything was fully set up, and not everyone was fully trained. Yet, somehow, in spite of the impending disaster, everything was utterly terrific.

If you're a discerning rodent, the bar area is a tad cramped, but don't fret. They've made up for the spatial deficit with an ample selection of drafts, a liquor collection deep enough to drown your existential woes, and a cocktail menu that suggests the bartender actually knows how to count past one ingredient (try the white Cosmo). The "bar type food" is also excellent. That night, we shared a pizza—thin crust, very tasty—and, the holy grail of rare finds: an order of pierogies. Seriously, finding pierogies this far south of The Great Pierogi Belt is like spotting a unicorn wearing a tiny chef's hat.

We've since returned, because clearly, we have no lives. The pierogies remain an absolute favorite (we're basic like that), as do the meatballs (because you can't be snarky on an empty stomach).

If you’re the type who actually sits at a table like a civilized human being, the charming part about Chimney Rock is its assortment of dining rooms. It’s like they couldn't commit to a single aesthetic, so they offer rooms of different sizes with definitely different atmospheres. Choose wisely, or you might end up in the one decorated entirely with garden gnomes (I haven't checked, but one can dream).

On a completely arbitrary scale of one to ten, this place is a casual, rock-solid nine. It’s the kind of place that knows exactly what it is and doesn't try too hard, which I appreciate.

Final, Mandatory Instructions:

Be sure to say hello to Keith, the poor General Manager who probably had to clean up after us.

Do NOT, under any circumstances, miss the pierogies. If you do, I will be judging you, and I am very good at judging.

Upon arrival ( greeted very kindly and fast)
Waitress was very friendly and attentive
Drinks ( upside down 🍍 drink) was ok, bit watered down!
We had appetizers . . . .
Rock shrimp 🍤 ( good and spice but nothing to rave about)
Wings ( BBQ bone in, were ok)
Pretzel knots ( didn't taste much like a pretzel )
Birria Tacos ( need to be taken off the menu and revisited, not much flavor nor birriaish about it, the consome was awful, tasted like chilli from wendys, very disappointing)
Not much that would make me go back. The menu, didn't really call my attention. This is my personal opinion, you can go and tastes for yourself, and give your honest opinion. Will I go back? Not very sure. But, for it being a brand new spot, it surely left me disappointed.

Service was very good, food was yummy 😋. Noise level was high don't think the acoustics are very good. But very good experience being it was our 1st time there and they haven't been open that long.