It is hard to believe that Mandaloun was once a Friendly's - best known for family-friendly…read moreinexpensive, American comfort food like burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream. The new owners have completely reimagined the space into a moderately upscale, but still family-friendly, Mediterranean oasis with a contemporary aesthetic that's also a huge culinary step up from its predecessor. The staff was friendly and super attentive without ever being overbearing and went the extra mile to ensure we had a great meal and a great experience. My dining companion and I started with the special Trio Dip ($20), a fantastic, delicious starter with shareable portions of traditional hummus, a unique avocado hummus, and perfectly smoky baba ghanoush with crunchy walnuts alongside with a basket of warmly toasted pita bread. For our entree, we decided to share the Mandaloun Mix Grill ($40) and split the three kebabs -- filet mignon shish, ground beef kofta, and grilled chicken. This platter is a masterclass in grilling with three juicy and flavorful kebabs. Mandaloun also pays attention to small details that make the dining experience so memorable. We were both huge fans of the dipping dish with a concoction of olive oil, za'atar seasoning, and sesame seeds served with the pita and the toum -- an emulsion of garlic, oil, lemon juice, and salt which creates a thick, mayonnaise-like condiment that is 100% vegan and dairy-free -- served alongside our entree that's a perfect zesty pairing for the grilled chicken. One of the staff noticed how much I enjoyed both and brought over a small 'to go' container of each for us to take home. There was also a brief "if you know, you know" moment during dinner that I am sure was entirely unintentional. Our Mandaloun Mix Grill entree came with a tasty green salad topped with crispy pita strips, which felt like a very sophisticated homage to the Friendly's Crispy Chicken Salad entree that was topped with tortilla strips. PRO TIP #1: Bring a bottle of wine or beer from home to enjoy with your meal. Mandaloun is a BYOB establishment and does not serve alcohol. PRO TIP #2: Bring cash. Mandaloun has added a small surcharge for using credit cards to pay for your meal.

Looking for a new place in a different town for our Saturday nite date/ dinner n stumbled upon…read moreMandaloun in west Caldwell w great reviews on yelp n thought we'd try it. Lovely modern restaurant on Bloomfield and w plenty of parking. Friendly welcoming staff. Tastefully decorated. I forgot it was BYOB. But the mint lemonade was so good. The strawberry lemonade ok. The owner of the restaurant was friendly n walking around n checking to make sure everyone was well taken care of. The warm house bread w a diff kind of filling was v good. We had the lentil soup n muhammara- a dip w roasted red peppers walnuts . Tasted good w the bread. Soup was good too. Had the scallops n jumbo shrimp w cous cous. Tasted really really w generous amount of shrimp. The branzino w a squash mashed potaton zucchini crisp n a garlic butter sage sauce wax to die for. Perfectly cooked n was so delicious. We topped if off w Syrian ice cream - never heard of tried it so had it and was good. Also had the desert a layered kinda cake w pistachios n cream. That was good. Thanks for a great dinner before the mamma jamma snow storm.

I've been here a few times over the years. Starting with a place to get food to my dad who had…read moreissues with traveling and then just for myself and Lovey when we were in town. It's a lovely restaurant and the owners are friendly and happy to chat. Seeing as I grew up in this town, it was kind of weird to see such a great Middle Eastern place take hold - back in the day it was Chinese or Italian and that's IT. We've tried a fairly extensive range of their offerings, appetizers to entrees, and they're uniformly well made and well presented. Lots of parking in the lot in back and other than the longish walk around the block to get to the front door, nothing to criticize about access.

Great atmosphere, great service. I personally found the food mediocre but all of it tasted fresh…read more I had the lentil soup & my wife had the chicken soup, both were bland in our opinion & the lentil soup was a really light consistency which was not what I was expecting, calamari was really 10/10 fresh with good light breading but sauce was bland & did nothing for it. I tasted piece of the chicken in the chicken salad & it was really good & well flavored so it was kind of puzzling to me that The chicken thigh lacked flavor even though the chicken itself was fresh & delicately grilled, vegetables was great especially the baby potatoes, rice was meh! But it came with no kind of sauce. There were at least 3 tables celebrating their birthday which I took for a good sign & place appears child friendly without being annoying so it seems like a great neighborhood spot. With good atmosphere & great service, & fresh ingredients, I was somewhat disappointed in the lack of flavors in several dishes but I would still cautiously recommend this place if you live in the neighborhood but I would not go out of my way to get to this restaurant.

Decided to try this place after passing by many times. So pleasantly surprised. Very nice,…read morecomfortable interior- nicely decorated and good noise level, that is , no crazy noise! Menu is Mediterranean. Tried one of the dips which was generous portion and great!! The pita- like bread was so fresh- tasted like home- made. Husband had short rib ragu with paparadell & I had one of the specials - grilled swordfish with roasted vegetables and cauliflower puree. Husband loved his dish ( I agree- had a taste) and my dish was wonderful also. It was a nice melange of onions, peppers, eggplant & zucchini. The puree was also very good. Prob the best swordfish I've ever had at a restaurant - nicely seasoned and not dried out. We didn't really check out desserts because we were too full. Soft drinks were available and it's BYO. Service also met our expectations. So glad we discovered Mezza because we already talked about going back!

Mezza Livingston has one of the nicest outdoor dining setups in the area. The atmosphere feels…read moreupscale yet welcoming, and the menu has a great variety from mezze platters to grilled dishes and desserts. Everything tasted fresh and authentic. Perfect place to enjoy a warm summer evening with friends.

First time visit for dinner with friends. Seated as soon as we get in. Comfortable and spacious…read moresetting. It's a BYOB restaurant - always good to know. Bring your own wine - what's not to appreciate! We needed some help with the menu descriptions and were assisted by the pleasant and friendly server. Food was well seasoned and expertly prepared. We were all enjoying the meal. Definitely will return when in the area again.

Thavma Mediterranean Grill offers flavorful Mediterranean cuisine in a warm, inviting atmosphere. I…read morehad the gourmet cheeseburger with Greek fries. The burger was juicy and perfectly seasoned, and the fries were so tasty I couldn't stop eating them. The shrimp scampi over orzo rice was fresh and full of flavor. The ambiance is great, and the restaurant can easily accommodate large groups. We came with a large group, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals. The only downside was that they do not serve alcoholic beverages, but aside from that, everything was excellent.

Recently visited Just Greek. The vibe alone was soothing. Think olive trees, pottery, and straight…read moreout of Athens. I learned the owner actually is from Athens, and they use his family's recipes. We started with the spinach pie--perfectly flaky and so fresh. Then we got a bunch of spreads: spicy feta, tzatziki, Greek hummus, Greek caviar, and eggplant... honestly could've just eaten this with pita and been happy! The grilled halloumi was unreal. And if you like soup, get the avgolemono--it's so comforting and probably even better when you're under the weather. For mains, we did shrimp skewers with lemon potatoes (so good) and a beef and lamb gyro with fries--classic, dripping with flavor, and done right. The Mediterranean chicken burger was juicy and something new to try. And of course, dessert: ravani cake and walnut cake... both so good, moist, and not overly sweet. They even have a little market inside with imported Greek olive oils and snacks, which I loved. Definitely one of those places you go when you want something authentic and cozy!

I love Greek food so stopped into this restaurant for dinner. When I arrived I parked in the plaza…read morelot and walked into this cute restaurant. I went to the front and ordered: Avgolemono Soup Beef & Lamb Gyro Dip & Spread Sampler (Hummus, Tahini, Dipping Spreads) Just Greek Bowl with Chicken Haloumi Appetizer (Goat Cheese, Pita, Tomato, Cucumber) Chicken Burger Baklava And Ravani Cake The food was delicious and the Dip and Spread Sampler was such a tasty treat! All in all a really great experience!

Ate here last night with another couple. First thing I noticed upon walking g in was a fishy smell,…read morewhich tells me don't order the fish. Bar was empty and restaurant was half full , not great for a Saturday night. We sat at the bar and had a drink. Bar tender was attentive and made a good drink. It's does have a beautiful ambiance. Bread is served with a humus spread. I do appreciate that they don't charge for bread service. For appetizers our friends got an order of zucchini chips. Very tasty. My wife and I shared a Greek salad. It's was ok. Served chunky style with no lettuce. For mains my wife and friends all had the chicken kabob dinner and all said it was very good. I had the lamb shank with orzo which unfortunately did not come out hot, just lukewarm. Overall an average experience. Not a place I'd go out of my way for.

I have been wanting to try this place for years and was not disappointed! There was a good crowd…read morefor a Friday night and a lot of people seemed to be regulars and knew the staff well. Staff were friendly and helpful. Clean inside with bar seating and lots of table and/or booths. Drinks were poured perfectly. Had a delicious lychee martini. We ordered lots of apps. Everything was fantastic and so beyond fresh. Great, quality ingredients. Greek salad, avocado salad, meatballs, fried calamari, crab cake, and lobster souvlaki were all excellent. I would definitely come back soon!

Amazing Israeli food, authentic and super tasty…read more We came in after having lunch elsewhere (we should have known better) and couldn't resist - we had the masbacha, beet salad, split pee soup and falafel and enjoyed every bite. Will come again (hungry next time!)

Food was excellent, I just wish it wasn't as oily as it was. I love that they have challah as an…read moreoption now and not just pita for their sandwiches. Clean establishment and cute merch. Staff were nice.

Love the food and service at this establishment. Invited a…read morefriend to join me for lunch today. We shared saganaki with fig jam and a fish dorado which was cooked perfectly. Thank you Konstantine for your professionalism and Hektor for your excellent food.

I've been meaning to write a review for this spot ever since my folks took me out here for a…read morepre-birthday dinner in late January (2026). I don't know why we haven't frequented this spot sooner (at least during trips back home), but EVOO is legit. Also NOTE - its BYOB (but there are even some places nearish by you can grab a bottle or 3 if needed). Our server was very attentive, despite the restaurant being fairly busy. For apps, we decided on the: Hummus - how do you properly judge a Mediterranean restaurant without trying their hummus, and this was creamy, decadent and served with some fresh pita. Grilled Calamari (with roasted red pepper, lemon, evoo, capers, red onions) - very nicely cooked, not rubbery at all Grilled Octopus (with roasted red peppers, fava puree, capers, onions, red wine vinegar, arugula, evoo) - if octopus is on the menu, I'm gonna have it. For my entree, I got the pan-seared scallops with cauliflower puree, quinoa, spinach, heirloom tomato. Loved it. Cooked perfectly, loooved the silky puree...just a solid solid dish. All in all, EVOO definitely deserves to be on the Millburn/Essex shortlist when looking for nicer places to dine out. Can't wait to get back and try some more of their menu!

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

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!

Great Food!! The Steak tenderloins entree with the feta fries was DELICIOUS! I would definitely…read morerecommend this place if you are a fan of Greek food.

4/23/25 (Update) Stopped in the Great Greek Mediterranean…read moreGrill to pick up dinner. The man at the counter very nicely greeted me. So much to choose from. I ordered the Australian Lamb Souvlaki Platter. Ordered the lamb "Medium". The man asked me to have a seat. He would bring it over my order when it was ready. In addition, I ordered a fountain Coca Cola. Trust me, the fountain Coke was, "The Real Thing!" When, I had the lamb for dinner, the meat was perfectly cooked. The lamb had a nice warm pink center. Also, the lamb was nicely seasoned. A nice small side salad came with the meal. The inside of the restaurant continues to be clean. The restaurant is at the end of a small strip mall, which includes the Florham Park Diner. (It's difficult to see from Columbia Turnpike). Parking is available in front and back of the restaurant. 5 Stars to be continued.......