I looked over several of the YELP reviews, including the poor ones that dragged down this establishment's average. Below a 4 average! Really? Glad I'd looked at these only after we dined. My wife had looked at reviews elsewhere beforehand, which were overwhelmingly favorable and why we gave this place a go. Bad reviews on YELP? Those did not define our experience. We ate here on August 28, 2026 for the first time. We will return and probably many times. That was our experience. Really shocked at some of the harsh reviews here and I have to question what motivated those. Anyway..... Not BYOB. It has a lively bar scene. Asking the wait staff about it we are informed many regulars will always choose to eat in the barroom. We dined at a nice table on the main floor of what appears to be a converted residence of two floors. We felt it was a very lovely setting with very attentive staff and ample parking in their dedicated lot to the side and rear. We started with the caviar tasting and a half bottle of one of their several NV French champagnes. These were expertly presented. A constructive criticism would be to add more than the crème fraiche and petite pancakes as accoutrements. However, this small tasting was otherwise a really pleasant opening. For appetizers my wife chose the wild shrimp, which were excellent and I went with the corn chowder, which was likewise top notch. For the main my wife chose the burger with fries and I chose two additional appetizers, the short rib tortellini and the crab cake. All of these impressed when paired with a half bottle of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The tortellini were the standout of these and wished a full order was offered as a main and not just available as a small appetizer. I'll add the bread offerings with room temperature butter were a pleasing start. However, being sated after the aforementioned courses we skipped desserts. Seriously, cannot fathom the few very negative reviews and suggest those be dismissed to allow you to try the place for yourself. All in, this was a $400 tab, but over half of that were the two half bottles and the caviar. It's actually a very reasonably priced restaurant, given the service, setting, and fare. read more

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So romantic and so delish!! Open almost 30 years! Classic French food at its finest! The service is amazing and I love the atmosphere best chocolate tart I ever had!!!! read more

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This was a high-end spot with innovative menu options. The place was nicely decorated for the holidays. 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. read more

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A very purple, modern feeling French-inspired restaurant. Parking in the back and on the street. Bar to wait at until seated, and friendly staff (watch the step down). Breads were mixed - the sourdough was great, the focaccia would've been better warm with some olive oil and vinegar. Appetizers - the roasted cauliflower steak appetizer was a bit on the burnt side, but short rib tortellini was good. Pasta for the main (black linguine, blue crab, lobster tomato broth, had a few shell pieces in it) was ok; small portion left me wanting something additional. The brussels sprouts side needed a bit of either salt or maple syrup, was mostly just grilled veggies without much taste other than the bitterness of the vegetable grilled. Dessert - peach cobbler was good ice cream, the cobbler was more on the sour rather than sweet side, though, countering the ice cream but I expected somewhat less crust, more peaches. Overall, had better food, but a good spot to try a few things. Might do more of the rich meats (lamb, etc.) here as the more delicate was not as engaging to my palate. read more

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The moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles from a team of waiting staff who checked my coat 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. read more

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I really want to love this place. The couple of things I think that can really improve are the following: 1. Different music in the bar area (It should have its own vibe and with football playing in a bar area you don't need the same music you have in the diner dining area) They can totally co-exist as two different scenes. 2. A couple of typical French Bistro classics would go a long way. a. French Onion Soup b. Beef Bourguignon c. Sole almondine d. Bouillabaisse e. Duck a L'Orange f. Steak Au Poivre 3. I know this restaurant has done really well over the last 25 years + but I m just trying to add some things for the next range age group. The chef is very good and I enjoy his new Instagrams. I think with the social media and slight additions to the menu they could definitely add more new clients! I appreciate the fact that they have been successful for many years and wish the same for the future. read more

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I stopped in for tonight's special and grabbed a seat at the bar. What can I say? Serenade never disappoints! Cheers to the new bartender, Ethan! He was welcoming, knowledgeable, and took the time to walk us through the menu and drinks. Outstanding service from start to finish. Wishing him nothing but success! read more

The best restaurant in the area. It is called the CEO capital of NJ. I like they renovated their sitting area from years ago.

Each selection was beautifully decorated and presented, followed by a most enjoyable delicious meal!

I enjoy seafood, but I wouldn't necessarily come here for the seafood. I enjoy risotto, but not here. Stellar plating, but items on the menu seem like a hit or miss. I can see why the server recommended the burger over the shrimp. The shrimp risotto was salty. The risotto itself had a salty flavor that seemed to overpower the creaminess. The shrimp itself was too salty. I ordered the salad which was so so and a little over salted. L1 larger heirloom tomato with 1 fried mozzarella ball. Wish it had more than just 1 mozzarella stick. A bit of a salty letdown. I came the day before and the items I ordered tasted better than today's. I recommend their steak with the fries. Very tender steak, not overdone with grilled/roasted veggies. I enjoyed the gnocchi- the prosciutto wasn't dry and the asparagus was grilled nicely. So I would give this place a 4 Stars if you shyed away from their seafood entrees. read more

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Every time I come here I fall in love with this place. It has such a nice ambiance, service and food feel Michelin level but in a homey and comfortable environment. It's becoming a good anniversary spot read more

Amazing food, amazing experience! Service is spectacular, recommend! The people who works there knows about the food and services, they help you to order what you like and the food is the best! read more

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What has happened to this once great place to dine?! Where do I begin. We had an early seating so upon arriving you could see the furniture without being filled yet . Looked like a cafeteria with junky chairs and they squeezed as many tables in as possible so much that the incredibly rude and snobby waiters couldn't even get thru properly and leaning over to give us our food causing the soup to literally slop all over my friends area. Speaking of soup. Pumpkin soup which 3 of us ordered was literally flavourless dirty orange water! As if they were desperate to make enough for the crowd? Watering it down to the point of being completely inedible! All 4 of us were disgusted and couldn't even eat. Returned full bowls of this slop. Our main course arrived in seconds after they took away our "soup" obviously trying to move out the first seating for their second seating. I needed a magnifying glass to see my serving. Sadly nobodies dish was appealing or tasty. Then came dessert (it's a prix fixe) tasteless Betty Crocker cake. We waited for our grumpy server to come by to offer us some coffee with our yummy cake lol but to no avail. He arrived with our bill THEN asked if we wanted coffee?! Too late buddy. Our friend sweetly said, " would've been nice to have the coffee WITH our dessert he gave him such a snarl omg?! Over $600 later we bolted never to return. We don't mind spending that for good food, great service, and not literally squished in and sitting on top of our neighboring tables. Not to mention being RUSHED thru our dinner for their next seating group! It was like going out on Valentine's Day if you know what I mean. Extra tables and rapidly rushed thru the courses. Ps, we were still hungry as we walked to our cars....lol read more

This restaurant was very nice, elegant and perfect for special occasion. People sat really close to each other so we could overhear a lot of conversations, it's definitely an intimate setting. I enjoyed the food, it was good it could've used a little bit more seasonings but overall they used fresh ingredients and used that to their advantage for natural flavor in most things they used. The service was great and the food came out really fast which I was happy with! They brought me a scoop of ice cream with a candle in a espressso cup which was also a sweet touch. Overall good, solid place. Definitely should try if you haven't been for a special someone or a nice night out! read more

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I walk into the resturant with my daughter's finance tonight and the bar was crowded . my daughter was trying on wedding dresses across the street. We went to seat at one of the five empty high top tables in the bar and were told that they were reserve for dining patrons. We were direct to bench seating along side the bar. We left and will no go back-- Where is management or is management the problem read more

A wonderful experience for our special anniversary dinner! My wife had the "Tariff Tasting" menu $54, good value for an up-scale restaurant,(Sunday & Monday only) and I went with the everyday tasting menu $85, (also a good value). The ambiance is modern, only with a relaxing and romantic feel. Lighting is subdued. Service was excellent without being overbearing. Food...outstanding! My halibut came out a little overcooked but, the Maitre d' brought a new meal within minutes that was perfectly Delicious! Lastly, the Creme Brulee was one of the best I've ever had! I usually don't go into such detail when writing a review but, Restaurant Serenade in Chatham deserves these accolades! read more

Service was impeccable. Staff very attentive and caring. Loved the furnishings, chairs were comfortable. Had price fix sample menu for $79. Included soup, appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee. Waiter was kind enough to do substitutions of fishes for lent. Will be returning read more

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We came on a Saturday night. There is a pre fixe menu in which you can do the sampling for a set price or choose from the menu an appetizer, entree and dessert pre fixe. My husband did the sampling with wine pairing. It was phenomenal. The food was perfect, but even more perfect was the service. This restaurant had the most attentive service my husband and I have experienced in a really long time. Our sparkling water glasses were never empty, bread was provided as needed, the wait staff checked on us frequently between each course. Everyone on staff seemed to work as a team. Superb! We will definitely be back! Pictures attached are of the salmon with quinoa dish that was on the sampling menu and the filet mignon. read more

Restaurant Serenade - Filet mignon - American Near Me - Chatham, New Jersey

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Our favorite celebration place. The food is always amazing, every dish a work of art. The service is amazing--friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. I get a kick out of seeing all the dishes for one table arriving simultaneously and being set at the right place so everyone gets their dish at the same time and at the proper temperature. It is cozy but so friendly I don't mind being close to other tables. read more

Ambiance upstairs is like a closet. The food was great. The service was good but noticed the next day the waiter charged me for an extra glass of wine which was not ordered or served. If you are directed to sit upstairs walk out!! It's a rude place to be seated. read more

Had a pretty nice dinner here with very good service. The octopus and scallop appetizers were delicious. Scallops were perfectly seared, and were the star of my dinner. Both the sole and the lamb were cooked well, however, I prefer my lamb ribs to be chopped individually instead of doubles. It is easier to eat. The fish had a few bones in it which was unfortunate, but the risotto was really flavorful and very well cooked. The crème brûlée didn't have a crunchy sugarcoating, it was kind of soggy. The coconut cake was not something to write home about. Otherwise a really decent meal and a nice ambience. It would have been a little nicer if the bread served was warm- instead my focaccia piece was cold, and a little stale/hard. If the butter were a little closer to room temp it would be spreadable. Small touches make a big difference. read more

This was our first visit and all I can say is excellent. We made a reservation for 2 and Mike was our server totally top notch. I ordered a Cosmo to start and it was delicious.... made perfectly... some delicious sourdough rolls and butter upon request.... so good For our app we split the cauliflower steak... This was so unique and tasty, especially the sauce... definitely get this. For entrees... I had the filet mignon, medium cooked perfectly served with potato purée, Roasted carrots and red wine sauce.... So delicious... My hubby Had the Swordfish with the Lobster risotto, he said it was one of the best he's ever had. Perfectly cooked and flavorful... For dessert they have one of the best pastry Chefs in the area. Definitely don't skip dessert here.... We had the lemon Chiffon cake the cream in this cake was wonderful... already thinking of when we can go back... So needless to say I don't give out many 5 stars but this I would give more. Also We got a chance to meet Chef James, he's the best and his wife Nancy so friendly and welcoming... I can't wait to return... Definitely make a reservation and get here ASAP! read more

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For our early 20th anniversary dinner we went to Serenade, the restaurant we've been going to since getting married! It's our favorite celebration spot and it never disappoints! Food was fabulous as always, cocktails wonderful; we ordered Paper Planes cocktails to start, the caviar tasting was delicious, oysters are my hubby's choice, the tortellini and steak frites just amazing! The warm chocolate tart just so yummy and it was so nice that they acknowledged our anniversary too! Highlight of the evening was chatting with Chef James.. he's the owner as well as executive chef and he took the time to come over to thank us for supporting them throughout the years.. we so enjoyed talking to him it made our anniversary dinner even more special! read more

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I came here for a business dinner. It is very upscale and the service was great. I started off with The Stone Fence cocktail, featuring apple pie whiskey, bourbon, and apple cider- it was a nice warming cocktail, perfect for a chilly fall or winter night. I then ordered a salad off of the specials menu, it was very fresh and it had a good mix of lettuce and other ingredients- my favorite part was a toasted breaded goat cheese that came with it- so delicious. For my meal I had the t-bone steak special and it was flavorful however I felt it wasn't as juicy as it should have been. It also came with a potato pancake and the best roasted vegetables I've had to date. Lastly, we had dessert which was amazing. There was a lemon tart special which I enjoyed the most, and pretty much ignored everything else on the table lol. 5/5 read more

Restaurant Serenade - Dinner time! - American Near Me - Chatham, New Jersey

3.7 stars. Came on a weeknight for a business event. I'll update my review if/when I come back. Felt that the service was a bit disorganized and frantic although I do give them the benefit of the doubt as there was another business event going on at the same time. At the same time, they were pleasant and helpful. 1. Crab cake appetizer - Great presentation. Filled with delicious crab with a few pieces of soft shell. 2. Sea bass - 3/5. Had way better elsewhere. This was dry and too herby for my taste. The dryness was what bumped the score down though. 3. Apple tart dessert - Larger dessert than what you'd think. Loaded with apples. Pretty good. Overall, I'm not sure if I'd give it another shot. One because the prices are higher than NYC and I'm not convinced I'm getting quality better than NYC french food. read more

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Crabcake was absolutely delicious. Jumbo lump without much fillers. Shrimp was fresh and poached perfectly. I love the shaved black truffle. This is not only yummy, but also a beautiful appetizer. Hangar steak cooked medium, but not as tender as it look. Apple cobbler- was served warm, too sweet. Large portion. Could be shared between two people. read more

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The quality of food here is unbeatable. Every dish has so many layers of flavor and each sauce is delicately prepared. The lamb and the steak are so finely seared, perfectly prepared to the medium rare we like. I loved the lobster bisque and the scallops. Came here on my birthday and even though they didn't do wine pairing dinner that day, the manager did his own wine pairing for me. Will always remember their superb customer service! read more

Restaurant Serenade - Blueberry cobbler - American Near Me - Chatham, New Jersey

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Having seen Restaurant Serenade on NJ Monthly's top 25 list several times gave me a good reason to add it to my restaurant radar. I decided to try it for my husband's birthday dinner. The exterior has a certain beauty and charm as you ride by and pull up into their parking lot. The interior has several levels. Each is tastefully done with a simplistic, modern elegance. We were graciously greeted and seated upstairs. Our server provided good service throughout the evening- no complaints. They have a nice wine list which includes many French selections. I have to mention their sour dough rolls- baked on the premise and simply amazing. I could have made a meal out of them. We dined on a Saturday evening so we went with their three-course menu. Appetizers: Tuna Tartare Short Rib Tortellini Entrees Seared Tuna Sea Bass with Lobster tomato risotto-outstanding Dessert Crème Brulee Apple Dessert Restaurant Serenade was a top notch, fine dining experience and worthy of its ratings. We enjoyed our evening and would definitely add it to the "destination restaurants" list. read more

Restaurant Serenade - Sea bass with risotto - American Near Me - Chatham, New Jersey

It has been over 10 years my wife and I had been to this restaurant. We enjoyed it then. I am sure the quality of service and food has not changed. Farm to table as I recall were quite good. read more

Always a good experience. Very nice menu and service is consistently good. The setting is always casually elegant.

Nice atmosphere for dinner. That's primarily what it's good for. Food is pretty good if they don't pile on top every last shred of the weeds growing in the back yard and gravy over the dish. Price is, imo, for those who have at lease a 40 ft. yacht in Florida and suffer from fair skin with Rosacea. You'll feel right at home. read more

Loved my meal at Serenade. The ambiance in the back is nice and warm, while the bar area was lively and packed on a Saturday night. Our waitress was helpful and didn't rush us which was great. She offered up her opinions/suggestions when asked. Octopus appetizer - the octopus was already cut up into bite size pieces which was great for me. Everything on the plate went together very well, the olives, lemon, potatoes...yum. Salmon with mushrooms, quinoa risotto, and mustard sauce was so delicious. The salmon was buttery soft and perfectly cooked. The flavors were very balanced and overall it was a very enjoyable dish. Lemon tart - I'm a huge fan of any citrus dessert and this did not disappoint. Perfectly tart curd with an extremely refreshing berry sorbet. There wasn't a crumb left on the plate. There aren't many vegetarian options unfortunately, but they were able to make my husband a veg risotto. Our dining companions had the duck special which they loved. The GM did stop by with our wine and one of our dining partners asked him for some food suggestions. He started to respond but unfortunately got distracted and walked away without really answering, so that was unfortunate. Lucky for him, our waitress stepped in and was able to answer any questions we had. Highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion. What a treat to have this great find so close to home. read more

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Food was good and ambiance was nice. However, we had a very intense server when dining upstairs, who we heard arguing loudly (& rudely) with other staff members on the stairs - she was young so I would chalk up her unprofessionalism to immaturity .... Everyone else who we encountered was kind and efficient - just a poor server unfortunately. read more

2/2/18 We're back and had another great experience. Octopus starter Crab cake Salad Beef special - over cooked Fish 2/14/17 Wow!! Loved this place. We went here on Valentine's Day and it was such a great experience. Very lovely restaurant with an intimate bar scene. Love the ambiance - nice music, modern and comfortable chairs, very sophisticated vibe. This restaurant fully embraced the Valentine's theme! Cocktails for two and a valentine set menu. Cocktails for two?! - nice marketing gimmick for Valentine's Day. One of the drinks was called "climax". We passed on the cocktail for two. Drinks Old smokey Chimey beer Valentine's Day menu Octopus - filling and very good Pork -incredible! Get this! It looked delicious and delivered. Lobster - very good Dessert - crime brûlée and ice cream combination was simply a culinary delight! We loved this place! A great Valentine's Day find!! The restaurant also has Valet parking but you can also park in the lot across from the restaurant and save those dimes for dessert! read more

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I am a frequent diner of the Serenade and consider it the top restaurant in the area. This is one of the rare suburban locations where the service, ambiance and food are all on point. Ingredients are fresh and local and there are always specials in the menu which keeps me returning time and time again for business lunches. I love that the servers are knowledgeable and can navigate through the menu with ease. The bread is also amazing and some of the desserts are to die for. I would encourage you to try the fish entrees as they are almost always perfectly cooked and prepared with very fresh fish. However what is VERY surprising about this restaurant is that they really do a poor job accommodating to vegans. My wife is vegan and I have called several times over the years and the response we get is "we can modify the salads and the vegetables can be sauteed with olive oil, but we don't have anything specific for vegans". The suburbs are a hard place for vegans and sanctuary should be found in the few high end restaurants with talented chefs. As a result, I am knocking off a star from my review and hope that the restaurant gives some serious consideration to addressing this lapse. read more

Restaurant Serenade - Blueberry and blackberry tart. - American Near Me - Chatham, New Jersey

A sublime dining experience down to the finest detail. Everything served to our party of four was beyond perfection ~ and I must add that this is one of the VERY few places that offers a caviar appetizer. STRONGLY SUGGEST: Cosmo, chocolate tart, lamb and definitely the caviar. We will definitely be back!! read more

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Third visit here and the food and service was great. Recommend the short rib tortellini if it is on the menu. read more

Restaurant Serenade - Organic salmon, quinoa risotto - American Near Me - Chatham, New Jersey

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Great place. Love the food especially the appetizers. One of the best places in Chatham, always reliable and the chef James is almost always in the kitchen running the show. read more

I've been to Serenade several times over the years and always found it to be a pleasant, but not great experience. Over the past 6 months I have been there twice and find the portions are getting smaller and the prices are sky high. I get it...restaurants are not an easy enterprise and no one is forcing me to eat there. What I do find very offensive is sitting in a dining room paying luxury prices and sitting next to men in shorts and sandals. Many local restaurants have instituted a dress code...not very rigid, just respectable and in keeping with the desired ambiance and service of the place. It's time for Serenade to do that. read more

Excellent food and service, will absolutely go back again,wine was also excellent. Staff very friendly