Food was delicious; servers were a little off of their game for some reason in terms of checking on tables which precludes 5 stars for me

This is such a nice restaurant and the service is great. My friend and I went for dinner and enjoyed everything about this establishment. It is a BYOB. read more

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Here's the deal....intimate BYOB.( convenient liquor store across the street ) Good for groups of 2-4-6 people. Food is really delicious. PEI Mussels & little neck clams appetizer was amazing & we asked for additional bread to "sop up sauce".... the ravioli app definitely a delicate yummy dish. The cafe 37 fettuccine was delicious!! Others has chicken dish & salmon dish which they said was "good" although we stuck to the menu. There were some interesting special to try! The service was very attentive & informed. It's definitely a place to go back to !! read more

Cafe 37 - New American Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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Cafe 37 is a New American restaurant with a Spanish Flair. The restaurant is small inside, but they have a larger outside dining area. The owner is the chef, and those are usually the best restaurants to dine at. All the ingredients the chef uses are top notch. Portions are nice sizes too besides the desserts being rather small. Stand out and must try dishes are the goat cheese raviolis, truffle risotto, and the halibut over saffron rice. All those dishes were AMAZING! You must try them! Halibut is hard fish to get right, and when a chef can cook an outstanding halibut you know it's a 5 star restaurant! Other dishes I tried was the crab cake which was excellent! The filet mignon with shrimp was very good! The chicken dish was good! Only one entree I didn't care for or wouldn't recommend ordering is the Cafe 37 Frutti di Mare. The pasta wasn't fresh made and kinda mushy and flavor wise it just was ok. I'd take it off the menu and replace it with something else. It didn't have the WOW factor as all the other dishes on the menu had. All the desserts are house made and my favorite is the bread pudding! It's fantastic! That's another dish that's hard to get right, but the chef here made it to perfection! The only complaint is it's much too small. Its should be served twice the current serving size. The other dessert I tried were the coconut profiteroles. I didn't care much for it, and I wouldn't order it again. I really enjoyed almost everything here, and I am very impressed with the food! The chef/owner is warm and welcoming too! I highly recommend dining at Cafe 37 in Ridgewood! read more

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Super cute, upscale restaurant without being stuffy. Small & intimate with not a bad seat in the house, even the table near the kitchen (where I sat) was partitioned off nicely. Being my first time here, and everything on the menu looking so good, I decided on the prix fixe 4 course menu. The portions are smaller but the price is right and it was a great way to try more of the menu items! First course I choose the exotic mushrooms ravioli with truffle champagne sauce. Second course the roasted yellow & red beets with mixed greens. Third course the Asian marinated barbecued pork riblets. Everything was presented beautifully and tasted delicious! I forgot to mention that they bring out a complimentary dish with olives & shaved Parmesan as well as a chef's small tasting dish. You also get a dessert choice as part of the prix fixe, I had their homemade vanilla ice cream which was scrumptious. If you want to try the prix fixe menu, make it school-night date night as it is only available Tues, Wed, Thurs and Sunday. Well worth it! read more

Visited 02/14/2019 4.5 stars actually. Everything was very very good... excellent even. It just irks me that some restaurants jack up menu prices on 'special days'. I equate this to price gouging and find it incredibly annoying. Not all restaurants do this, but that's the reason I took off a half a star. Other than that... the food and service were excellent. My wife started with the 'herbed goat cheese raviolis', sun dried golden figs and a pine nut sage butter 'noisette'. Quite excellent. For her entree she had the fillet mignon with fresh water langoustine, (think l isarge shrimp with the heads on) shallot potatoes and asparagus with a wine sauce reduction. Nicely presented, cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. (according to her.) I started with the beef carpaccio and lump crab meat, with arugula, shaved parmigiano, roasted garlic aioli and a caper vinaigrette. This too was nicely presented and just fantastic. I went with the pan roasted cervena venison, caramelized onions, sauteed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. This too was nicely plated and perfectly cooked. I'd gladly order this again. Normally we would have passed on dessert, but since this was a fixed prix evening, we both had the banana's foster with dark chocolate brioche bread pudding and marscapone mousse. Pretty yummy! As an FYI... many of these dishes were 'specials' for Valentines day. I was all 'juiced up' for their seafood fettuccine, so I guess we'll have to make another trip back here. One other very nice touch that my wife appreciated was the hot milk that was served with the coffee. I drink my coffee black, so that wasn't so 'special' to me. Don't forget to bring a nice bottle of wine because it is a BYOB! read more

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Recently went here for dinner, and what a treat! Although, we decided to sit outside to be cautious, the staff was incredibly kind, patient and enthusiastic. We started with the Butternut Squash soup, and it was incredible. The salads are colorful and full of flavor, and we finished off we the truffle risotto -- not the best I've had but still very good! read more

A tiny gem with big aspirations...well deserved! Intimate, relaxing space. Crisp white linens. Soothing soundtrack. Attentive waitstaff--ask for Alex. Average bread rolls, a small quibble. Outstanding foodie mecca, including several true taste sensations (braised short ribs ravioli; truffle risotto; sashimi ahi tuna; bananas foster), all artfully plated and presented with care. Cafe 37 is a BYO worthy of a special bottle of wine befitting a leisurely paced, truly outstanding meal. Kudos to chef-owner Cesar Sotomayor (major cred's at Latour and Village Green, two other Ridgewood standouts--you had to know his own would be something very special). Go, enjoy! You will not be disappointed. David S read more

So so good! Compare to my recently experience in a well known restaurant in NYC, which I had their omakase and left very disappointed, cafe 37 has much better service and food quality yet at 1/3 of the price!! I had the prefix: shellfish appetizer was cooked to perfection (we love good fresh shellfish), kale salad was just right in dressing and combination, filet mignon was cooked exactly as I requested even the mashed potatoes was flavorful, chocolate cake was warm when it was served. Plating was surprisingly pretty for a local restaurant. Service was great! Even though it was a full house last night, I found nothing to complain about. Our friends and I had a great time. We spent almost 3 hours there enjoying our evening. I will definitely go back to try other dishes. read more

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The food and service were phenomenal. Lisbeth was attentive, efficient, and charming!

Surprised engagement party there on Sunday...One of the best meals I've had! Food was delicious and service were unsurpassed! Be sure to visit this restaurant! read more

The food was ok (best dish was the kale salad!). The waitstaff was finem but we felt the prices wee too high.

Very pretty restaurant with a very friendly staff. Food is beautifully presented and the quality is consistent. For a small space in Ridgewood (like all the other restaurants here), they don't rush you and it's laid out nicely. We like to sit at the front table near the window and they always accommodate us if they can. I have a gluten allergy and they adjust the menu to my dietary needs. Quite possibly the best restaurant in Ridgewood. read more

First time at the restaurant and we were very pleased. Sat at a window table for two, service was very good and the people were polite and the service was excellent. I was shock to hear that they have been in existence for 10 years. I've been to many restaurants in Ridgewood but never this one. We will be back. read more

I went here with a group of people for a celebration several months ago. The servers here was fine but we were sat along the wall and the spacing was very tight. I don't mind window seating but it was almost uncomfortable. The large majority of us had the prix fixe menu outside of one person. The mushroom risotto as well as the steak were the best of the dishes I had. The amuse bouche (I believe a tomato bruschetta) was pretty good also. The desserts were fine. The bigger issue with the prix fixe were the portions. Outside of the risotto, they were tiny and with even with the number of courses, we weren't super full at the end. The biggest dish by far was the salad ordered by the one person. It was probably bigger than all of our dishes combined. The food here is OK but for the prices and portions, there are better options. 3.2 read more

My wife and I had one of the most amazing experiences dining at Cafe 37.  Everything from the food to the staff was absolutely perfect.  We moved to Glen Rock almost 2 years ago from Williamsburg (we were there for 10 years) and Manhattan (for many years before that) and this was one of the best all around experiences we have had.  While this was our first time at Cafe 37, it most certainly will not be the last.  Thank you for a phenomenal experience and keep doing what you are doing. read more

Cafe 37 - New American Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

I love the ambience and a little garden when the weather is warm. The staff is very attentive and the food is superb. A lot of creative dishes. read more

Delicious food and artistically served. Highly recommend it! Bronzini was great Filet Mignon was also great read more

Were here for dinner on October 10th. Food and service were excellent, as always. Burrata appetizer and goat cheese ravioli to start, chicken and duck special for main courses. Terrific. It was my husband's birthday, and even though we were too full and didn't order dessert, we were still served a small portion of ice cream, fruit and a candle. What a nice touch. And thankfully no singing! Have been here 5-6 times. Always a special evening read more

BYOB. Had lamb chops with garlic mash potatoes, caramelized onions and asparagus. Very tasty. Service was attentive. Would go again read more

The service was okay. The food was nothing out of ordinary. They don't serve alcohol, I don't drink, but my family does... I guess, concept of the cafe was pretty... but nothing to brag about here. read more

Cesar and his staff always deliver a lovely atmosphere, friendly staff and consistently delicious food. We ate there for our 50th Anniversary!! read more

What an excellent service by our waiter Rene, he was very informative and attentive. The whole service was great. I had the Branzino fillet and it was delicious, well prepared, perfect taste. It's a BYOb restaurant and they have outside and inside sitting. read more

For the pricepoint, I was hoping to be wow'ed. While the service was great, the food was just mediocre.

Cafe 37 embodies the best of a chef-owner restaurant experience. The restaurant is a veritable gem. Chef Sotomayor is a culinary genius. The staff are welcoming, accommodating, and professional. We dined outdoors and found it as comfortable and well executed as indoor dining. My wife and I were tasked with planning two memorial luncheons, each of these events for approximately 30 people. The memorial luncheons honored family members who died during the pandemic and provided an opportunity for our family to finally gather safely. After extensively researching restaurants across Bergen County, we decided on Cafe 37 based on the quality of food, service, and the attention to detail provided by Chef Sotomayor. My wife and I live in Manhattan and are no strangers to fine dining. In all honesty, we are very demanding; yet, our experience at Cafe 37 exceeded our expectations and rivaled our experiences at some of the best restaurants in Manhattan. Cafe 37 is successful at providing fine dining without sacrificing authenticity and intimacy. Eating at Cafe 37 is the experience you would imagine eating at a friend's house --- if the friend was an award-winning chef. From the beginning of planning our events, Chef Sotomayor was extremely responsive and thoughtful. In the early stages of planning the memorial luncheons, my wife and I visited the restaurant to sample from the standard dinner menu. The most difficult part of planning was narrowing down the dinner menu to a luncheon menu; we liked virtually everything on the dinner menu. Chef Sotomayor worked with us to narrow down the menu to a few appetizers, entrees, and desserts. He was also willing to create options that were not on the standard menu, but there was no reason to --- the standard dinner menu is expansive and the courses are delicious. (I do harbor some regret: my family likes fish and Chef Sotomayor suggested ceviche as a special appetizer. I am sure it would have been perfect given the early fall weather.) My favorite appetizers and entrees were the kale salad (and I do not really love kale), sashimi tuna, filet mignon (which I rarely eat), but our guests loved the other options. For dessert, the fallen chocolate cake is decadent. The sorbet, which was prepared using a fruit that I have not encountered outside of a Brasil, was excellent. The feedback from our guests was overwhelmingly positive. The food was excellent; the service was exceptional (thanks Felix!). My wife and I plan to return regularly, especially while the weather is still good and there is the opportunity to sit outside under the nicely adorned tent or in some of the non-covered seating. The only downside is that Cafe 37 does not have liquor license. However, there is a very well stocked liquor store literally across the street with an extremely fine wine selection. read more

We had my twins baptism reception here! They were very accommodating to the point, they drove to the church to pick up the cake we wanted to bring so that it could be there and we didn't have to worry about it during the baptism. Cesar, the owner, wanted to make sure everything was perfect and took pride in the menu they put together. He didn't want just your average salads or chicken, fish or meat options. We had the choice of the kale salad or burrata appetizer and filet migon or bronzini for fish. The food was outstanding! Everyone kept commenting on how delicious it was! The servers were attentive, helpful and kind! The price was average for the area, but I liked how it is a BYOB and we had the whole restaurant to ourselves. We had 40 people and while I wouldn't recommend any larger parties it was great for us! I highly recommend this place! read more

Cafe 37 - Kale salad - New American Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

This is good restaurant for dinner, however, it is over priced in compare to similar restaurant in Ridgewood. What is also very bothering is the fees for credit card charges. I felt like I am in Chinese takeout! Good service. Due to unreasonable prices and cc charges I never return. read more

For a special occasion, this restaurant is a perfect choice. Everything was excellent from the food to the service. Highly recommend. You won't be disappointed. read more

First time visit. Lunch for two. I can't think of anything not to love about this place. Warm and caring service in the front of house. Talent and skill in the kitchen. I think it may be the best meal we have had since returning to Ridgewood 6 months ago. Can't wait to get back for dinner. read more

The finest American cuisine I have ever experienced.! Great job on the presentation. The service from mister Felix was so very best.! And of course the food is amazing.! I would give 6 stars if i could.:)) read more

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Great outdoor seating. The Price Fix menu has great selections. BYO. We will be back.

It's a cozy little place with good food. My kids liked the asian bbq ribs and salmon. Kale salad was good too. Seafood paella was good but didn't really taste like paella I'm used to having at Spanish restaurants. BYOB so bring a bottle of wine. read more

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One of the best meals I have every had! Excellent fine food with friendly service. The food was amazing. Some how I never knew about this restaurant. The truffle risotto was amazing way to start. The special guacamole with grilled shrimp special was tasty too. Had the seafood paella and all the seafood was cooked perfectly. The bread pudding dessert was great way to end meal. If you like great refined cooking come here. We will be back. read more

THE worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant. We patiently waited for our waiter to take our order, but they never came. After an hour of waiting, we flagged someone down so we can finally get some food. Of course even after we placed our order, our meals came another hour later. While waiting for our waiter and food, we had enough time to finish both our bottles of wine, go to the liquor store and finish that bottle as well. While we are finally eating, of course, something else had to go wrong. My fettuccine had part of a Brillo pad that I pulled out of my mouth. I speak to the manager telling him about our entire horrible experience. He only offered to comp my fettuccine. When we received our check, my fettuccine was still charged to the table where we had to speak to the manager again. Save your time and money and go somewhere else. read more

We hosted our daughter's First Holy Communion luncheon at Cafe 37. Cesar was responsive, and very easy to work with on the details prior to the day. The food was wonderful in every way, everything was prepared and cooked perfectly. The staff was very attentive and personable making everyone feel welcome. Our guests were complimentary of the entire luncheon. Thank you so much and we cannot wait to come back and dine with you again. read more

Overpriced Pretentious Offerings Sterile Atmosphere Could Use Some Work Service Was Stiff Anytime I see dots and dashes on my plate I know its a warning that my wallet is about to be unloaded. The presentation was just unnecessarily overdone, in addition I found the flavors to be on the bland side. The grilled lamb chops were ok, but for $32.00 the dish was better suited for a barbie doll not a man. This trend continued with the seared tuna risotto $25.00 for a couple ounces of meat and some rice, whoa wait a minute this is dinner? The eight dollar salad contained Iceberg lettuce, daikon radish and bacon this was topped with blue cheese dressing, I found this salad very odd in flavor and wondered what the thinking behind this was. Coffee and dessert was at Sook Pastry across the street. The food was cooked well, however the illusion of ambiance didn't justify the the clobbering over the head with the check. read more

Small restaurant nestled off of Ridgewood Avenue. Good quality food, small portions, okay service. Location: The restaurant is located right across from Sook Pastry shop. I honestly walk past this restaurant all the time, but never knew what they served (when you hear cafe 37, you think of a small shop). The restaurant is small so make reservations in advance. There is a big parking lot a block away from the restaurant. Food: The quality and preparation of the food is top notch. I would expect a little bit more in portion size for the prices they charge here. It's not highway robbery, but you do leave a bit hungry afterwards. They serve an amused bouche, which is a nice touch. For appetizers, we shared a salad and the ahi tuna over grilled slice of bread. The flavor in the tuna was great, but I didn't think it went well with the bread. We ordered the seared ahi tuna over risotto, Chilean sea bass, and rack of lamb. All 3 entrees were great. Once again, small portion sized for the price you pay. We skipped dessert and walked across the street to sook to get some pastries to take home. Service: The servers here are nice, but not really friendly. We did feel rushed at times. For the price, I do expect better service. Overall: With a number of restaurants in Ridgewood, I would say to give the place a try. But you might enjoy Village Green a bit more. read more

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terrible service horrible outside facility no concern whatsoever for the time it takes to deliver your dinner obviously the owner has no concern for how long it takes to get served dinner maybe i was a bit rash in my critics. , but what you do if you were sweating and waiting for dinner for over 45 minutes ps the food when it finally arrived was very good read more

My parents frequent this restaurant on the weekends. It's pretty long standing considering the turnover in Ridgewood. What I appreciate about Cafe 37 is their flexibility. My dad often calls the day of with fresh caught fish and the chef is willing to prepare it which is not an easy feat. Whether he is happy about it or not is another story! But we are appreciative. The portions are small as it is a fancier place. The food is decadent so you won't be left unsatisfied. The salads are tasty and unique (I had the blood orange with feta cheese). I had the salmon for my meal which was the perfect size and cooked medium. The desserts are what really do it for me. Yes, Sook is across the street, but I prefer the desserts here. They vary them from visit to visit but the fallen chocolate cake and creme brûlée are amazing. **small place so make a reservation. BYO** read more

Cafe 37 - Goat cheese ravioli with fig sauce - New American Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

Thank you Cafe 37 for providing the same quality food during this covid pandemic. Same delicious food and excellent service we've come to know well from Chef Cesar and the gang over the past few years. read more

Cafe 37 - a table of food and wine - New American Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey