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    Stern and Bow

    3.9 (285 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order Stern and Bow Takeout or Delivery

    Stern and Bow Photos

    STERN AND BOW ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Stern and Bow

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    Hangar steak with chimichurri sauce
    Mel Y.

    A good option for a nice dinner out if you're there more for the food. They have a varied (and more interesting) menu for food including the usual salads, soups, meat, pasta, homemade pizza, and seafood including a lobster roll. I'd recommend the lump crab Caesar salad with anchovies ($25) which I've never had before and came with large crab pieces, and the hangar steak ($34) was pretty tasty. They seem to have an extensive alcohol menu and a few desserts like chocolate cake, creme brulee and ice cream. The apple beignet ($13) was good. The food came out quickly, more quickly than the dessert. I'm not sure why but I didn't feel totally comfortable, maybe because of the way we were greeted, the general atmosphere and clientele, and the fact that the parking lot is only valet. (There's plenty of parking on adjacent streets so it's not a problem.) Bustling on a Saturday evening, there were plenty of patrons at the bar and seated. There's indoor and outdoor seating. They had a silent movie projected on a wall, which was interesting. It's about a 5 minute drive into the main strip of Closter.

    Lobster Tail Risotto Special
    Chris E.

    Great atmosphere, great food and, as you can imagine, we had a GREAT experience dining here on a Saturday evening. Located in a residential area of Closter, Stern and Bow seems to have become quite the dining destination in northern NJ. The reviews were relatively positive on Yelp, but there were some that were a bit worrying, which made me wonder if we were going to enjoy the food. The optimist in me still expected it to be good, but how good was the question circling in my head. To start, when you arrive, be warned that the parking lot is exclusively valet. There is no self-parking here. If you're one of "THOSE" people, like me, and you prefer to be the only driver of your car (like ever), there is plenty of street parking in front of the houses on Demarest Ave right around the corner. When we walked in for our 6pm reservation, the restaurant immediately gave off a lively, modern, trendy feel to it. The interior was very clean and vibrant with not one, BUT TWO bars inside. Although it wasn't crowded yet, I knew it had the potential to be from the lack of reservations remaining on the evening when I logged into my OpenTable account. There was surprisingly a lot of space between tables, at least where we sat, so that was refreshing knowing that we wouldn't have others sitting on top of us. Although, as the evening wore on, tables were added or moved so we did end up having other customers closer to us. My only knock of the evening was the fact that the service was a taddd on the slow side throughout our meal. It took a few minutes for a waiter to finally visit our table after we sat down. The menu was exactly what we saw online, HOWEVERRRRR, the real gamechanger for our evening was the fact that there were undocumented specials which the waiter read off to us - and what we ordered from it REALLY, REALLY made our evening. Here's a run-through of what we ordered: GRILLED OCTOPUS - Two words - get it! If you're a fan of grilled octopus, you won't be disappointed. It's as good of a grilled octopus as you will have along with the romesco sauce to dip it in. BAKED CLAMS SPECIAL - This was one of the items that was not on the regular dinner menu. There were 6 baked clams sitting in some lemon sauce on a skillet and it was DE-LICIOUS. We DEFINITELY enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it was the greatest clams ever, but they were some damn good baked clams still. MARGHERITA PIZZA - We ordered this for our kids to share, although we were more than happy to help our kids devour it all. It was the size of a small pizza cut into 8 slices and it was a solid Margherita Pizza - hot, soft and tasty. It was a good pizza. Once again, it's not going to be the greatest pizza you've ever had, but you'll definitely enjoy it if you're here for this. HANGER STEAK WITH FRENCH FRIES AND CHIMICHURRI - OK, NOWWW we're getting to the real good stuff. The steak was all cut up for me and had a nice lump of fries sitting next to it. First off, the steak was absolutely delicious. Excellent flavor and seasoning. Second, it was cooked PERFECTLY to my liking - somewhere between medium and medium rare. Also, the chimichurri sauce was very good too and a fantastic compliment to the steak. My one gripe - I WISH I HAD MORE!!! LOBSTER TAIL RISOTTO SPECIAL - The 2nd item we ordered from the specials menu. If they EVER serve this on an evening that you are dining here, YOU HAVE TO ORDER THIS. No ifs, ands or buts, just order it! I'm a huge risotto fan and this was one of the very, very, VERY best risottos I have ever had. It had all of the elements of a perfect entree - the creaminess of the risotto, the centerpiece and quite generously-sized lobster tail sitting in the middle of the plate and the unexpected large clumps of lobster hiding inside of the risotto like easter eggs. I haven't had this great of an entree at a restaurant in a really long time. When i say perfect, the risotto was cooked perfectly - not under or overcooked - PERFECT. And then you throw in the huge lobster tail and pieces of lobster scattered all over???? It really doesn't get any better. BRUSSEL SPROUTS SIDE - Pretty much what you would expect. It's roasted brussel sprouts. ALMOND TRES LECHES CAKE WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND FRESH STRAWBERRIES - To finish off our evening, we ordered this delicious dessert. Yes, it was amazingly tasty, but it was presented so nicely that I didn't even want to touch it. Oh, and they sang Happy Birthday to my wife when they brought it out, which capped off a perfect evening for her special day. What more can I say? Yes, the meal took longer than we would have liked because there were long pauses between the appetizers, entrees and dessert, but I couldn't have asked for anything more with the amazing food and hospitality for my wife's birthday. The experience definitely exceeded my expectations for dinner and it has actually given me thought on potentially visiting during brunch one day.

    Hanger steak sandwich
    Alvin M.

    Came here for a brunch with a group of four. Even at opening, they have staff outside the restaurant who will preferentially valet park your car. The lot isn't that big and it wasn't so busy right at opening so I thought this was overkill and parked my own car right at the entrance of the parking lot. Inside is cute and simple but more upscale. Our waitress was very kind and accommodating. My hanger steak sandwich had tender juicy flavorful steak paired with fresh bread and a nice complementing sauce. The oysters were fresh and tasty. The espresso martini was just decent. Prices are relatively on the higher end.

    Yummy vodka, pear lime drink
    Virginia T.

    Met friends in a Friday evening and found the ambience to be very nice. They never rushed us, was surprised it wasn't more crowded for a Friday evening but it was perfect for us. The drinks were perfect! The food was perfect and the service was solid. Will return again. We tried the hanger steak and fries, prosciutto pizza and rice cake tuna apps. All outstanding!

    Raw Oysters
    Rob H.

    We stopped by for a quick lunch on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm. Shockingly quiet inside, whenever I drive by I see the parking lot is always filled with cars. Inside I was greeted upon entrance and we sat at the bar. The bartender was pleasant and attentive. We split oysters and the Devils Kiss Pizza. Oysters were fresh and delicious and the pizza was incredible. Highly recommend the pizza if you like spicy foods. Pricing was slightly on the higher side but no complaints with the food. We will definitely come back for dinner in the future.

    Lobster Benedict with home fries instead of toast
    Sandy J.

    I heard good things and really wanted to love it but it fell a bit flat for me. First of all you have to valet. I don't love that. I'd rather park myself. Then we walked in and the restaurant had a bad smell. Maybe from the fish? We sat outside. It was nice out there from an ambiance perspective. Our waitress was super nice and helpful. She said she's only been there about a month but she was super sweet and accommodating. I really rated this a 3 versus a 2 due to their service and ambiance outside. The food was where the problem was (which is really why I was out to eat) I ordered the lobster Benedict for lunch. It's a pricey dish which is fine if it's good. I literally couldn't eat the lobster it was so chewy and overcooked. So basically I paid $35 for 2 poached eggs and some home fries that needed salt/seasoning. I subbed them out for the bread. Overall this place was far for me and just not worth it in my opinion.

    Pizza w figs and prosciutto
    Joe F.

    Great vibes inside with a beautiful bar and separate area for TV watchers. Lots of space between tables which is always welcome. We had charcoal oysters to start which was a definite no-no for me. Couldn't really taste the oyster because it was smothered in cheese. Not close to acceptable, it was a cheesy mess. Drinks were excellent, I had a Deer Crossing (gin and reminiscent of a Russian Mule) that was superb. Meals were really good so a big step up. I had the hangar steak with french fries and chimichurri. Steak was yummy and fries were well done and crispy, exceptional fries. A friend had the branzino and loved it. Wife had pizza with figs & prosciutto that she liked a lot. Dessert was key lime that was off the mark. Overall, very enjoyable

    The meatloaf, truffle mashed potatoes and the chard Brussel sprouts
    Jacklyn P.

    Wow, what a hidden gem for food, fun, and dancing. On a Saturday night, my date and I ventured out to Stern & Bow, an American restaurant that I can't stop raving about. I had no clue where we were headed--the car ride felt like 45 minutes to an hour, though my date swore it was only 20. We pulled into valet parking off a pitch-dark road, the only source of light being a fragrant fire pit, setting the perfect mysterious-yet-inviting vibe. Walking in, we were greeted three men who looked like the owners, the DJ spinning 80s hits (no complaints here!) and a cozy, well-thought-out space divided into three sections. A lively DJ/pizza area with a giant pizza oven and some cool elevated swivel stools In the middle, a bar with larger tables--our spot for the night k. The left. And on the right, another bar with booths leading to the restrooms. The Food: A Sharing is Caring Affair My date and I love sharing dishes, and choosing appetizers here was no easy task. Torn between the jumbo lump crab cake, charbroiled oysters, PEI mussels, and clams, we finally settled on: PEI Mussels ($19): Steamed in white wine, lemon, and herbs, served with grilled bread for soaking up the flavorful broth. Simple yet so satisfying. Score: 7.5 Charbroiled Oysters ($19): My date insisted, "You don't come to Stern & Bow and NOT get these." And wow--he was right. Topped with parmesan, bacon, garlic, and butter, these were hands down the best oysters I've ever had. So good, I might even try recreating them at home (I hope I can do them justice). Score: 10 Jumbo Lump crab cakes with Remolaude sauce ($25), It was solid but we could have done without it. Score: 6 For our main, we shared the Meatloaf ($29), because comfort food just feels right in the colder months. It came with truffle mashed potatoes, crispy Brussels sprouts (we swapped out the asparagus- this is a huge sacrifice I make for my date as I Loooooooove asparagus), and a truffle wine reduction--every bite was rich, hearty, and exactly what I was craving but I have to say I make a better meatloaf. A great twist was the bacon strips on the hefty slice we shared. Score: 7 The Vibes: From Dinner to Dance Floor I had three French 75s, and let's just say they worked their magic! After dinner, the DJ switched it up with 90s hip-hop, early 2000s pop even Lincoln park (which I haven't heard since High school) and more 80s classics--all without talking over the music (thank you!). The best part? The waiters literally push the tables aside to create a dance floor. Who knew date night would turn into a full-on party? Final Verdict: A Must-Visit Spot in NJ Stern & Bow is the perfect girls' night out, date night, or fun group outing spot. Whether you're sipping cocktails by the fire pit, enjoying top-tier seafood, or dancing the night away, this place has it all. Easily one of the best places my date has taken me to in New Jersey! I'll definitely be back.

    Nehal A.

    We were at SB for Sunday brunch. We arrived right when it opened at 11:30 am, free valet service was already there, no issues getting a table. The inside was very nice, with modern look, and a huge bar. This is the first time we tried brunch menu here. The mussels and Charcoal oyster were delicious appetizers. Loved my 1/2 lobster egg Benedict. It's was cooked to perfection, exactly what I was looking for. And there was so much huge pieces of lobster, didn't even feel like it was half. The pancake, crab sandwich and all other entree items looked so amazing. The virgin mojito was a good drink too. Service was good. Food took some time to come out. But we got to see some magic tricks thanks to Kush. Overall it was a wonderful time there.

    Rosé
    Briana W.

    I had a very pleasant experience at stern and bow! Everything from the complimentary bread was delicious. I had the seared Bronzino, dish with broccolini and mashed potatoes and it was delicious. Service was great! Our waiter was wonderful. Ambiance is really beautiful! I would go back for a drink at the bar and for dinner again.

    Margherita Pizza
    Cortney H.

    Came here for happy hour on a Friday, I arrived before my husband so I grabbed a seat at the bar, which was pretty busy. The bartender said hello and dropped menus before I got the chance to ask her about the happy hour specials. I didn't see a happy hour menu so once she returned I asked her. Once my husband arrived, I told him what the bartender said and he ordered some oysters, which were 1/2 off and he wanted a Guinness. I ordered a glass of wine. The oysters came and they were very good, a nice array of toppings to choose from. I personally liked the shaved horseradish and mignonette sauce. We also decided to put in a plain pizza, they have a wood fire oven there so we had to try. After a few more drinks, we noticed that other people were getting pizza but not us. We went to pay and told the bartender that we did not receive the pizza, and she found out that the order was never put in. An owner overheard and asked if we wanted the pizza still, on the house, we said of course. It took all of 5 minutes and then we were on our way. We thanked the owner and he sincerely apologized. Once we got home, we devoured the pizza, it was so good. Overall, the food was good but the service was just okay. I would try again for the food alone.

    Wei H.

    Came here for dinner. At night it's more like pub/bar hangout spot. I would prefer sitting on the other side, away from the bar if I knew the section was open. It was pretty noisy at the bar section. Most dishes were good. We had grilled octopus, cauliflower, pan-seared fluke fish, crabmeat with spaghetti. My entree needed more seasoning (crabmeat with spaghetti, forgot the actual name). Dessert we had cheesecake, portion was a bit small, tasted good tho. Service is great. They made sure we got everything we needed. Very clean and spacious inside. Outside there's fireplace and tent if you want to hang out(?)

    Liberty Joy A.

    We celebrated my sister's bday this past weekend w/ a group (7:30pm). The service was slow as it was a busy Saturday night. We ordered apps, but weren't asked for our main course selections until after we were halfway finished with our apps. But luckily the main courses came out pretty quickly. However for desserts, we had to remind anyone that passed by, that we wanted to order desserts. This was well after the staff sung happy birthday and gave a dessert to my sister. Later it took a long time to get the bill. We were waiting for quite some time even after desserts were clearly finished. I would say this is an area that could use some improvement. On a brighter note, the food was delicious (great portions, just the right amount). To comment on my drink, the coconut mojito tasted more like a watered down drink, with barely any alcohol in it, but my friends seemed to enjoy theirs as they had other types of alcoholic drinks. In regards to paying the bill, we split the total among 5. The waiter said he would automatically add the 20% to each of our bills. Note to restaurant- customers should be given the option to apply their own tip. Thanks

    Potato leek soup

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    8 months ago

    Everything!!! Especially the food!!! We all left with big smiles on our faces. Great service too.

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    7 months ago

    Been here a few times. Mostly for brunch. Consistent with good food and service. Good ambience. Always able to accommodate a large group.

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    1 year ago

    Awesome restaurant. Had a great time. Staff was friendly and attentive, food was amazing!

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    Attended a bridal shower brunch and the food was perfect. The service was excellent. I would highly recommend this restaurant

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Stern and Bow

    Is it kid friendly?

    More do during the day than at night. They have a pizza bar where you can sit and watch them make brick oven pizza. My kids enjoy that. During the evening it's mostly adults.

    Does restaurant have happy hour?

    Yes! I believe from 4-6. Just not sure if it's only during the weekdays or not.

    View All 3 Questions

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    Brasserie Memere - Hand-Crafted Cocktails

    Brasserie Memere

    (272 reviews)

    $$$

    Great food and happy hour French elegance…read more Great service We enjoyed sitting in the bar area , just great For a fast bite

    Had an early Valentine's Day dinner with the wife the day before Valentine's Day. Brasserie Memere…read moreis an upscale French restaurant located in the Target plaza of Closter. The lighting is dim, the ambiance is intimate, and it looks romantic. I had made reservations so we were seated immediately. It's funny to note that the place settings were placed next to each other instead of across from each other at a four person table. We usually prefer to face each other, but when it's Valentine's day why not be cute? We ordered a few drinks during our dinner, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Memere 75, Avion en papier. My favorite was definitely the Avion en papier which had a slightly sweet, slightly bitter, citrusy taste. They had a pre fixe menu for Valentine's Day which unfortunately did not have the steak tartare i was interested in trying. But for $88, you get 3 courses: an appetizer, entree, and dessert. For our appetizers, we got the TARTARE DE THON (tuna tartare) and COCKTAIL DE CREVETTES GEANTES (shirmp cocktail). Between the two, i preferred the tuna tartare. The shrimp cocktail was good, but the only thing really special about it was the massive size of the shrimp and the freshly grated horseradish in the cocktail sauce. For our entrees, we got the CASSOULET DE CANARD and FILET MIGNON. The extremely tender duck leg confit was served with pancetta, white beans, toulouse sausage, and foie gras breadcrumb. It was rich, savory, fatty, and filling. All great words to describe food. The duck leg confit reminded me a little bit of a smoked turkey leg with the red coloring and shreddable texture. The filet mignon was served with pomme purée, wild mushrooms, and a bordelaise sauce. The filet was cooked medium rare as requested, but a bit under salted. The pomme purée aka mashed potatoes tasted like it was 50% butter so it was obviously delicious. Dessert was good, but my least favorite part of the meal. We got the TAHITIAN VANILLA CRÈME BRÛLÉE and the VALRHONA CHOCOLAT POT AU CRÈME. Both were very sweet. The brûlée crust did not shatter well, but it otherwise had a nice creamy texture. The chocolate pot was covered in flaky feuilletine which gave a nice contrast to the creamy chocolate, but my wife found the brandied cherries overpowering. The cherries made me think of German chocolate cake. Service was excellent. Staff was quick to refill water and checked on us constantly. Pace of the meal was relaxed and I'd even say they were slow to bring us the check since we had been dining for over 2 hours. My wife wants me to bring her back for their bottomless brunch on a Sunday so I will eventually be back.

    True Food Kitchen - All American Burger

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    (558 reviews)

    $$

    First of all, Anthony was amazing. The food is so wholesome and healthy and he did everything he…read morecould to scratch every itch that we had food wise. I could tell that he asked the right questions and got a feel for what we were in the mood for and what taste level and he matched everything . let's give the guys and galsin the kitchen a round of applause as well as whoever developed the menu. My only suggestion is that you get the for the waiters to order directly into the kitchen.

    So glad j came across this place! As a person who prioritizes clean eating (with the exception of…read moreeating out in occasion) it's so GREAT to find a place that's mission is health forward and no seed oils! The brussel sprouts, cauliflower & butternut squash soup (1st time trying this- ever!) were all delicious starters. Warm, well cooked, and flavorful, I'd definitely order this again. For my main meal I had the grass fed burger with sweet potato chips - it was so delicious! Not heavy at all but satisfying and filling. I also ordered the Bright Eyes refresher and loved it. For dessert, we tried the cookie à la mode but I was not a fan of it, it was just okay in my opinion, not as good as the food itself. Service was incredible. Andrew was friendly, informative and just overall a pleasure to have serve us our meal. He truly took this first experience to the next level with his professionalism and positive vibes. Thanks so much Andrew!

    Stern and Bow - pizza - Updated May 2026

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