By Jacquelyn Pillsbury
The green building that houses Bill’s Olde Tavern on Nottingham Way at Five Points has a rich history.
An 18th century bar and hotel, it’s story includes a legend that George Washington and his troops passed by the restaurant on their way to the Battle of Princeton. Since the 1970s, Bill’s has existed as a bar and restaurant.
When New Jersey enacted a ban on smoking in restaurants in April 2006, it forced bar owners to shift their focus to keep people coming to their establishments. For Bill’s Olde Tavern owner Al Von Steenburg, history had to be his restaurant’s hook.
Von Steenburg has commissioned many renovations to the building, returning to its original 18th and 19th century feel. Renovations included discovering a fireplace hidden behind a wall. The fireplace now serves as a prominent feature in his dining room eating establishment.
Along with its history, Bill’s Olde Tavern also features food not normally found on a restaurant menu.
For starters, the menu features eight varieties of their five-cheese creamy mac-n-cheese, from plain to jumbo lump crab. They also have piled-high sandwiches, soups served in bread bowls, hamburgers, chicken, steak, seafood and a couple of pasta dishes.
“We try not to have the same items as everyone else,” Von Steenburg said. “Our menu is interesting, but different.”
What Von Steenburg said really sets the menu apart, though, is Bill’s daily and weekly specials, updated regularly on their website. Specials include alligator, kangaroo, elk, blowfish, skate fish and soft shell crabs. Chef Brian Aase and Von Steenburg enjoy creating new and unique meals.
One of their passions are beer dinners. Bill’s Olde Tavern has about five beer dinners a year, where Aase and Von Steenburg try to introduce new breweries to their customers. The last beer dinner featured Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company in Bucks County.
Aase pairs a different beer with each of the five courses. For example, he will match an IPA, a Pale Ale, a fruity beer, and a couple of other beers.
“The chef is really good about pairing up the food and the beer,” Von Steenberg said. “Sometimes it is something cooked in beer, or a beer float—chocolate beer with ice cream, similar to a root beer float, but with real beer. It is definitely a talent when you know how to pair things up.”
There are times Aase has made recommendations Von Steenburg was leery to try, but in the end is always pleased with the combinations.
The owner anticipates the next beer dinner will take place the end of February. It is limited to 40 people, and often sells out. Bill’s website, billsoldetavernnj.com, has the most up to date information about this and other events.
Aase has been with Bill’s Olde Tavern for about five years, and is a New York trained chef. Von Steenberg said Oktoberfest is Aase’s favorite time of year, and the chef creates all kinds of knackwurst, sausages, potato pancakes, sauerkraut and more, all from scratch.
Bill’s Olde Tavern has more than 50 different types of beer available, with a selection that changes seasonally based on what is available. Von Steenberg described some of the beers as “dessert in a bottle.”
Bill’s Olde Tavern is located at Five Points, 2694 Nottingham Way, in Hamilton. Phone: (609) 586-0192. Web: billsoldetavernnj.com.
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