Arrived early at 5:00 and was treated to something you rarely find in a great restaurant -- peace…read moreand quiet. What a way to start the evening. The arch-roofed dining room is absolutely charming, with whimsical colorful chandeliers and a warmth that pulls you right in. There's also a gorgeous globe-lit back patio that looks like it's seen some unforgettable evenings. BYOB at a restaurant this good? Yes. Take advantage of it. The menu is fixed-price, four courses with three options each -- simple, elegant, and unpretentious. Cash discount in March is a nice bonus too. Now the food -- where do I start. The **Roasted Candied Beets Carpaccio** was visually stunning and tasted even better. Blood Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette, Burrata, Prosciutto -- every flavor had its own moment. The **Crab Cake** was loaded with fresh, quality crab -- the chive oil pairing was spot on. But the showstopper? **Venison Wellington.** Tender, perfectly seasoned, and not something you see on many menus. I would order it again without hesitation. Finished with a peanut butter, chocolate and banana dessert paired with an espresso -- an absolutely perfect ending. The staff was warm, attentive, and somehow never made you feel rushed or hovered over. That's a gift. Easily one of the best dining experiences I've had. Highly recommend -- just bring your favorite bottle and your appetite.

This charming little café is truly a hidden gem, especially if you're looking for a unique dining…read moreexperience. The outdoor garden patio is absolutely beautiful, filled with flowers, lush greenery, and tranquil water fountains that create an enchanting atmosphere. It's also BYOB, which is a nice touch. The menu changes seasonally and offers a prix fixe option: two savory courses plus dessert for $95, or three savory courses plus dessert for $125. The staff was exceptional, polite, attentive, and very accommodating throughout our meal. A few things to keep in mind if you choose to dine outdoors: since you're eating in a garden, you may encounter a few ants or mosquitoes. It wasn't overwhelming, but it's something to expect. Also, the portion sizes are on the smaller side. As for the food, I thought it was good, but I didn't love it, especially considering the price. We ordered the crab cake, burger, crème brûlée, and venison. The crab cake and crème brûlée were both beautifully presented and delicious. However, the burger was undercooked, and my date found the venison to be quite dry. Overall, this is a wonderful spot for the ambiance and experience. The setting is romantic, peaceful, and unlike many other restaurants. While I personally didn't find the food memorable enough to justify the cost, I'd still recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful evening in a truly magical garden setting.

This ambience is amazing. You just don't even feel like you're in a restaurant. It is a small on…read morethe corner restaurant. The ambience may feel like you feel crammed in, but it actually is nice and cozy. Highly suggestion of making reservations before you go are waiters and waitresses were a delight. The food is amazing like it was just so fresh and there was things that I didn't even think we're gonna be on the menu that we have to return because my mom wants to try the Ropa Vieja also didn't realize that this has a Latin flavor to it, which is pretty awesome so again don't forget to make your reservation

Emerging in the 1980s, this category of cooking reshaped menus and marked a shift in American…read moredining across the country by introducing international influences, seasonal ingredients, and chef-driven creativity to the American landscape. At its core, it honors regional food heritage while continually reinventing itself with new techniques and cultural perspectives. Located on Park Avenue in the heart of Rutherford, my partner, our friends, and I determined to start 2026 for brunch as first-timers. The reservation was easily made by calling the restaurant. Upon arrival at Sonoma Bistro, we were greeted by the staff and got a table by the back wall decorated for the holidays, evoking a festive, warm, casual, and inviting vibe with music playing throughout. For some of us as a starter, we decided on the beef empanadas. As a main meal, we opted for Steak Sandwich, Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, Veggie Omelette, My Big Breakfast, and Bistro Omelette. Washed down a Hugo Spritz for toasting to the New Year. Each dish felt like a work of art, as it was beautifully presented, bursting with flavor, and deliciously tasty. The chef focused on sourcing local, seasonal ingredients to ensure freshness. Our service was attentive and super friendly. Our server was George. The price was reasonable. This establishment checked all the boxes! One doesn't just come here to eat. One comes for an experience that leaves one feeling inspired, which we can recommend.

Bareli's in Secaucus makes a fantastic first impression. The restaurant sits on a busy route with…read moreeasy access in and out, and the parking lot is large enough to accommodate many vehicles. The interior is visually impressive: elegant table linens, comfortable leather chairs, and a dining room that looks polished and upscale. When we arrived, what appeared to be the owner was greeting guests at the entrance. Since he was welcoming everyone and dressed differently from the rest of the staff, we assumed he was the owner. It was a great touch and immediately raised our expectations. Unfortunately, the experience did not fully match that first impression. We started with drinks: a glass of wine for me and an Old Fashioned for my wife. As happens too often in restaurants, the stronger drink was automatically assumed to be mine, and the drinks were delivered incorrectly. It's a small detail, but one that reflects attention--or lack of it. Bread arrived quickly, followed soon after by the food. I ordered the gnocchi with meat sauce. The dish was acceptable, but nothing extraordinary. My wife ordered the house seafood salad, which was very good--fresh, flavorful, and easily the best dish we had that night. Our waiter spoke limited English. Once he realized we also spoke his language, the service became noticeably more relaxed and somewhat overly familiar. He immediately tried to guide us toward the most expensive items on the menu. When I declined coffee after dinner, he responded by saying something along the lines of: "Well, that's your choice, but the coffee here is very good," which felt unnecessary. We also had a small issue with the Old Fashioned garnish. The orange peel looked unusual, so we asked for the drink to be replaced. The waiter did replace it, though he first tried to explain that what we thought were worms were simply marks on the fruit peel. For dessert we ordered the tiramisu, which the waiter promoted heavily as the best dessert to try. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver. Instead of the classic layered presentation, it arrived more like a cup full of cream with a few pieces of soaked bread and very little coffee flavor. The issue was not just the dessert itself, but the expectations created when it was described. Bareli's is a beautiful restaurant with a great location and atmosphere, but the service details and execution didn't quite match the level suggested by the setting.

This should have been a 5 star review and I wish it was. Next time, I'll be updating to a 5, I'm…read moresure of it. We walked in to a beautifully decorated waiting area and were seating quickly. You could hear the live music playing and it was perfect. Our waiter Nathan R., was welcoming and attentive. The dirty martini was made perfectly and the hand stuffed blue cheese olives were a nice touch over the pre stuffed jar ones. To start we ordered the Burrata Salad. It was delicious. All the ingredients worked well together. For the second course we were floating between the Black Spaghetti and the Lobster Ravioli Special. We wound up going with the special and it was the move. The black inked ravioli, had chunks of lobster inside and hit nicely with the "angry sauce" on top. That bread helped clean that plate up nice. For the mains: 20oz Bone In NY Strip with sautéed spinach. Perfectly cooked to my liking and I loved that it was pre sliced for me. Spinach was lightly oiled and a perfect amount of garlic. Salmon Special - Pumpkin seed crusted with butternut squash. The plate was beautifully decorated and looked fantastic, but as soon as we cut into the salmon it was raw. It was a huge piece of salmon. So I'm sure that's what happened. Picture shown is the under cooked one that was taken back. I did not get a picture of the next. The manager saw immediately as my wife cut into it and we didn't have to say anything. He took the plate back and began making another. The dish came out and it was definitely well done this time. The piece of salmon was a lot smaller than the first. I'm sure it was to cut the cooking time down and get it out asap. The meal was fantastic. Just wish we were able to eat together. It happens. For dessert: Espresso Martini - Perfect. No baileys, 3 beans. Pistachio gelato - fantastic Zeppole - There were 3 different sauces for each one. It was amazing. Our waiter Nathan and the manager were extremely apologetic. They even came out with a complimentary limoncello spirit as we were settling up. I can't wait to dine here again to give Bareli's the 5 star it deserves.

This place is alright. Beer selection is alright, they use…read moresour syrup, and the food is nothing special. If you're looking for a quiet local spot for a nice cold beer, this will do it. They are apparently getting new owners? Hopefully that improves this place even more.

So I am in the process of moving to Carlstadt, and decided to check out the local hometown bar and…read moresee if it would be my new go to place. The service was awesome, Tony was our bartender and she was sweet, genuine, attentive, and engaging. She took the time to learn my name and my girlfriend's since we are moving in. (Keep up the great work Tony) The mac & cheese with some wings, paired with an ice cold beer was the perfect combo. I will start by letting you all know that I am extremely picky with those two apps and Maggie's did not disappoint. My only complaint was two drunk locals at the bar being overly loud and the excessive use of profanity with families present in the dining area. I recommend being proactive with calming those individuals when families are present. It will add more class to the place. Cursing is fine during football but just not when kids are in the other section. Other than that, we had an awesome time and look forward to bringing our friends when we close on the home.

We periodically visit the American Dream, and we always like to try something new when we do. The…read moremall features some nice food options as compared to other malls in the area. We have been meaning to try Marcus Live for some time and got the chance today. We arrived early, so seating was ample. It is a comfortable place to be, with good music, rock and roll memorabilia, and a warm ambiance. Service was kind, attentive, prompt, and efficient. Entire space was spotlessly clean and well-kept. My other half and I each opted for the double smash burger and truffle fries. Fries were excellent: crispy, well-seasoned, not greasy, and flavorful. The burgers were juicy, flavorful, and bacon and onions were cooked perfectly. I wished I had a second one. Is it the best burger I've had? Honestly, no. But it's up there for sure. I enjoyed it enough for it to make me go back, which says a lot. Overall, a very nice experience. Will definitely return.

Came here for lunch on a Sunday with a large group of 10 because Yard House was packed and we were…read moretoo hungry to wait 45 minutes for a table there. This place had plenty of empty seats so we were able to get seated quickly. They asked if we wanted the tables combined and we said sure, and they combined it into... an L shape...?? How strange haha there was definitely enough room to keep them straight. We were there to celebrate someone's birthday so we made the birthday girl sit in the crook of the L so she could swivel and talk to everyone lol. I ordered the B&G prime burger and I think the waitress was confused because she said it was a smash burger and would come with crispy onions... the patties were definitely not smashed and there were no onions at all. I think she was thinking of the double smash burger. The patties were also not seasoned properly, so it tasted bland to me and there wasn't that nice crust the seasoning would have formed (iykyk). We also got the cornbread as an app, which was good, especially with the honey butter and the jam it came with, but it was really small and not worth the $12 at all. They were also out of several items like the deviled eggs, NY strip, and grilled branzino. I don't know how common it is for restaurants to run out of menu items so early in the day (it was like 2pm) but just something to note. Although our server was nice and I'm glad we were able to get seated right away, I probably won't come back here. The food is just average and portions are too small for the price. Also just fyi, the large group gratuity they included on our bill was 20%. I feel like I usually see 18% at other places.

Jim Dandy's 102 Park Ave…read more Rutherford, NJ 07070 Mango Habanero Wings Smoked Brisket Full Rack of Ribs Bird In Hand Smoked Pork I randomly found out across this barbecue restaurant as I walked along the main strip. Having no knowledge of this location, my curiosity led me inside. Jose, the manager, told me the chef prepares a homemade barbecue sauce, which has been a family secret recipe for over 30 years. Jose also brought to my attention a really great deal offered on Tuesdays: full rack of ribs for the cost of a half rack! He gave me a free sample of the secret sauce. That spoon size taste went a long way as I was immediately hooked by its flavor and tanginess. With the exception of the wings, I tried the sauce on all of their killer meats! The tender, juicy brisket melted in my mouth. The pork ribs fell right off the bone. My personal favorite was the bird in hand. This half chicken made me feel like I was in dining at Medieval Times in Lyndhurst! The only thing missing was a tournament with gladiators grappling in a colosseum! Between the tasty meats, strictly confidential house made barbecue sauce, and the excellent service from the manager and the servers, I was very content and my crave for barbecue has been happily fulfilled! #jimdandys #killermeats #barbecue #MangoHabanero #smokedbrisket #rackofribs #pulledpork #barbecuechicken

Jim Dandy's is a laid-back BBQ spot in Rutherford that delivers solid comfort food in a cozy,…read moreno-fuss setting. The ambiance is casual and welcoming-- It's not fancy, but that's part of its charm. The staff seem friendly and attentive. The food is hearty and flavorful, especially the wings! The ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender. However, our only drawback was the heavy hand with the BBQ sauce--it overwhelmed the smoky flavor of the meat. If you like your ribs super saucy and sloppy, you'll probably love them, but it might be too much for those who prefer a more balanced bite. It's BYOB, so bring your favorite bottle--because ribs taste better with a drink in hand and no corkage fee in sight, right?

Sat down at a filthy bar at 9:40- got ignored by bartender to be told kitchen was closed.read more

I came in around 6pm to ask about times and see the menu. I was helped by a very kind woman who…read moreprovided me with a paper copy of the menu to review as I got ready for dinner. Upon arrival at dinner time, I was seated and attended. It was only one other pair in the restaurant (next to the bar) area. The place was pretty peaceful and had low music. The steak was a perfect medium well strip. It cut through like butter. I loved the texture. The mashed potatoes were so tasty and plentiful; it was topped with two baked home-made potato chips. The broccoli had minced garlic, which is not mentioned in the menu but, which transformed it from regular steamed broccoli to a tasty side. I will definitely be used that in my future recipes. I can't wait to return to this hotel and to this restaurant. I'm sure you can come have a bite even if you aren't staying at their equally as wonderful Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel.

We love this place. We recently found out about it because we saw a few social media videos talking…read moreabout their daily specials and new management which enticed us because we didn't know much about what they offered before. They have great happy hour specials and staff who are there to honor the deals and give you a fun experience. Nothing worse than walking into a bar because of an advertised deal and the bartender charging you full price because they didn't know anything about the deal. That doesn't happen here which is huge!!! They have multiple TVs and seating areas, which make it perfect for watching sports. Drinks are great and food is delicious. We love the chicken quesadilla and wings. The espresso martini was surprisingly good. We love their drink pitchers as well. Overall you can tell they care about the community, and want to offer a reliable and fun experience in an area that doesn't have too many bars like this. We have returned multiple times since the first time because we love the consistency, fun events, and friendly staff. The only thing they could improve on is the music. When there's a DJ, it's a great night, but when it's up to Touch Tunes there's room for improvement. We still will return whenever we are looking for a good time!

Food & drinks was good when me and my friends went on the weekdays. We tried to go on UFC night…read morebut the experience was meh. They had a DJ play music the whole fight card except for the last main match. I mean, they should just have him play between rounds or something. The pork sliders were cold too but the server was good and consistent throughout the night with cold beers.