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Owner story · Hoboken

“We sell American craft beer unlike anyone around here.”

Joe Schiavo · Runs The Shepherd & the Knucklehead

$47Kof The Shep’s food deliveredSince March 2026
1,265deliveries from Willow Avenue to the doorSince March 2026
The Shep’s Classic burger with cheddar, pickles, lettuce and tomato
Kielbasa, salmon, a burger, tacos and a cocktail on a table at The Shep

Haledon 1998 · Hoboken 2016

A father-and-son craft beer bar, named for a novel.

Chris Schiavo opened the first Shepherd & the Knucklehead in Haledon, New Jersey, in 1998, early in America’s craft beer movement, and named it after his own Beat-inspired novel about the duality in man. At The Shep that means a relaxed dinner with the whole family, or a late night with the DJ. In 2016 Chris and his son Joe opened a second Shep uptown on Willow Avenue, with 60 taps, 23 TVs, a menu the two of them designed and cocktails made with fresh-squeezed juices. Craft Beer & Brewing called the father-son business “a people-pleaser that leaves pretension behind,” and in 2020 Hoboken Girl’s Best of Hoboken named it the city’s Best Sports Bar. In 2021 Chris sold Haledon and passed the torch to Joe, who runs The Shep today.

“We’re blessed to be in this position. How can you not give back?”Joe Schiavo, to the Riverview Observer, 2016
A margarita, an old fashioned and a pink cocktail on a ledge at The Shep

The menu

Wings, burgers and “a mean poutine.”

Craft Beer & Brewing singled out “a mean poutine” in 2018, and the menu still calls it Our Famous Poutine: the kitchen butchers pork shoulder, braises it for three to four hours in red wine and apple cider with “family secret” herbs, and smothers it in mozzarella and cheddar over fresh-cut fries. Burgers are half-pound Angus beef from local purveyor Wayne Meats, the Giant German Pretzel comes from European Bread, the mustard, ranch and BBQ sauce are homemade, and The Shep’s Lager is brewed by Czig Meister Brewing in Hackettstown, NJ.

Braised pork shoulder, mozzarella and cheddar over fresh-cut fries

Starters

Our Famous PoutineBraised pork shoulder, mozzarella and cheddar over fresh-cut fries
From Old Bay and lemon pepper to pineapple chili and buffalo parmesan

Plain or in ten sauces

Knucklehead WingsFrom Old Bay and lemon pepper to pineapple chili and buffalo parmesan
Oven-warmed, with homemade mustard and cheddar dips

From European Bread

Giant German PretzelOven-warmed, with homemade mustard and cheddar dips
Fresh chicken breast, crisp bacon and cheddar, with blue cheese or ranch

Starters

Buffalo Chicken Spring RollsFresh chicken breast, crisp bacon and cheddar, with blue cheese or ranch
With homemade mustard and crostini

Starters

Spicy Honey-Glazed KielbasaWith homemade mustard and crostini
Twelve ounces off the grill, with homemade chimichurri

Entrées

NY StripTwelve ounces off the grill, with homemade chimichurri
A Philly cheesesteak with fresh-cut fries from The Shep

Pinkbot at The Shep

Pinkbot brings The Shep’s pub grub from Willow Avenue to the door.

  • 1,265 deliveriesFrom The Shep’s kitchen to customers’ doors since March 2026.
  • $47K of foodOf The Shep’s wings, burgers and pub grub, delivered by Pinkbot since March 2026.
  • 236 in OctoberOctober 2026 was The Shep’s busiest Pinkbot month yet.
  • 7 months togetherFrom the first delivery in March through November 2026.

Under four weeks from the first meeting to the first delivery.

  1. Feb 19The Shep meets Pinkbot for the first time.
  2. Mar 10The Shep goes live on Pinkbot.
  3. Mar 18The first Pinkbot delivery leaves 1313 Willow Ave.

Visit The Shep

Your favorite sports bar in Hoboken.

1313 Willow AveHoboken, NJ 07030
Order onlineBook a party@theshep_hoboken
The Shepherd & the Knucklehead on Willow Avenue at night, lit for the holidays
“Don’t feel like cooking today? We’ve got you covered.”Open every day and from noon Friday to Sunday, with happy hour Monday to Friday, football on Sundays and private parties for 20 to 200 guests.

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Keep more of every order.