The service here was exceptional -- attentive in a way that felt genuinely Michelin-level, from the moment we sat down to the last course. It made the whole night. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance fit the name perfectly -- subtle hints of blue throughout that tied right back to "d'Azur."[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started with a glass of bubbly and focaccia served with three spreads -- the olive tapenade stood out over the butter. For the first course, I had the duck confit salad -- the duck portion itself ran a little light, but the flavor balance was excellent: sweetness from the strawberries, bitterness from the arugula, saltiness from the goat cheese, and umami depth from the duck confit. It's BYOB, we brought both red and white wine to pair across the meal. The table shared the Branzino with French chard, which was outstanding, and the steak frites, which was exceptional and perfect medium rare. I had the duck breast with mushroom, paired with a Pinot Noir -- a great match, and that same Pinot Noir worked beautifully with the steak too. To finish, we shared three desserts: crème brûlée, chocolate truffles with strawberry and pistachio, and a cognac cake topped with a chocolate whipped mousse, walnuts, and strawberry. Tough call on a favorite, but the cognac cake stole the show. Throughout dessert, the staff kept checking in without ever feeling intrusive -- a small thing, but it stood out. A great night out with drink, food, and cousins from start to finish. The service alone is worth going back for. Highly recommend. read more

What a hidden gem!! I've had my eyes on this place for a while, and finally we made it. We chose to celebrate a very special occasion here and could not have been happier with our choice. Though we had booked well in advance, we had a sudden and unavoidable change of plans. They kindly accommodated our change, and made our very special dinner feel extra, in the best way possible. The space is beautiful, the food is délicieux! Be mindful of prix-fixe menus and the bonus of BYOB. If you have a special occasion, or not, give this place a try. C'est un régal! read more

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We made a reservation, however no one bothered to tell us it was BYOB. There is a liquor store 5 minutes walk. They did not charge any fees. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We had a very enjoyable meal except for the a/c.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love it cool, however it was blowing on our food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu is all prefix, no À la carte. We were not told that when booking. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The meal was very good, I will try again during winter when the a/c won't cool my steak.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Bistro d’Azur - French Near Me - South Orange, New Jersey

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Food was fantastic! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful decor[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], Attentive service, and fresh food . A Must try if you're in the area.

I'm writing to address the disaster that was the Mother's Day dinner menu. For $120 per person, we were served: 1. A single crostini with goat cheese and strawberries 2. One ladle's worth of tepid pea soup 3. A single scallop 4. A single lamb rib on top of 3 or 4 potato wedges (note the menu promised a "rack" of lamb) 5. A sliver of gelatinous chocolate cake This paltry meal took over 2 hours to dole out by servers who were severely understaffed and whom we saw perhaps once every 30 minutes. No one offered to refill our waters and we had to ask for bread service after realizing we had been forgotten about. I can forgive slow service, however. What I can't forgive is whoever looked at the portions they were serving last night and decided (1) that this was enough to feed someone, and (2) that it was worth charging $120 a head. I mean, we were literally paying $30 a plate for a single piece of food! Who serves a single scallop or a single lamb rib? Did they overbook and run out of food? This is more obnoxious than NYC prices (and at least if I'm paying $30 for a burger in NYC, I'm getting more food by mass than I received last night). After we had been there for over two hours with no dessert (or water refill) in sight, I had to leave my seat and hunt down a server across the restaurant so I could get my check. We were starving and ordered takeout on the way home. Incredibly disappointing. read more

We visited Bistro d'Azur to celebrate our anniversary and we are so glad we did. We were brought 2 complimentary glasses of champagne which were light and crisp and such a sweet gesture. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside of the restaurant is beautifully decorated and felt spacious.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We opted for the 3 course pairing which allowed us to try numerous dishes. We started with the lobster crepe, butternut squash and mushroom risotto, octopus, and mussels. My favorite by far was the octopus. We were hesitant to order the octopus because we have had our fair share of chewy octopus but our server ensured us that this octopus was tender and one of the signature dishes of the restaurant. Boy was he right!! This was probably the best octopus dish I've had. It was indeed tender and had a great balance of flavor. My fiancé loved the risotto because it was hearty and warm. I enjoyed it as well. The lobster crepe was good but needed maybe a tiny bit of salt and the mussels were under seasoned. The saffron brother was light but needed a little more flavor. We added fresh lemon juice to the broth and that definitely helped, in addition to the roasted garlic chunks that were found throughout the broth. For entrees, we chose the scallops and duck breast. The duck breast was perfection!! It was cooked beautifully with a flavorful, crispy skin. My fiancé loved his scallops which were buttery and tender. We ended our night with cognac cake which was delicious as well. We had an amazing meal at Bistro d'Azur and service was top notch. We look forward to visiting again in the near future. To the team at Bistro d'Azur, merci beaucoup for a memorable anniversary meal! read more

My wife and I came for the 5 course tasting menu on a Sunday. The portions are small but amazingly flavorful and surprisingly filling! The service is excellent and really professional. We consider this a special place we are happy to return to. read more

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I highly recommend Bistro d'Azur! We just hosted my mother's 80th birthday there (20 people) and had a wonderful experience. Isabelle made the planning easy. She and the staff were accommodating, attentive and welcoming. The food was well balanced and flavorful. Everyone - adults and children- enjoyed their meals! Thank you to Bistro d'Azur for making this milestone celebration an evening that we will always remember. read more

Delicious French food. Excellent service Close by to Short Hills Mall Byob Decent prices and generous portions - we even had leftovers. Need I say more? We came here for a special occasion dinner after I researched restaurants in the area on good old yelp - still much more reliable than a google rating for restaurants and possibly for other stuff too. The restaurant only offered a prefixe menu and the selection was limited. Of the prefixe menu we had the seared foie gras, fruit de mer, salmon tartare, octopus, roasted lamb rib chops, and lobster crepe. Everything was out of the park good. All of the dishes came with tastefully selected accompaniments such as the leek and mushrooms with the amazing lobster crepe, which was my favorite dish. I guess it's better to do a few things excellent than have an expansive list of mediocre offerings. The presentation was very nice too even though the portions are thankfully bigger than the typical foo foo French place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a small cozy bistro with very warm service and a nice environment that made me feel like I was on vacation at a resort somewhere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It was a great meal and I will definitely come back here. read more

Bistro d'Azur in South Orange was the perfect place for my wife and me to host our baby shower -- we truly had a spectacular time from start to finish. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor was creative, beautiful, and thoughtfully done, making the whole space feel special and celebratory without being over-the-top.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was outstanding throughout the event: attentive, friendly, and seamless, which let us actually relax and enjoy the day with our family and friends. A huge shoutout to our point of contact, Isabelle -- she was incredibly organized and responsive, and made planning everything feel easy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]If you're looking for a venue that delivers both atmosphere and top-tier hospitality, Bistro d'Azur is a fantastic choice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was incredible! read more

My wife and I have been loyal patrons of this restaurant for many years, and it has always been one of our favorite places for a special night out. Because of our history with the restaurant, I feel especially disappointed to write this review. We visited on Mother's Day with our family, hoping to celebrate with a memorable meal. Unfortunately, the experience was extremely disappointing from start to finish. After being seated, we waited nearly 30 minutes without receiving menus, bread, or even being asked for drink orders. We were told there were issues printing menus, which seemed disorganized, especially for a major holiday. Service throughout the evening was consistently poor. Drinks arrived sporadically, and requests were often forgotten. When the food was served, the timing was completely uncoordinated. Entrées were brought to the table one at a time, with significant delays in between. Some members of our party had finished their meals before others had even received theirs. For a family celebration, this was particularly frustrating. The portions were surprisingly small and did not reflect the premium prices charged. Bread was served sparingly, and basic table necessities like knives were missing or awkwardly handed across the table. To add to the disappointment, during the very first dinner seating of the evening, the restaurant was already out of one of the desserts advertised on the menu. Coffee service was equally underwhelming--there were no sugar substitutes available, and after a long wait, the coffee arrived cold. Dessert consisted of a very small sliver of chocolate mousse that felt more like an afterthought than a proper finale to the meal. We understand that holidays can be busy, which is why we overlooked a less-than-ideal experience on Valentine's Day. However, Mother's Day was far below the standard we have come to expect from a restaurant we once considered a favorite. I will say Isabella was very nice and gave us 50% off our bill. We sincerely hope the restaurant addresses these issues. read more

Bistro d'Azur just hosted a very lovely 30-person brunch for our 95-year-old Mother. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant looked beautiful - elegant yet comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was delicious, and the multi-course nature of the menu meant the dishes kept coming - and coming - to our guests delight. It was fun to have such a large variety of choices starting with a cold table of appetizers, meats, cheeses, crudite, hummus, babaghanousch, and more. Once we were seated, dishes were served beginning with breakfast favorites (brioche french toast, omelettes, croquettes monsieur, potatoes, bacon...then a segue to lunch...roast chicken, loup de mer, steak and fresh berry crepes...then we managed to squeeze in modest servings of lemon meringue, chocolate truffles, chocolate covered strawberries and brie with apple compote (are you hungry yet?). Isabelle, our gracious host was on top of all details, from cueing us when it was time for speeches, to handling guest's random requests. Mosimo was excellent at the bar handling the drinks we brought and keeping up with the Mimosa orders. Their colleagues did a great job serving. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was the perfect setting for a great celebration.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And of course our Mother was thrilled, surrounded by her loved ones enjoying themselves. Several weeks on, we are still receiving complements for a special and memorable party. FYI, we looked at several restaurants in the area and we chose Bistro d'Azur for the ambience and food quality. As it turned out the cost was less than other fine dining establishments, with the added bonus of copious amounts of food and having the restaurant to ourselves. We are grateful to Bistro d'Azur for helping us fête in style and recommend it to others planning their own special festivities! read more

First time here for us, 62nd birthday for me. They seated us & provided complimentary glasses of champagne. We chose the 5 course Chefs tasting menu and we enjoyed. Everything was delicious, plated beautifully. Grilled octopus and venison were superior. My gf's fish (NJ fluke) was so well seasoned and cooked amazingly that I'm still thinking about it. How do you cook such a delicate fish to be crispy (w/o skin) on top and be so moist & tender below? Wow, compliments to the chef and staff. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is warm and peaceful, the decor is beautiful and tables are spacious.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Many stars rated for me, kudos to the staff and owner. read more

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Wow. Great 5 star restaurant. Prix Fix offerings that are updated very day. Try the appetizer lobster crepe or the salmon. My main dish was branzino, which was perfectly prepared. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and the waitstaff were courteous and efficient. read more

This was my first visit. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Everything was spectacular -- food, service, ambience all over the top![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Go there ASAP! read more

Bistro d’Azur - A special cut of Iberian pork, delicious sauce and veggies. - French Near Me - South Orange, New Jersey

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This past Sunday I had my daughter's bridal brunch at Bistro d'Azur and I couldn't have been happier. Isabel, the maitre' d was so attentive and went out of her way to help make this a memorable and special occasion. The food was excellent and went well beyond the traditional brunch items. The restaurant is a BYOB, which we supplied but they had a bartender and they provided all the fixings for brunch cocktails like Bloody Marys & Bellinis. [[HIGHLIGHT]]And the decor is so lovely and European that we didn't need any "extra" decorations.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I can't wait to go back!!! read more

Bistro d'Azur is my go to for a somewhat upscale yet easily approachable dinner. Food is consistently very good. Service is nice and friendly and they are BYOB. Good thing they rotate some of their dishes but so far kept our favorites in place. And the $69 of peak pre fix is an amazing deal! read more

My wife and I went last night to Bistro d'Azur after reading in the NJ Monthly that it was rated higher than Faubourg's (in Montclair). We have always been a big fan of Faubourg's, and still ARE! However, I must say, this Bistro d'Azur was FABULOUS!. Way different than Faubourg. First off the parking was EASY-PEASY (right across the street is huge parking). [[HIGHLIGHT]]Secondly, the ambiance is way more mellow, quiet and palatable than Faubourg's.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I sort of view Faulourg as more of "a scene" and Bistro as more of a elegant, secluded establishment.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Mind you, they're both WONDERFUL. I thought the escargots were AMAZING (no comment frommy wife, she detests escargot!). The risotto was equal to Labaratorio Kitchen. The Fluke was delightfully delicate and delicious. Oh - - - no alcohol at Bistro d'Azur. Its BYOB We didnt have dessert....we're "watching calories"! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor is warm yet sophisticated[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], the staff is professional yet friendly, and the food is outstanding. We have never had anything but great experiences there..highly, highly recommend!! read more

Their dishes showcase real skill! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant stands out for its appearance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff provides excellent assistance and clearly values what they offer. The cuisine here truly stands out. This place deserves more buzz! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This restaurant is absolutely stunning and a must go to in every way.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I had my baby shower brunch here this past weekend and the event ran so smoothly and it was the most beautiful day.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The food, the staff, the planning/coordination and ambiance of the room were flawless.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Bistro's team is excellent. I especially want to thank Isabelle for accommodating every want and need to make sure I had the best day. Can't wait to come back during their dinner hours and try that! read more

Everything was delicious!!! We started with the grilled octopus, lobster crepe, and escargot. Our mains were the lamb shank and pork. Everything was SO delicious and the service was outstanding. There was even live music on a Sunday night. I will definitely be back. read more

I had the venison which was excellent. They also serve New Jersey wines. I was pleasantly surprised because I had never had a New Jersey wine that was any good prior to my visit to this restaurant. Definitely on the pricey side, but the food is good. read more

Wow the food here is so good! So happy we tried it again- add to your special occasion list! They now have a 2 and 3 dish prize fix. Appetizers Lobster crepe- yummm!!! Beet salad - good Scallops - refreshing Risotto - omg this is downright amazing! They have really reinvented and improved this dish! Mains Black bass- sooo delicious!! Yasss! Steak- very good! read more

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I wanted to lick my plate clean! Their daily menu allows for dishes made from the freshest ingredients. I enjoyed the lobster crepe and grilled fluke. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior was thoughtfully and beautifully designed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The waitstaff couldn't have been more attentive. Thank you for one of my most memorable meals! read more

My husband and I finally got the vaccine so we decided to GO BIG and get back out to one of our pre-Covid faves - Bistro. I can't believe what an incredible job they have done with what was once such a non-descript little noodle bar. I really can close my eyes and pretend I'm on vacation. We started with the lobster crepes. They were just as incredible as I remember them. I savored every bite. We followed up with the lamb. It did not disappoint. We had brought our own wine. It was awesome to have it served with dinner. Mary and Tom, the owners - who we have met before, were dining nearby that night. I love a restaurant full of joy and happy chatter. It's been so long since we've been around people! We even enjoyed a good laugh with Tom when he stopped by to welcome us back. I can't believe he remembered us! So classy. It made us feel so special. We will definitely be back soon. Highly recommend this cozy couture delicious spot! read more

This year, I decided to order Thanksgiving dinner from a restaurant rather than cooking. After some online research, the decided to give Bistro d'Azur a chance, and I'm very glad that I did. Advanced ordering was easy and clear and I was given a curbside pick up timeslot for thanksgiving morning. Service was friendly and prompt. The menu was flexible, allowing customers to select preferred side dishes. When I got home, everything was packaged neatly and thoughtfully. The food was extremely fresh and will please even the most discerning palate. Some thoughts on what I ordered: Half Turkey- Exceptional and perfectly cooked. Precisely carved for convenience. It was extremely succulent, moist, and tender. I have never had breast meat this tender. I thought the seasoning was perfect, not too overly herbed. The accompanying jus was very good too. Beet salad- really nice. Came with red and yellow beets, beet purée, walnuts, and some goat cheese fritters that I reheated in the air fryer. It came with a very tasty,sweet vinaigrette. Creamed spinach- generous portion, classic. Glazed carrots- good, proper baby carrots Foie gras stuffing- delicious, had celery and onion. Portion was on the small side, but understandable for this type of dish. Pommes purée with jus- creamy and perfect Chocolate torte- delicious, tasted ever so slightly boozy in a good way. Came with a bit of fresh fruit and a delicious candied orange peel. Apple tatin - definitely good, but not my favorite of the meal. This one I think had some textural changes due to carry out so it was slightly soggy. I was honestly very impressed with this meal. A bit of a splurge, but actually pretty reasonable for the amount of food, effort, and skill that went into this meal! A few photos attached. Dark Chocolate Torte Foie Gras Tarte Tatin read more

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Surprised by the reviews. Food is good overall, but not special. Didn't love my venison (they said rare, but wow, it was bloody), but accept I may have ordered poorly. Mussels, octopus, lamb, all looked tasty. But bigger issue was we sat at 7:00, ordered as soon as the waiter came....entrees came out at 9:10. It's BYO, not like we were lingering and enjoying cocktails. Sooo slow. More 3.5 star but the staff were very nice. read more

Bistro d’Azur - Venison - French Near Me - South Orange, New Jersey

TLDR- proteins under salted; skip dessert; fois gras bread pudding and fois gras appetizer excellent. We started our meal with a warm focaccia bread basked, that came with an olive tapenade, olive oil and butter. It was delicious. We had the following- Lobster crepe: excellent creamy sauce with flavorful mushrooms and perfect soft crepe. The lobster had some tiny little shell pieces but was still very good. Fois gras special ($9 supplement) - perfectly cooked fois gras and a shareable portion, with a delicious strawberry rhubarb sauce and some tiny bread cubes Lamb rib chops- Perfectly cooked but the mustard was heavy and could be a little overwhelming. Could benefit from some salt. Duck special (from daily specials)- duck confit salad with figs, apples, goat cheese and greens was tasty but there wasn't very much duck confit and it wasn't the best I have had, however the salad was composed well and all of the components were tasty together - an overall cohesive dish. The second course of the special was lavender duck breast with the most delicious and soft bread pudding w fois gras inside. The bread pudding was the star of the plate. The duck itself was lacking salt. Dessert- Flourless chocolate cake with coffee ice cream: The best part of this dessert was the candied orange peel, followed by the ice cream and then the sauce on the plate, and last the chocolate cake. It was nothing special, the salt helped break up the dense sweetness. Perhaps it could use more salt. Creme brûlée: it was a standard, tasty dish. The consistency was pretty runny but it wasn't a bad thing, just more runny than you may be used to. read more

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We had an absolute incredible experience for our first time at this restaurant on Mother's Day. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Every single dish we had was exquisite and you can tell that the owners put a lot of love and care into designing the restaurant and its ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The chef and staff were very attentive and wonderful to be around. Love it there! read more

Amazing food, service and ambience. We sat outside. Our waiter was very attentive. Food was great. They even made my child a pasta since he wouldn't eat anything off the children's menu. They noticed it was a special occasion and celebrated appropriately. read more

Bistro d’Azur - Duck, octopus and lamb chop - French Near Me - South Orange, New Jersey

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Wonderful restaurant.... Intimate and unpretentious.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Reliably good food. BYOB. Been going here for a few years... a local treasure. read more

Seriously, one of the best meals I've had. Period. And I've had a lot of good meals. Exceptional flavors, combinations, and cooked to perfection. The prix fix menu offered so many options - hard to choose. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Oh, and the atmosphere is lovely - both comfortable and tasteful.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You won't be disappointed! read more

As a lover of French food, I have returned to this place now 4 times. They had me at the first. The lovely dining room puts you at ease and creates a cozy space within which to enjoy delectable fare. The staff is very helpful and attentive without being overbearing, from the wait staff, bus boys, hosts and owners, it's clear they are glad to have us over. My favorite apps are the foie gras which I call ahead for, the lobster crepe featuring chunks of the stuff, the duck confit salad and of course the seafood plate. The grilled octopus was delish. The paella is rich, the bouillabaisse is so flavorful, while the lamb chops and the NY strip steak were nice and juicy. Next I will try the fish. The obligatory crème brûlée dessert is on the menu along with some chocolate delights and a fruit medley. This place has earned my respect and my return business. Without being a presumptuous copy cat, The owners have recreated a delightful and realistic French dining experience right here in northern NJ, equaling the cuisines Francaises of the big city, and at liquidation prices, compared to the greats in Manhattan. They also offer a nice selection of local wines and mocktails. You must try it for a proper French dining experience and a nice evening out. read more

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This was a very good dining experience and great service. We came for Mothers Day which served a 2 Course Prix-fixe menu with a tasteful selection. I will be back with my better half to impress her with a fancy french dish. Just a tip- they serve a small selection of wine, no cocktails or beer. They do serve "mocktails" as long as you provide your own liqueur. Another TIP- please try the BOURBON Cake or Creme Brulee ! WOW! read more

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I wanna say the place is very pretty, who design the place really payed attention to very single details, even the flowers are natural.The hosts was very friendly and the server was very kindly too, I love the meal and really recommend.The chef came and talk to us showing really good care. I definitely recommend this place. read more

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Superb french cuisine. Felt like I was dining in the south of France. Beautiful ambience and the waitstaff were very attentive. The lobster crepe was wonderful. read more

We had a Christmas eve dinner at Bistro D'azur. There was a special Christmas menu, and it was absolutely fantastic! My kids opted for the filet mignon, and my wife and I had swordfish. I grew up in France, and although I'm not a foodie, I know good french food when I taste it - this was VERY good french food! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The mood was great and the music was french (obviously).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] highly Recommended! read more

Phenomenal service and fresh delicious food. This is an excellent local gem that doesn't get much press and I don't understand why?! Everything about this place is very intentional from the design that is great for acoustics where you can actually have a conversation no matter how crowded the restaurant is; to the food. I wish they published their menus so that you know what options are available before arriving to the restaurant. I get that it's based on fresh ingredients and what's available so they can keep it fresh. read more

Six stars, seven stars! Absolutely some of the best meals I've had in this country! Menu isn't that broad, but everything from salads to entrees is always memorably fantastic. Service is attentive without being intrusive, and the hostess and the staff are warm and accomodating. It's our go-to for special occasions, or just a very nice meal. BYO. Hope I don't start a run on the place, but it's absolutely a find in NNJ. Can't say enough great things! read more