The Black Bull Tavern - Rockland

Ordered lobster bisque/chowder and a prime rib. The lobster bisque was actually pretty good although somewhat on the thin side. The rib and accompanying vegetables on the other hand were pitiful. The meat was overcooked and about as tasty as a McDonald's hamburger pattie actually, I think the burger would win in that contest. I suspect that a poor cut, thinly sliced, completely absent of any seasoning, and a good measure of overcooking thrown in were the contributing factors to what amounted to a total disappointment. Moreover the service matched the food quality pathetic. The place was practically empty and we still had to flag down our server for the check as if we were hailing a taxi at La Guardia during rush hour! To top it all off, one glance at the menu reveals a pretty disturbing situation. Here in Rockland, we're just a few steps away from one of the largest lobster and seafood landing sites on the eastern seaboard. You'd think with such access to the raw materials there would be a huge selection of seafood items on this restaurant's menu guess again. In all, this restaurant had very little to offer in terms of either food quality, service, atmosphere, or value. How it can stay in business let alone thrive is truly a mystery to me.

I don 't usually leave reviews but after reading the one and only review of my favorite restaurant I felt that I should speak out in defense of a great place. First let’s just admit that the employees that work there are human and everyone has their bad days but the reason I come back again and again is that this restaurant is the most consistent. My food is seldom less than excellent and the entire staff is friendly and passionate about the place in which they work. Lets not get led astray though, this is not fine dinning, and no frog legs here this is still a Tavern. You will find, however, one of the best burgers in town and I personally love the fish and chips. The other reviewer is right that there is not as much in the line for seafood as others in town but with a coastline littered with seafood joints both good and bad for those who would like a change and for us locals who could care less if we saw a fish or lobster ever again find it a reasonably priced, unpretentious, breath of fresh are in an otherwise mediocre environment. I might also add that they just started a new menu that continues a tradition of excellence. This restaurant is recommended by me and I know the only 5 star resort in the area so as far as I am concerned some one is doing something right.

I do not usually leave reviews, but after reading one and only reviewing my favorite restaurant I felt that I should speak in defense of a great place. First let us just admit that the staff who work there are people and everyone has their bad days, but the reason why I come back and again is that this restaurant is the most consistent. My food is rarely less than excellent and the entire staff is friendly and passionate about the place where they work. Don't let yourself be disappointed, this is not a fine dinning, and no frog legs here is still a tavern. However, you will find one of the best burgers in the city and I personally love the fish and chips. The other evaluator is right that it is not so much in line for seafood as other in the city, but decorated with a coast with seafood both good and bad for those who want to change, and for us locals who could take care less when we saw a fish or lobster again and again find it a cheap, unpretentious, breathing fresh in another medium environment. I could also add that she just started a new menu that continues a tradition of excellence. This restaurant is recommended by me, and I know the only 5-star resort in the area that concerns me, something is true.

Ordnete Hummer Bisque/Chowder and a Prime Rib. The lobster bisque was actually quite good, although something on the thin side. The rib and the accompanying vegetables were, on the other hand, pitiative. The meat was overcooked and over as tasty as a McDonald's Hamburger Pattie actually, I think the burger would win in this competition. I suspect that a poor cut, thin cut, completely absent from any season, and a good amount of overcooking were thrown into the factors, which was a total disappointment. In addition, the service of the food quality was exhaustive. The place was practically empty and we had to get our server for check-out as if we had a taxi in La Guardia during the rush stop! To eliminate everything, a view of the menu shows a rather disturbing situation. Here in Rockland, we are just steps from one of the largest lobster and seafood fields on the eastern shore of the lake. You would think that with such access to the raw materials there would be a wide selection of seafood on the menu of this restaurant guess again. Overall, this restaurant had little to offer in terms of food quality, service, atmosphere or value. How it can remain in business, let alone thirst is really a secret for me.