At the bar: Copeland, Morristown

Copeland
Where: The Governor Morris Hotel, Morristown, NJ 07960. 973-451-2619
Website: www.copelandrestaurant.com
Setting: Well appointed hotel restaurant, recently redone.
Service: Not what it should be for a restaurant with these aspirations.
Best dishes: Copeland Burger, Raw Bar, Papardelle Ragu.


If you go: eat at the bar. Order the burger and a cold draft beer. I like the Brooklyner Weiss but be warned those taps are frequently malfunctioning. Why, explanations abound but none make much sense. The bartenders bemoan the fact that they spent a fortune on a fancy system complete with refrigerated lines but it seems to rarely work right.

I’ve eaten in the dinning room but come away disappointed. Copeland would like to be a high end restaurant. They certainly charge high end prices. They serve an adventurous menu that changes seasonally and they have a raw bar with lots of choices. The service did not measure up to the food however. There were long waits between courses and the wine cellar was poorly inventoried. It took three tries to find a bottle of wine that they had in stock on one visit.

The bar, despite the tap issues, is a winner. It is comfortable and the service is quick if somewhat standoffish. The burger is the shinning star. For $12 it should be but it delivers: a big, juicy, well cooked piece of wagyu beef topped with cheese and bacon, lettuce and tomato on a fresh made brioche bun and served with homemade French fries. It has been a hit on every occasion. Copeland being a hotel bar has a transient nature to it: you won’t find many regulars and this may explain the attitude of the bartenders. Steer clear of those empty suits with their Coors Light’s, order that burger or maybe some oysters and you’ll be well served.