Since my initial review of Bertha's Chateau, my wife and I have been back 7 times. I enjoy the food and ambiance. We treated ourselves to a beautiful Christmas dinner, I loved the Smoked Danish trout, sauce Ora and my wife her Burrata . Our second course of meat ravioli and 4 cheese Cannellloni was just as good as the first. Entrées of Veal Forestière and Roast 1/2 duck Venitian style were amazing. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the duck, there are not too many duck presentations as classical as Venetian style. The dessert of Rum caked ala mode and Panna cotta with blueberries finished a fabulous meal off. As a Chef myself I recognized the great job Chef Peter and his staff did on Christmas and every other time we have eaten at Berta's Chateau. Make your reservations , slip back into a time when a meal is an special occasion and enjoys the wine list ,cocktails and a great meal. read more

We like going here it's a cozy small little place with intimate service. There's a special nights that you can get a prefix meal for $48 comes with everything needs to pay cash. Food is excellent. Expect time to relax and enjoy your food. Cocktails are delicious and ask for the wine list. It's unbelievable. read more

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We rarely go out as a family for dinners , Berta's provided to cozy old school atmosphere that made everyone comfortable! We were greeted warmly when we walked in and seated immediately. We ordered everything from duck to scallops enjoying it all. I must say ordering the four course meal made much more sense to me than simply doing an entrée . Service ,food, and presentation all well done. read more

Sticker shock alert - not sure if it's because of Valentine's Day or if this is the norm, but $39 for a bowl of pasta is outrageous. Yes, it comes with salad and sides but seriously?? I asked for a glass of house wine which was $17.50 and not a great pour. Sure, everyone is pleasant enough and that's why I'd feel bad giving 2 stars, but the food definitely does not justify the price point and this definitely put a damper on the holiday unless your goal is getting f*#*ed. read more

Unparalleled North Jersey gem. Arguably one of the best cellers in New Jersey let alone the region with sincerely crafted, consistently excellent food. Your table for the night sit back and enjoy! read more

Had my 70th BD Here...Service and food were excellent! Owner went out of his way to please and accommodate all my guests needs and want

Peter knows his shit ...that's all there is to it. He can tell you about Italian wine , if you have a couple hours. Great food at a place for a decent price. What more could you ask for. read more

I've being going here for special occasions for 30 years. I have so many memories of eating here with my family from communions to anniversaries. The food has always been very good. My parents, aunts and uncles have always loved this place. We recently went here for my fathers b-day and we heard that they were likely going out of business so we were expecting this to be our last time here. I try to eat a plant based diet but made an exceptions to eat vegetarian for the occasion. The last time I was here, it was obvious the chef was annoyed with me for trying to avoid animal products. I realized that my family has came here as a tradition. They provide a 4 course meal and you will be here for hours. My cousins and I hate it. I honestly don't want to spend 3-4 hours having a meal. This time along I treated my appetizer as lunch and by the time we ate our main courses, it was dinner time. The waiter puts no effort in helping us whatsoever. I'm sure it may be difficult to gauge when everyone's ready to order, so his approach is to wait extremely long just to be sure he didn't have to make an extra trip. Sure the food is good, but I could gotten a weeks worth of groceries for the cost of the meal. I was looking forward to the desert, cheesecake is my favorite and I figured that it was going to be worth it. It was actually the worst cheesecake I've ever had. It was the opposite of light, fluffy, creamy & flavorful. I guess I'd say it was bland with a weird consistency. The waiter was sarcastic when my dad asked for bread and then gave our party a hard time about splitting the bill. My mom was trying to get the chefs attention and say hi, but he was even ruder than the cook. This place is a relic. It represents another time. I for one think it's time for a change. I had some great memories there, but none of them were a credit to service or consideration we received. read more

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Thought Berta's was closed but found out Peter was able to work a lease to stay open for now. Food is very good! We aren't big on wine, so the extensive wine list not a draw for me .Service was okay, and ambience has been unchanged for decades. read more

Well I wish I could write a review but unfortunately we went for dinner last night 4/4/2024 we arrived at 8:10 no one was there to greet us so we went in the bar/dining area finally the waiter came out of the kitchen we asked for a table for 2 when we were told that they were closed? I see on the website that they close @ 9:00 There was a table of about 8 people in a room and then 2 other people in the dining room. Very disappointed drove down the road arrived 8:30 and was welcomed into another restaurant with delicious food. Won't be going back there is way to many great restaurants that don't treat customers like that. read more

Wasn't crazy about Bertas for the price. Some things were good but the Shrimp dish ehh. The cheese and dips they put out for you in at the start are great. I'd say try for yourself, nice ambience. read more

Berta's has been open for many years but last night 11/6/22 was our first time. It's now my favorite fine dining restaurant. Can't believe all the years wasted not knowing about it! The food is exquisite, creative, far above average. The Ravioli is amazing to start with. My lamb with Gorgonzola cheese - off the charts. Same with the Orzo. Peter and Sandy Bernstein, owners and Peter is chef, really make the experience fun. Berta's is their life's passion, and it clearly shows. Wine selection - terrific. Interior is so refreshingly not your typical restaurant, and exterior is unique also... walking up you really wonder what the inside will look like! Go enjoy Berta's... you'll be very happy you did. read more

I've been going to this restaurant for seventy five years. My parents and grandparents before my. The menu is extensive I would say northernmost italian Must of the time we choose the four course dinner, appetizer primi , secondi, ( entree) and dessert. Fantastic wine selection. When I was younger I could help my mom finish her entree. Now I have to take half of mine home. The restaurant is on a hill off R 511 in Wanaque NJ. There is a beautiful bar room which was not touch during renovations. Large dinning porch and a dinning room a few smaller spaces. A beautiful old building. Years ago there were lawns and gardens that one could walk in between courses. They grew vegetables and in tomato season would send you home with some. The food is fantastic with a number of dishes unique to the restaurant. Many desert are baked at the restaurant as they were 70 years ago mrs Berta. Check out the history on the web still own by the family. read more

I definitely like this place mostly because of my nostalgic feelings but it is worth going even if it's your first time. My family has been probably going there since they opened and we've spent many special occasions there -countless family parties and holidays. They never disappoint! The spread that they give along with your meal is a special touch and their fried farina is my absolute favorite. The decor is very old school and charming. I love Berta's! read more

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One of my favorite restaurants. Peter does an amazing job. Food is incredible!! I have been going here since I was a little girl. Nothing has changed food has remained amazing throughout the years read more

At last! We have found an excellent replacement for The Manor and Highlawn Pavilion in terms of food quality. And to think we have been living 15 minutes away for almost 50 years! The food is excellent, beginning with escargot appetizer (my wife's favorite) and continuing through pork filet and soft shell crabs. Garlic on everything was not overpowering, but watch out for the dips; one of them is spicy! One note of negativity, which from the previous review seems to be an issue. We arrived at 1:30 on Sunday, and were absolutely the ONLY people there. When someone finally came out, he asked if we had a reservation! And then made a big deal about going to "discuss" with the owner. Again...not another soul there except for a couple who entered after us. Quite soon a second person came out and of course we were seated immediately, but WHY!!! start customers off on such a down note. read more

The restaurant is tucked away in a residential neighborhood (driving there we thought we were going to wind up at someone's house and have grandma cook us a meal). The food was as good as grandma's, each course was as good as the next and the service was also excellent. read more

This hidden gem is still serving great food, cocktails and great wine list. Peter, chef owner does a fabulous job on everything. Try the veal chop! Best I ever had. read more

Berta's Chateau - Italian Near Me - Wanaque, New Jersey

Went here for Easter when I was little. Again when my son was a newborn and just this past Easter the food was so so good and the service great. read more

Wonderful meal! I could just repeat wonderful over and over and be done with this review. Top notch food, preparation, service, wonderful (there's that adjective again) meal from start to finish. If you want to have a relaxed atmosphere, and stellar dining experience, this is the place. The table is set with assorted raw root vegetables, radishes, carrots, fresh baked bread, flat breads and a trifecta of spreads. The service is casual yet feels like an exclusive food club, our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about food and it's preparation and guided us through the menu which was also informative about the sourcing of the food and it's prep. I started with the clams casino, as I had heard Frank Sinatra dined here regularly and figured it would had been his choice (can't go wrong with the chairman). I had never truly had this dish until this night. Each clam was tender and so subtly spiced with fresh herbs, absolutely delectable flavor with some mind blowing bacon hint, but refined, maybe pancetta? Next was the cannelloni with a bolognaise type meat sauce that was so rich yet delicate, the pasta light and crispy from the broiler, a masterpiece. The main course I chose was a Kobe beef steak from Hyogo Japan, it was tender, juicy, perfectly broiled, served simply with coarse sea salt and spinach on the side. To complete the dinner, I chose the cheesecake which to me really showed the spirit of this establishment in its unique blend of a traditional cheesecake with Italian influence using a local cheese maker whose product has a texture unlike any cream cheese I had ever experienced; the cake reminded me of my grandma's Italian cheesecake that blends soft wheat kernels and cheeses, also known as a wheat pie, but there's no wheat in this cheesecake like the Italian vatiety, yet the texture and maybe even the use of mille flower water and orange water like my grandma uses are reminding me of my grandma's dessert (high water mark for me), but these are all guesses of course, I have no idea what means of magic they used to create this life changing experience in my mouth. The food, service, atmosphere, and especially the company at the table made a memorable birthday celebration, I'd trust these folks with any special occasion. Well done! And a very Happy birthday to my dear friend Chuck S! And my sincerest gratitude for his family for having me as a guest at this memorable occasion, thank you. And, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful; and again, most wonderful. read more

Berta's Chateau - Kobe beef steak, simple, absolutely perfect. - Italian Near Me - Wanaque, New Jersey

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This is such a unique spot. The menu can seem overwhelming and I can't even imagine how they are managing such a huge inventory of ingredients as a small business but I am seriously impressed. The food is great! The owner/chef is an exuberant gentlemen. The bread service with the multiple spreads is fantastic. I've had dinner there several times and the experience has never failed. read more

Updated review: Our family and friends have come to Berta's for 50 years. Peter is the most recent generation of the family who has run Berta's and he's lead this wonderful place for at least 30 years. He updates the menu while keeping many of the traditional dishes all using the best, freshest ingredients. You will never feel rushed here and you'll get to enjoy Northern Italian cuisine and wine that will knock your socks off. Go soon. read more

I actually gave this 4 stars!!My sister and I came one night in early December. We used to come with our parents many times during our childhood and then with our families. It has not changed one bit. The food was wonderful and the memories were abundant! There are not many places like this around any more. It is very old school. When you are seated a waiter comes with a delicious bread basket, a dish of celery, olives and carrots. Also a dish of olive oil. And a trio of cheese spreads. So good and exactly as I remembered. We had aglio olio. Perfect! read more

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THE BOUNTY OF BERTA'S, Wanaque NJ I have lived in Wanaque for 10 years and despite how good I have always heard this place was, it took a milestone birthday for me to actually get there. Why did I wait so long? Me and three close friends did not realize what we were about to experience on Saturday January 22, 2011. We were seated in the lounge area at my request. This atmosphere is very warm and cozy being a nice compliment to the other more formal dining area at Berta's. Our table was ready and an assortment of fresh veggies, crisp breads and spreads greeted us. A large photo of Lou Costello was next to where I was seated inscribed, "To Berta's..." informing them of his great meal. After our cocktails arrived, we all decided on the 4 course menu dinners which were all fantastic, as well as the service. MY CHOICES WERE: Clams Casino Veal Ravioli Bolognese Filet Mignon (sides served family style) Homemade Rum Cake ala Mode Coffee All excellent! You may have heard that Berta's is expensive, but I feel that $52 for a four course Filet Mignon dinner is a bargain! All of us were able to each take home enough food for an entire meal for the next day! As another reviewer mentioned, this is not a place to eat quickly, however the meal is very well paced and relaxed. This was a three hour event. Berta's also offers a huge wine selection. I look forward to my next meal at Berta's, which will be VERY SOON! Check out some photographs I took... read more

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Have been Dino g here for at least 60 years....the very best in every sense of fine dining!

Berta's is THE BEST!! Had so many family dinners there! Exquisite food, great atmosphere, always a treat. read more

We come here a few times a year. Today, Mother's Day, we had reservations for six. One person canceled last minute. We showed up with 5 instead. Not thinking it was a big deal. Our thinking was that a table for 5 would be the same size as six. One of our family members had a family emergency. Well, the owner, or chef, was not very happy and he made it known that we should have called. He's exact words were "we stop taking reservations after a certain number of people not tables. " He went on as if we commuted a terrible sin. I felt so terrible. I apologized and kept on apologizing as he went on. BUT, as the night went on. . . We where the only table in a room of at least 10 tables (conservatively) and the room next to us was just as empty. What was the point? Why Alienate any customer. The food was very good. I cannot deny that, but the temperament turned us off so much, we may not return. Someone in his restaurant should speak to him. This is not the first time we were treated rudely by this person. We will not be back. read more

2/7/19. Wow. What a great dinner. .. 4 courses. Of delicious food. All for 29,95. Every Monday Wednesday and Thursday ,,,, Cash only ,,, A great deal ,, and the service is very personalized,, I had the stuffed clams. , Spicy Chicken Parmigiana!, and a small side of Fettuccine Alfredo And coffee and Chocolate mousse ,, And the great wine and we'll be going again. ,, try it you'll love it ,,, Our family of 6 was very happy with everything. , Thank you ! Dawn V. read more

This place is wonderful... I was told I had to try it the moment I moved to Wanaque, I live down the road. We came on Monday night for their cash-special. The special is ridiculous, you're completely spoiled for $30 pp! If you went on any other night you'd be spending at least $150 for a 3/4 course with 2 glasses of wine! (Still would be worth it). The courses came with 2 glasses of (GOOD) wine of your choice. Our food and dessert were so delicious. The chef himself took our order and walked us through the menu. Nothing like an old-school Italian restaurant. I love Berta's and so happy this place exists. You must try! read more

Over the top!!! Excellent wine choice, our meals were cook to perfection. Service was Fabalous. I can not wait to return to this hidden paradise read more

This was probably the worst restaurant I have been to. Escargot was cold. Waitstaff was never there. Food and drinks are overpriced. Wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Definitely recommend for an old school feel eating experience. The breads and dips provided upfront are delicious. The wine menu has a lot of great options on it and the meals were delicious. Hope to visit again soon. read more

Always a good time whenever we have gone for dinner or wine tasting. Peter is very accommodating and very knowledgeable about the foods and wines that are served. Cozy interiors and atmosphere. read more

It has the feel of walking into a person's home for a nice meal and that feeling does not go away during the meal. I went on a Monday night which is Chef's night and I highly recommend it. The food is incredible! The chef came out and talked about all the different dishes and options. He clearly knew a lot and he chose every ingredient with such care. He talked about which farm each veggie was from and what farm raised each animal for the meat. It is not a flashy, extravagant place, but a nice place for a meal. It feels like there is a history to it. read more

What a disappointment! We came here with my father-in-law, as he used to dine here years ago with his parents and raves about the place...not anymore. Each table gets some unidentifiable dips and a crudité plate. One of the dips was OK, the rest were not very appetizing. The crudités plate had raw scallions - not sure what was up with that. Bread was great! We ordered the four course dinner: the pasta bolognese and cannelloni bolognese were terrible. The pasta was a plate of plain noodles with a couple spoonfuls of "sauce" which was more like ground beef with a bit of tomato paste. Cannelloni was greasy with a spoonful of sauce as well. Main courses were lackluster - I've never seen a sadder looking eggplant parmigiana. Steak was smothered with so much Gorgonzola that it overpowered the dish - although it was cooked well so there's that. Desserts were alright though. Some other thoughts - the menu is confusing and makes no sense. Aside from the multiple fonts and awkward print sizes, many items have a confusing pricing structure that depends on whether or not you order a main, or if you participate in the four course meal. Sadly, the place is dated, tired and empty on a Saturday night. Based on all the cash menus and 20% discount menus they run for cash - I would venture to guess that they may be in trouble. read more

I thought this place was great. Peter (chef? owner?) explained the menu in detail. It was like a culinary course. I also heard him explaining pre and post prohibition Old Fashioned to a patron. I have to come back and try one of those next time. The 4 course dinner was fantastic and we took lots home. Very reasonable for the amount of food you get. Bottom-line -- this place is a "find". There aren't many like it left. We'll be back. read more

Been going here for years. Tomato soup is my favorite. All the beef dishes are delicious and expertly grilled. Wines are fantastic. read more

We have been visiting Berta's for almost the past 10 years- typically for special occasions. Originally a Speakeasy, it is not the easiest to find- you have to know where it is to find it almost! I have never seen it crowded, and sometimes wonder how they are still open- but love the history, food, wine list, and service. It reminds me of walking into my Grandmother's house - slightly cluttered, black and white photographs crowding the walls, Christmas lights up in the middle of the summer accompanying non-holiday decorative garland- but this is also what makes the atmosphere warm and hospitable. Choose your dining room - the bar, the indoor porch - there are also several rooms that are great for private parties. You feel more like you are inside a home than a restaurant. I would recommend reservations, and allotting 2-3 hours for your meal experience. You can order a la carte, or 'meals'. Regardless, starts off with a bread plate, bread stick plate, fresh veggies, and 3 spreads (horseradish, cheddar and blue cheese) - to pick on. If you do go with the 'meal' - it will cost anywhere between $30s - $60s (sometimes higher for lobster, etc)- but two appetizers, entrée (served with fried polenta and veggies), completed with coffee/tea and dessert - all 4 courses are hardy portions. It is obvious that all the food is fresh and made from scratch (pastas, etc). Top grade meat is used, and described in the menu (which is frenetically presented with a random use of fonts and sizes). Take your time with the wine list- or more appropriately wine book. There are hidden gems! Also, if a 100+ page book overwhelms you, look at the last page of the menu for wine specials- they are wonderful bottles, reasonably priced. Our most recent meal there (for 4)- 3 full meals, 1 a la carte, pre-dinner drinks, and two bottles of wine: totaled $110 per person including tip and lasted over 3 hours. We were never rushed (even though we were the last in the restaurant). Our wine (non-traditional European red) was decantered, and fresh glasses brought when the new bottle was opened- as should happen but rarely does. Advice: go with people you love to talk to, plan enough time, and go hungry. read more

My new Monday night go-to restaurant. The prix fixe menu with wine included is a STEAL. I can't understand the comment in the other review, "This is not 'fine" dining.." Maybe not - but it's fine by ME! We were the only customers in the dining room, and yet our waiter was perfectly happy to serve us in a far, quiet corner (very solicitous of our 5YO son ). He didn't get annoyed at our questions and chose the wines to pair with our chosen entrees. Starters are upscale, the bread basket was warm, service was nicely paced. Food was well-prepared, tasty. I will be going back soon. read more

This is by far a must go. I wish I could give 6 stars for this review. Came here for dinner on a Satruday night, and this not being my first time here I knew to expect a top of the line mea. Berta's has been in business since the 1920s and I certainly know why. Please keep in mind there is a dress code and do not wear shorts to this place. Hidden in the woods of Wanaque this place is a complete gem. Also this isn't a quick meal by any means with 5 courses that will make you walking out almost wanting to work out after. Dinner includes Appetizer, Pasta/Soup Course, Main Course and also includes Dessert & Coffee. To start this meal they bring out a dish of vegetables, dipping spreads, and a assortment of bread which is all amazing including the dips. I decided to start with the shirmp alla berta which was a meaty type sauce served cool and delicious. Other people in the group decided on the Fresh Avacado, the smoked trout with a horseradish-lime and the Prosciutto with Melon. The next course I decided on the pesto noodles and were fabulous. And the rest of the group went with the Eggplant Parmigiana appetizer. Yes only on appetizers at this point. For our meals we decided on the duck ( fabulous) I decided on the filet which again fabulous. The other people in the group went with Veal Saltimbocca which I have to say was the juiciest and tender piece of veal I have ever had and the Filet of Sole.. Overall we did get dessert which included the peach malba with ice cream and the the Rum cake. All of the courses were delicious. Service was excellent and so was the waiter and chef coming by the table and helping out. Must go must go must go. Pricey but 100% worth coming. With all the courses and service you receive paying for this meal is totally worth it. read more

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