We went for dinner on a Saturday. The restaurant has a nice ambiance. We started with The Mayan cocktails mezcal(delicious but HOT). We ordered oysters for appetizers which were amazing and delicious. For our main meals we had mussels (very good), gumbo (awful sent it back), crab legs (salty frozen tasting), mushrooms(very good). The service was super friendly and hospitable. I probably would try the fried chicken if I ever go back. read more

Stern and Bow - Carb legs, mushrooms, and mussels. - Pizza Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

Great food and service. One of my favorite restaurants in Bergen County! Love the comfortable ambiance in the restaurant. Bar looks very nice too! read more

Surprised to find that restaurant in Closter NJ Nice Bar,outdoor dining and few indoor (Covid-19)- it was Tuesday night, the place was packed with good vibe. Dinner- Brick oven pizza was very good - crispy with good mozzarella cheese. Hanger steak was delicious- I took it medium well :) the meat was tender and juicy I ask to get my fries on the side! The food was good with fair prices - great place to come read more

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Cocktails are good but pricy. Was I out in NYC???? Got a pizza which was also good and fries. I can't knock the food and I can't review the seafood because I don't like it. In my opinion service sucked. Waitress was not attentive and came off judgy and like she hated her job. I did see puppies outside dining with their parents so that's another plus read more

Stern and Bow - Mojito - Pizza Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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Top Tier dining experience. Food, service and ambiance all were excellent. Enjoyed the roast chicken, Brussel sprouts and mac and cheese

The seared salmon piccata exceeded my expectations! The perfectly cooked salmon, paired with the tangy and flavorful piccata sauce, created a culinary masterpiece. Each bite was a delightful symphony of textures and tastes. A must-try for any seafood enthusiast! The burger is a classic and consistent 10/10.. Always great specials and desserts, and a great pour at the bar read more

A bit biased because we live about a mile away but always great to have a credible option without traveling far. Renovation and vibe is modern was was done very well...when you walk in, you would have no idea you were in the middle of suburban Jersey and not NYC. The fact they were able to create a trendy/urban feel inside the restaurant while being located here is actually a feat in itself. A far cry and complete transformation of the awkward space previously occupied by Agozar, the defunct Cuban restaurant it took over. Despite a packed Saturday night crowd, staff was friendly, professional, and timely. We arrived early and there was even waiter service for drinks while we waited for our table. Yes, the place is loud but I think that is the part of the attraction and life of the place, so this is not the place to have a quiet dinner. There's enough low key restaurants in the area that we don't need another family oriented (boring) restaurant. On the menu: oyster bar, seafood towers, rustic pizzas, steaks, fish, pastas and more. Good variety and very share friendly menu. The $85 ribeye is pricey if ordered as an entree alone but probably better ordered to share. The short sleeve genovese was a standout (short rigatoni with a 10+ hr braised ragu). The bigger seafood platter was more than enough for 4 (or I guess even 6 if you order other apps) and actually not a terrible deal. Also tried the wood fired whole red snapper that was fresh and beautifully done. For a party of 4, we ended up with a bill at $150 per person (tip included) for several apps, entrees, the bigger seafood tower, dessert and maybe 3-4 drinks each person....not bad considering the bar tab we were running with our dinner. If you consider the $120+ it would cost you just to Uber to/from NYC for something similar, it seems more than reasonable. Definitely will visit again! read more

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So glad I went back. The place is perfect. Food was amazing. Staff extremely personable. We went around 5:45 thinking we'd be able to get a table and we were very wrong. We were lucky enough to find 4 seats at the bar. Can't wait to go again! read more

Honestly the drinks and desserts are the only good things at this place. I have the New Orleans BBQ Shrimp which was Completely gross under flavored and over priced. 4 large shrimps cooked fully head and tail on, gross! When finally getting the head and tail off and picking out the legs from the meal its just okay not great. Partner got the Margarita pizza which was okay not great. Basically just a cheese pizza. The drinks were fantastic. The dessert was sticky pudding and Beignets which were freaking amazing. The waiter was very distracted and not attentive. Meh. Won't be back here read more

I've heard great things about this place since they opened but was always hesitant to stop in and try it because of the wait. Finally, I decided to commit. Last night my BF and I went for dinner and even though we had to wait 45+ we didn't mind at all. I'm so glad we waited because the food was unreal. My steak was one of the best meals I've had in a while and I'll go back again just for that. Everything on the menu sounded delicious and looking at the pictures online I already have a number of dishes I'd like to try in my future visits! Guess that means we'll be going back again soon :) Only regret is that we were too full for dessert. read more

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We again went back to this restaurant for an anniversary dinner. I just love that I can make a rezi on open table! We started with fried calamari that has a really yummy spicy dipping sauce. We had shared special mussels, one more in a white wine base and the other a little Moroccan and spicy. The portions were huge! We also shared HOUSEMADE SQUID INK RAVIOLI that we did not care for at all as it had a very strong lemon zest flavor that was way too much in the sauce and in the ricotta. Our waitress was so incredibly pleasant and attentive. Also really enjoyed the Zesty Pear, one of their signature cocktails! read more

Stern and Bow - Pizza Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

My date and I finally got a chance to try Stern and Bow last night & wow we loved it! Let me preface by saying we are by no means "young and hip" lol but we loved the vibe of the place. I should also say we pride ourselves in being Bergen County "foodies" and really try to check out new places weekly. We loved the atmosphere, we loved the service, we loved the food and we loved the drinks too! I think my date has ordered an Old Fashioned pretty much everywhere and he loved his drink here!! The bread.....oh em gee....SO SO SO good!!! Literally, we were saying it might be the best bread ever....warm, crisp, flavorful & yummy. We shared the Crab Caesar and it was fantastic too.....huge portion and really really really done so so well!!!! We shared the Paella for two and we also LOVED it. It was a huge dish (that we could not finish) and the flavors were so unique and just plain awesome....We order Paella often and this one might be our new favorite! We really liked the service and actually got to chat with one of the servers who also had such nice things to say about the restaurant. I am not sure why, but I love hearing that the servers are happy and love the place they are working in....this means a lot to me. I would definitely agree with some of the previous reviews about the noise level there but it did not eclipse the other good points in my opinion. There was live music there too and the noise level contributed to the cool energy of the place. We already knew we were not headed for a quiet hushed type environment and we didn't mind the noise at all. I should note that I definitely have to been to places that I thought were too loud and we never went back....but this was not that kind of experience at all. (Truth be told, my date didn't notice the noise at all and I never brought it up either....I did notice it and thought to myself, hmmm my ex would not be happy with all this noise while eating lol....luckily he is not part of this review!) While there, Russell the owner came around to see how we were doing...a lovely touch. I watched him help the servers out at times and touch base with many tables. I love when I see that when we are out. I highly recommend this local gem....run don't walk....grab a rezzie and get there....you will NOT be disappointed. Bon Appetit! read more

Stern and Bow - Stern & Bow Cocktail (Manhattan) and Old Fashioned - Pizza Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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This was exactly the kind of dining experience we were after for our anniversary. Friendly, fast, attentive service. Delicious raw bar and drinks. And an owner/operator that does things the right way and makes you feel welcomed and comfortable at every step. We can't wait to get back here and try more from the dinner menu, brunch, etc. Our main goal of the night was to get oysters/raw bar and they did not disappoint. We tallied up two dozen trying an assortment from their extensive menu. Some mainstays we were comfortable with were sold out but that was a blessing in disguise and forced us to be adventurous. Another interesting app was the fresh sea scallop, raw.. Opened and then sliced and served right on the shell it was a unique experience and I'd recommend it (though it may have been special or seasonal). Pricey, but oh so good and different. The gumbo. OH MAN THE GUMBO. I'll be back for this alone especially as the weather moved colder. It's so complex and delicious. Be careful, as we were warned, it's a filling dish. We honestly had no room left to proceed to bigger mains. Russell, Renaldo, Chef Ingrid, Kirsch, and all the supporting staff made it an amazingly fun night of oysters and cocktails and some amazing gumbo that we will not soon forget. TL;DR: Food taste - 5/5 Food prep time - 4/5 Service - 5/5 Price - $$$-$$$$ Restroom - 5/5 Items tried: Two dozen varied oysters (fresh and delicious) - 5/5 The gumbo - 5/5 Fresh sliced sea scallop - 5/5 read more

Expectations for S&B were a bit different than what our experience was. More like a sports bar than a restaurant. If you're seeking a place to have nice dinner and nice conversation, not so sure this is the place. Went with our party of six and noise was deafening (which we were told measures are in place to correct) and cuisine was closer to decent bar food. If you're seeking a place to watch a sporting event, this is it. Vibrant scene with mainly younger folks the night we were there. Had the lobster roll (2 of them) for dinner....was ok. Some of the appetizers were good including the artichoke as well as the pizza. Service was ok. Can't think of any place in the northern valley, at least south of Piermont that is directly competing with the vibe and menu of S&B. read more

This place used to be a cuban restaurant completely renovated and became a new hip restaurant in Closter.. Always curious of their food my boy friend and I dropped in to celebrate our anniversary ;). We like the decor, nice ambience, live jazz music was being played . We ordered ceasar salad with crab meat, frIed artIchoke, pizza, pork chop. Food was awesome! Supposedly Best Pork chop my boy friend ever had... lol. I think we found the spot! read more

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Outrageously delicious! Fantastic menu choices from apps to desserts. Great cocktail menu as well. The char oysters were so good we ordered them again. Flavorful and perfectly prepared. Great tasting fried calamari was enough for two. The Sea Scallops were perfectly prepared. Very tender with great flavor. The cocktails were just as well prepared. Our server "Rebekah" was on point and on top of everything. Fantastic customer experience. Friendly, outgoing and accommodating. Can't wait to go back! Beautiful decor. Valet parking is provided in the evening. read more

First impression when walking into Stern and Bow is the great decor! It has an upscale, yet cozy vibe. My group (7 people) and I were seated right away. The restaurant is a little dark so prepare to whip out your phone flashlight when looking at the menu! Our waitress was very helpful when describing items on the menu as it was our first time at the restaurant. FOOD: -Seafood Plateau (bigger size): 8.5/10. Comes with crab, lobster, jumbo shrimp, clams, and oysters. The shrimp were the biggest shrimp I've ever seen! Very delicious. The crab had a bit of a salty aftertaste. The "bigger size" was perfect for my group of 7. -Scialatiella Frutti Di Mare: 8.5/10. They definitely didn't skimp on the seafood, as it came with shrimp, squid, baby octopus, clams, mussels, and more. The pasta was cooked extra al dente, which I liked a lot! The dish is made spicy, so I asked for the chef to omit the spice. Even without the spiciness, the dish had a lot of flavor. -Complimentary bread: 9/10! The bread was served warm and was very delicious! It was served with olive oil and thyme on top. Overall, Stern and Bow was great! Definitely a great spot for a date night or special occasion. read more

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The first time I went I had a wine braised chicken dish that I have been thinking about since, it was so amazing. I decided to go back with family for my birthday dinner. I guess what I had previously was a special because it was not currently on the menu. 3 of us ordered the scallops with butternut squash risotto which was delicious but the portion was way too small only 3 scallops over a small amount of risotto and did not come with a vegetable or salad. We were all still hungry so we ordered a pizza to share and that was delicious too. Atmosphere, service and food all great but portions of certain dishes need to be increased. read more

First I should say I have been here before Covid, and "during" and should have written a review. The food was great, the staff was awesome and we felt safe (and warm with the heaters outside. I called tonight for an impromptu party of 12 for Saturday. Sorry they weren't first on my list but we have some kids with us and it wasn't on my radar initially. I called three places prior - all were a varied version of a pain in the a** on all levels. I called Stern and Bow - minor time modification and no big deal at all. Booked, text confirmation, done. I wish I would have thought of them first, but I will never forget to make them top of the list again. Restaurants have struggled like many businesses during this time as we all know - but seriously they should all look at this place to get an idea of what they should be doing. read more

We had a great brunch here for my husbands birthday this weekend! A great mix of different options for everyone. The portions were great and the food was outstanding! I didn't have any cocktails but the rest of the table enjoyed themselves. My 3yo got blueberry pancakes (which I thought were delicious) but he had a hard time with these "fancy pancakes" so the owner came over and offered us plain ones and they came out very quickly. It was much appreciated for both my fussy eater and us! We had desserts to finish the meal. They didn't disappoint. We all had bites of the 3 we got and each one was better than the last. Can't wait to go back! read more

We ordered the squid ink pizza for takeout and found that it was extremely burnt (or I'd describe it as being completed charred) on the bottom when we got home. So I recommend always checking your pizza bottom before you leave. We ordered other pizzas as well and they were also a bit burnt but not as bad. Pizza taste is just okay.. make sure to tell them to be careful not to burn it so much when you put in the order...also they just tried to pass it off as "lightly burnt".. and don't even offer a refund. Eating that pizza would cause cancer. read more

Stern and Bow - Squid ink pizza - Pizza Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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I wanted to give this spot one more try. Honestly it wasn't much different than last night only service was slower. The food is was very good like last time. I think my favorite was the gumbo. I got the devils kiss pizza, it was okay, probably won't get this next time. The fried chicken crepe was really good with the spicy sauce- anyone that gets this keep in mind that it takes about 35 mins to prepare. read more

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We came here to see the singer Drew Szucs perform and were pleasantly surprised at how good the food and drinks were! I recommend the Honey Badger cocktail and braised beef ribs! The oysters were also fresh and awesome! read more

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Food was delicious. Restaurant was extremely crowded and they could have used more servers. If we come back again it will be during the week read more

Stern and Bow - Grilled oysters- delicious! - Pizza Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

From beginning to end the night was seamless and obvious that a lot of thought has been put in to enhance the customer experience; from the attentiveness of the staff to the fire pit at the valet exit. The cocktails are a *real* mixologist delight: Who knew you could mix tequila and champagne? The food was delicious and portions are ample: The wife and I shared the wedge salad and were satisfied, dare I say impressed. The shrimp "cofit" (sp?) was delicious with lots of tastes and just enough sauce to enhance the comfort. It was a pleasure visiting S&B for the fist time last night. Hope to be back soon. read more

Ambiance is nice but way too loud. Something about the acoustics of this place. You can literally hear everyone in the restaurant. Overall Service was good but the food was just average at best. We had the octopus, margherita pizza and paella. The octopus was the best of them all. The paella had a pretty strong fishy smell and taste. Not sure what was going on with that but that overpowered the rest of the entree. The pizza for us was a 2. We love good pizza and this was very basic in look and taste. It is not Neapolitan and not a ny style. It's thin but soft so if you like that, you might like it. As a pizza lover I would not order again. read more

Stern and Bow - Margherita pizza - Pizza Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

Stern and Bow is off the beaten path but it seems like the locals know about it. They have a bar inside that had people during a weekday lunch. The menu is a mix between typical bar fare (burgers, etc) and some fancier items (lobster, oysters, etc). The oyster po boy had good flavor but wish oysters were crispier. It isn't your traditional oyster po boy but still solid. Didn't understand the cucumbers on there. Fries were good and had just the right amount of salt. The fried green tomato's to start were fried nicely and still light. read more

Went for dinner tonight and was completely impressed with both the attentive service and excellent food. The owner Russell is such a lovely person too. He came up to our table and made sure everything was going well. We had a Margarita pizza as a app and it was crispy but not crackery and excellent tasting sauce and cheese. For my entree I had the fried chicken dish, which was very good and plentiful. The other two people in my party had the crab cake app and the mussels in white wine sauce and a side of fries. I tried the crab cake and I thought it was made well and had a good amount of crab meat in it. The mussels did look good but unfortunately I was so full from my chicken I didn't try. I def will be going back and trying more of the other dishes. The burger looked really good on someone else's table. Almost forgot we did find a teeny bit of room to try a peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. read more

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In the neighborhood for business and found this gem. Staff made recommendations from their lunch menu, and we enjoyed it all! The oysters, entree, and sandwich were perfect! The cocktail was excellent. The atmosphere was live and eclectic. The next time business calls in the area, we will be sure to stop by again. It's actually worth making a special trip on occasions. read more

If you like oysters, this is the place to go. Fresh and really good. Service is good. The place is clean and presentable.

Love this place, kind friendly staff and ACCEPTING of all people. Ignore the anti-asian rant review. I'm asian and have never felt any prejudice and or demeaning behaviors. Tired of woke BS. Russel is awesome and a friend. Food is great...atmosphere is great. read more

Phenomenal!!! This place was beautifully designed and decorated. Looks like a high end restaurant you'd find in Manhattan. The pear cocktail is SOOOO good. I could have stayed there and drank them all night. Mussels amazing. Calamari amazing. Oysters amazing. Shrimp amazing (biggest I've ever seen). Steak entree amazing. Honestly I was blown away by everything about Stern & Bow, as was my friend. Definitely will go back whenever I'm in the area. HIGHLY REC!!!!! read more

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Food was amazing. Oysters were fresh, beet salad was best I ever had and squid ink fettuccine was amazing! Would highly recommend for a date night or just a great dinner experience. read more

It's all ambiance and presentation. Some people might buy into it because of the ambiance and presentation but it's just not good. Oysters? None of them were spectacular. From all 5 of the locations we chose them from. And I never feel that way about oysters. The Caesar salad carried the entire experience !! Something I could've done at home for $2!!!!!!! Hanger steak & fries were so disappointing, the steak smelt like salami?? And was so undercooked that it was inedible, just tasted like a cheap piece of meat. The reason why I'm even posting this review is the lobster roll. It was 3 chunks of lobster on a 2.5 inch roll. If you're gonna skimp on portion size, chop the lobster up and mix it a normal "lobster roll" assortment of things: sauce and veggies. This was plain, awkward sized pieces of lobster that singlehandedly put the nail in the coffin. Silver lining: beautiful restaurant & our waiter & all the staff we came into contact with were friendly and polite. As a place to enjoy a delicious meal? No thanks. read more

Stern & Bow in Closter NJ. I felt the only dish I ordered leaving the kitchen was ignored. Not knowing what to anticipate. The lobster rolls were disappointing, chewy and fishy. Since there was nothing to ignite the senses. It's no wonder the lobster roll was burried with burgers at the bottom of the menu. The shoe string potatoes, with a nice bite of slivered peppers added some appreciated flavor. It's dinning room was crowded and festive with live music. I really don't know if I'd be motivated to eat there again. read more

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This restaurant has an identity complex. It can be seen just by looking at the menu. Offerings of southern inspired dishes, pizza, pasta and seafood. This is where quality falls short, by stretching the kitchen a little too far. What we ordered: Crab Caesar 1/5 Take a head of romaine, halve it, throw lumped crabmeat on it then smother it with shaved cheese. And the ultra thick dressing on the side....pass Pizza- Devils Kiss 5/5 Probably the best dish we ordered. Really no complaints here. They have an open pizza oven so dough came out great on this pizza Thai Seafood Curry 4/5 Great flavored dish, A+ broth, fresh seafood. Where it falls short, chopped up little noodles in the broth and a piece of toaster Italian bread, perhaps for dipping? But this is an Asian inspired dish, why not rice instead, soak up that yummy broth. Half Fried Chicken 5/5 Perfectly cooked fried chicken, delicious garlicky collard greens and two cornbread-esque biscuits. Bourbon Bread Pudding 3/5 This really isn't a bread pudding, flavor is there, one hunk of sweet bread in a dish though. I'm surprised they said it's their most popular dish, so that speaks for itself. Again this is a restaurant that doesn't know what it wants to offer you. It's confused, in menu options, not to mention the indoor decor. Is this modern Italian decor inside a ship, idk you can decide. If you end up looking at this menu, I'd say go with a southern inspired dish or go a mile down the road to The Hill, they know what they want to offer, a little classier dining experience but overall better dining experience. read more

Ordered a lobster roll to go. Left and discovered they did not give me the actual roll, just the lobster meat. Fortunately I was not far so I returned to get the bread and requested ketchup and a fork so I could eat it on the go. The person did not apologize for the inconvenience and just went to the back. Then a man came out of the back with a roll. I re-requested the ketchup and fork. Another person came out with that. Lobster roll was overly toasted and the meat was chewy. Not a great experience with the service or the food. read more

Drinks, food, atmosphere and the service were excellent. Robert took great care of us, even though he wasn't supposed to have our table initially. He jumped right in and gave us great guidance on the menu. We loved the cocktails, i drank the Harvest and my wife had a delicious chocolate martini. read more

Stern and Bow - Smoked mushroom pizza. - Pizza Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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Food was great, especially the desserts, owners were so friendly and accommodating and everyone else we interacted with were all amazing. Fun night! We'll definitely be back! read more

It was nice and it was not. Service was good, if the delivery was a little fumbled, appetizers were good - octopus, oysters and tuna tartare. Drinks were expensive but not above market price in this neighborhood. DJ at the end of the night added a little whoosh to the ambiance. Entrees could have been improved. My date went conservative with a crab Cesar. No issues there. Straightforward and salty. Yours truly had the Bronzino. The surprise performer of the night. Our double date really missed with the head on shrimp (server recommendation - should have took one look at his audience and guessed that would miss) and the lobster roll was......pathetic. One claw. One measly little claw was the sum total of this roll. It's a low priced option - I think I'd be better if they upped the price and packed a more lobster. Overall - I might return. But I'll go for drinks and a grand tableau. They have a nice bar so I think that's the move here. read more