The Carriage House Restaurant

We’ve dined at the Carriage House many times before shows at Paper Mill Playhouse, and it’s consistently a great experience. It’s a cozy, inviting spot with a lot of heart, and even though it gets busy before curtain, the staff handles it with ease. Everyone we interacted with, from the host to the bartender, was warm and welcoming. Service is quick, efficient, and still personal, which isn’t always easy in a fast-paced setting like this.

The prix fixe menu is one of our favorite parts. It changes with each show and is thoughtfully put together to match the theme. For The Little Mermaid, everything we had was delicious - the steak was perfectly cooked, and the portions were generous without being over the top. By the time dessert came, we were stuffed… but couldn’t resist finishing it anyway!

The cocktails are always a standout. The themed drinks are more than just cute names that go along with the shows, they’re actually well-balanced and enjoyable. The “Mermaid-tini” was delicious and so pretty! Layered blue and pink, with a pink sugar rim and a little edible flower floating on top, I felt like a mermaid sipping on it! You can tell someone’s really having fun coming up with these drinks.

The chef stopped by our table to check in, which was a nice personal touch, and the manager made his rounds too. The whole team always seems to be working in sync. You don’t always see that kind of presence in restaurants, and it really stands out.

From the food and drinks to the service and atmosphere, it was a genuinely great night. We’re already looking forward to coming back for the next show.

My friends and I have season tickets at the Papermill and always go to the Carriage House for dinner before the show. It is a cozy little place and they do not rush you at all. It is so much better to sit and enjoy a cup of tea after dinner and not have to rush into the theatre. Giovanna has been our waitress many times and is so wonderful and makes you feel like you are the only diners she is waiting on. On this visit I had the parsip and chestnut soup, roasted chicken and coconut snowball. In past I have had the short ribs, pork chop as well as the duck and all have been fabulous. The chef takes pride in his food and always comes out to ensure everyone is happy. I can't wait until the next show and dinner.

Fantastic spot for dinner before shows at Paper Mill Playhouse. The seafood was super fresh, steak cooked perfectly, and the mousse was delicious. They have good selection of mocktails, I highly recommend to Prickly Pear Bellini. It is a very small restaurant, so make sure to make reservations.

My wife and I had a pre-show dinner on a Wednesday night. It was wonderful, and also very convenient to just walk out of the restaurant to the theatre next door.

We sat at one of the tables by the windows overlooking the veranda. Normally those are for four people, but when I asked if we could sit there, they said no problem. Much nicer than the tables for two in the hallway where we were first seated.

Our server Chris was excellent. Very friendly and attentive. There was a nice selection on the prix fixe menu. The shrimp appetizer had five huge and tasty shrimp. The duck breast and halibut entrees were a good size, expertly prepared, and tasty, though my wife felt the quality of the halibut was not quite up to par with other fine dining places we go to, though she still enjoyed it. French fries were extra, but definitely worth it--perfectly prepared. The Tahitian vanilla gelato and blackberry sorbet for dessert hit the spot.

There is a large wine list by the glass and the bottle, and we enjoyed glasses of pinot Grigio and Malbec. Of course all drinks, including after dinner expresso, are extra.

The restaurant was busy, but the noise level was only moderate, and my wife and I could easily talk to one another.

The ambience was nice--simple and tasteful rather than elegant. We had a 5:15 pm reservation, which let us have a leisurely two hour dinner before leaving for the 7:30 pm performance. Dinner was very relaxing, the different courses were perfectly timed, and we were never rushed.

We would definitely return for dinner the next time we have a show at the Paper Mill Playhouse.

Perfect place to go for a pre-show meal. The food was great, the wine selection was great and the waiter and staff were very friendly and attentive. I started with the shrimp cocktail - the shrimp were huge and very fresh, the cocktail sauce nicely seasoned (tasted homemade). Next I had the Wagyu Beef - it was delicious but the highlight for me was the puree and brown sauce/gravy...I believe it was potato and root vegetables. It was the creamiest, lightest, most delicious version of mashed potatoes ever! For dessert I had the chocolate/vanilla mousse - the flavor was good but the texture was not as "fluffy" as I like my mousse. Next time I'll try a different dessert. The play Gun&Powder was great too, so starting off here made for an all around wonderful evening! Highly recommend for theatre goers!!