The Black Horse Tavern in Mendham, New Jersey has a history dating all the way back to 1742 — back before there was a United States. In fact, The Garden State has several restaurants dating back to before the founding of the country. This colonial restaurant in New Jersey has updated its menu quite a bit over the years, but some things never change. It still has the same historic charm it did when it was a colonial tavern, but the rustic tavern has now expanded to include several dining rooms. You can indulge in the hearty meat-and-potatoes specialties of the old days, but the menu now includes modern favorites. The one thing that never changes is that when you're dining at The Black Horse, you're dining with history. Let's take a look at this iconic place.

The facade of The Black Horse Tavern is bigger than it was in 1742, but it's still the same restaurant in a lot of ways.

Outside, keep an eye out for the Black Horse Tavern history marker explaining the long life of the tavern, coming up close to 300 years.

Inside, the central dining room still very much feels like it could have come right out of the colonial days.

The same goes for the traditional bar, where the skilled bartenders mix classic drinks that Founding Fathers may have sipped centuries ago.

The menu of The Black Horse Tavern NJ is a classic fusion of the old and the new, with the extensive menu offering a lot of different influences and flavors.

If you just want a sandwich, the crispy eggplant is a winner.

It comes with fresh tomato, melted provolone, and house-made basil pesto on toasted sourdough. We like the crispy fries served in the little tin buckets.

The entree menu has a lot of new flourishes, including some lighter touches such as the Mediterranean shrimp.

This pretty plate comes with grilled shrimp, chickpea falafel, garlic hummus, pickled red onion, and blistered tomatoes - that's a lot of love going into one dish!

And for a juicy steak, you can count on The Black Horse to deliver, including the prime rib which is an absolute must on Friday and Saturday nights.

Brunch is a festive affair every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at one of the historic taverns in New Jersey.

The corned beef hash with sunny-side-up eggs and nine-grain toast is comfort food at its finest.

Make sure to save room for a sweet finish, with classic desserts like this creamy key lime pie or the traditional Black Horse Celebration Cake.

The Black Horse Tavern in Mendham is worth a visit. Have you been to this historic eatery? Let us know about your visit to this colonial restaurant in New Jersey in the comments section. Discover more on The Black Horse Tavern website.

Reserve a place to stay on the Marriott Bonvoy Homes & Villas website. And while you're in Mendham, read about the Passaic River which has a very unique tributary.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-jersey/underground-river-nj/