Tried Barbes for the first time on a Saturday night. We sat outside, and enjoyed the late afternoon shade. The restaurant had about 10 people seated inside and about 15 people seated outside. When we sat down, we asked the waiter for three glasses of prosecco while we waited to order. I'd say about 15 minutes later, the glasses didn't arrive, nor did anyone ask us to order. I finally had to ask the waiter to come to our table and asked if our drinks were ready. We got our drinks, and it was about 10 more minutes before the waiter asked us for our order. We didn't even order appetizers, just entrees. The food arrived, it was good. We tried the tagine de'aneau, tagine d'poulet and salade tropezian. We enjoyed the food. We were considering ordering drinks and dessert, but again, the service took forever. We finally just asked for our check and went around the corner to have drinks and dessert. I read other reviews on here which complained about the service. They weren't kidding. I worked in the service industry for 20+ years as a busboy, waiter and bartender - I know how the industry works. The owners need to get a better grip on this, it has to be hurting them in the long run. No one wants to come to a restaurant that takes this long for drinks or food to get to their table. You are losing money on people who would order more food or drinks. I'd try it again, but i'm only hesitant because of the slow service. read more

A really nice date night... the interior is really beautiful, and it's a great place to try something new. The food is delicious, but I'd only go if you like Moroccan food or are in the mood for Moroccan food. (Obviously). Overall I enjoyed my time there, but I probably wouldn't go back anytime soon. I was vegan when I went, so I can only talk to the vegan food they have here. Maybe if I start eating meat again, I'll come back to try a different dish! read more

Barbès Restaurant - French Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

Really bad brunch experience. Service was disorganized, staff interrupted our conversation and one of our glasses was filthy. My wife ordered lamb medium-well, it came out rare so we sent it back and when it came out again it was still rare. As it was the end of our meal and we asked them to take it off our bill but they refused even though my wife couldn't eat it. We told them we live right round the corner and it totally baffles me why they would lose a customer who lives so close over $16. read more

Really good food both for brunch and dinner. Live music takes it to another level!! Must try restaurant. read more

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Love love love Barbes! This is easily one of my favorite restaurants. I've been here a few times but will faithfully order the Lamb Tagine and Chocolate Mousse. The food is always delicious and well portioned. The service is always great - everyone is so friendly and caring! I would definitely recommend Barbes to anyone. We always have a great time and talk about coming back as soon as we leave read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SPOT!!! Probably one of my favorite spots in Hoboken. The service is really nice, and the entrees never fail to disappoint. I took my parents here and they loved it too. The decor and ambiance in the restaurant are great too. The kefta tagine and the zaalouk are so good. The branzini fish is really good too. read more

Barbès Restaurant - Zaalouk - French Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

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Mussels were precooked , dried out and shriveled , not made to description on menu , Mac Donald's has better fries , I just hope that the owner ship sees what is going on and stop cutting corners. I spent time in Morocco somehow the lamb Tagine came right from the can of cam....... Soup. The waiter did what he could do but he only can serve what is offered to him . I normally don't leave reviews but I do this constructively, since people work there making a living ! read more

French Moroccan food and ambiance, with a little Manhattan attitude to keep you on your toes. TLDR: Cocktails better than the food but worth a visit during restaurant week, and not a bad place for a date. Omar, the owner (?), is an amiable, fun character. If you have a problem, the AC unit dripped on us once, and he moved us to another table promptly, and apologized. The ambiance is laid-back, and service is similar without being too slow. Food was a little overcooked, but flavorful, and definitely worth trying a couple of times to find a dish you really enjoy. That's a bit of a cope out on my part, as I mistakenly ordered something relatively simple because I wanted to see if I could replicate it at home, and it was entirely different from what I imagined, and quite dry. Wife loved whatever it was she had, and I'm embarrassed to say I wasn't taking proper notice to the name, but it contained chicken, couscous and came with a side soup/sauce. Possibly the Couscous Marocain Traditionnel? The highlight are the cocktails. Monmarte is a watermelon and cucumber tonic that delivers a good kick. Overall we'll visit again, probably try different dishes and a few more of the cocktails. read more

Came here because I heard of Barbes through their sister restaurant La Boheme, which opened earlier this year and which I absolutely love! This restaurant did not disappoint! It is completely packed, noisy, but the live music was great and the food was amazing. Here's what we got: Briouats: Absolutely delicious. To be honest, I was on the fence about getting it because it sounded kind of heavy but my boyfriend wanted it so we went with it. Do yourself a favor and do not cheat yourself out of ordering this! It was so good and actually a lot lighter than I thought - it came out hot and crispy, the filling was very savory and the light touch of honey made the flavors well rounded Crevettes au pistou: Was so excited go order this dish but it ended up being a bit underwhelming. To give it credit, the prawns were huge! However, something about the flavors of the couscous didn't hit right. The pesto flavor was lacking, it was a bit too tomatoey and also unexpectedly spicy, which threw me off Lamb tagine: Oh my god one of the best tagines I've ever had. My boyfriend got this dish so I only had a few bites and I was very, very jealous. The lamb was melt-in-your-mouth soft and the sauce is perfectly spiced with just the right amount of sweetness that you'd want in a tagine Mousse: Solid, but there was nothing especially memorable about it. The table next to us got the pastilla au lait which looked a lot more interesting and they seemed to love it Overall, we really liked this restaurant and will definitely be coming back! Next time I will for sure be ordering another tagine and also the pastilla au lait, which I'm looking forward to trying! read more

I loved Barbes! Having said that, let's get the bad stuff out of the way that's keeping me from giving a 5 star rating: my boyfriend made a reservation for 8:30 but we came early anticipating there may be room at the bar to grab a drink and socialize. The place was PACKED with upwardly mobile Hoboken residents, the typical uptown crowd. When we went to the host, he told us we weren't on the list despite showing him confirmation emails from Yelp. This happened with another couple as well. He approached the confirmation email with a little attitude, and I didn't really appreciate that. Once I brought that to attention, we were seated fairly quickly. We were given another waiter, and in turn the service was MUCH better and friendlier. Now let's get to the food. Barbes is French-Moroccan, so you can get an amalgam of different dishes, from tajine to steak au poivre. If you're not the most adventurous eater, this place may not be for you. My boyfriend and I ordered the zaalouk (a chilled roasted eggplant spread with tomato, garlic, arugula, and balsamic vinaigrette), which we both LOVED. The acidity of the vegetables blended together well and was perfect with the soft pita bread. For the entrees, my boyfriend ordered the lamb couscous, while I ordered the kefta tajine. His portion was large and filled with veggies (not a bad thing) and came with a side of what I thought was a consommé, while mine came with a side of couscous. My boyfriend liked his couscous--especially the lamb, which was tender and succulent--but also thought that it would be amazing if it incorporated more juices from the meat. I loved my meatballs, which had the right blend of savory, spice, and sweetness and it paired well with the cinnamon undertones of the couscous. Overall, a wonderful meal despite a rocky start, and a perfect date night. read more

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We visited this place on Christmas Eve. The life music and vibe are awesome. The menu has quite a few interesting items and most things we ordered were good. Portion is generous too. French onion soup (5/5): this is a solid one. The soup base is rich and flavorful and the cheese top is burned just about right. Lamb shank (4.5/5): the meat is super soft and come off the bone easily when you tough it. The flavor is not too heavy, and is balanced well with the sweetness from the prunes. Traditional couscous with chicken (2/5): the chicken is quite dry and flavorless. The couscous is soft but flavorless too. Wouldn't recommend this. Kale salad with dates and chicken (4.5/5): a good salad with lemon dressing and topped with almonds, dates, and chicken. I was worried it would be too sour, but it was actually good. Crevettes au pistou (3/5): I didn't really know what to expect from this dish. It is mediocre just from the taste. The shrimp is very large and fresh. The sauce is good and keeps the couscous moisture. Pastilla au lait (3/5): we ordered this because we never had before. Basically it is like nacho dipped in sweet, tidewater sauce with nuts and fresh fruits. read more

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Barbes is an incredible addition to town. I went out to eat here a few days before vacationing in Morocco (Marrakesh and Essaouira) and after becoming completely enamoured by and more knowledgeable about delicious Moroccan food and spices, I returned here after our Morocco trip for a family birthday dinner party. It was wonderful. All the entrees (I think by now I've tried most of them) are incredible. All the tagines (esp the lamb and prune and fish tagine) are wonderful and definitely get the couscous royale. The grilled bread and olive oil are exquisite. The bread was pita and different from the ones we ate in Morocco (where breads are a staple and delicious) but was equally exquisite. The ambiance is lovely. The service is incredibly hospitable. It is very family friendly. I look forward to many more meals here!! Thank you!! read more

Finally checked out this wonderful French-Moroccan restaurant. Right off the bat, I must say that Barbes has some of the most friendly staff (and owner) I've met and experienced at a restaurant. The ambiance was not quite what I expected: I guess I expected it to be a bit more upscale (based on the menu prices) and less noisy-but it was still nice, comfortable, and the décor is beautiful (that ceiling though!!!). The vibe was pretty standard for what I'm used to in Jersey City-foodie yuppies who just want some good food and good cocktails. The cocktails were delicious. The Marie-Antoinette is a perfect balance of fruity and herby with a tiny hint of the alcohol flavor. Their signature martini was a little strong on the alcohol for my liking, but to be expected from a martini. We started with the Montrachet (tomato and goat cheese) and the Zaalouk (eggplant). Both were plated beautifully and showcased all of the flavors on the plate. I could eat both of these appetizers any day of the week. We shared the vegetable tagine and couscous (extra $$ add-on), which was honestly the only reason I knocked my review down from 5 to 4 stars. It was a pretty skimpy, not substantial portion of vegetables in the tagine for $19. I've actually never seen a restaurant serve a vegetarian tagine, let alone a tagine at all without the couscous included. That part felt a little clippy. Since that portion wasn't filling for two, we ordered the sides of asparagus and the quinoa tabbouleh. The asparagus was cooked perfectly-not too soft, not too hard-and had JUST the right amount of garlic. The quinoa tabbouleh was also wonderfully seasoned and had the perfect amount of citrus to salt. Overall, I did really love the food, the experience, and the service-the owner was incredibly accommodating, patient, and friendly-however I won't be ordering the vegetable tagine again. Next time, the couscous au legumes! read more

I have been to Barbès twice in two weeks now, and I can't wait to go back. I have been looking for a good Moroccan restaurant in New Jersey for years now, and I am very glad that I've finally found one. Everything about this restaurant is perfect, from the atmosphere, to the food, to the service. I have eaten only outside, but even on a 30 degree night, I felt warm with their heat lamps and mulled wine. Eating here feels like you have been transported to another time period. The mulled wine is made outside in front of all of the diners. The decor is classy and not overwhelming. The waiters, manager, hostess and everyone else are so nice and accommodating. On both visits, I had hummus for an appetizer. Their hummus is the best hummus I have had in the United States and on par with hummus you can find at restaurants in the Middle East. The pita bread they serve is fresh, and they quickly replenish it. On my first visit, I had the couscous with chicken as my main course. The couscous is served in a beautiful covered dish, with the broth on the side, with a ladle to add as much broth as you want. The chicken was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. On my second visit, I had the couscous with lamb, and it was just as wonderful, and the lamb fell right off the bone. I only went for dessert on my second visit, but it made me wish I had opted for it the prior visit also. The pastilla was amazing and left me wanting more. I would recommend this restaurant and it's wonderful staff to anyone. It is a treasure and I could not be happier that I found it. read more

I booked the place for my anniversary brunch with my wife and toddler, after hearing about Barbes ambience, food and service. Unfortunately, service was very poor right from coffee to entree to unprofessional waitstaff. I will not be returning here. They brought our coffee but forgot to bring the sweetener and milk till the coffee got cold. Forgot to bring an entire Entree and when my wife asked the waiter got annoyed at her and tried to teach her about how to order food in a restaurant by saying "the way it works in restaurants...". Not the experience that we expected at all read more

First time in this location. Used to the one in Manhattan. Was excited that is so close to home. Coming in, it was a little busy, but we were sat within 5 minutes. The server was quite busy, but very nice. One of our place settings was missing a napkin, and it took a long time to finally get one, but it happens. Food was amazing. Taste was extraordinary! We got the moules frites as an app, but it was honestly enough to be a meal. My husband ordered steak and eggs. The taste of the char on the steak was distractingly strong, and become almost gross by the last bite. The croque madame was good. Fluffy and cheesy. Drinks were refreshing. I ordered the rockin Moroccan which was very much like a monitor. Husband got the barbés old fashion, and he was very happy with it. Brunch for 2 (1 app 2 entrees and 3 drinks) was about $120 after tip. I might come back, but there are so many restaurants in Hoboken I want to try, and this did not leave me absolutely wanted more. Also, check your bill. Ours came showing different prices than listed on the menu. I just didn't want to be that jerk making a scene about $2, but prices should match. read more

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Not sure how this place has a 4.5 rating. It has got to be the honeymoon phase because my experience was not a 4.5 star experience. We sat outside and started with wine. It took a while for the wine to come out but I will let them slide on that. We ordered appetizers and entrees... however our entrees came out before our appetizers did. Not sure if the waitress forgot to put them in but not a great start. As for the entrees... the couscous royale had overcooked meat, no flavor on anything and not a pleasant dish. I was hoping the veggies would be better but they were way overcooked. The kefta tagine was pretty good but it was the only thing that was ok out of the whole meal. When we eventually got the appetizers they were underwhelming. The briouats were one of the most interesting things I have eaten (not in a good way). It was a chicken pastry with powdered sugar on it. Wild stuff. Not good. The lentil salad with avocado was a simple dish that was not bad. Overall, I would not come back here... not sure how this has a high rating. read more

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Came here for New Years Eve dinner before our big soiree. PRIX fixed dinner, so no GF options listed. Chef was able to share what was safe and took my allergy in consideration when preparing my dishes. Unfortunately, none of the desserts on the menu were GF. Waitstaff felt bad, so they poured me a cup of mint tea and gave me a plate of berries, which honestly is all I had room for after enjoying my Mediterranean salad trio and Duck l'Orange. DH had escargot. Rack of lamb and chocolate souffle. Cocktails were ok, but next time, we will stick with the wine. read more

Went for Dinner Food - 5/5. Pita bread was warm with good grill marks on them. Mussels were delicious and clean with a rich, aromatic sauce. Kefta tagine was very tender and the tomato sauce had a great balance between savory and tart. Service - 4/5. Food came out and plates were cleared in a timely fashion which helped a lot since the table have limited space. Value - 2/5. The portions are on the smaller side and the fact that the entree comes with no sides feels like a deliberate upselling technique. The kefta sits at $24 yet the only accompaniments you get with your meatballs are a sprinkle of green peas. The fact that I have to dish out another $6+ for a side with entrees in the mid 20s price range is ridiculous especially when some entrees do come with sides such as couscous. Parking - Street (Free) read more

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The latest addition to Hoboken's dining scene boasts of French-Moroccan cuisine - a rarity to our palette this side of the Hudson and definitely a welcome addition to the ever expanding list of restaurants in this town. We stopped by for dinner a few weeks ago with a group of friends: Montrachet: a truly unusual dish, layers of tomato, goat cheese and pesto bursting with flavors, unlike everything else we tried which was more subtle compared to this one app. Moules Marocaine: You regular mussels really. Couldn't detect a Moroccan flavor and was expecting the broth to stand out in terms of flavor, but had the same garlicky taste we are used to in most restaurants and pubs in Hoboken. Bronzini Grillé: My favorite from everything I sampled... a generous portion of fresh fish with smokey charred flavors infused with lemon. The grilled vegetables were okay and the dish could do with a better and more innovative accompaniment. Tagine De Poulet: Chicken tagine...so flavorless and on the drier side. A disappointment. Steak Au Poivre; I didn't try it, but my friend was happy with her dish, though she missed a side of carbs to go with it! To round it all of, we had the Moroccan pasty and the Chocolate mousse. Both excellent, but favored the pastry a tad more; steeped in rose water and pistachios. Expect to pay $200 per couple with drinks... Manhattan prices really and Manhattan portion sizes. Looking for a pleasant evening and something different in Hoboken? Barbes offers both. Wish the tables were not so closely set though. Takes away from the over all experience. read more

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Delicious!! mussels with the white wine broth were super good and fresh. Great live music!

Ate here with a party of 10 on a Saturday night - the staff was so accommodating and friendly, and the food was amazing! A few of us were running behind due to parking, and the staff put no pressure on the party to order, nor did we feel rushed at all during our meal. Also the live jazz players add such a nice touch, especially when they played happy birthday to me! Food served hot with large portions, and tasted great. Some dishes are also presented in tagines, which is cool! I had the duck which was super flavorful and moist - my mom had the traditional couscous with lamb which was super tender and a large portion. I've also had the grilled calamari and lamb shank here before, which are super tasty. Great experience, which helped make my birthday special! read more

I have never had a bad meal here and the service is always excellent. The owners run a fantastic place with quality meals, great prices and a cool atmosphere no matter what season. Very excited to eat at their new spot when it is opened. read more

Would give this place 6 stars if I could! Came with a party of 6 to celebrate that we were approved to outdoor dine. We ordered appetizers to share (burrata and salade mediterraneenee), both delicious! For dinner, we each ordered different things (Salmon, Mussels, Grilled Pesto Shrimp, Steak) - no complaints on food here. Everything was very tasty and cooked with flavor! I personally had the mussels and they were so tasty. What stood out here was the staff. Victor, our waiter was such a sport and did a fantastic job. Our glasses were never empty! Had a great attitude and was truly hustling to make sure his tables were being served. He even took the time to explain the concept behind French/Moroccan cuisine! We also had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Lisa & Omar (Owners). THEY WERE FANTASTIC! They took the time to chat with us and we cannot wait to return. We live downtown and will certainly make the walk uptown to return for some more of Barbés!! read more

My wife and I came here for date night last night. The atmosphere was great, we especially loved the live music. The drinks were fun and tasted great. We had briouats for the first time and loved the combination of sweet and savory. And our duck breast was cooked perfectly and a perfect size to share. To top it off, even though they were busy we never went long without our server coming by the table. read more

I would definitely say this is one of the best resturants in Hoboken. I've been here a couple times, once for dinner and once for brunch. Whether it's brunch or dinner, I highly recommend ordering the lamb tagine. It's one of their signature dishes and hands down one of the best lamb meatballs I've ever had. The ambiance of this place is really nice and the staff is very accomodating. Highly recommend this spot read more

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Amazing food. Absolutely delicious . I loved the decor and vibe. Staff & service very friendly and welcoming. Will definitely go back. read more

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I stopped by with my husband and a friend and we had such an amazing experience. From the impeccable service to the delicious food, everything was wonderful. We ordered the chicken brochette, kefta tagine And chicken tagine. We all thought the kefta tagine was the best but everything tasted great. For dessert we ordered this puff pastry with cream and the chocolate mousse. And we washed it all down with the mint tea (must have!) We had a wonderful time. Our food arrived in a timely manner, glasses of water were always full, and the ambience was great for a relaxed dinner. I highly recommend this place. I will be back for sure. read more

Best dinner in Hoboken in years. Food was a 10/10, drinks were a 10/10, service was an 11/10. The owner, Omar, wants to sit and talk over everything with you in the best way possible. It takes a lot for me to actually write a Yelp review. This was so good, I had no choice. read more

Food and the list of wines has been getting better over the years, but it still has difficulty with prompt service and charging the wrong items or extra charging. The attention from every individual who works there is excellent. Music is the same every Thursday. Making a rotation of musicians per week would be more inviting. Great to stop by for a drink, quick meal or dinner. Enjoyable atmosphere. Good spot in Hoboken. read more

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I wanted so badly to like this place. The decor is gorgeous, and the menu sounds amazing. But the food was mediocre at best, and the music so loud we had to scream to be heard (and even then we couldn't understand one another). Specifics: - The hummus was bland and had way too much tahini/sesame flavor relative to other ingredients. It needed tons more lemon juice, garlic, and salt. - It's pretty hard to screw up mussels. The mussels were actually good (and plentiful), but the broth was (again) bland, bland bland and lacking in the most important ingredient that mussel broth should have for depth, i.e., wine. - My lentil salad was unremarkable and needed a ton more seasoning. The salmon on top was delicious though. - My husband reported that his coq au vin was also mediocre. Said the string beans were practically raw. read more

Located in Hoboken, Barbes is a French/Moroccan restaurant. Overall food was good. But I think it's more towards Moroccan. Also they had a live jazz band for the dinner event, which was entertaining. read more

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I haven't dined at Barbes since it first opened, so I decided to give it another shot for brunch. My friend and I were able to make a last minute same day reservation to eat outside. The table we were sitting at didn't have a heater since they were out of kerosene, so the owner setup a mini space heater by our table. It was very sweet and accommodating of her. We also got samples of mulled wine when we arrived. We shared a bottle of Pinot Noir with our meal. I tried the Croque Madame sandwich which was very tasty and had plenty of meat in it. My friend had the chicken Shawarma which you can have served over either pita or quinoa. She enjoyed her dish but if she were ever to have it again, she'd ask for no onions since there were a lot in it. Both dishes came with fries which were good. When the bill came, the wine was more expensive than what was listed on the menu, but our server made the adjustment without issue. I was very pleased with the service the entire time and it was a nice, leisurely meal. I would definitely try out dinner here again. read more

Barbès Restaurant - Croque Madame - French Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

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The food was so bland, you can't even call it French or Moroccan. We ordered the grilled calamari, mussels in white wine sauce, lamb, shrimp couscous and roasted chicken. Unfortunately, everything was lacking in spices, flavors, or seasonings. The cocktail were meh. And the wine was clearly old. Note the food wasn't disgusting. It was just so bland, boring and sad you're better off cooking at home. read more

Amazing restaurant, the vibe is just so positive and inviting! My in laws were in town for a visit from MI and this place really gave a fabulous impression of what jersey is! All the waiters and waitresses were so polite and welcoming, it was a breath of fresh air! Food, def five stars! And the fact that it's North African / French cuisine and some of the waiters were from France and Morocco , thattt closed the deal for me! Oh! And one of the waitresses sings with the band there , and her voice is just amazing! read more

Barbès Restaurant - Hummus Zaalouk - French Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

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Great spot with indoor and outdoor dining. My favorite part had to be the mac & cheese so so good I would definitely come back for this dish again. read more

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Pleasantly surprised! The food was well seasoned and the couscous was not dry. Highly recommend the chicken tagine and vegetable tagine. The chicken was not dry and they didn't skimp out on the veggies. Also, ordered the grilled calamari appetizer, which had the perfect amount of garlic for added flavor. The ambience is great and the live music is on point! It can get loud so maybe not the best place for a date (or maybe it is) but great for groups. read more

AMAZING restaurant - service FOOD! and outdoor seating... so pretty! I had never been to a restaurant of this kinda and they were so great at teling me what things were and recommending things I ended up LOVING!!! GREAT Date spot! Oh! and there was a live jazz duo there when I had dinner - amazing! read more

Pretty good but pretty pricey. The bread they gave us to start was a bit stale....we later got hot fresh bread which was much better. My friends and I started with two hummus appetizers and the tomato one with the goat cheese. They were good.... solid good. Then I got the grilled shrimp with the couscous as an entree and it was pretty good but nothing out of this world. Shrimp was nice and fresh. It was a busy Saturday night and the service was clearly slow/not really on their game. We probably could of left and they wouldn't of noticed lol. Nice decor and a fun night out but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. read more

Barbès Restaurant - French Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

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I went to this place on a Friday night and booked a reservation through Resy for 7pm. They had live music that was a perfect touch to start the weekend. We got there and was treated by a very attentive staff. That includes the owner who is always engaging customers and making everyone feel at home. He went over to our table to introduce himself and brought us extra pita bread for the hummus. Let me tell you that this fresh out of the oven pita bread, coupled with hummus was everything our table needed to start the meal. Highly recommend! We ordered the lamb meatballs, branzino, and shrimp pesto dish. By far one of the most intriguing flavors that you can experience in Hoboken. I personally had the shrimp and was blown away. My girlfriend had the meatballs and was raving all night! To end it we ordered the chocolate mousse and it was great with some espresso. The staff was very professional and kept the place extremely clean read more