Bloom closed its doors and is now Woosmash. A building that housed a cozy, upscale atmosphere is not a fast casual spot that blends into the crowd and smash burger noise. Feeling a bit nostalgic for my favorites, the pork belly bao buns and the butternut squash soup. The texture was creamy and more purée-like vs thin like a traditional soup. The perfect starter to warm your bones in the winter! RIP Bloom! read more

I have been meaning to try this restaurant for a while and I was no disappointed! Started off with the kale salad which was light, snappy and refreshing. Really made me feel like I was starting things off healthy and can be forgiven for my next dishes. Up next was the bone marrow which was delightful, and the escargot was really delicious. We steamed onward with the sweet and spicy wings which I highly recommend. I could've just eaten plate after plate of those wings. To balance things, we had some sprouts and then rounded things out with the pork belly. As you can probably surmise, we had no space left for dessert. But that just means a second visit! Very minimalistic decor which I appreciated, clean lines. Wonderfully attentive and accommodating staff. Perfect date night spot. read more

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We tried the Bloom Chicken ghost kitchen and were blown away. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is that ordering and picking it up is a little strange through Bloom restaurant. The presentation of the chicken pieces with all the different sauces really made the meal enjoyable. Also tried the burgers and they were some of the better smash burgers I've had. Cant say anything for the actual restaurant other than it being too bright and open for me personally. Cant wait to order the chicken again or try their other spot in Hackensack dedicated to chicken. read more

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Service was great but food was just meh. Definitely overpriced and none of the dishes were memorable. Do not order the cucumber kimchi! $6 for a tiny sauce cup (think, a cup you fill with ketchup) that probably had 6 pieces of soggy cucumbers. I really wanted to like this place but all the dishes we ordered fell short. Did we just order the wrong things?! I included a screenshot of all the dishes we got. I'm not sure why this place has such high reviews. Maybe it was an off day.. read more

Bloom - New American Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

I made reservations here for a larger group for my 24th birthday dinner. Despite having to make them on the phone, the process was very simple and there was a very nice table setup waiting for us when we arrived to the restaurant. The decor is very white and minimal with ambient lighting which was nice. Everything feels very intentional and aesthetic. The food itself I felt was good but nothing too exciting. As a non-drinker, I appreciated the number of mocktails offered here, although this is a BYOB restaurant. The French/Korean fusion is interesting and worth checking out for a nice dinner or date night. read more

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Shout out to Kelsey who made our anniversary and first visit top notch. We went with her wings, short ribs, and bulgogi recommendations. We loved all. Chic and small restaurant delivering big taste profiles. My vote: chicken wings and short ribs. read more

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I was here on a Wednesday night and although I didn't have a reservation we were seated promptly. From a service perspective this place nailed it. Every server was friendly, personable and welcoming. Its a small place though so I can understand not being seated without a reservation Thursday - Sunday. Parking was a challenge but luckily we found something not too far away on a side street. BYOB is a plus and there's a liquor store directly across the street. Food: Bone Marrow, Octopus, scallops and fried shrimp. Bone Marrow: I'm not a fan of the gelatinous texture, I've always had it rendered a little bit more where its not just a blob of fat sitting on a crostini. We couldn't finish this. Octopus: Tasty however for $28 I thought I'd get more than 2 tentacles. Scallops: Perfectly cooked and the corn hash and sauce was an awesome accompaniment. Star dish! Fried Shrimp: Since I didn't enjoy the bone marrow I ordered fried shrimp to fill me up and it was just ok. The shrimp itself was bland but came with a gochujang aioli which was tasty. I'd like to see the shrimp marinated in maybe gochujang, honey and soy sauce mix prior to frying or maybe season the batter with dill and lemon set, something to impart flavor. Overall: The experience felt short of my expectations from a food perspective. Maybe I ordered the "wrong" dishes maybe if I had the short ribs or pork belly I would have felt different, idk. My two highlights of the night; service and scallops. read more

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Solid food, service, and ambience. Four of us came to dinner and tried a bunch of items. We enjoyed everything but the short rib entrée and rock shrimp appetizer really stood out. The new dessert (chocomisu) was delicious. It's a casual restaurant, but in an upscale sort of way. A BYO. Fried Rock shrimp: was served with 2 aiolis. One was a gochujang, the other wasabi. We all commented that they weren't too spicy and we liked that. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, and the aïoli's were phenomenal. Definitely order this. Whole table loved it. Short rib: was a real pleasure. It sat on a carrot purée and had little pieces of diced potato in it. The short rib was succulent, tender and wasn't fatty. So amazing. Definitely order this. The whole table loved it. I'll get this again. Chocmisu: not on the menu but will be added. It's their spin on tiramisu. Think mallomar, mascarpone filling and a gold glitter. Sooo good. We loved it. The cheesecake with blueberry: my friend didn't share but at the whole thing and said it was delicious. Espresso with panna: the panna has some spice in it and was scrumptious. Kimchi bulgogi: very, very tasty but not a stand out. Japchae noodles: we opted for vegetarian, but you could get a protein with it. It was very tasty. Our take: we'd come again. Portions are small and prices a bit high for what you get but the food is solid. Service is excellent and inviting. It's an intimate space but might be a touch loud for some. Desserts seemed overpriced and not sized for sharing but still, I'd order dessert. It was good. Be prepared to order an app, entree and dessert per person. We were stuffed but agreed you needed all the courses to feel that way. Parking on street is free after 4 pm. I'd come back. read more

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Another amazing dinner at Bloom! Glad I finally got to take my husband. Service was good. Loved the fried shrimp, truffle fries, and short rib! read more

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Amazing place for brunch. Every single dish was spectacular and would absolutely recommend coming here. Came here for a friend's birthday. We didn't know what to expect coming in but we were absolutely floored with how good everything was. Every dish was great but the best dish by far was the octopus. Octopus is easy to mess up but this one was tender, flavorful, and stood above the other dishes. They oysters were solid. The salad and the vegetable fritter were much better and larger than we had expected. The Benedict, which was great in its own right, was the least favorite dish if I had to choose, but I would have been happy getting any of them. The service was also very noteworthy- they were quick, attentive, and very friendly. I would absolutely recommend coming here for a brunch and I will absolutely be back read more

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We (my wife and I) have been here 3 times prior to writing this review, meaning we have had a pretty fair exposure on which to base this commentary. It has a different sort of menu that offers some interesting options. It is also a NJ BYOB, which we personally prefer. We have not tried the entire menu, but one consistent standout is the potato leek soup. It is very creamy and very tasty. It's also pricey, though it is becoming harder to judge restaurant pricing over the past couple of inflationary years. Still, the price did not deter us from ordering it every time there. The escargot is not a traditional preparation. However, it is a worthwhile choice. The chicken wings are a winner specialty. Which variety you choose may be the only issue, as they are different and you may like some better than others. The shrimp balls were not up to the summer menu crispy shrimp appetizer. Frankly they should nix the balls and keep the summer menu crispy shrimp on the menu year-round. So far I have only mentioned appetizers. To me, this is a menu where you might find several appetizers a better meal than an appetizer and a main course. One of the reasons I cannot give the place a 4 or 5 rating is we were not impressed by the main courses we tried. All were adequate or better, but none were superb. The service was generally good. A peeve of ours is that sometimes a wait staffer can be sufferingly cheery. Some may not mind that and it is certainly preferable to a wait staff that underperforms. However, toning down the overbearing cheeriness would improve the ambiance, at least in our view. The decor is simple, but nice enough. The lighting is good and the table spacing is about adequate. read more

TLDR: The food is good but not so incredible that I would rave about it to everyone I know. The biggest issue I had is that I came to Bloom with my dad on a Friday evening to celebrate him getting promoted. I called ahead day-of and got a 6pm reservation. They warned me when I made the reservation that I had a 2 hour dining window, but they ended up rushing us out 30 minutes earlier than that! More details below, but they only told me I had 5 minutes to left as they took my dessert order - I felt so rushed and awkward and it ruined a nice evening. RESERVATIONS: As stated above, I make a reservation day-of for the bar (called and they told me I had a dining window of 2 hours). We arrived right at 6pm and were seated right away. APPETIZER: After looking through previous Yelp reviews, we decided to go with the Octopus ($27). Presentation was fabulous - it's definitely the largest piece of octopus I've ever been served. It was tasty and tender. Recommend if you like octopus. Don't recommend if you feel bad eating octopus (they can solve puzzles and I go back and forth if it's ethical to eat then) because you'll definitely be reminded that you're eating octopus when it's served. FOOD: Based on the reviews, we went with the Short Rib ($33) with the Korean Style Flat Noodle ($4 extra), which they are known for. I enjoyed it but thought it was a bit overly sweet in flavor. The noodles added to this issue as it had a sweet sauce - I think it would have been better with a side of rice or less of a strong sauce on the noodles. The other entree we ordered was the Pork Belly ($30). This main was delicious, especially with broccoli rabe. I most definitely would order this one again. We also got a side of the Crispy Shishito Peppers ($13) which I enjoyed some of (the top ones that were not drenched entirely in sauce) but would not order again (because most of them were drenched in sauce and too sweet). DESSERT: We shared the creme brûlée and enjoyed it. I get mad when creme brûlée is not torched enough to get the burnt flavor because the contrast is so delicious, but this was not an issue, thankfully! Sadly I couldn't fully enjoy it because I was told I had less than 5 minutes to eat it and pay the check. SERVICE: Largely very good. Wait staff was attentive and kind. The major complaint I have is that I was told I had a 2 hour window when I made my reservation, and then 90 minutes into dinner I was rushed out. Full story: After eating our mains, we were asked if we wanted dessert (at the 90 minute mark). I ordered it with the hostess/manager but right after she took my order, said the next party arrived and she told them they would be seated in 5 minutes. She walked away to get my dessert order, at which time I asked my dad if we should skip dessert (he agreed). I then flagged a different waitress down to explain that we didn't have to get dessert and could just leave then, but it was too late and the other person brought out our creme brûlée. The dessert was tasty, but I really don't enjoy feeling rushed at the end of a nice meal that was meant to celebrate :( AMBIANCE: Nice space! Reasonably small, but not cramped. We sat at the bar, but they have blinders up so you can't really see into the kitchen. I thought the decor was very pleasant. Has a brightness to the interior. OVERALL: Enjoyed myself and I thought the food was very good, but not outstanding. It's a pricy place (and they charge 4% if you use card). BYOB which is nice. I would maybe come back if I had a reason to celebrate something, but would try to get a later reservation to avoid being rushed out. read more

This place is pricy, so plan on spending a pretty penny here. But for a nice night out or special occasion, it's a nice option. The food was all delicious. They have a heavy seafood menu. One of the best cheesecakes I've had. My favorite dish was their wings. Ambiance is sheik and service was exceptional. read more

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Perfect date night spot. This is one of our favorite places for dinner in the Montclair/Verona area. The chef is always consistent and amazes us with his seasonal menu. The service and staff are extremely accommodating and go above and beyond to leave a lasting impression of the dining experience. We had the bone marrow & chicken wings as apps. The lobster risotto and branzino as mains. And finished with the pistachio brûlée. We will be back! read more

Bloom in Verona was a wonderful choice to celebrate an early birthday brunch with a group of 6. We had reservations and everything was set up for our arrival. The place is BYOB so we enjoyed mimosas all morning. The staff is amazing. Our waitress was super attentive and even offered to take pics of the groups. The entire group was pleased with the food: Challah bread french toast, Monte Cristo, Eggs Benedict (with salmon / or ham), and Bubble Waffle were some of the dishes ordered. My only complaint would be the lack of sides for some of the entrees. My order was the Classic Egg Benedict and there was no side of home fries or a mixed salad included like you would get at other places. Thankfully everyone else shared some of their dishes, otherwise you would be feeling hungry. The other area that fell short for us were the dessert choices. We left most of it behind. I'm interested in returning for the dinner dishes! Thank you, Bloom for hosting us :) read more

Bloom - Eggs Egg Benedict (ham) , coffee , BYOB - New American Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

I have been looking for a great local find, and let me tell you Bloom is it. The restaurant is beautiful and perfect for date, grabbing brunch with friends, or even an event. I had the Butternut Squash Soup which was delicious. It is rich and heavy, and honestly, could be my entire lunch. I ended up taking half of it home. There was a flavor in the soup I couldn't identify, and consistency was thicker than I'm used to, but the taste was pleasant. I also had the Bulgogi with Kimchi Fried Rice which is a nice sized portion and delicious. This is one of their most popular dishes and I can see why. The rice wasn't spicy for me, but the person I was with found it a bit spicy. We also got the Short Rib, which was for me the highlight and the stole the show. This might be one of the best short ribs I have ever had. The meat is tender and falls apart on your fork. The carrot puree is so scrumptious, the person I went with said that despite carrots being their least favorite vegetable they loved this dish. I would love to try this with the Korean Style Flat Noodle next time and will when I go back. We finished the meal with the Tiramisu which was recommended by our waitress. It was excellent. The food here is good quality, the atmosphere exquisite, and the service was imbecile. Our waitress wrapped up our leftovers and brought everything out at the end of our meal in one bag which I appreciated. She readily provided recommendations and checked on us throughout the meal. I did make a reservation, but there were a few available tables on a Tuesday night. I do suggest making a reservation ahead of time to be sure. They also do run out of things, for instance, I was planning to go on Sunday night, but they ran out of the Short Rib. I look forward to checking out their brunch and some other items on the menu. I will say that the food is priced for the size and quality. I highly recommend this find! read more

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We were quickly seated. The inside is nice and clean. We wanted to sit outside. They gave a few different bubbles that sear about 6 each. They also have a canopy that has a couple of tables. The hostess was very nice. The waitress was also very nice, she was the same person as the hostess. The chef was on a break outside and he started a conversation with us. He was energetic and passionate about the menu. He said the chicken wings were a must. He said his favorite dish is the pork belly. He said the bulgogi kimchee rice is great if you are hungry. He also recommended the short rib. We decided to order the chicken wings to start. We ordered the soy garlic and the salt & pepper. They were delicious. My wife enjoyed both. While I enjoyed both as well, my favorite was the soy garlic. The best wings I've had in Jersey. Definitely a must try. If I'm taking it to go, I'd probably try to ask for the dressing on the side. Even though, we took our time and they all stayed crunchy. It was amazing to have a crunchy wing without the excessive breading. They really put some love in these wings. I ordered the bulgogi and kimchee rice. It was very tasty and a great portion size. The kimchee rice had a nice level of spice. My wife can't eat super spicy food, and she was loved the rice. The egg was over easy. Which is my preference, it just happened to be served the way I prefer. If you don't like runny eggs, let them know. The bulgogi tastes great when you eat it with the rice. A very tasty combo. My wife ordered the pork belly. It was extremely tasty and a well thought plating. The jalapeño miso puree was delicious. The pork belly came with about twice as much meat as what we are accustomed, so we were pleasantly surprised. The chef had also recommended the kale salad. It was lightly dressed with a subtle and tasty dressing that was very refreshing. There was quinoa and dried items in there as well. It was a basically a superfood app. We were very happy with the treat! It also came with what I believe a pickled melon, as a palette cleanser, fancy! My wife ordered the tiramisu. It was tasty and a nice way to finish the meal. The chef came out to check on whether we liked the food, after every course. He just did a thumbs up and we did a thumbs up, and we were all happy. I had leftovers. I never have enough food, but the portions here are fantastic. And the food quality is very high. Everything was plated beautifully. The staff was lovely and thoughtful. If I lived closer, I'd be here all the time. But I'll definitely try to come back at least once a month. And I'm bringing all my friends when they visit town. I wish I could give more than 5 stars. Honestly, I've leaned towards extra stars because of the coronavirus. But this place deserves every last 5 star review they will no doubt get. Next time I visit, I want to try the Monster Chicken Sandwich. And after that, I'll probably try the other menu items. This seems like a place that you need to try everything. read more

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This review is on food service/restaurant hours-hence the 3 stars during brunch. Food was still good so I will set that aside. We placed our orders for appetizers and entrees and one beverage. The beverage lacked flavor but was quickly replaced with the correct and tasty version. I'm used to getting an appetizer first, then my entree......hmmm. We were busy talking and didn't notice initially that only the watermelon salad came out and not the two soups. Next thing we know my entree comes out along with my soup (appetizer). I asked why and was told the kitchen was closing soon. We then waited another few minutes for the other soup and entrees. This was at 1:45 yet the hours say brunch- 10:30am-2:30pm. My original reservation was for 1:30 and they called and asked that we come at 1pm. I obliged them. Point- diners want their food in the order they request it and not at the convenience of the kitchen diners don't want to feel rushed especially if they are still within the hours of operation listed. read more

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I came by for Sunday brunch a few years ago with a chum and definitely enjoyed it, so I was pretty pleased when I recently received an invite to a baby brunch at Bloom. Depending on your perspective, Bloom is either intimate or almost bordering on claustrophobic - it's a VERY small dining space. During normal business hours, they can't fit more than maybe five tables in there, and for this private event, they squeezed in one larger, long table to accommodate about 10 to 15 people. It's small. I remember thinking when I came here for brunch that it was reminiscent of an NYC establishment, both in terms of interior decoration and limited space. I really don't know how you'd fix that beyond tearing down the low wall that separates the entrance walkway from the dining area, but it is what it is. The baby brunch was held this past Saturday, and to their credit, you could tell Bloom had experience hosting events like this. There was probably two or three servers who were always nearby though not oppressively so, and one woman managing them who popped in from time to time for any minor troubleshooting. I got the impression that they didn't have a ton of help in the kitchen, which resulted in VERY minor delays with bringing out all of the food at the same time, so that meant that, say, after the first person was served with an entrée, the last person was served with one about five minutes later. Not egregious though. Everyone I interacted with there was very pleasant and professional. Truly befitting a mom-to-be, Bloom boasts a pretty impressive mocktail list (they also had a rose prosecco on hand, but I think that was from the party organizers, not Bloom itself). They actually brought out samples of each mocktail for the guest of honor to try, and by virtue of my seat right next to her, I was able to take a nip of most of them. My favorite by far was the butterfly pea margarita - great presentation and very tasty. Definitely on the sweeter side (one or two other guests were more tepid on it as a result, which meant I got to pretty much take ownership of them). The only one that I wasn't crazy about was the pomegranate Moscow mule, which I thought tasted like a leather suitcase (maybe the combo of ginger beer and something tart? Not sure.) The food is very solid, which I definitely remembered from my prior visit. There's a strong Korean influence throughout, but if you're not crazy about that particular genre there's more than enough options to tap dance around it. We actually got personal samples of all of the brunch apps except for the octopus, which was a nice touch. My personal favorite surprisingly was the kale salad; I think the miso dressing kind of gave it a subtle sushi flavoring vibe, which I was into. A close second was the rock shrimp, which was probably the most mainstream option in many regards, but still excellent. I can always get down with wasabi aioli. For the entrée, I opted for the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon. It was a LITTLE tough to cut up (the muffin or whatever bread was underneath seemed a bit overcooked, and a sharper knife would have helped considerably) but it was still very tasty and a solid portion and presentation. I'm not sure how I ended up eating dessert as well, but we each also got a thin slice of cheesecake with blueberry compote. The bottom crust was a little thick but otherwise this was a great palate cleanser to wrap up the meal. Definitely a cut above a lot of the restaurants along Bloomfield (which could obviously apply to a few towns). I wouldn't come during as busy time, but the quality isn't debatable. read more

Bloom - French Onion Soup. - New American Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

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Such a delicious assortment of amazing dishes! The chef out did himself! We will be back next time we visit. So thankful to Wendy for introducing me to Bloom! read more

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Absolutely loved this place! Cannot wait to go back! Food was amazing. Never had anything like this.

I love the Korean+French concept at Bloom. My favorites: * Octopus: Grilled Spanish octopus, salsa verde, squid ink quinoa, cauliflower puree, pickled shallots * Lobster Kimchi Risotto: Creamy arborio rice, kimchi stock, mascarpone * Choco-misu: Choco-pie, espresso, chocolate and soybean powder Parking is hard, but they make it up from the food. read more

Simple and modern deco 3/5 Not a busy Sunday brunch with limited service. Both waitress spending time to chat behind the counter 2/5 Food is good but not outstanding Korean street sandwich, French onion soup, kimchi fried rice, macaroni & cheese 3/5 Price 2/5 30% less anywhere in palisades Park 2/5 French Korean is overrated but a name to charge higher price read more

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Ordered: Butterfly Pea Margarita Mocktail (~$15): butterfly pea syrup, lime juice, sparkling water Rock Shrimp (~$18): served with gochujang aioli and wasabi aioli Bone Marrow (~$25): caramelized kimchi, breadcrumbs, toasted baguette Lobster Kimchi Risotto (~$36): creamy arborio rice, kimchi stock, seaweed Aya's take: Korean and French fusion? Yes please! I stopped by for dinner one evening and was greeted with such gorgeous, minimalistic decor. Once seated, we ordered from their small but mighty mocktail list. The Butterfly Pea Margarita Mocktail was not only aesthetically crafted but also unbelievably delicious. It was refreshing, pleasant, and sweet. My only complaint was ~$15 is the typical price of a cocktail (with alcohol), mocktails should be no more than $8, in my opinion. For appetizers we got the Rock Shrimp & Bone Marrow. The shrimp was well-seasoned, along with the batter, and both aiolis were quite good. I like that they gave 2 sauce options. It's not everyday I eat bone marrow, and I was excited to try Bloom's take on it. It's very buttery, creamy, and savory. It had a very smooth and soft texture. The Lobster Kimchi Risotto was surprisingly a bit of a let-down in the sense that it somehow tasted way too cheesy. There was plenty of lobster in the dish which was cooked nicely. Unfortunately, the cheese flavor was overpowering and I couldn't get past it. They charged a ~$5 credit card fee which we weren't aware of beforehand. I think it's surprising considering most people likely pay with a credit card these days. Nonetheless, it was a great dining experience particularly with the mocktail and appetizers! read more

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This spot is like a hidden gem! Super classy and elegant decor with an even more impressive menu. They're a Korean French fusion restaurant and their food is so good! The miso french onion soup is my favorite thing on the menu so far. Their mocktails are super tasty too. The short rib entree was good but the sauce was a tad bit too sweet for my pallet but the meat was cooked well and it fell apart in your mouth. read more

Bloom - Short Rib - New American Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

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We've been to Bloom a few times and are always happy to dine there. The food is delicious, fresh, and creatively presented. The staff is always in such good spirits and very welcoming. Diners are welcome to linger and enjoy a beautiful evening without being rushed out the door. We have so many favorite dishes! The kale salad is outstanding, the japchae is beyond, and the bibimbap is soooo good we had to order two! I love how the menu changes to reflect the seasons. Always a pleasure to dine at Bloom. read more

FOOD Scallop-The scallops were cooked to perfection but the puree was very bland and the crispy leeks were too greasy. I think this dish would have been better with some chopped up white kimchi to add crunch and flavor. The crispy leeks just didn't go well with the dish. Plating was beautiful. Duck Breast- Again, plating was beautiful but the duck itself was very chewy. Puree was lacking flavor but the maple glaze and raspberry coulis was great! Mac and Cheese-The truffle mac and cheese was just too oily/greasy. Would have been better if they cut down on the truffle oil. I was not able to have more than three bites. SERVICE Server forgot a couple things here and there but I noticed they were short staffed and trying their best to accommodate everyone. Had a few friendly servers attend to us throughout the night as oppose to one designated waiter, which also made some things hectic/confusing. CONCLUSION All in all, based on their rating, I think I came on an off night and would like to try this place out again. I noticed they do brunch and would love to check it out. read more

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Absolutely love this restaurant and they're handling covid very well. Their outdoor seating is located behind the actual restaurant, in the corner of the parking lot. They accept reservations which is super helpful so you know you'll have a spot! The servers are very knowledgeable about the menu and of course wear masks while on shift. They're very friendly and make sure customers feel safe during these times. The food was phenomenal -- had the octopus and scallops. The photos attached speak for themselves! Octopus and scallops are two dishes that can easily be overcooked, but at Bloom you can be assured to receive tender seafood. Would definitely recommend this restaurant, and they do offer takeout during these colder months. read more

Bloom - Scallops - New American Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

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It's a beautiful space. The staff is welcoming and attentive. 1st impression was great. I had wings. He had fish tacos. Both tasty but nothing to rave about. I live to try all different types cuisine and being an original Nuyorican... I know my stuff. For fusion food it was ok. But the atmosphere and service made it worth the$$. Yup.. it's on the pricey side.. Good for a first date. I'd recommend going at least once.... read more

Bloom - Chicken wings... with soy and BBQ sauce. - New American Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

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This is a strong 3, very weak 4. I've been here 6 times now over two years, since they first opened their first week. They were very strong at the beginning, less strong now. Skip the bone marrow. The fried chicken is just alright. Pork belly - outstanding. Shishto peppers - outstanding. The salmon crudo is composed of sickly sweet sauce that has no business being anywhere near salmon of such immense quality (house-made, good job). The burata is excellent. The short rib used to be a perfectly balanced dish in an earlier rendition. Now, the wine reduction overwhelms the dish, though the meat itself is fork tender. The duck dishes are fine, however both duck dishes we ordered were not salted sufficiently on the skin. That (a) under-seasoned the duck and (b) worse still, caused the skin to not be crispy. Desserts here are generally unimpressive, but the creme brulee is fine. read more

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Excellent food, friendly service in that atmosphere. Management very attentive to your needs.

I swear everything at this place is amazing. Last year, I had a small wedding reception here and Chef Woo was so accommodating with the menu. He provided a lot of variety and everything was amazing. I knew I had to come back again here. This time I got the watermelon salad which is a good mix of savory and sweet. Of course, I had to get the octopus which was perfectly cooked and the salsa verde and squid ink quinoa were perfect accompaniments. But hands down, the king of the show for me was the mushroom risotto with scallops. The scallops were perfectly cooked but the star of the dish was actually the kimchi purée. It was so good and I wish I had this purée bottled up and with everything I eat. Last but not least, both of the panna cotta and crème brûlée was a perfect end to the meals. Everything on the menu is amazing. Definitely hands down recommend coming here. read more

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Let me just start by saying WOW. The food here is sublime. Exceptional. Neither my party nor I had any expectations of how scrumptious this place would be. We were just looking for a quick bite and a place to chill, but stayed for the delicious food. The vibe in the restaurant is very cozy and connected. I really enjoyed the minimal and contemporary fusion. Staff was friendly and attentive - were well versed on the menu and provided recommendations. Food came out quick and hot! Ok back to the food, I got the braised short ribs - *PAUSE* now, reflect on the last time you had short ribs? Were they bad, BLOOM is here to save the day. Were they good? Great - but now amplify that experience by 100x. That's how good these braised short ribs were - I'm not joking, get them. I also mooched the food that my party had and all the dishes they had were just as delightful as mine. Overall, I give this a solid 5. The location is a bit out of the way for me, but if I'm in the area, I'm coming in for more. read more

Bloom - Braised Short Rib - New American Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

I came here for Father's Day with my family and really enjoyed our meal at Bloom. I actually had bookmarked the restaurant on my Yelp a long time ago and was pleasantly surprised when my wife---who, unbeknownst to me, chose Bloom a few weeks prior---told me the day of where we were going to eat. Overall, really tasty food and not too far from where we live. The most succinct way I can describe the food is nice sit-down American food with a strong Korean influence; I think even some of the dishes were straight-up Korean (i.e., Japchae, kimchi fried rice with bulgogi). Although I'm sure even those dishes are prepared and served differently from similar offerings in more traditional Korean restaurants, my wife (who is Korean and can cook a mean kimchi fried rice in her own right) and I wanted to try other dishes. We ordered two entrees and one side; split between two adults and our three-year-old son, we found them filling for us three. The SHISHITO PEPPERS were really nicely done---I think it might've been put into a tempera-type of batter since it had a similar crunch and outer coating, while being... I don't think I've had shishito peppers prepared quite like this. For entrees were ordered SCALLOPS and SHORT RIB; enjoyed both---the scallops were seared nicely and came with a kimchi puree and yummy mushroom risotto, while the short rib was moist and flavorful. Also, huge props to the wait staff since it was a full room the whole time we were there and yet they were nice and attentive. read more

Love this place!! All dishes are carefully crafted. Every dish is like an art, with great presentation and taste. Onto the food: Bone marrow: such a creative dish with kimchi spread across nicely cut bones. You can imagine the nice combo of fresh kimchi and a little greasy marrow dancing on your tongue. It's like cooking in your mouth! Octopus: There's some green dressing circling/decorating the plate which I can't quite get what, but very tasty! Duck breast: Andrew loves this dish, with cranberry sauce. For me it tastes a lot like Thanksgiving. Scallop: probably the best seared scallop I had on the New Jersey side. Again I like how the sides are oriented towards the main, and the delicacy in the details. It goes with some mashed pea (? I would guess) and lentil. Mango Moscow Mule And it's a BYOB place!! Definitely a plus for picky wine drinkers. Got two liquor stores right across the street. read more

Bloom - Mango Moscow Mule Mocktail - New American Near Me - Verona, New Jersey

An elegant and prepossessing space. I was greeted warmly by Ms. Paris and she invited me to have a seat and enjoy one of the signature non alcoholic cocktails. Bloom is a BYOB and I was happily surprised by the list of non indulgent options. The espresso martini was dee-licious! Very tasty and better than a lot of the alcohol added versions. The staff is very attentive even if they are not dedicated to your table, they check to make sure all is well. Short on time I ordered the spicy shrimp appetizer and the bibimbap bao buns. Yessssss A thousand times yes. The shrimp were tender and flavorful even without the 2 dipping sauces. Gochujang and also a blended horseradish both were such great accompaniments. The bibimbap buns ! Bao buns can be tricky. Most of the time they don't have flavor and 60% of the time they're too soft and stick to the roof of your mouth. The Bloom style of Bao buns is on point. Steamed just right with a small amount of sweetness. The beef was very tender and seasoned to perfection. A layer of mild kimchi topped with red cabbage and a lively aioli. This was my first visit to Bloom and I'm ready for my next Sunday brunch. So many enticing items on their menu it's going to take a couple of visits to try them all. read more

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Just wanted to say what excellent service we had last night. Busy night also but staff was attentive and extremely friendly. Food was excellent starting with appetizers to desert. We started with grilled octopus for appetizer. Entrees we got the mushroom risotto, Kobe meatball pasta and pork belly ending with the chocolate tiramisu. I highly recommend Bloom and will definitely be going back read more

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Went to Bloom with a group of 6 people for dinner. As we went in, the interior seemed pretty small but the ambience was nice:) We started off with Octopus, Bone Marrow and French Onion Soup. For the Main, we each got our own dish. We ordered Duck Breast, Scallop, Pork Belly, Short Rib with Korean Style Flat Noodle and Bouillabaisse with Udon. APPETIZERS: Octopus: PHENOMENAL. The grilled octopus was very tender and it tasted so good with the salsa, squid ink quinoa and cauliflower puree. This was definitely my favorite dish. Could have eaten 3 of these by myself :) Bone Marrow: I had to share this with 4 people so that was a bummer. As a Korean, I will have to say the caramelized kimchi was very good and it tasted great with the toasted bread they served on the side. French Onion Soup: It was not salty at all and it kind of had a smokey taste to it which was interesting. I'm a sucker for French Onion Soup and this didn't quite hit the mark for me but my boyfriend really really enjoyed it. MAIN: Duck Breast: This was my favorite main dish. I usually don't eat duck but this was perfectly cooked and the flavor was amazing. Accompaniment was also tasty. Cleaned the plate. Short Ribs: Very very tender. The meat just falls apart. The flavor was on point but after a while, all that flavor CAN get really intense over time so I would say to definitely add the flat noodles with this dish that is an extra $3. I t honestly would have been great having rice on the side with this dish. Scallop: Very tender and clean tasting. The mushrooms, risotto and kimchi puree was perfect with it. Pork Belly: YUM. So tender and the glaze really made the pork flavorful. I love broccoli rabe also so it was a good accompaniment. Bouillabaisse: I didn't get to try this dish but it was packed with a lot of seafood and my boyfriends dad enjoyed it. Make sure to add +$3 Udon to it! Overall, the group and I enjoyed eating here very much and I would definitely come here again. EVERYTHING was amazing and delicately made. read more

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Bloom gets 2 stars because had it gone about serving the meal a different way, I would have probably given it 4. However, there were a few glaring errors that I can't overlook. To start, two servers asked me where I'd like to sit. The same two servers took my orders; one took my drink and soup order, the second took my app and entree order. My coffee came out right away, which was fine but nothing to write home about. About 25 minutes went by, and my appetizer and main came out at once, brought by the server who took my food order. When I asked where my soup was she said "oh you ordered a soup?" asked which soup, and then asked, "so should I bring that out?" yes. I ordered it, so I ideally yes, it should come out. So my appetizer and entree came out at once, then my soup came last. Because the app and main came out at the same time, I had to eat both simultaneously so the food would not get cold (spoiler: it did). The crispy crab ball was good, but not very special, and the presentation was lacking. I would not reorder. The bulgogi cheese sandwich was pretty good. The bulgogi itself was delicious and so was the kimchi, but the bun was just greasy and the fries were glistening with oil and very frozen fry-like. The wild mushroom soup was the one truly redeeming dish, and was absolutely beautiful in presentation. It was perfectly rich and almost mousse-like, and had such a simple and unpretentious mushroom flavor. It was one of the best soups I've had in NJ and I would come back for it. The mushrooms on top were certainly not "crispy," but still delicious. Overall, the restaurant struck me as sort of confusing. The soup was something I'd find in a fine dining restaurant, but the frozen fries were something I'd find in a diner. The soup was beautifully presented while the sandwich and crab balls were lackluster. The service was disorganized and uncommunicative and also extremely slow (the girls just would not take my check when it was ready). I think with a few simple adjustments, better service/organization and bringing out the food in the order that's expected, Bloom would be a much more enjoyable experience. read more

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Staff were incredibly caring - took the time to check on us on multiple occasions and explained what was in each dish. The food was amazing, pleased with every dish. read more

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