If you're seeking a vibrant dining experience by the water, look no further than Jefferson House, an American restaurant nestled at 139 Nolans Point Rd, Lake Hopatcong, NJ. With its charming dockside patio and lively atmosphere enhanced by live music, diners are greeted with a unique blend of quality cuisine and inviting scenery.
Patrons rave about the delicious food, from crispy fries that even non-fry lovers enjoy, to fresh fish and juicy steaks cooked to perfection. Andrew Wong praises its dog-friendly ambiance and delightful patio, while Sun Shine's family enjoyed beautiful water views during their celebratory lunch, highlighting the seamless merge of casual dining and high-quality meals. Recommendations for tacos and stuffed mushrooms reflect an evolving menu that goes beyond traditional bar fare.
Michelle Wadleigh notes the restaurant's summertime charm, making it a prime spot for evening dining. Returning visitor Jay Decker expressed happiness in the restaurant's growth from a bar to a destination for great food, proving that Jefferson House is more than just a beautiful locale—it’s a culinary gem in the heart of Lake Hopatcong.
In summary, Jefferson House offers a perfect blend of ambiance, community, and culinary excellence, making it a must-visit for anyone exploring Lake Hopatcong.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Has outdoor seating
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
No delivery
Highlights
Has fast service
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Has live music
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves happy-hour food
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Historic
Romantic
Trendy
Crowd
Good for groups
Popular with tourists
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Has kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Photos
Reviews For Jefferson House
Andrew Wong
May 28,2025
Absolutely love this place. It has a great vibe, thanks to the dockside patio seating and live band. The fries are amazing (I don't even like eating fries normally). It's also very dog-friendly, in stark contrast to many other places in the area (like the Windlass... horrible attitudes there). We actually decided to buy a place around Lake Hopatcong because we were enjoying ourselves so much at the Jefferson House.
Michelle Wadleigh
May 24,2025
Great setting. Live music. Good food. Not easy to get to but worth the effort. It is a perfect summer evening destination. Nicely maintained place.
Sun Shine
May 20,2025
My family and I were pleasantly surprised by this place. Going in I was just expecting it to be like a casual bar and burger place and that was fine with us. However, we were all so pleasantly surprised! Our visit was filled with awesome outdoor water views with high quality food in a very casual setting. We learned the fish is bought fresh and it was delicious!! The steak was cooked exactly as ordered and was very tasty!! Thank you for making our family birthday/anniversary afternoon lunch celebrations a perfect day! It ended up being even more perfect than we imagined!! Shout out to our server Diane, thank you for making our first visit a wonderful afternoon. We will be going back.
Chelsea C
May 12,2025
We absolutely love the Jefferson House! What an amazing atmosphere on the lake with good food! We have been here so many time and always can't wait to come every summer to sit on the lake and enjoy good eats. Just a few photos of the many that I have. If you haven't been here I say give it a try!
Jay Decker
Apr 22,2025
Not only must I update my review, I have to erase the old one completely. Went on a Saturday night and the place was hopping! The live entertainment was very good and service was doing a helluva job keeping up. However, the old Jefferson House could also be a very busy lakeside bar. The difference now is that it is also a place to get great food. My prior review (a few years old) said to stick to burgers and fries, no more! Try the tacos; try the stuffed mushrooms; try the fish and chips! This is good stuff! I'd recommend other dishes, but that's all I've had so far. We are so happy we came back! One note: Lose the politics. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but having it displayed everywhere is a bit obnoxious.
Marisa Church
Apr 6,2025
i don’t understand the bad reviews about this place. i’m surprised this isn’t at least a 4.0. this was my first time here and i’m going to tell it like how i saw it. i first walked in and was super skeptical about this place. on top of this, i was nervous about the ratings too. it didn’t seem like the best of places, especially since the bar area was crowded and super loud. after being seated though, i started to feel a little bit more comfortable. the whole outside area was crowded, but somehow i still got my food very quickly. they even seemed short on staff, but the service was still great. i dropped a shrimp on the floor and had to toss it, but without even asking or noticing anyone saw, and older man gave me another one for free and joked around with me. he was super nice and the service was great. i ordered the shrimp scampi and it looked great and tasted great. they didn’t have a dessert menu, so i was worried it wouldn’t taste that great. but my cheesecake was presented beautifully and tasted amazing. lastly, the view was just amazing! overall, i am super happy with my experience and strongly recommend this place!
Catherine Mathews
Mar 23,2025
It was a very busy night. Beautiful weather. Live band. But we sat right next to the water. We got hot roast beef & buffalo chicken sandwich. Delicious. Service was a but slow but the food was delicious and hit the spot. Drinks were great too. Don't need to dress up.
Jo V.
Mar 11,2025
Oh My Cod! Their fresh cod was one of the best buttery, flakiest cod to ever melt in my mouth. Feast your eyes on our pictured dishes... We enjoyed our experience so much we dined two days in a row; even brought more people! :D Gotta try their homemade marinara. Dip the bread or fries in the extra sauce - nommerz! Jefferson House made me fall in love with the aura at that lake (heart eyes) - minus the mosquitos and spiders on the fence :P I guess they feel at home too. This place has been around since the mid 60's! At this family owned establishment, we found ourselves surrounded by happy people, a relaxing atmosphere, a live band, and excellent food! Arrive early to leave your name as they don't take reservations. A special gem for this local community!
Reviews For Jefferson House