I've been coming to Verve for over 20 years. It's one of those places that has stayed consistently excellent, which is rare. My wife and I stopped in after meeting my Corvette club for the weekly cruise night in Somerville -- it was the perfect way to cap the evening. We started with the grilled octopus and the crispy calamari. Both were excellent. The calamari is very light. When I used to frequent the lounge on Fridays and Saturdays, if I hadn't had dinner, the calamari hit the spot. The octopus had a good char on it and was tender throughout. For entrees, my wife had the seared ahi tuna special and I went with the pan seared duck breast. Her tuna was cooked perfectly - rare. The duck was well seared on the outside with just the right amount of pink inside. Portions were the right size -- filling without being excessive, which left just enough room to share the chocolate ganache dessert. We finished with a cappuccino for my wife and a double espresso for me. Verve is a French bistro on East Main Street with a serious cocktail and wine program. The atmosphere is upscale but relaxed. The staff were friendly and attentive all night. After 20+ years, it's still one of the best restaurants in Somerset County. Don't skip the specials. read more

Stopped by for a drink and a quick bite. The place has a cool bar vibe, and we were seated at a cozy two-top near the bar, which we liked. I ordered a spicy dirty martini, and my husband had the old fashioned--both drinks were fine, nothing to rave about. We shared truffle fries, veggie dumplings, and cauliflower bites. The fries were definitely the highlight--crispy and well-seasoned. The other two dishes were just okay. Service was quick, and overall it was a decent stop, but nothing particularly memorable food- or drink-wise. read more

See all

I actually went here this time around. It was bigger than imagined and a nice-sized bar present too. The bartenders were nice and friendly as we were there for a bit of time. We just had a chocolate ganache cake. It came with house made vanilla ice cream. The cake itself was rich and cooked well. The ice cream was icy, so it seemed to me it was in the freezer for a while. The flavor of the ice cream was good, but it was a shame of the icy parts. The ice cream was needed due to the richness of the chocolate cake. read more

Verve is one of my favorite restaurants in Somerville! If you're planning on dinning in, I highly suggest making a reservation. The vibes dark & cozy inside, making it perfect for a dinner date or nightcap with friends. The food & drinks are fantastic - you really can't go wrong with any item on the menu . Although I've enjoyed every meal that I've eaten at Verve, I would highly recommend the Duck & Escargot! Downtown Somerville is a hot spot for street events/ dinner, so give yourself some time to park just in case it's busy. There's a bunch of street parking spots right in front of the restaurant. Verve should be on your list of places to try if you haven't been already! read more

See all

Came back here with a friend and had the duck dish again. This time phone ate first. Still one of the best dishes around! Bartenders provide great service too! They really put their craft into each cocktail. read more

See all

Wanted to write an update to this review. This is definitely our favorite and go to restaurant for date night. The quality of food and service is always excellent and we always make good memories here. The bread and oil is my absolute favorite and it even tastes fine the next day if you have leftover bread! I love getting the gnocchi, a salad, and crème brûlée for dessert. I also enjoy their signature cocktails. Everything on the menu is delicious and they often have specials. it does feel like you're in a Parisian restaurant. There's a lot more space including an upstairs dining room so sure you could accommodate a large group. I can't wait to return! read more

Verve Restaurant - With pistachio ice cream and strawberries. - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

See all

Food here is excellent. The drink menu and whiskey selection is also top notch. The seating is a bit tight due to the narrow width of the property but they manage it well. read more

When I saw the prices, I had my doubts, but this was the absolute best meal I've had in a while. We got there early and started off with a drink at the bar. Friendly, knowledgeable bartenders and delicious drinks. Then continued into the cozy dining room. Prompt and friendly service, topped off with a clear knowledge of what on the menu could be gluten free (which was almost everything). My husband said the bread with oil that comes before the meal is the best he has ever had. Only down side is that the only restroom is down a pretty decent flight of stairs so unfortunately this would not be a good choice if anyone in your party can't do stairs. Overall, this was a wonderful experience and we would absolutely come back for our next special occasion. read more

See all

Amazing upscale dining experience, intimate and classy. Feels like a small NYC restaurant and bar. Everything we had was tasty and executed well. They have a menu marked with gluten free and vegan options, provided upon request. Many options are gluten free. The duck was fantastic. The escargot was yummy! The truffle Parmesan fries were great. The pork shank was soooo tender, fell right off the bone. Chicken lollipops are great, can be made gluten free without the sauce. Very good food overall. All cocktails were clearly well thought out and created by a mixologist. Different and interesting flavor combinations. 50 shades of pink was my fav. read more

Verve Restaurant - Pan Seared Duck Breast - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

This French restaurant is pretty charming. I came here with my father and sister to have a father daughter dinner. We came for dinner around 7:30pm and got a table for 3. We were seated quickly despite there being a nice crowd in the restaurant. The bar area was packed with patrons so this restaurant is definitely popular. For starters we got the pork belly confit and Korean duck buns. Both appetizers were delicious. When eating the pork belly confit make sure to eat it with the Crispy Scallion Pancake, Apple Relish, Maple Creme Fraiche because it helped with cutting out the pork belly fat taste and it tastes great together. But if I had to choose between the two appetizers definitely get the Korean duck buns they were so good. For my entree I got the Tom Yum Noodle Bowl and I will admit it was not my favorite and I still had a big portion leftover. My sister got the special which was a lamb with pasta and after having a little taste of it I wish I got that instead. My dad got the crispy chicken breast and he threw down. His plate was clean so that should tell you something right there. I say definitely check this restaurant out. It gives intimate so it is honestly the perfect spot for a cute date night. read more

See all

I think this would be a good date night spot to grab a drink or two. The bartenders are friendly and helpful. Beer selection is limited. Food is honestly just so-so. read more

Verve Restaurant - Veg dumplings and octopus appetizer. - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

This is one this rare places that manage to stand the test of time and still do things right. We always prefer to sit in the main dining room right past the small bar area. Their meats are always perfectly prepared and the mashed potatoes are so very delicious that you just want to keep ordering more. The service is always prompt and friendly - never rushed. A nice little spot for all. read more

See all

Great spot for hand crafted cocktails and cozy chill vibes. We went upstairs and the atmosphere was so my style. There were two person tables with candles(fake) and tables and chair with cushioned booths. It's spacious yet quaint and the music playing sounded like stuff off of one of my many playlists. All over the place yet vibey as hell. The bartenders were both super friendly and the one in particular who made our drinks was a super cool guy. Thanks for the excellent drinks brother. I look forward to returning to this place the next time I am in town. Until then... Enjoy :D read more

Verve Restaurant - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

See all

The drinks are amazing. I always go back. Food is pretty good too! The bartenders are very skilled

My friend and I went for NYE dinner. Typically New Year's Eve at restaurants is chatic. The food and service were superb. My date had the filet and I ordered the duck. Both were perfectly prepared. For dessert we had the cheesecake. We ended up having drinks upstairs in the bar room and celebrating New Year's Eve with some very enthusiastic people. We really had an amazing time. Thank you for making our New Year's Eve a really special one. read more

Didn't have too high expectations but was very pleasantly surprised. Great cozy yet elevated atmosphere without being pretentious. Menu was a French Asian mix. The flavor profiles were wonderful and the cocktails and wine list insured it was a fun night. We will definitely be back. read more

an absolute delightful dining experience! my friend and I ate at the bar, and what took our experience to the next level was the bartenders and their customer experience. exceptional! they were so friendly, engaged, and curated exceptional cocktails. based on that experience alone I would go back! in addition; the food was also outstanding. my friend raves about the duck, and mushroom risotto. and the grilled octopus was cooked to perfection. another nice surprise was the bread basket and the dipping oil it came with . was so memorable and delicious. will be coming back for a full dining experience. the place looked like an intimate and cute place to enjoy a date night at too! read more

Verve Restaurant - Pan Seared Duck Breast - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

See all

Biggest complaint is parking which was especially difficult to find because there was a big town event that night. We ordered the escargot which was delicious. Our entrees - the duck, chicken breast, and steak were all cooked beautifully. Excellent service. Good for a family dinner or date night. read more

Verve Restaurant - Pan Seared Duck Breast NY Strip Au Poivre Crispy Chicken Breast - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

I'm going to start with the foid because it was expensive but ok. The octopus and chicken lollipops were flavorful. Servers were really nice and attentive. Only reason they get 2 stars. Now I don't pretend to be a wine snob, but come on. 2023 Chalk Hill Chardonay-Russian River for $20/ glass? It's $18 a bottle. 2022 Murphy Goode Pinot for $17/ glass? It's a $15 bottle wine. This is just criminal. Never coming back. read more

Verve Restaurant - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Main course was very good. We ordered steak and chicken. Both were seasoned perfectly! The steak was perfectly cooked medium rare! The chicken was very tender. The appetizers were ordered were ok. The shumai were over priced for 4 pieces. It seems more like frozen and not made fresh. The calamari was ok. They could add more calamari on the plate. The dipping sauce was delicious. We have been here a few times and would good back. Service was very good. read more

See all

Oh I had a wonderful time at Verve this past week! When you think of Paris, you think of decadence and that is how it felt when I walked in the door.. I love the decor, very rich, but not gaudy.... the bar gives a bit of a speakeasy vibe.. Nice. Was seated immediately, even though the rest of my party wasn't present, which I appreciated. Vanessa was our server, she was attentive--all of the portions came out very timely. And everything was delicious... cocktails, apps, entree, and dessert! I ordered the grilled octopus which was perfectly done.. served with chickpeas, cashews, atop a sweet red pepper puree... it was so good. I was in the mood for a burger and this one was top of the line good... it was perfectly medium as I requested and it was melt in your mouth.. topped with blue cheese, gouda, and white cheddar on a brioche bun.. the only thing I'm sad about is that I forgot to add the bacon jam. Darn! It was served with fries and salad... fries were totally ehhhh and unnecessary. For dessert, we shared the Parisian style cheesecake with blueberry compote.. on top of what seemed to be a cookie crust. My goodness, this was the best dessert that I've had in a long time. Not super dense and thick.. just creamy and perfect. I washed that down with an espresso martini, which was nice. But, the cocktail of the night was the "Color T.V".. that was light and sweet and perfect. The only off putting feel of the night was when we were a little passive aggressively rushed to finish up our evening in the dining room.. we could almost feel the waitstaff eyeing us to move on out. We had reservations for 7:30, but I think this was after 9 ish.. maybe closer to 10? Not certain, but we took the hint and moved with the rest of our cocktails to the bar area, which was nice and lively. Oh and I forgot to mention, whoever was in charge of the playlist... Brava! It sounded like mine! A little Level 42, Toto, The Police... very nice. Am definitely looking for another reason to return! read more

See all

What a disappointment. Our server asked no questions if she didn't understand a drink or dinner order. We waited 1 full hour for appetizers to arrive, which then were piled on the bread basket on our table with salads, which they attempted to serve at the same time. We asked them to stagger the apps and salads and they refused. We could not flag down our server for water during the meal. The salad order came out incorrectly dressed. I asked what the steak came with and was told mashed potatoes (so no need to order fries); it came with potatoes au gratin (something I would never have ordered). At this point, we just wanted the meal to end and not have a single reason to extend the time spent. read more

My first time dining at the Verve despite living so close, I'm glad we finally decided to go. Definitely a special occasion place but the service and food were wonderful! Looking forward to returning soon. read more

See all

Verve is one of my favorite bar in the area. The bartenders are mixologist masters, the atmosphere is always welcoming, and the menu has a delightful and unique selection of exactly what you are looking for when you just realized you are starving. Whether going for a drink, business dinner or a date night, Verve always delivers. Appetizers were excellent. We tried all the dumplings, truffle mac&cheese, duck bao buns the gnocchi . All excellent. The pumpkin risotto for the main course was excellent. Loved the blueberry tart for dessert...lightly sweet and delicious. Parking is street side and we easily found some right in front of the restaurant for a 630pm dinner on a Thursday. read more

See all

Me and my girlfriend went for dinner and drinks The place was not crowded, but we were served very quickly Our bartender John was very friendly and knowledgeable about the drinks and what can be on the menu as far as our interest goes Food is a little pricey, but well worth it Portions are decent and the quality is top-notch We stayed at the speakeasy upstairs room, 1933 Love the atmosphere, love the food love the drinks we will be returning read more

Can always expect a lovely time at Verve, it's mature and the food is so good! The cocktails are a bit pricey; I had a blood orange margarita - delicious and a 50 Shades of pink. Now the bar was busy but the drink tasted like Hawaiian Punch, they said this was a popular one so I wanted to try. I would've loved to have swapped for the marg again but just drank and dealt with it. Great place for a date night or any vibe you want to have minimal distractions and good conversation and food. read more

See all

Cute spot in Somerville Parking is street, metered and limited Reservations recommended. There is an upstairs and a downstairs . More quiet downstairs Cocktails are crafted although list is small and limited but good none the less . 50 shades of pink was pretty good Max and cheese and salmon was good Friend enjoyed her short ribs read more

Verve Restaurant - 50 Shades of Pink - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

See all

Went here for a date night, not too long ago. My date knows my style so well. When i walked in... oh, the vibe. Some jazzy type music playing (we went around 6 pm when it was playing, the music did change later in the night, and it got busier), i think velvet curtains hung by the entrance to welcome you into this lovely experience. We had a reservation at 7, so we hung out at the bar to then, but later decided to stay at the bar. Real quick, our bartender, Kyle, I believe, was an enjoyment and definitely not a dick (inside joke, if he sees this, haha). He was attentive and made great drinks. Ok, the food... The octopus, you have to get! It's not rubbery at all! The flavors were so yummy! I couldn't get enough. We also got these Duck bao buns, and it was flavourful but a bit... gamey, I would say. Actually, that might have been the first time i ever had duck so it's possible i just wasn't familiar with the taste. The charcuterie board is a must get. Yummy spreads and meats. That was delicious as well. After all that, we hung out for a bit, and later, I wanted creme brulee. Apparently, the kitchen closed, but Kyle took care of us. Love him! We definitely will be going back there to try more food, and also, we like Kyle. That's going to be really embarrassing if that's not his name, haha. read more

See all

Ambience was very nice and the service was lovely. We were a group of 16, so that's no easy task, and they were so gracious to give us each a separate check since we are just a group of unrelated individuals. I was happy to see that they did not tack on a credit card service fee like so many restaurants in this economic climate. However they did add a 20% gratuity to each bill which was totally understandable, and it took the "math" incompetence out of the equation for those who can't seem to calculate 20% plus tax. Reservations: Good luck with their online reservation system if you are trying to reserve a table for their once-monthly BRUNCH (3rd Sunday of each month). It was impossible, and talking to several people on the phone yielded no real help because each had different suggestions and convoluted directions, none of which yielded success. Up until the day before the reservation, I wasn't sure we even had one, then all of a sudden we had seating for 20 people. We had asked for 12. I watched all the food dishes come out and each one was so beautifully executed, and almost everyone loved their food. I ordered the salad which was totally arugula (my fault for not noticing that on the menu) and it had "hummus" falafel-type rounds on the plate. They lacked flavor for me, and seemed too brown (fried), not golden. There were some tiny toasted chickpeas in the salad, but I had to look for them, along with the crumbled feta cheese. Dressing tasted like a standard emulsified balsamic dressing. Nothing else special about the salad, so I added shrimp to it, which were very small and curled from cooking. Salad 18.00. Shrimp Add-on 12.00! I wasn't thrilled. But let me reiterate that everyone else was VERY pleased with their selections, presentation, and flavors. When the bill arrived, I was unhappy that the beverages had not been listed on the menu, only alcoholic cocktails were listed. So, my small 10 oz. glass of iced tea was on the bill at $8.00. A cup of coffee was only $6.00, but the watered down iced tea was $8.00?? At that price, customers need to be told in advance. I always encourage the people in my party to partake of a venue's offerings... appys, salads, mains, desserts, cocktails. I'm embarassed when people arrive, order the cheapest thing on the menu, and a glass of water. But, on the other hand, I have no sympathy for restaurant owners when they charge $8.00 for a small glass of simple iced tea, half full with ice, with no refill offers, and then complain when an entire party orders water as their beverage of choice. I will always ask now: "What is IN the salad, and how much are common beverages like coffee, tea, iced tea, and soda?" This was a BRUNCH menu and all prices should be listed with no surprises. We were there for two hours, and not once was a refill offered to me. When I brought it to their attention on my way out, they offered it to me then. Come on. Is that what you want your guests to remember about your restaurant? read more

Verve Restaurant - Mediterranean salad - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

What went well ? Everything!!! Love this place and the staff is on point ! Food was so good ! And I love sitting at the high top table... very cozy read more

One of the best bars/restaurants in Somerville. Rick always seems to manage to have the greatest staff! Bo is an excellent chef, whose menu changes with available seasonal ingredients that allows him to add limited editions to his regular menu. (I know there are others back there but I know Bo.) The Barmen know their craft well, I can tell them I'm not sure what I'd like, something not sweet, maybe with a fizz? Lay will present me with the most delicious cocktail, in all these years, through all the different mixologists from Mack to Charlie I've never had a non palatable cocktail. The waitstaff are always friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and efficient. The 1933 room upstairs has an entirely different ambiance and is always great to hang with a crowd or hide when you want to. Downstairs is nice to have a gathering. I think what I prefer most is to sit at the bar or at a high top, have some nosh, a few cocktails and watch the goings on and chat with the regulars. The regulars have their "known" spots to most of the people in town, which I love. read more

See all

Not impressed. I am glad that my dinner was on my expense account! So we had a big group with a lot of food to try. The apps were good, calamari stole the show, escargot were a definite no, we had a few types of dumplings and the duck tacos. All ok. Dinners ranged from some ordering apps, to burgers and NY strip. The burger was not impressive at all. I figured a finer restaurant would serve a non-dry burger. My NY Strip was overcooked. Not really happy to dish out $48 for overcooked meat. Service was good. We were a party of 10, but a bit more attention could have been done. The creme brûlée was the best thing I had tonight. Very nice setting for a date night but don't expect to impress your partner with the food here. read more

See all

Somewhere between 3-4 stars. I was expecting more but some things better than others. My friend and I celebrated her birthday dinner at Verve. We got the veg dumplings which were ok. I couldn't help compare to Asian restaurants and they were ok. The crab cake app was great with nice chunks of crab and good flavor. My friend and I both got the spinach fettuccine and we liked it ok. The texture of the fresh pasta was perfect to the bite but the toppings with cream seemed kind of thrown together. It needed herbs, salt, and more attention to the presentation. We loved our cocktails, strong with good fresh ingredients. The ending to the dinner was great with the peach tart. The service was friendly and fast. The decor was cozy and traditional. read more

See all

OMG! Delicious! Everything was great: olive oil, bread, staff, ambience, and food. Between eating at this place and visiting Paris, I would choose eating at Verve. This is how you make the world a better place. Suggestion to management: please consider adding more New England IPAs. read more

Verve Restaurant - Delicious! - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Great place to enjoy a meal w friends. My 1st time. Staff is super friendly n accommodating, the drink we ordered looked like Tequila sunrise? I can't remember the name of the drink it was tequila w splash of red wine, my friends were all having it but told the server, red wine gives me migraines so he just added a very small splash of red wine. It's a very charming lovely place. Maybe because we came around Mardi Gras, the place was nicely decorated n we all received fun colorful beaded necklaces. Food is great served in interesting plating. read more

See all

Upscale restaurant in Somerville. Street meter parking. Warm inviting interior. Service very punctual. Enjoyed my duck, well made. Good desserts. Nice bar area. read more

See all

Highly reliable restaurant that has great service and a solid menu. One glitch occurred last night, but they recovered well. Fantastic cocktail menu! read more

Lay can get it **Extra characters so I can post this review** Thanks :) highly recommend!! read more

Went back for Mother's Day again! Food was great and service was faster. Definitely a great place for a mother. read more

See all

This place is a gem. The staff was very accommodating and did all the recommendations for the appetizers for my large group. The entree's were exceptional. We took over the downstairs room and it was cozy and inviting. I received many kudos for selecting this venue for dinner. read more

Verve Restaurant - Filet and veggies - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey