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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..
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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 :)
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!
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.
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.
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.
8 years ago
8 years ago
Great restaurant! Love the food there. I tried everybody's entrees and they were all delicious. Loved the sous vide chicken, filet mignon, and pork belly dish! We had the beet salad appetizer which was amazing. The fried chicken appetizers were really good. some people in my group liked salt/pepper but I preferred the miso glaze. I should have known that the fried chicken appetizers would be a bit filling (might have ordered something else for appetizer). I felt like this restaurant is as good as any in Manhattan. Food is great, love the decor, great friendly service, and no pretentious attitude here. I def will be going back soon. read more
6 years ago
3 years ago
7 years ago
Great dining experience, a fine-casual dining environment. Foods are great, you could tell that the chefs put a lot of effort to make it perfect. The restaurant is nice and small, comfy, well-designed, and super clean. The owner is very nice, she came over to our table and asked how's the food. They served Illy coffee, but the coffee could've been better. It's a five-star with this price point. read more
6 years ago
5 years ago
3 years ago
This is def not your usual Korean restaurant. The food here is def more inviting to the person who isn't familiar to traditional Korean restaurants where you sometimes have no idea what to order ( but it's delicious and you get like 20 small plates of food on side. Lol) Blooms menu is fairly streamlined but everything on there is prepared elegantly and with excellent flavors. Wait staff was attentive even with the small indoor dining room being packed as well as there outdoor seating. Our waitress was helpful with making suggestions as this was my first time here. We started with the watermelon salad, the grilled octopus, the Korean wings in s&p (yummy) and escargot (you dont see on menus much these day). All apps were excellent. For entrees we had the short rib w carrot purée and small cubed potatoes, the scallops, the kimchi fried rice with bulgogi and the salmon. Mine was the short rib and it was cooked to perfection and the carrot purée played so well w the richness of the short rib. I was so full I never even got to try everyone else's entrees but everyone seemed to enjoy as well. Def will be heading back for another meal here. FYI BYOB & they have a brunch menu as well read more
5 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
I don't give much time in giving thorough, if any reviews. Since Bloom brightened up Thanksgiving for my family and friends, I'll type a thing or few (cooking not necessary): *Truffle Mac & Cheese with Bread Crumbs. One of the best I've had and more than enough in portion. Bread crumbs are bread crumbs ; until you've tried their Chef's *Korean Fried Chicken (O.G. KFC) Soy Garlic flavor. Not too salty , well flavored , good crunch even if it was takeout. Just wish they included their tasty pickled Radish with it *Spicy Pork Tacos. Pork were marinated well K style with a twist. I would like the HorseRadish Cole Slaw a bit spicier . Its Just my preference. *Packaging . well thought out. They even blue taped the sauces, sides and breadcrumbs. Came all intact without fail. *Customer Service (Underrated Factor) Very Kind, and Accommodating. They were on time and efficient. I recommend Bloom @ Verona for a Tasty experience. Not your average dining / takeout spot For these reasons ; 5 of 5 @choebayashi read more
5 years ago
One of the best octopus I've had. This place knows how to fry things. Truffle fries were great too. Overall beautiful small interior design and plating. Bulgogi taco was a bit pricy at $7 per taco. Mushroom Risotto was all right but could do better. Not sure why this place charges 3% card usage fee though. read more
7 years ago
Great restaurant! Gourmet dishes. The ceases salad was great, the octopus was exceptional, the split pea soup was super and the short rib unbelievable! Highly recommended! read more
5 years ago
Bloom is amazing! My family has had dinner here twice. We just went a couple weeks ago for my mom's birthday because she was just dying to go back. The menu is so creative and unique, and there are a lot of things you won't find at most places - my sister is always excited about the bone marrow. Very unique and special restaurant, don't miss it! read more
3 years ago
Really great service. Portions are decent! Got full from all the appetizers. Recommend to try multiple things and just share! Bone marrow and mussels were my favorite read more
I have been wanting to try this place out for quite some time. My husband and I finally ventured out for date night during Covid. I made reservations on bloom's website and day of, I was called to confirm and was asking if I wanted indoor and outdoor seating. I made a joke about how it's too cold for outdoor seating so they put me down for indoor seating. Here is where I start to take stats off.... first, the restaurant is small. 7 tables. And at one point during our dinner on a Saturday night, ALL OF THE TABLES WERE OCCUPIED! What happened to social distancing and 25% indoor capacity??? Second, they had these adorable igloos outside and I feel like they should have been mentioned because I would have absolutely picked that over indoor dining. Finally, the food was just okay. Being that the place won some award I expected better. It was good but my mind wasn't blown. BYOB is always a plus in my book. Will I be back? Probably not.. read more
Business owner information
Woosung C.
Hi Diana! Thank you for visiting our restaurant. I am sorry to hear…
2 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
Wow! Visited my mother in NJ from NYC and picked the perfect spot to celebrate my birthday! Super chic but relaxed atmosphere. Fantastic food. Chef owner is such a nice, warm guy. This was a top notch dining experience and rivals many of the best restaurants in the city. read more
6 years ago
The food was amazing at Bloom! Everything came out fresh and warm. It's a small intimate place - but they have dividers between all of the tables. They also have air purifiers running - several not just 1! It's BYOB which is great and there is a liquor store across the street. We started with the Cesar salad and crispy chicken wings. Both were SO flavorful. The Cesar salad was so fresh and crunchy - my husband devoured itit! The wings were the perfect mix and sweet and spicy. We both had the popular beef bulgogi - with spicy kimchi fried rice. Everything had amazing! All the flavorful food sent us home happy! Lastly, our server was very nice. We look forward to returning. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Authentic, creative and simply delicious! So glad we have such an outstanding restaurant near by! read more
5 years ago
Absolutely terrific !! We just love eating at Bloom, the owner Woo and his staff are amazing and extremely helpful. The food is simply Epic, have not had a bad dish yet, HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more
7 years ago
I've been here numerous times and I can say that both the food and the service are excellent. I personally prefer their dinner menu to their brunch menu. The food is on the pricier side, but I've had a pleasant dining experience every time. I would recommend booking a reservation beforehand just in case (it's pretty easy through the Yelp app). read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
The food was a bit pricey but definitely worth it! The octopus appetizer and the duck leg confiet is a must try. One of the top korean fusion I have had! read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
2 years ago
Business owner information
Woosung C.
Thank you for your kind words about our food. We truly value your…
3 years ago
4 years ago
Loved the fusion of different foods. Bloom is byob & the mocktails were great alone. Service was kind and attentive. I'd be back again to try their dinner menu. read more
8 years ago
6 years ago
We came to Bloom this evening with good friends who were in town visiting. We were absolutely pleased with the service and the food. Our compliments to the chef and to our new friend Frans who was beyond excellent at our table our table side. The service was stupendous and this place was amazing. The outdoor seating was super nice, heated and comfortable. Highly recommend coming to Bloom! Loves the pod! read more
6 years ago
Just walked into this spot with my boyfriend. Girl waitress asked if we had a reservation and I said we didn't but we could make one since yelp had plenty of availability. She says "uhhhh I don't know we're busy" and walks away. Another waiter comes and he asks if we have a reservation because they can't take us without one, I tell him the same thing I told the other person and he looks at us like a deer with headlights. Don't know if it was a race thing but this was the WORST customer service I have ever experienced in my life. What a letdown. Added a picture of all the reservations that were available even though they were "busy". read more
4 years ago
6 years ago
My fiancé and I were so excited to try Bloom, but ultimately walked away fairly disappointed. We started with the Escargot, which was delicious, and the Rock Shrimp, which was just ok. I had the short rib for my entree, which was done very well. However, my fiancé had the stuffed squid (which she was excited to try all week). The presentation was below standard, the squid aioli was never added to the dish, and the squid itself was over cooked and chewy. We were able to get the squid ink aioli on the side from the waitress but it didn't add much to the dish anyway. We aren't picky or over critical of restaurants, but we both expected much more given the critical acclaim Bloom has received. 3/5 read more
4 years ago
This BYOB exceeded all expectations. The attention to detail is absolutely impeccable. Everything we ordered (escargot, pork belly, short rib, and chocolate torte) were delectable. I cannot wait to return. read more
More info about Bloom
648 Bloomfield Ave
Verona, NJ 07044
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(973) 433-7256
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https://bloomverona.com
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Ask the Community - Bloom
Do you have igloo seating still or some form of outdoor seating?
Yes they do! Igloo style. But you should call to make sure they're currently using them.
Does bloom have a liquor license?
Hi, Amy. We do not have a liquor license but, you can bring your own. BYOB…
Are the igloos outside warm enough for this time of year?
We've never used the igloos, but I can't imagine they would let you freeze to death in there. On the other hand, it's just a small room -- no real difference from a nice, warm, partitioned table inside. So I would go for indoor dining, personally.
Is the regular menu served during brunch on the weekend?
there is mostly the regular menu during brunch
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