The party was a triumph from start to finish. A went above and beyond to make sure the girls had an…read moreauthentic macaroon making experience. I personally loved that she explained the process and why each step mattered. She also has the patience of a saint. I can't recommend her business enough.

We've trusted Akanksha with our kids' birthday cakes time and time again, and she always exceeds…read moreexpectations. Every cake she makes is not only delicious but also beautifully crafted and thoughtfully designed. She uses clean, quality ingredients and offers great options, including vegan and healthier choices, which makes her stand out even more. There's always a wide selection of flavors and styles to pick from, so it's easy to find exactly what you're looking for. She's also a pleasure to work with--responsive, accommodating, and truly attentive to what you want. Her cakes are always a hit with both kids and adults. Highly recommend her for anyone looking for a cake that looks incredible and tastes even better!

My mom and I stopped in here to grab lunch - she couldn't stop raving about how much better it is…read morenow that it's under new ownership. They have a variety of hot sandwiches, cold sandwiches and paninis as well as a selection of prepared sides, desserts, baked goods and coffee. You come in, order what you want and then pay at the end. My mom and I grabbed one of the 4-5 tables they have to sit and eat inside. I had the Black Forest Ham and Brie with Honeycup Mustard on Pumpernickel and my mom had the Hot Breaded Eggplant and Mozzarella with Roasted Red Peppers and Balsamic on 7 Grain. My mom's sandwich was excellent but mine was pretty soggy and had way too much ham for the thin slices of bread it was served on... I'd definitely try something else if I returned. Other than that the ingredients are high quality. I especially liked the taste of the breads.

Monterey Gourmet was once a staple of the Bernardsville and Basking Ridge communities. Fifteen…read moreyears ago, my wife and I would happily drive from neighboring towns just to enjoy their outstanding sandwiches, homemade desserts, extensive catering menu, and the warm hospitality of the two women who made the place feel so welcoming. When we moved to the area over a decade ago, Monterey still had that same charm for a while. Unfortunately, after it was sold, nearly everything that made it special began to disappear. The redesign of the interior was the first warning sign. The refrigerated display cases along the back wall and the bakery counter were removed, along with the shelves showcasing quality wines, spirits, and local craft beers. In their place came an awkward circular display island that forces customers to walk around it just to see what's available or even read the menu. The new layout simply didn't and still doesn't work. The food quality also declined. Hot sandwiches were prepared on the same small plug-in flat top grill used for bacon, leaving nearly everything with a bacon flavor whether you wanted it or not. Over time, higher quality meats were replaced with cheaper alternatives, and the thoughtfully selected wines and spirits gave way to lower quality bottles carrying surprisingly high markups. The business changed hands several more times, but each owner seemed to leave the store in worse condition than the last. The space gradually began to feel neglected; dusty shelves, tired fixtures, and the lingering smell of a freshly bleached floor mopped with what felt like a decades-old mop...an all too typical way businesses try to mask an odor with another. At one point, the shelves were so empty and the catering operation so diminished that many locals genuinely wondered whether Monterey was still open. Recently, the newest ownership has been promoting the business on Facebook as having "the same great food," great coffee, and now functioning primarily as a liquor store. While advertising the business isn't a bad idea, it's difficult to see how a small neighborhood market can compete with established retailers like Gary's or Adelphia in either selection or pricing. Of course we decided to give it a try, despite high expectations, the dishes felt flat and disappointing. Even more concerning is the marketing approach. Large "Under New Management" banners now cover the storefront windows, while bright advertising flags promoting cheap alcohol line the front lawn along Route 202, obscuring neighboring business signage. Rather than conveying quality, the presentation feels out of place for the community and comes across as more desperate than inviting. It suggests a lack of understanding of the local market and the customers they hope to attract. It's disappointing to watch what was once one of the area's premier lunch destinations become little more than a bodega style market. Monterey Gourmet used to draw customers from all over Somerset and Morris counties for exceptional food and catering. Today, little remains of that reputation. I genuinely do not believe the business will succeed and with the route it has taken, I hope it doesn't. If it does want to succeed, it will require more than new signage. It needs a clear vision. The space deserves a complete renovation: remove the impractical center island, thoroughly deep clean and refresh the interior, redesign the layout to improve customer flow, and create a menu that honors a handful of Monterey's classic favorites while introducing new, high quality offerings. Most importantly, the catering business should once again become the heart of the operation. Monterey was once known for catering lavish weddings, The Hunt, corporate lunches, parties, and community gatherings. Rebuilding that reputation could once again make it a destination rather than a stop of convenience. This will take time and money though, something most of the owners have refused to accept. The store should also return to offering a carefully curated selection of quality wines, spirits, and local craft beers displayed on classic shelving instead of relying on tacky outdoor banners and discount-style advertising. Finally, ownership should take the time to understand the community they're serving. Bernardsville and Basking Ridge value quality, consistency, and authenticity. Since the original owners left, each successive ownership group has seemed to overlook those values, and the decline has reflected that. Sadly, the Monterey Gourmet name itself has accumulated years of disappointment. Rebuilding trust may even require starting fresh with a new identity...a name change and riddance of the carbon copy logo from a neighboring pizzeria. Whatever the future holds, I hope someone eventually restores this location to the destination it once was, because this community deserves a neighborhood gourmet market worthy of its history.

I couldn't be more impressed with Ridge Sweet Shoppe! The owner was absolutely lovely to work with,…read moreand was able to help me with a large order on short notice. A total life-saver! Aside from the friendly and quick service, the baked goods were INCREDIBLE and delicious! I highly recommend the jelly donuts :) These kinds of small businesses are what makes a town like Basking Ridge so special - I'm thrilled to have this business here, and hope everyone will support them to help them thrive in our community! Run don't walk to Ridge Sweet Shoppe!!

I placed a delivery order yesterday for my mom's birthday which is today. They cancelled the order…read moreand didn't tell door dash until 1:30. The order was supposed to be delivered between 1:50 and 2:10. Now it's too late to get anything else. thanks for ruining a birthday!!

The space is beautiful. It is located inside a rustic farmhouse with a large porch area that makes…read morefor a cozy outdoor dining experience. We were surprised because once we walked in the indoor space is modern and clean, a different vibe from outside. The person who took our order was lovely. What we ordered: - MANGO STICKY RICE MATCHA LATTE (house-made mango syrup, your choice of milk (we picked oat), koicha matcha shot, topped with a scoconut sticky rice cold foam and sesame seeds) - STRAWBERRY MATCHA LATTE The Mango Sticky Rice Matcha Latte was divine. It is a stand out drink for me as a lover of mango sticky rice and matcha lattes. Perfect balance and you can really taste all of the aspects of this drink. The Strawberry Matcha Latte was also very good. We didn't get any pastries this time as we were heading to brunch afterwards but they had a variety of goodies and a lot of them were gluten-free. Looking forward to going back, sadly as I write this on a Monday they are closed both Monday/Tuesday. They have short hours but I think it is good enough to make a special visit for as we did.

After my first visit, a friend encouraged me to give this spot another try, so I decided to go…read moreback, and I'm really glad I did! This time I ordered the banana bread latte, and it was absolutely delicious. The flavors were much more balanced, and I really enjoyed every sip. Instead of taking it to go, I stayed and sat inside. The café had a lively, bustling atmosphere, and it was nice to slow down for a bit and enjoy my coffee. Even though it was busy, the space felt welcoming and had a great energy. I'm happy I gave this place a second chance because this visit completely changed my perspective. The banana bread latte was fantastic, and I'll definitely be back to try more of their seasonal drinks in the future.

They've been here forever...since I moved to the area with my parents as a callow, alienated teen…read morein the mid-70s. In the decades since, they've expanded greatly, and parking can be a migraine inducer, but they're putting forth a yeoman like effort these days, given the current Covid-19 crisis. I don't shop here regularly anymore, because I don't live in the immediate vicinity, but they usually have what I need for reasonable prices. "Heroes" is a term that gets overused a lot in this culture these days, but the clerks and people working here day after day are worthy of having the word applied to them, in my opinion. They work efficiently, and maintain their composure, under very trying, tense conditions. I stopped in this morning. Was out doing my weekly shopping; which, these days, feels more like a commando mission than anything else. Stopped at the ShopRite in Bernardsville. The main road is pretty deserted...more resembling a roadway from "the Twilight Zone" than anything else...but the grocery store itself was pretty busy. People need their groceries. Take it from me-- I know. For the most part, I was able to buy what I needed. They didn't have the large sized peanut butter I wanted, but I guess I can make due with a smaller size. It's the first time in weeks I've seen toilet paper in a supermarket on the shelves, but it's going fast. The warriors of the apocalypse (Toilet Paper Division), in spite of everything, still seem capable at times of some embarrassment and/or shame. There were about a dozen rolls left. A woman in front of me was grabbing several. She looked up at me, startled. I took one roll as she hesitantly seemed ready to return a few to the shelf. Smiled waveringly, unsure...I guess...as to whether or not I was the Grocery Store Police, and asked, "Is there a limit?" "Don't know," I replied, dropping my single roll in the basket. She seemed as if she had at least some sense of shame; the guy who came up behind me didn't. He was short and slight, wore a face mask, but he had business to attend to, was on a mission, and no time for bullsh*t. He didn't necessarily push past me, but he moved in with belligerent swiftness, stacking the remaining rolls of toilet paper into his cart. I moved to a checkout counter, and...lucky me...this douche with his surgical mask was right behind, his rolls of toilet paper stacked up high in his cart. One of the employees looked at him, and the guy asked, "Is there a limit?" "One to a customer," the employee replied. The diminutive Rambo made no move to return the 11 or 12 rolls he had on his cart beyond the one he was supposed to have. There was the temptation, on my part, to say, "Hey, assh*le, did you hear what the guy said?" But I didn't. After all, I'm not the Grocery Store Police. Maybe the tension and stress of this ongoing situation is getting to all of us. The lady that was ringing me up had a glass or plastic shield mounted in front of her. Hope it works. I grabbed up my stuff, paid what I owed, and left. I left hoping someone connected with the store went up to this guy and enforced the one-roll rule, but I guess I can understand if they didn't. The lady who rang me up looked very stressed out and tense. I'm sure it must be the same for the other employees. Heroes? Sure, why not? I'm not sure I could deal with what they're dealing with every day. I'm finding there's no one store in the area that has everything I need. I usually need to stop at 4 or 5 stores before I feel like I've accomplished my week's food shopping. But maybe it's a hopeful sign. Like I've said, it's the first time in weeks I've actually seen toilet paper in a grocery store. Not much, and there are still j*rkoffs hoarding it, but I take what I saw today as a hopeful sign of...something.

This place is located on the South side of Morristown Rd across from Lenny's Pizza…read more They have a normal selection of groceries. They do not have much prepared food other than some rotisserie chicken. Sometimes you go in to grocery stores to grab something quick but not much of a selection here. The sushi is over priced. In other reviews they criticize the self checkout but I did not see that so I went through the normal checkout. It was strange because I bought about 5-6 things and the checkout guy just scanned the stuff and left it there, no bag or anything. That was a little bizarre. Normally I bring a bag but I don't live here so I didn't have one. Guy just stood there and looked at me.

Fantastic donuts and coffee at the Chicago NXL event. I had donuts both days! Tried both the…read morepowdered sugar and the basket with fruity pebbles - neither disappointed. Great prices for a great treat, all accompanied by fantastic service. Would definitely recommend! Too good not to share.

From the owner: Our business model is set up for private parties, corporate outing, weddings and Big events.read more

we went here to pick up some sandwiches for lunch. Haven't been here in a long time. Didn't look…read morelike it used to... empty shelves, dark and not the delicious foods that we used to see there. I ordered a tuna, and SwissPanini sandwich cheese- my husband got a pre made tuna sandwich- $27! I didn't realize until I got home that I didn't get the Panini sandwich. I ordered rather a turkey and Swiss sandwich with mayo and I don't eat meat. Terrible.... Never going back

From the owner: Gourmet Specialty Store and Gourmet Caterers with Gourmet Deli and Take-out, Full Service Catering…read morewith Rentals, Servers and Full Bars

Incredibly rude staff and make customers very uncomfortable. Sad because they offer good flavors…read morebut I left feeling very put-off by the entire experience. I watched the girl who was pouring the sample cups stare me down and whisper about me to her coworkers. Very odd.

Why do they put the toppings away before close?? Went in at 8:30 and the owner was putting them…read moreaway?? So weird. But hey, less weight for me to add to my bowl, less money for them ‍