Restaurants in Orange

Orange Ale House has been in Orange since 2003.   I had always thought of this place as a bar, attracting a younger crowd with live music and a little rowdy.  Recently I have been there for a few fundraisers and discovered that they are also a restaurant, serving a variety of steaks, ribs and seafood along with a large selection of sandwiches and pizza.  

For the evening, I twisted the arm of Orange Patch Editor, Terri Miles to join me.  She came along with laptop and scanner, ready to run out and do some work.  The server, Aubrey, came over quickly and took our order.  She was very attentive and knew the menu.  We had already set our minds to the lobster, but started out with an appetizer of ribs.

The ribs are truly fall-off-the-bone.  When I went to pull off a section, I had in my hand a clean bone.  They had a good flavor and wonderful texture.  The sauce had a nice smokey zing to them which enhanced the flavor, without being overpowering. Rating 8.5

In place of the fries, we both chose to start off with a salad.  Crisp, refreshing, nothing over the top, a good starter.  Rating 8.5.

The entree that we both selected was the 1 1/2 lb. Lobster, with a dozen clams.

First came the Clams.  Perfectly cooked, not underdone and not at all chewy.  Not a speck of sand.  Rating 9.

Then the lobster.  They were steamed and accompanied by melted butter.  The flavor was good and after the ribs and clams, they were almost too much, but we both finished them.  Rating 9.

We sat in the back room which had 5 tables set up for dinner, the place still had the feel of being at a bar more than a restaurant.  The white noise from the bar and pool area took a little away from the overall experience.  If you're looking for a sports bar, it fits the bill perfectly.  Rating 7

The service is top notch, what you would expect to find in a fine restaurant.  They are very attentive and look out for needs of the customers.  Rating 9.5

Overall rating 8.75