'Operation Swill' Targets Villari's for Faking Top-Shelf Booze

Villari's Lakeside finds itself in the New Jersey alcohol control board's crosshairs for reportedly subbing subpar alcohol for top-shelf orders.

Operation Swill went after 29 New Jersey bars and restaurants that allegedly poured non-premium drinks, but charged customers for the top-shelf prices, New Jersey's attorney general announced Wednesday. Villari's Lakeside and the other 28 establishments were part of a yearlong probe into the practice.

Investigators turned into spirit spies as they covertly tested samples from the bars and restaurants. The New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Division of Criminal Justice launched the investigation started after the ABC received citizen complaints and tips from confidential informants.

Investigators seized alcohol and demanded reports from the 29 restaurants identified as substituting inferior booze for premium brands.

A manager from Villari's was not immediately available to comment Wednesday afternoon.

Customers took to Villari's Facebook page to protest the accused alcohol swapping:

"wow, so totally disappointed, we are/were regulars. Can't believe you would do this. How much money do you need! Terribly terribly upset!"

"We have been coming to your restaurant for years, ordering Kettle One and Cranberry and you've been serving me cheap vodka all these years! Thanks for that!" 

The 29 establishments named in Operation Swill are: 

• Railroad Café, East Rutherford
• The Brick House, Wycoff
• Sunset Tavern, Burlington
• Graziano’s Ristorante, Chesilhurst
• Villari’s Lakeside, Gloucester Township
• Yesterdays, Marmora
• TGI Friday's, West Orange
• Italian Affair, Glassboro
• Bells Tavern, Lambertville
• TGI Friday's, East Windsor
• Brunswick Grove, East Brunswick
• TGI Friday's, Old Bridge
• TGI Friday's, North Brunswick
• TGI Friday's, Piscataway
• TGI Friday's, Freehold
• TGI Friday's, Marlboro
• TGI Friday's, Hazlet
• Murray’s, Dover
• TGI Friday's, East Hanover
• Sona Thirteen, Morristown
• Blackthorn Restaurant, Parsippany
• Ruby Tuesday, Bridgewater
• TGI Friday's, Linden
• Café 34, Matawan
• Applebee’s, Kearny
• Cucina Calandara, Fairfield
• TGI Friday's, Hamilton
• TGI Friday's, Springfield
• TGI Friday's, Clifton

State investigators have scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton to further detail the operation.