Dinner was superb and the service was exceptional. The staff was attentive, warm and hospitable…read morewhile also allowing us the time to linger over engaging conversation. To start our meal, we both ordered the spring pea soup with goat cheese and truffle oil. To our amazement the flavor was beyond compare. Highly reccommend Lorena's for the attention to detail.

Our server, Vera (if I remember correctly) was great. Really took care of our party. One of us had…read morea gluten allergy so she ensured he got the gluten-free pasta he needed. She was friendly and prompt with her service. The food was pretty amazing. We moved to the area about a year ago and Lorena's has been on my must-try list since then and we finally got around to it. Ended up taking my niece and her fiance to celebrate their engagement. I got the shrimp cocktail appetizer (4 large poached shrimp with a bangin' cocktail sauce...horseradish ratio was on-point) and linguini with shrimp and lump crab meat, my GF got the risotto, my niece got the ravioli, and her fiance got the linguini with shrimp and lump crab meat, too, but they replaced the linguini with gluten-free rigatoni. He said it was the best gluten-free pasta he's ever had. All of our meals were excellent. Restaurant was larger than I expected, a little on the warm side but probably because it felt like 15℉ outside, table setting was crisp and clean, and you could hear your table's conversation without straining. 5/5 would definitely come back for seconds, thirds, fourths, etc., etc.

This past Sunday I had my daughter's bridal brunch at Bistro d'Azur and I couldn't have been…read morehappier. 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. And the decor is so lovely and European that we didn't need any "extra" decorations. I can't wait to go back!!!

What a hidden gem!! I've had my eyes on this place for a while, and finally we made it. We chose…read moreto 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!

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

I've reviewed Faubourg in the past and my experiences here have been exceptional. With the bar…read moreraised that high, I think it's good for the establishment to know about certain details that impact customer satisfaction. During this visit, the plating of some of the dishes was odd, as whomever did it felt the need to position the food right at the edge of the plates. That made it difficult to eat the dishes without some of the food spilling off the side. Had to push everything to center to avoid this. Again, this was very odd, as it happened on two entrees and one dessert dish and was the first time we've seen this at Faubourg. The lamb duo had a fantastic grilled flavor, but part of it (I believe it may have been shank meat) was loaded with so much salt that it overwhelmed the flavors and was a bit difficult to continue eating. The last comment is admittedly nitpicky, but worth mentioning, as they automatically added a 20% gratuity despite the menu stating that 20% is added for parties of 6 or more. We were a party of two and I was a bit annoyed that they did this. The check also had a place for "additional tip", which was a bit presumptuous after adding the 20%. Overall, the experience was positive with a few hiccups that prevent me from giving 5 stars. Still highly recommended.

Here for anniversary dinner again and they did not disappoint. It was another fantastic meal. I got…read morethe Mussels in white wine sauce for appetizer, and it was cooked perfectly with a sauce that i couldn't stop sopping up with the garlic croistini and the fresh bread on the table. My wife had the very refined carrot soup. For entree i was so happy. Excellent duck breast with apricot sauce. It melted in my mouth, full of flavor. I ate every bite even after i was full. My wife had the New York strip steak that she loved, and raved about the garlic lime compound butter on top. This time I endulged myself with chocolate mousse for dessert, which cannot be beat. It is the perfect dessert. We got the Peach Melba with the table side preparation which was enjoyable. I think this is the best restaurant in Westfield for sure.

A few years ago I had the pleasure of dining at Chez Catherine for a special occasion and it was a…read morememorable meal. Dinner started with a complimentary amuse bouche of toast with brie, jam, and microgreens which was a nice surprise. For starters we shared the Pan Seared Foie Gras and the Steak Tartare which is made with raw diced Black Angus, shallot, garlic, parsley, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, and croutons. Both were delicious. We also tried the escargot in garlic and parsley infused butter. While I personally prefer my escargot tucked into puff pastry hats which is a quirky preference, I know my boyfriend at the time thoroughly enjoyed them. For mains we had a beautifully cooked rack of lamb, a flavorful confit duck, and a mushroom risotto. While I found the entrées slightly under salted, the flavors were still wonderful and the cooking was spot on. We finished with two desserts which were a silky creme brulee and a perfectly risen souffle. Both were outstanding and worth saving room for. Overall Chez Catherine is a charming choice for a refined special occasion, 'old school' traditional French meal. The service, attention to detail, and classic flavors make it well worth a visit.

My wife and I have been romancing the idea of a trip to Jessica's for months. Are we classy enough?…read moreCan our simple palettes appreciate the medley of flavors throughout the menu? We decided it was worth the gamble, and boy did we hit the jackpot. We loved the BYOB option, proudly flaunting local beers while most tables had a bougie bin of ice helping to chill their wines. As we sipped on our own version of bubbly, we started with a couple of delicious appetizers - meatballs and fried burrata. While both were great, the meatballs were the clear winner, served hot in a small cast iron skillet. Moving to the main course, the pasta ragu was another hit. It had a bit of a peppery undertone, but wasn't spicy, just a wonderful blend of spices that gave it a unique flavor. For dessert, I had an apple-based dish that was a special that night. While again another creative showing, I think I'd stick to some of the simpler options on the menu (like a Caramelized banana split - YES PLEASE)

Hadn't been to the new location yet, after being a major fan of them at their original location…read more Had my normal octopus and lobster crepe for crepes. Outstanding as always. For dinner, tried the shrimp rigatoni (ridiculously good) and the ribeye. Steak was good, I just didn't love the sauce. It wasn't bad, I just prefer my steaks seasoned but dry with a lil char and full of flavor inside. Nonetheless I still enjoyed it. Staff provided great service and the new location is in a great spot, well designed, great ambiance, much bigger and pretty easy to find parking. If you haven't been to Jessica's, it's a must do. This gem that was relatively under the radar for years, is now being discovered. But the quality and consistency remains.

Decided to try this place again only to be reminded why I stopped. The service is awful and it…read moreseems the operation is poorly ran. Sucks as they had potential to be a good place but service needs serious improvement

Came here for a quick drink. The tall brown bald bartender was nice and quick. We ordered a couple…read moreof drinks, the pour was good and tasty. We got the jerk wings they were good jerk wings, seasoned well. The best thing was that ginger dipping sauce! Yes that was fire!! The music was good and a nice local crowd.

This was a high-end spot with innovative menu options. The place was nicely decorated for the…read moreholidays. The service was appreciated, and the food came out very fast. The starters came out three minutes after we placed them, which was odd. They start the meal off with a choice of one of their breads. I went with the focaccia, and it was tremendous. It was soft with a tomato flavor on the outside. For starters, the octopus ($24) and cauliflower steak ($20) was ordered. The octopus came grilled with potatoes, preserved lemon, and Niçoise olives. This was solid. The octopus was tender and flavorful. The potatoes were tasty as well. My only issue was the amount of olives as there were only two present. There was a very strong lemon flavor too. I liked it, but at times, it felt like too much. The cauliflower steak had a lemon-soy emulsion, tomatoes, cucumbers, and capers. The cauliflower was perfectly cooked and there appeared to be a lot of butter used here. The tomatoes, cucumbers, and capers were a nice addition to complement the cauliflower. For an entrée, I had the tuna ($44). It came with haricot verts, avocado, coconut sticky rice, and a soy-ginger vinaigrette. This dish was very good except the tuna. The flavor was good, but it was not very tender and was a tad overcooked. The sticky rice was the highlight here along with the vinaigrette. I also tried the lamb dish that came with delicata squash, Brussel sprouts, potato gnocchi, and a romesco sauce. This was great. The lamb was cooked to a perfect medium rare while the gnocchi and squash were creative additions. For dessert, the warm chocolate tart ($15) was ordered. It came with pecan crust, praline, and vanilla ice cream. I never saw a pecan crust with a chocolate tart and I enjoyed it. The chocolate tart was gooey while being very rich, but light at the same time. The vanilla ice cream was definitely needed. Will I go back? I would.

The moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles from a team of waiting staff who checked my…read morecoat in and led me to my table which was in a room with tall windows a large chandelier. The interior had a vintage feel with modern design elements and punchy colored chairs. Very nice ambiance. My table was immediately served with a choice of focaccia bread or sour dough. I tried the focaccia which has great texture and nice elasticity. I had started off with drinks and appetizers. I got crab cake and seared scallops. The crab cake was a solid dish, simple and good quality but the scallops were incredible - it was perfectly cooked and had this wonderful tangy sauce pooled around it, some mushrooms and veggies in the center and a crispy, savory tuile. It had a lot going on! For my main dish I got a special, veal and short ribs. Although the veal was cooked slightly more medium than the requested medium rare, the veal was so tender that it hardly mattered. The short ribs sat on a small bed of mashed potatoes and carrots, and it had to be one of the most tender short ribs I've had. Usually short rib is juicy where some of the fat is but then there's dry spots here and there. This was juicy and tender all around. Whatever the chef did, they got it right! Finally, dessert was a key like pie which came with a spoonful of coconut ice cream which was delicious and hit the spot. Overall, Restaurant Serenade did a fantastic job with their food and service and I would definitely recommend and come back again.

Bloom closed its doors and is now Woosmash. A building that housed a cozy, upscale atmosphere is…read morenot 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!

I have been meaning to try this restaurant for a while and I was no disappointed!…read more 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.

This was our second visit to this very pleasant restaurant, and it won't be our last. Our party of…read moresix including two young children was hungry after a busy day. Our order included the following: * Deep Fried Brie served with caramelized onions: $15.95 * (2) Soupe à l'oignon Gratinée - traditional onion soup: $14.95 * Jambe D'agneau Braisée - new zealand lamb shank braised in port wine reduction served over israeli couscous, carrots, mushrooms and onions: $36.95 * Steak au Poivre/au Poivre Vert - two 4 ounce medallions of filet mignon with black peppercorn rub: $39.95 * Pommes Frites (hand cut french fries) $8 This place has the casual look and feel of a Paris bistro, and I really like the vibe. You can sit at tables or the large bar, we chose the former. The service was very good, accommodating and friendly. The food was nicely executed. My lamb shank was tender and tasty. I sampled the steak and thought it was nicely cooked, loaded with flavor and also very tender. The brie was tasty, and didn't seem to heavy, which was surprising as it was deep fried. If I lived in the area, I'd be a regular here.

Had a taste for some escargot, and per usual Sophie's Bistro did NOT disappoint. A mainstay in…read moreFranklin that flys under the radar. The escargot came out super hot and garlicky, which was perfect. The pate was solid - came with all the right stuff and they hooked me up with extra bread. Only thing is I like my pate at room temperature, but that's just me. Got the rice pudding martini because it had Goldschläger in it. Way better than the shots I did in college - actually tasted good this time around. They sent out a pear crepe for dessert on the house, which was a nice touch and a great way to end the meal. Ended up talking with Matt, the bartender and the owner for a while. Always love hearing the stories from a place that's been around for 35+ years. Sophie's has that authentic French bistro vibe - I call it the South of Franklin. Great local spot that's earned its place in Franklin .

We hosted a Wedding Welcome Dinner at Moonshine Modern Supper Club to kick off our son's wedding…read moreweekend, bringing together family and friends from near and far. From our very first conversation, Vic was easy to work with, offered helpful advice, and made the entire planning process simple and stress-free. Communication was clear, decisions were easy, and we felt completely supported throughout. The food was outstanding from start to finish. The appetizers were delicious and beautifully presented, dinner was excellent, and the desserts were fantastic -- and the warm chocolate chip cookies are a MUST. Our guests are still talking about them! The staff was friendly, professional, and personable all evening. Service felt attentive without ever being intrusive, and everything ran smoothly. The décor and atmosphere are upscale, modern, and fun, with a youthful energy that made the night feel festive and special. We are so grateful for such a wonderful experience and would absolutely recommend Moonshine for any celebration.

Food was average Drinks were not good at all…read moreService was so-so we got forgotten by the waitress Ambiance was great