Review: Café Faubourg - Montclair…read more Café Faubourg is one of Montclair's true gems--an authentic French bistro that feels as if it were lifted straight from a quiet Parisian street and placed right in the heart of town. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance sets the tone: warm lighting, intimate tables, and that unmistakable bistro charm that makes every meal feel like a small escape. The food is consistently excellent, starting with their hummus, which is surprisingly standout for a French spot. Smooth, flavorful, and beautifully plated, it's the perfect way to begin the meal and pairs wonderfully with their fresh bread. The steak frites is a must-order and easily one of the best in the area. The steak is tender and cooked exactly to preference, richly seasoned without being heavy, and served alongside crisp, golden fries that are everything you want in a classic bistro dish. It's simple, authentic, and prepared with the kind of care that elevates a traditional favorite into something memorable. Service at Café Faubourg is warm and attentive without being intrusive, contributing to the relaxed elegance of the experience. Whether you're dropping in for a casual dinner or celebrating a special occasion, the staff makes you feel welcome and unrushed. For anyone looking for an authentic French bistro experience in Montclair--excellent food, inviting ambiance, and truly charming service--Café Faubourg delivers every time.

One of my favorite French restaurants in Jersey and great l for celebrating a special occasion! It…read morewas Mother's day, so understandably busy for a weekend dinner. The inside has both a main dining hall and a greenhouse, which feels like basically sitting on a covered patio with well kept shrubbery and ambient lighting. It's a neat balance of modern and open while still feeling cozy. I think my favorite dish is the ramp fava bean toast -- the umami from the purée balanced with the crunch of the toast and the brightness from the pickled ramps. I'd also recommend the steak two ways -- both cuts cooked perfectly to medium rare -- and the lobster linguine was delicately fragrant, buttery, and slightly acidic all at once. The chips and eggplant dip (kind of like hummus consistency) was kind of a fun, shareable starter too. I will say that I wasn't impressed with the ceviche or branzino our waiter recommended it. The branzino particularly came out a bit dry, and more of the tomato-olive-caper side or dressing would've helped. And while our waiter answered our questions, service felt a little more on the less attentive side.

Solid, reliable wine store. I stopped in today for the first time to pick up a few bottles for my…read moredinner party. The owner was so helpful and riffed off my menu to find four interesting bottles to match my courses. He was so enthusiastic and the wines were so funky that I ended up getting a full case. Will definitely be back!

Unique collection for the discerning wine enthusiast. Had to look all over NJ for these labels.read more

The food was great! Service was top notch! Connor was very attentive. Would definitely recommend.read more

The food was excellent. Had 5 dishes and the service from Connor was impeccable. Can't wait to come…read moreback

I really enjoyed my experience here! This place is a little hard to find but once you're inside,…read moreit's very clean and staff is great! If you're coming from the street, you have to walk through ladyfingers. We came on a Friday night and it was very quiet. I was surprised at how cheap the cocktails were and the funny how was delicious! The bread was so good - warm and fluffy and comes with a very tasty butter! Almost reminded me of garlic bread. We also had the zucchini fritters that we enjoyed. The chicken parm was highly recommended by the waitress and did not disappoint. It was huge and definitely enough to share or have leftovers. My friends enjoyed their pasta and shrimp scampi as well.

Great ambience. Half and half connected with a delicious bakery as well. My server was very nice…read moreand guided us with what to order. However, the sauce on the meatballs was so incredibly salty this night , I'm not sure if it's always like this. It was almost inedible and I love salt. The appetizers were truly great and I'm certain that if it was less salty it would've been perfect !!

Checked out Barrow House after a farmers market visit and it was packed for a Sunday right at noon…read more Every room has a different vibe which makes the space feel really cozy and interesting instead of just one big dining room. We didn't have a reservation, but they were still able to seat us in the dining room as long as we could wrap up before 1:30, which we appreciated. I wasn't super hungry so we shared the crispy cauliflower and lamb ribs from the appetizer menu. The crispy cauliflower was excellent -- hot, actually crispy, and not drowning in sauce which I really appreciated. The lamb ribs came over labneh (a yogurt base) and the first plate arrived with the lamb cold. I asked our waitress if that was intentional and she said only the labneh should be cold. They immediately replaced it with a fresh order and handled it really well, which I appreciated. Great service recovery and overall a really enjoyable brunch spot with a lively atmosphere.

**GF items available** Still seeking to learn if the items…read moreare celiac safe Came in for a late night bite, and we're so glad we did! Atmosphere was warm and cozy. We dined at the bar as we were seeking a drink and a light snack. Calamari was GF and delicious (wish it was more crispy tho)! We also ordered the GF dry rub wings. Amazing, crispy, flavorful! Ambiance: 10/10 Drinks: 9/10 Food: 9/10 Parking: 10/10 I wish the bar staff smiled. Though they were great at serving us and providing us our items accurately, most had the energy of a deflated balloon. A smile could have went the wrong way, or even a proper greeting. I'm going to assume it was simply a long day, and hope to see them in the future hopefully on a better note. They still received a 22% tip for their service.

We actually came to eat at casa Giuseppe but didn't byob. Luckily the serve patrons of the…read morerestaurant. I got the lemon cello, my friend got the Chianti and the other got the peach sangria. The sangria was delicious. The server mixed the lemon cello drink table side which was cool. But it was a little too sweet.

I love Bar 503! I came here a long time ago with one of my best friends for happy hour. She had…read morefound the place and said there was amazing specials so how could I say no? We ordered a lovely charcuterie platter and a 2 bottles of wine. The prices were excellent and the charcuterie board was delicious! We had such a nice time and the music that was playing was great! Little fact- this bar is attached to my favorite Italian restaurant Casa Giuseppe. Right after dinner I will head over to Bar 503 for a nightcap or two. The bar tenders are always attentive and fun! The prices for shots and cocktails are very reasonable. The ambiance is intimate and cozy and there is usually some sort of nightly entertainment going on.

The food was really great and so was the staff…read more Highly recommend! Only bit is that the choice of music does not match the vibe and it's too loud. The lights need to be dimmed down a little bit more as well... Other than that, it's a great place and definitely would go back.

Wonderful food and mocktails. What a surprise on a last minute find. Not fast but enjoyed every…read morebite and sip. And they do mocktails right. I'm from LA so I'm sad I won't be able to try anything else here again but next time I'm visiting I'm making a trip to Qtal! Special note there's a small parking lot on the corner if you can't find street parking.

Went here for after dinner on Valentine's Day .... I lived the vibes! The bartenders were dope and…read morereal mixologist! My drinks were very tasty, will be back!

I was in town & a friend brought me here. Security checks your reservation & i.d. at the door. This…read moreis the perfect date night, gurls nite, or even a night out with the guys spot. Keep in mind that it's a very intimate setting with first come first served seating & a few reserved spots. Very vibey, the music was on point, & the drinks were good. There's even a pool table & t.v. that had the game on. I'd say this is for the late 20s to 30s crowd. Lots of eye candy, including the staff.

Unfortunately, they're closing on Dec. 20th. The location is the only thing I can think of. The…read moreservice was great and the ambiance was well thought out. Ordered only apps, though unique presentation and flavors. I enjoyed them and so did the customers I yapped with.

Points for taking a crack at "just like in the city," but the "economic difficulties" definitely…read morecome from this area of Essex County not being able to turn tables as if it's the city--and not at the premium Bacarosa needs to charge to make that magnificent menu and this space pencil out. I give the team a lot of credit for pivoting when it was clear The Hudson Rose wasn't going to take, but Nutley still exists a few steps below Montclair and Maplewood in this regard. A post-pandemic restaurant needs certainty and needs to minimize the weird lulls that now exist in the dining calendar. Bacarosa had the product and service, but there just weren't the logistics to drive this kind of scale. Nutley's always been kinder to the smaller places on Franklin Avenue, and I think that's still where it sits as a dining destination. That's no fault of the staff or product, but that makes it very difficult to manage overhead on this space, quality, and staffing. I don't look forward to this space inevitably taking a step back to its Gondola/Peter the Great banquet hall days of yesteryear, but The Franklin Steakhouse set a poor precedent by moving from its cozy spot just north of here to a space that could hold two of its former locations. I wish this team the best and hope we see them in this corner of the county again sometime. Thank you for giving the place the quality it deserved, even if the traffic just wasn't there.

We had an outstanding experience at Woodcroft Steakhouse…read more Ambiance- relaxed, small, local feel, subtly hipster, welcoming Service- exceptional Menu- something for everyone, lots of sides, the usual steak choices. Food- Filets were perfectly cooked, nice sear, juicy, flavorful. Steaks come w mashed and veggies; ordered side of their famous potatoes ; dessert- tiramisu was exceptional Overall- excellent, local steakhouse, great option to the big boys

The staff were all very nice, with the exception of the lot attendant, who was repeatedly…read moreleaning/resting on patrons' cars. Restaurant is very pretty inside, and drinks were good. Warm bread was excellent. Unfortunately, rib eye was very bland and despite ordering medium rare, was mostly rare but the biggest opportunity is really the seasoning. German potatoes suffered the same fate, totally bland and flavorless. Wanted to love it here but it just really missed the mark.