Roxy and Dukes

This bar is so interesting unlike any other bar I have been to. The staff is nice. Great entertainment. The drinks are good the food is bar food. (Don’t go in expecting to eat a 5 course meal)

Exceptional sound system, pro equipment manned by the best sound guy I have met in years. Incredible and nice crowd, stellar waiting staff. Food was perfect. The other bands were good, smart and fun to watch. Play this place before you die. Make it a bucket list to see any show or play any show here. A club right out of an impossible punk rock heaven, I’ve played music from the Jersey Shore to NYC for 30 years, this place is in my top 5.

Bartenders were very friendly. Drinks were good, not too expensive. The vibe felt weird… Maybe we just went one an off night, or maybe there were just a ton of locals, I don’t know. But my friend and I got stares from the moment we walked in, until we left. Like I said it could’ve just been the night, but I just don’t think so.
I’d try it again, but if I felt the same way I wouldn’t go back.

I try not to give below average ratings but there is a bartender here that’s pretty unsavory, it was difficult to give this place any more than 2 stars. If you’d like your experience soured, look for a petite, thin bartender with a narrow, gaunt face. If she’s sharp and gruff in demeanor, you’ve found the right person.
I’ve lived in neighboring Bound Brook since 2006 and visited Roxy many times, but by no means am I a regular. It’s always been great for the live music and events, but for some reason, my experience with their bartenders have ranged from neutral to off-​putting. Maybe it’s me? Who knows, but this could be one of those places where regulars are treated nicely and anyone else is sort of second-​class. And to me, that’s second-​class type of service that I’m guessing no one wants to be a part of.
My friend wanted a beer and the bartender rapid-​fired literally 10+ brews. He had no idea what to pick, fell silent for what felt like an eternity but was maybe literally 10 seconds. Finally I picked a beer for him, and she took issue with it, and in a pretty rude and abrupt tone replied, «let the man decide himself!» At that point, I’m not even sure if I should order from her the rest of the night, who knows what kind of sass I’ll get, or I might get overcharged or something. This is not the kind of feeling you want your patrons to get! And this was happening not only within my group, but a group of new friends we met that night, 6 – 7 people. Everyone agreed on this woman.
I may or may not come back, she is that discouraging. Weekend nights are precious; you wanna have a good time, no issues, no bad feelings. May not waste another night here again, and would gladly alert my friends to steer clear if they ever consider it.

This place is just the most fun. The décor is interesting and the food is delicious! I have been there with groups of 20 and 2 and there is always a good time to be had. Try the pizza and wings the blue cheese is house made and it shows!

This is a cool little neighborhood place that attracts bands from all over. They’ve had The Reverend Horton Heat recently, often have belly dancing or burlesque troupes, and karaōke nights. Good sized stage and acoustics, they have one pool table for use also.
Staff is helpful, seems eager to please. They had a slight mixup with our order which was fixed quickly and with an apology. Food menu is largely pub grub, we had buffalo wings and pulled pork cheese fries. Both were good, the pulled pork on the fries was a nice change from the typical chili. They do serve chili cheese fries also.
The pool table seemed to be in constant use the entire evening, I might suggest if there was a way to shoehorn another one in since it seems to be popular. Give this place a try, support a local venue that still brings in live acts instead of generic DJs.

Having just moved to Jersey from Brooklyn, I was so happy to know a place like this even existed in NJ! Great music, awesome décor, and a very friendly staff. My only complaint is that they don’t carry cider beer! But no, this place is totally awesome.

Bloody Marys, Burlesque, and Brunch was great today! The drinks and food were very good, and the entertainment was even better. We’re going to keep a closer eye on the events page and get back for another visit.

If you are into time-​travel, then Roxy & Duke’s is the place for you. I literally felt like I went back in time to a place where the strange, unusual, classy, and eclectic once roamed freely amongst us.
I was invited for a private event, which was an «End-​of-​the-​World» party that took place in the 1920’s. All the attendees were dressed to the hilts in their beautiful clothing that truly captured the time period.
It is a small area, but there was plenty of seating, and it was cozy and comfortable. The stage is exquisite, donned with décor that represents the «Freak Show» of years long past, and allows for Burlesque Shows and Belly Dancing to fulfill your every hearts desire.
There is a small bar, which did an amazing job keeping my gin-​hand strong. They also offer some bar food, which is far from what you would expect from a typical bar… things like pulled pork or vegetable sandwiches-​all with FRESH ingredients. Came out in a very timely manner, with the servers checking to make sure everyone was ok.
With AMAZING music provided by Drew Nugent & The Midnight Society, there was literally nothing left to be desired.
This place is definitely worth checking out-​they have a slew of events that they update regularly on their Facebook page. I would go back in a heartbeat!

the theme of this place is interesting. on the walls they have pin up girls, 1940s men, circus stuff, skulls, a dude in a wheelchair i thought was real!!!, band stickers, tattoo stuff, tiki stuff, its like american horror story lol. i liked the themes. i dont usually go to places that have bands perform. not my thing. its not bad tho. maybe i’ll back. i also love the juke box! tables had stickers everywhere on them!

This place is absolutely a GODSEND!!! They have such an eclectic offering of live music, burlesque, art shows and side show performances to offer that there is NO OTHER VENUE like it in the area! Having only been open a few years I have seen them make continual improvements in their offering. Everyone who works here is a part of an ensemble cast of hard working ‘Characters’ complete with a rough around the edges bartender who sling drinks with a little attitude but truly has a heart of gold. Oh and have I mentioned that they tape Awesome: The Podcast here? Part awesome talk show, part awesome live band performance, part eavesdropping on an awesome conversation between 5 good… drunk friends! This place offers something for everyone!!!

Worst service ever. Waited over an hour and a half for fries. Don’t ever go here. Also, the staff can care less if you’re there or not. It’s a shame because it has potential of being a good venue.

I came here for a photography show, which was a blast! Great band, interesting booths to get stuff, etc.
The bartending staff was friendly if not overwhelmed.
However, there was limited space and by the time we got there, there were no tables to sit at. I was hoping to get food but everyone took up the tables watching the band — and not ordering food. Oh wells, maybe next time!

Roxy & Duke’s is a fun, rockabilly, alternative, divey club you would not expect to find in Dunellen, NJ. Have been there a few times — for burlesque performances, and once for a circus act (think Jim Rose Sideshow, but from Jersey). The intimate space is perfect for performances, and the overall vibe is friendly and laid back.
The beers are super cheap, and the waitresses super friendly. During one visit, was in the mood for a fruity ale, and since the waitress could not recall the names of the four they had on offer, she brought bottles of all of them, and let me choose (I wound up sampling each of them that evening, I believe!). Tab is always surprisingly reasonable — have never spent more than maybe $ 40.00 for the two of us (not including the cover charge, which is usually somewhere around $ 12.00 p/​p).
The décor is loads of kitsch, and yes, it could be better looking. It always makes me think someone had good ideas but did not exactly know how to pull them off. But, A for effort! The patrons range widely in age — from those who look like they are newly minted as legal to those who have recently retired — which makes for a fun crowd.
Have not tried the food — the menu just never appealed to me… very basic, burgers, fries, chicken fingers type of fare.
Always a really entertaining nite out. Would recommend, especially if you are local — something different than what you are used to, and easy to get to!

It is very hard to compare R&D’s to any other bar in NJ. It is an oasis of «hip» and laid back cool in central NJ. The bands they get play mostly original music, and the variety of musical acts & styles is staggering. Years ago there was a VERY cool bar in NJ called «The Dirt Club» (RIP Johnny). Those of you under 40 wouldn’t know it probably. However, it launched the careers of a few bands (incl the Smithereens), and Roxy & Dukes is about as close to «The Dirt» as we’re likely to see ever again. Yes, there are lots of large (and small) heavily tattooed people here, but the crowd and the staff are totally friendly and approachable. You can see/​hear great bands, occasionally interrupted by classic burlesque — no really. And it’s not even a little tacky. Okay, okay the bathrooms are not quite as clean as the Ritz Carlton, and the food menu? To be kind I’ll just say eat somewhere else before you go, but the drinks are reasonable, the beers cold, and you will have a lot of fun. I promise.

Came twice, both times for calendar release parties. Show included burlesque and bands. Had a good experience both times! The venue is pretty large with adequate seating in front of the stage. The bar is in the back area along with a pool table.
Place has a lot of personality, fun décor and nice bartenders. Haven’t tried the food. Decent sized parking lot and street parking nearby.
I’d come back here for a special event only but that’s because it’s a really far drive from me. If I was local, I’d definitely spend more time here!

Been here a few times before for local comedy shows, and I thought Roxy and Duke’s was a cool spot. But as bar or place that serves food (I wouldn’t even call this a «restaurant»)? God no.
Walked in around 6:30, bar was pretty empty other than 1 couple in the corner. The bartender was leaned over the bar, holding hands with some dude (who I thought was a patron, turns out he works there because he later serves us our food???) and looked peeved that I interrupted her by sitting down and ordering a beer. Turns out they have NO draft beer. That’s right, no draft beer. Instead, there are some plastic barnyard animal food bucket type things on the floor filled with ice and bottled beers. Umm ok.
My friend meets me after 10 minutes of awkwardly waiting because that’s how standoff-​ish this bartender was. Eerily, there is no music playing in here. Just dead silence. Then my friend (a Dunellen native) tells me how he recognizes this bartender because she used to work at a now defunct titty bar in town and he remembered her falling off of a pole once. Hilarious and somehow did not surprise me at all.
Made the mistake of ordering food from here… took forever for it to come (~45 mins) which baffled me because the place was completely dead. We both had burgers, which were so-​so. Burger itself was not bad but bun was shitty and the cheese was not even melted on top, it was that pre-​shredded bagged shit that lazy people buy for taco night. Fries were cold, not even kinda sorta warm. They were cold. I would venture to guess they were cold because instead of bringing us our food when it was ready, the ex-​stripper middle-​aged bartender was too busy flailing herself around the bar like a trainwreck, and talking to her friends/​co-​workers. And for some reason I kept hearing her shout «are they locals?!», which made us feel even more awkward because we ARE locals, we just don’t patronize this dump.
4 beers total + 2 burgers/​fries = $ 31. Very cheap but sadly, we had a $ 40 Groupon (which was a waste). I asked if I could leave the balance as the tip, she said nope. I asked if I could use the balance to get take-​out beer, she said nope. Umm ok?
Sure, we could have stayed and had another beer… but we both wanted to leave as soon as the deafeningly loud AWFUL cover band came on and butchered Smashing Pumpkins Cherub Rock. This place is a fucking joke.

I think that Roxy and Dukes is taking some unfair criticism in regard to its cliental. Since Roxy and Dukes does not necessarily cater to the most mainstream of audiences some interesting characters may happen upon and patronize this establishment. I think that Roxy and Dukes is a great place to see a wide variety of shows and in many ways picks up a void that exists in New Brunswick for this type of venue. You can see everything here from burlesque to fire-​eating to cover bands. This place has always been a fun place to see a show and have a few spirits with friends.
Pros:
Variety/​Alternative entertainment in Central Jersey
Reasonably priced alcoholic beverages
Friendly staff
Decent sized parking lot
Cons:
Can become really crowded
Could use more seating

Roxy and Duke’s is real gem in area that seems to be lacking in good nightlife. Not only is Roxy and Duke’s an amazing bar with a performance space, but the performances they bring in vary from typical NJ punk to bluegrass to burlesque to belly dancing to comedy to…
You get the point! The place is just full of character. Mixmatched tables with chairs, different kinds of tongue in cheek props, and a gorgeous stage with a great paint job and vibrant red curtains. The crowd is also really low-​key and chill. The staff are supremely friendly. I just have to say that they should have more waitresses, I felt bad for the one (very nice) lady running around like crazy with food & drink orders.
Roxy and Duke’s also has a full menu — appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, quesadillas and entrees, in addition to a full bar (no draft beer, only bottled). It’s very affordable and the food is super good. The one veg option was a portebello mushroom and it came on good bread with lettuce/​tomato/​grilled onions and chips on the side.
Overall I am extremely thankful that something this unique and fun is right around the corner from me! I plan to be here way more often!

This place is as good as Maxwell’s in Hoboken or The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Yeah, that’s a big claim, but I’ll stand by it.
If you live in NJ, you don’t have to go all the way to NYC to hear cool, new, unique live music. It’s come to central Jersey. Here’s a list of things they do right:
— Amazing live acts. They don’t just get local cast-​offs, they pull cool performers from anywhere in between Portland and the mid-​Atlantic. These are talented musicians that bust their ass whether there is a packed house or only 3 people in the crowd.
— Great sound-​system. You don’t realize it until you’ve heard crappy blown out amps, but this place knows how to make the music sound clean, loud and full of energy.
— Variety. In the last month alone, I’ve seen a surf rock band that only plays songs from Quentin Tarantino soundtracks, a comic book-​themed sketch show, naughty burlesque, down and dirty rockabilly, cello chamber pop & middle eastern punk string. The club doesn’t have a signifying sound other than «exotic and different.»
— Amazing atmosphere. It’s a big spacious club with lots of retro décor — tiki, hot rod, road house, Coney Island sideshow — all mashed up into something great. There’s always something to catch your eye. The couches along the back wall are the seats everyone wants to claim, but even the tables are clean and sturdy.
Plus, the men’s room is in good shape.
— Drinks /​menu. This is my own personal preference speaking, but they keep things simple. There’s no tap or microbrews and their mixed drinks consist of pouring liquor into a glass with whatever mixer you ordered. This is a roadhouse bar that’s trying to be cheap and to the point, like a high-​end dive. You’re there to hear music, to interact. They don’t need a lot of elaborate cocktails.
Food is also simply-​made barfood — but in gigantic portions. Haven’t sampled much of their menu outside of chicken tenders and fries or the pierogi pie, but they give you ample sizes that are piping hot to share with your party.
— Location. There’s always room in the parking lot, and if there isn’t, you’ll find something on a side street within 5 minutes. It’s about a 10 – 15 minute walk from the train station (Raritan Line which takes you into Newark Penn). Plus, Dunellen always has cab service floating around.
— COST. At most I’ve paid $ 10 dollars for a door cover and I have always gotten my money’s worth. I’ve even gone out of my way to buy merch and CDs from the acts afterward because they made me a fan that fast. The drinks are cheap too. Altogether, you can have a night of drinks and new music with a group of friends in a swank place — all for under 40 dollars.
My only regrets so far are that I haven’t sampled everything they have to offer. They do karaokes on Mondays, open jams on Wednesdays, car shows on Sunday afternoons & the last Thursday of every month is 80s night. All staples to any great live venue that I’ve yet to try out.
This is a club that hasn’t happened yet. If you’re in north or central Jersey and thinks its just miles of suburbs and turnpike, this is the place that proves you wrong. It’s not overwhelmingly packed with one crowd yet, so this is a chance for you to stake out a club with your friends and make it «your place.»