First time here and on Sunday evening they had a good crowd. This is a BYOB place so we brought our Rose Champagne. The first waiter brought us soaking wet flutes. When I asked if he can please dry them up he told me this is the best he can do. I insisted on dry glass which he eventually did bring. The restaurant does not have Prix Fixe menu. We ordered Asparagus Soup, Mussels in light Thai curry for starters. Mussels were excellent and so well balanced and the curry sauce was perfect not too aromatic with just a perfect balance. The soup not so, very heavy on the citrus side almost. For main course we ordered mahi mahi in citrus farro and roasted duck. Really disappointed with both dishes. The restaurant is too heavy with citrus so much so the the food almost tasted bitter. The sauce with the duck tasted like a reduction of orange juice until it becomes bitter. I didn't touch the sauce after first bite. The Duck leg was perfectly prepared and had crispy skin but the duck breast skin was soggy. Same over the top citrus issue with Mah Mahi. The Farro had bits of citrus rind turned bitter. Chocolate cake was fresh and tasty but the crème brûlée custard need to be set for couple more hours. Taste wise it was good. Our waitress Lizzy was fantastic though. read more

Cafe Panache - Salad Near Me - Ramsey, New Jersey

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Cafe Panache has certainly gone downhill. We had always thought that it was one of the better restaurants but never went too often only because you had to book way in advance (not the case these days) and I am never that organized. Well, we went there 3 weeks ago for a birthday party and the hors d'oeuvres were amazing. The oysters were really fresh and flavorful as well as all the other seafood morsels. My tuna tartar appetizer was also fantastic. I had halibut for my main course and it was partly overcooked, half was nice the other was dry but I was willing to overlook it since it was a big party. So, after that I couldn't wait to go back, but boy am I sorry... I don't know where to start. First, I ordered salmon tartar... it was sooooo salty, as if the chef had an accident with the soy sauce, it was so salty you couldn't taste the salmon at all. I was going to say something but our waitress never asked how everything was. Then I ordered tuna and asked for it to be rare, simply seared on the outside like how tuna is supposed to be cooked. Well, it came well-done in another very, very salty sauce. I sent the tuna back and it came back rare, yes... but the outside was pale like it was steamed rather than seared. The inside of the tuna was ice-cold. For those of you who know tuna... this is NOT the way it should be served. The service or more appropriately, lack of service was appalling. We may have seen her only three times... when she took our orders, when I complained about my tuna (which btw, I had to flag two people down to get to her), and when she placed dessert menus on the table... unbelievable!! The plates were not cleared timely, and when the busboy finally got to them, the waitress came up and presumptuously placed dessert menus infront of us without even asking how everything was, and if we wanted dessert. Now to add insult to injury, there was a huge table placed in the middle of the room and it was placed so closed to our table that the waitstaff and whoever else had to get by would brush past me the whole evening. They would bump into my chair, and sometimes I would get a butt up against my elbow. It was ridiculous. Of course the maitre d' s presence was merely ornamental, the whole night he just hovered around the entrance, completely oblivious to what was going on around him. So, then I complained to the waitress, she said nothing (I am not kidding)... no feigned apology or some lame excuse... she did not attempt to appease us at all. Honestly, any BS excuse would have helped and we would have stayed for dessert. Her failure to apologize came across as belligerence ...who knows, maybe she had personal problems... but it just did not sit well with us... so we left and went somewhere else for dessert and coffee. Finally, ladies DO NOT GO THERE if you don't want to wake up the next morning with puffy eyes and swollen hands and feet from the sodium overdose. read more

Great service. Warm ambiance. The food is absolutely delicious. Highly recommend the filet mignon ravioli and the crabcakes

Went to Panache on a Friday night at 6:00pm with a party of 8. We get seated and the waiter tells us the specials, which included lobster. First person orders the lobster goes around the table and another person orders the lobster. When the 2nd person ordered the lobster special waiter says, "Oh, we are outta lobster that table over there ordered all of the them." WHAT? So, first person says well do I still get my lobster? and waiter says no I just told you that table ordered them all. WTF Seriously, the waiter was with us the whole time, how did she know the table across the room ordered "all of them", unless she just forgot. But how does a place run out of their special at 6:00pm on a Friday night? It was bizarre. Had the baby green salad which tasted pretty bitter, sorta how we felt after there was no lobster! For main course, had the sea bass in some brown sauce on top of mashed potatoes. Nothing to write home about, but worth yelping that it was nothing that special. From the bread to the dessert best I can say is just so/so. Would probably not go back. read more

Service, ambience, food all incredible. We enjoyed PEI mussels, burrata, a salad, and tuna tartare as appetizers. Our entrees were the short ribs, venison ragu special, filet mignon ravioli, and crispy duckling. All superb, can't wait to come back! read more

Reluctantly, I give 4 stars. I think they are operating closer to 3 stars. Let's get my few minor annoyances out of the way. I hate bistro style seating. I don't enjoy being on top of a neighboring pair of diners. Maybe I just seem to get stuck next to some obnoxious peeps. Second, ditch those wine glasses. Yes, you are a byob but that doesn't mean that you have to use those thick heavy glasses. The daily specials were recited sans prices. Please just print and hand out the daily specials. Thanks. I told the waiter that we wanted to start by sharing half a dozen west coast oysters, vague, and then have our appetizers and mains. So, out comes our first appetizers. My wife had a foie gras mousse on some type of crostini with some lightly dressed greens in the center. She raved about it! My appetizer was pei mussels in a pesto broth. It was a well executed dish and quite enjoyable. Next came the aforementioned oysters. Yes, I should have said something when they didn't come out first but wanted to see how they were going to handle things. Plus my wife and I were pretty hungry. The oysters were great but would have been perfect if served first as requested. My wife's main dish was veal with some mashed potatoes and a nice pile of spinach. She raved about it. I ordered off the specials and had braised short ribs. They used some type of beer/sweet sauce and had some sliced almonds and diced fried scallions. It came over some very buttery whipped potatoes which might have been parsnips. It was a very good dish. Overall, I thought the menu was boring and uninspired. All the food that we ate was delicious but I would have liked more creativity. I had a difficult time picking a main course and didn't order the interesting sounding filet mignon ravioli because I wanted the short ribs. We passed on the run-of-the-mill sounding desserts. I liked our waiter but overall service seemed to be off. I would return and give them another shot. read more

Three stars: 4 1/2 stars for the appetizers 2 - 3 stars for the entrees 3 stars for the desserts We came here to celebrate a birthday and there were 4 couples so I got to taste several different dishes. Here is the breakdown: Appetizers: - serrano ham - typical... good, nothing notable - Ravioli Panache (filet mignon ravioli) - delicious. I give it 4 stars because it was a tad too salty. It would have been perfect if they lightened up on the salt. - Curried Bouchot Mussels- SERIOUSLY DELICIOUS! The sauce is so good, I could have slurped it up like soup but since it was one of my friend's appetizers, I refrained. Instead, we all dipped our bread in her sauce. - Woodland Mushroom Salad with arugula, parmesan and truffle oil- one of the best salad's I've ever tasted! Entrees: - Seared sirloin steak- good but not great. My husband makes the most amazing steaks and so this one did not compare. - Crispy wasabi halibut with wild rice- not good. The "crispy" part was not crispy but rather hard and chewy. The flavor was weird. This dish was a complete disappointment. - Sauteed calves liver in mustard seed crust with raisins and port wine- my friend ordered this and I reluctantly tasted it as I am not a fan of liver but this was GOOD! Great flavor! Desserts: - peach cobbler was highly recommended by our waiter and he was right- it was delicious! It had a tart/sweet taste. - all the other desserts were OK- nothing special. If I were to come back, I would just order a bunch of different appetizers and be more than satisfied. I felt their appy's were much better than their main's. The crowd is older (50's, 60's, 70's). It made us feel very young. Love the fact that it is a BYOB... helps to keep the bill reasonable! read more

Best meat raviolis I've ever had! I'm not one to get raviolis when I go out but the filet mignon handmade raviolis caught my eye. They were absolutely amazing. The grilled octopus appetizer was also pretty awesome. Very upscale place with different but well done dishes. Very proper etiquette restaurant which I wasn't use to but overall good food and nice ambiance. read more

Cafe Panache - Salad Near Me - Ramsey, New Jersey

Based on my latest experience, I believe Panache is more deserving of 3.5 than 4 stars, but I rounded up based on excellent service, a lovely atmosphere, and prior wonderful experiences here. For appetizer, we tried the zucchini flowers, prawns, and lobster bisque with mussels. I found the zucchini flowers very oily and some way too overcooked....even burnt. The prawns were hard and flavorless. And the lobster bisque was less bisque and more broth and tasted a bit fishy (most likely from the mussels...maybe not the best combo). Dinner was a mixed bag. Our usual favorite, the filet Mignon ravioli's, were saltier than usual. However, the scallop special was delicious. No complaints there. For dessert, the peach bread pudding was just okay but the homemade ice cream and sorbet was to die for! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Service and atmosphere is a 4.5. I love the new look of Panache since it's been updated and I love that its BYOB! -MJ read more

Came here for dinner a few weeks ago, I was starving it was a Wednesday evening and without a reservation we were seated right away. First and foremost this place is BYOB, so take a quick drive down the road and stop into the liquor store for a bottle of vino. Totally makes the meal better and watching everyone else have a fun bottle of wine to drink from will entice you even more ! This place has white table cloths and linen napkins so don't wear your sweats. I was wearing jeans and heels and I felt a bit underdressed but it was okay. I mean it's a Wednesday night in Ramsey, I think I can get away with it. We each had a bowl of the shrimp bisque, it was really flavorful and had a bit of a kick at the end. I finished my whole thing and secretly wanted to lick the bowl... Don't worry my mom taught me better :) We split a wild boar Ragu and the truffle short rib ravioli, I was partial to the ragu and he liked the short rib better... So it worked out perfectly. Since I'm Elite and he has only two reviews ... Go with the Ragu ! Ha kidding ... Both were really delicious and I would go back and want to have an order of each again. We skipped dessert because we were stuffed, but I would totally go back. My only complaint was the waitress we had was a little cold, sterile is maybe a better word for it. I like to be greeted enthusiastically, she just seemed a bit too reserved for my taste. Oh and they are very heavy handed with the pours so make sure to eat enough to off set the booze.. No drinking and driving folks :) Definitely check this place out ! read more

Cafe Panache is my favorite local restaurant. I've been there over a hundred times since it opened in 1985. The chef-owner Kevin Kohler, never disappoints. My favorite appetizer is the arugula salad w/ wild mushrooms. If that's not available try the tuna tartare + filet mignon ravioli w/ truffle butter. I usually order wild salmon or tuna as main course but try specials frequently + the soft shell crab was excellent last time. A BYOB makes it prefect. read more

Cafe Panache - Soft Shell Crab with Broccoli, Spinach + Forbidden Rice - Salad Near Me - Ramsey, New Jersey

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I went here a couple weeks ago on a Saturday for my birthday and was very happy I did. This place has been around forever but apparently they had always been booked months in advance for a reservation. From what I can remember, it used to seem a bit intimidating and did not have many windows. They completely redid the place and now the entire front is full of windows. We called for a reservation at 7:30pm but they only had a 6:30pm "seating" available. Apparently it is a 2 hour seating and they try to get you out before the next group comes in at 8:30 pm. I was there with a group of four and the service was great. The waitress would always come over at the right time and wasn't over bearing. Two of us ordered the Filet Mignon which was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. Someone else got the duck which was surprisingly a huge portion. I ordered the chicken and that was great too. Everything came out very quickly and we were done eating by about 7pm. Two people ordered dessert- the creme brulee and the flourless chocolate cake. Both were also great. The best part was the waitress came over with desserts and then said she couldn't let them eat alone and she brought us a white chocolate mousse that had chocolate chunks in it. The only reason I deducted a star was because for our table there weren't any entree specials but the two tables next to us were offered a lobster entree. I think it had something to do with the seatings but it would have been a nice option, probably would've ordered it. It is pricey but definitely worth it. BYOB also helps to keep the price down. I'll be back. read more

Came here for dinner last night and the food was amazing. Service is a little slow though. Had the duck which was the best duck I've ever had. The other thing is, I felt like I was at a funeral home, wish the decor was changed a bit or if they at least got rid of the grey walls. Other than that the food is a 10/10. read more

Food 3.5/5 Decor 2.5/5 Service 2/5 Wine BYOB please change ur wine glass. Please!! Overall 2.5/5 It was pretty much empty when we get there. The service was cold not friendly. Need to learn more how to serve wines. The waiter took my cork so i asked him to bring it back but he didnt. Our table was last and few kitchen staffs were out and sitting at the dining area. It seems like all of their staffs were willing us to leave as quickly as possible. Food was not bad but not impressive. read more

My favorite place to dine in North Jersey. The food is excellent. My father is a long time regular and the service we receive every time is top notch. A special experience. read more

If I could zero stars for this place, I would. I don't understand how people rave and think it's a fabulous restaurant because it's not. After having horrible service the first time we ate here, we decided to give it one more try. The portions are tiny for the prices that they charge and they presentation is nothing great. The service is absolutely the worst! I have had better service in a deli. When you bring two different wines to a restaurant (one to be served at dinner and one to be served at dessert), you should be given different glasses or at least a clean one. We weren't and had to pour ourselves. We were also rushed out. In and out within one hour and 15 minutes for a four course meal. There are many other places in the area that blow this place out of the water. read more

I had NO idea such good food existed in New Jersey. I always thought I had to travel to the city to indulge. I've found a new home. I had the veal cheek special and endive and apple salad special.... To die for! The cheeks were like candy. My friend had the ever so famous filet ravioli. Can't wait to come back!! read more

Loved the goat cheese salad and filet mignon ravioli- to die for! The tar tar specials were really delicious too! Great this is also BYOB because it's a bit over priced for the meals. The wait and reservations need some help. read more

Last night was my first time at Cafe Panache. Amazing restaurant, everything was perfect. We were there for our friends birthday. I will definitely be back. Loved, loved, loved. read more

Cafe Panache never ceases to amaze. The decor is elegant, the staff is friendly and professional and the food superb. From an intimate date to a full party of 20+, I have always enjoyed knowing what to expect. I had lunch there last week and the food was excellent. Everyone at our table raved about the food and we all had different appetizers and meals. The salmon carpaccio was fresh with a perfect touch of lemon and salt. We have enjoyed Panache for over 15 years and it is one of our favorite restaurants in Bergen County. read more

Just went last night for the first time with my wife. It took about 10 plus minutes for our waitress to come. Not a big deal I guess. The waitress was very kind. The staff was great. I was so happy that everything I tried was just awesome! We started with the Goat Cheese and Warm Beet Salad and the Atlantic Salmon Tartar, Bruschetta Style. Both were home runs! I've never had or tried of Atlantic Salmon Tartar before Panache. Its was amazing! Try this if they have it on the menu! For entrees, my wife had the Monk Fish and I went with the Halibut special! BOOM!!! I haven't tried fish so well prepared in a while! There was nothing left on either one of our plates at the end!!! BYO which is cool cuz I brought a nice wine from home. Its funny , cuz a few of the reviews for this place mention the wine glasses being horrible. I AGREE!!! The couple next to me brought their own wine glasses hahaha!!! Great food! I'll be back. IF you like fish done proper... come here and order some! If you like to eat next to a lot of people make your reservations for before 8:30.. if not.. make then for 8:30 or after like we did. Place emptied out quickly after we were seated so it was pleasant and not stifling Fruit Tart for dessert was so yummy and smooth. It came right out the oven and was just delightful! The espresso I had with it was amazing! I'm giving Cafe Panache a solid 4 star rating overall. read more

Delicious food and great service, two ways of describing this place. I went here yesterday with the fam and friends, and was really intrigued by the environment. Our waitor was extremely nice, and helpful when in came time to order, so kudos to him. To start off with, I had this French soup (forgot the name of it, sorry), which was like a mouth-watering French onion soup without cheese, but instead these absolutely delectable croutons which will satisfy your every taste bud. For my main course, I had the Filet Mignon Raviolo, and it was out of this freaking world! I don't kid you, either. The ravioli was stuffed with delicious pieces of filet mignon, which just makes your eyes pop out of your head. Now for dessert, I had the chocolate pot, which was basically a chocolate mousse with whip cream and a mint leaf on top. Though the chocolate mousse was good, t'was a little on the rich side.... Luckily I had a toothsome cappuccino to wash it all it down. Overall, great restaurant if you're looking for a nicer place to eat in Ramsey for lunch or dinner. read more

Overrated. Menu seems dated, service can be spotty (on one occasion - fine, on another - piss poor), food quality is decent, especially for around here, and preparation is OK-to-good. I've visited both before and after the renovation, and while it looks a whole lot better and more current now, the seating is still a bit tight. There is no liquor license, which really bugs me - I like a cocktail before dinner, and I like choosing my wine based on what I decide on from the menu, thank you very much. read more

The service was excellent, as was the food. Although we were seated in the quieter dining room, we were taken care of immediately and given great recommendations. I had the filet mignon ravioli with the truffle butter. So delicious! We will be back again and again. read more

Let me begin by saying that I have had many, many fine dinners at Cafe Panache over the past 20 years. Always spot on, always gracious, always impeccably staffed. Glad I ate crow and came back.... let me explain. Last year, my THEN boyfriend and his best friend and wife met us for dinner. Let us call them Beavis and butt-head... or better yet Drunk and Drunker... My ex-boyfriends best friend sort of "pre-gamed" en route to this fine establishment inconsiderately unaware that he was; A. Drunk B. Loud, and C. not at a Jimmy Buffet Concert With that said, the other couple got into a yet another squabble over their personal issues...fists were thrown, wine was hurled, and I left with my head down in embarrassment AND without my favorite dish on the menu...handmade filet mignon ravioli with truffle butter. Fast forward to yesterday. I attended a funeral for a friend and the repast luncheon was at this restaurant. It is rather difficult to change the tone of a funeral repast. Kevin Kohler, Cafe Panache's Chef-Owner for over two decades, personally greeted each person at the door. This luncheon was reminiscent of the beautiful dinners I had experienced here over the years. They began with a Chilled Gazpacho Soup With Abma's Heirloom Farm Tomatoes, of course I was able to have the amazing raviolis that I missed out on when I left the restaurant after last year's melee. We mourned our friend, laughed and cried... I was so happy to get the dirt (from last year) off of my jimmy Choo's and strut back in to Cafe Panache. Thank you Kevin Kohler for being such a gentleman as well as a talented and humble Chef. read more

Excellent food here, probably some of the best in all of NJ. I have been here 3 times and love going. Service is outstanding. It's byob which I know people like but I wish they could get a liquor license but I know how expensive they are. If you want a table here especially on a weekend you better book in advance. Only one think I don't like about the place is the decor. Feels like a restaurant that would be in a Marriott hotel. Other than this its really good. read more

I had just read the NJ Monthly Top 25 restaurant article when a friend made a reservation here for a large birthday party. I was pretty excited about the coincidence. Everyone at the the table enjoyed their meal, which says a lot because there were 16 people being served. I had the salmon carpaccio for an appetizer. It was super light and fresh. The lemon oil on top was the perfect compliment of citrus and salt. For my main, I had the much talked about filet ravioli. They were sooooo good. So rich, so flavorful. In fact, I skipped dessert because I had my fill of decadence. I also sampled the duck and it was out of this world good. With all of this amazing food, why only 4 stars? The waiter spilled lemon oil all over a friend's dress, down the back of her chair and said nothing! There was no apology or excuse. Being that oil (and that much oil) doesn't come out of clothing, you would think there would be an apology for free dessert! I can not fault an entire establishment on the blunder of one waiter, and the food was so good, that it was unfortunate, but wouldn't stop me from coming back. read more

Had lunch there yesterday it was great I hhad the salmon carpaccio and it was great followed by the spicy shrimp salad. I'll be back, lovely meal read more

We celebrated my husbands birthday in the front room of Cafe Panache with 34 guest. Mark made the planning exceptionally easy. The staff was extremely responsive to all requests. Our guests are still talking about how wonderful the restaurant is and how delicious the food was. Kudos to Kevin !! We would most certainly recommend Cafe Panache to anyone planning a special occasion. You will not be disappointed !! read more

Wonderful dinner under the stars!! Was one of five and everyone raved about their meals. The duck was the winner! But the lamb, tuna, and halibut were all close seconds. Cafe Panache is solid and never disappoints!! read more

My husband and I finally made it out to dine at Café Panache. As expected the meal was absolutely delicious and the service was impeccable.!! I would say that the only improvements are that a restaurant of this caliber should definitely have more than one tent. A good number of the outdoor tables are not under the tent, and we had a bit of sun glare at the beginning of our meal. read more

Excellent food and wonderful service. Our waitress Natalie was friendly and attentive. She offered wonderful suggestions and was spot on with everything. The filet mignon raviolis were tender and flavorful. The halibut was perfectly cooked as the fish was solid yet delicate and moist. We will be back! read more

Cafe Panache - Coconut Cake! - Salad Near Me - Ramsey, New Jersey

My first time at Cafe Panache,my wife Birthday and we have diceded to go to this wonderful restaurant..I used to owne Bon Giovanni restaurant across the street and we have a good relation w/ late chef Kevin,w /have good time and our waiter was Javier ,he take of us w/excelent and professional service and all staff,. I made reservation for may 8 ,my birthday,the same table by the window .... , Thanks every body for the good time...Sam Mussa and Fatima. read more

Always reliably excellent - never disappointed. Kevin is a great chef and the wait staff is friendly and attentive. My personal favorites are Sal and Javier but everyone is good. read more

Had high expectations, but left almost disappointed. Nothing outstanding, nothing really worth coming back for. Did not like the dirty dishes next to my table! Kind of a weird setup. Just another overrated Bergen County restaurant. Sorry!! read more

Food was prepared perfectly. Service and ambiance was excellent. Will return again. Flavor s where exquisite.

My wife and I went here for our anniversary and were expecting an amazing experience. Unfortunately we were not in luck. The service here was terrible, starting with not being greeted at the front of the house for 4 to 5 minutes. After we were seated the "service" from our waitress was awful. She had nothing but attitude and a snarky disposition for me and my wife. Unable or unwilling to explain the menu this was not the type of service you would expect at a place with these prices. As for the food, we were moderately happy with. I would give the food a B but a total fail on the service. Needless to say we will not be returning. So disappointing. read more

Dined here for the first time earlier this week. This restaurant's reputation spoke for itself, but it took me a while to finally dine here. I'm thrilled to report Cafe Panache not only met but exceeded expectations. The food was fresh, expertly prepared, and absolutely delicious. They have a through and inventive menu which features modern interpretations of classic Italian dishes. My fiancée was thrilled and we will not wait nearly as long to go back. read more

A memorable meal with outstanding service. First class in every respect. This restaurant is a must must! Phenomenal!

I remember when going to Cafe panache was a special night. Unfortunately those days are gone. We planned on using the restaurant at noon for a repast after a family funeral. We knew the food was not a good as it once was but always enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant. We had called in advance and were assured the tables would be arranged to accomodate us. When we arrived the tables were haphazardly arranged with one table isolated in a corner by itself. When we asked for a different arrangement the waiter was brusk bordering on rude. He then proceeded to argue about whether coffee and tea were included in the meal despite having a text message from the manager that clearly stated they were. What kind of animal argues with someone who just lost their mother. When one of our group asked for a vegan meal they were told simply no. The meal we were told we were getting was not what we were offered despite discussing this with the manager. Finally the pies de résistance of the day came when this rude unattententive waiter added 23% tip to the bill. I cannot express how unhappy we were to have a sad family event become so much worse due to the rude and deceitful staff. I would be very careful about using this restaurant during the day. I have never been treated like this before . read more