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

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

See all

I've traveled to France extensively to the point where I can call myself part-time Parisien, so I can say that I know something about French cuisine. Frankly speaking, I can't give high marks as far as the food is concerned. I had much better value at any random Parisian Café, bistro, or brasserie for the money. I would say it's just O.K. for average American culinary standards. read more

Brasserie Memere is a fantastic place to have a quality meal. Such a beautiful and open restaurant with patio seating. I visited for brunch and enjoyed my burger. Other meals ordered include the avocado toast, eggs Benedict, and ham sandwich. Excellent olive oil cake for dessert. Fantastic service. Can't wait to dine here again. read more

See all

Came here for a date. Food was really tasty. Never tried foie gras before and had some kind of savory tart with foie gras and shallot and it was delicious, their award winning crab cakes. I had the chilean sea bass it was cooked perfectly. i was so full by the end. read more

THE GOOD ---------------- + All of the food was very good, but did have some minor critiques. ++++ Almond Croissant was addictively good. ++++ Lobster Bisque and Escargot were fantastic. ++++ Lobster Risotto was delicious, but was an extremely small entree for $26. Definitely left me wanting more. ++++ 1.5 lb Baked and Stuffed Lobster was huge, although it was stuffed with potato salad, which had me a little perplexed. + The restaurant is MASSSSIVE with a huge and beautiful interior and one of the nicest and largest outdoor patios I've ever seen as well. + Plenty of parking in the Closter Plaza strip mall parking lot. + All of the employees were extremely friendly and the waiter service was excellent. THE NOT SO GOOD ---------------------------- - Not much! The restaurant was ALMOST perfect, minus small question marks around the serving size of the Lobster Risotto and potato salad stuffing in the 1.5 lb Lobster. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = A serious gem in the North Jersey area and perfect for different occasions. read more

See all

3 stars- I really wanted to love this restaurant after reading about Chef Thomas Ciszak. He was a chef at several restaurants I have dined at in the past. Brassiere Memere is located in Closter NJ which with NYC traffic for me is almost 90 minutes away. I was meeting a few friends that live in New City NY and we narrowed our choices down to Brasserie Memere and Hudson House in Nyak which I had an amazing experience in the past. We got there just before 8pm and they close at 10pm. If you read any of my 400 reviews on Yelp you would be hard pressed to see me give a restaurant less than 4 stars, and many are 5. The restaurant is located in a large strip mall which was a little unexpected. We were greeted by the hostess who had a great personality, was warm and gave us the choice of indoor or outdoor seating. It's July 4th weekend so the restaurant was slow. It is a large space, comfortable seating and a nice bar. They have a pretty extensive menu of appetizer, entrees, soups, salads, side and deserts. I observed several of the servers helping other tables and though everything was going to be great. Our waiter explained the specials and we ordered a pitcher of Sangria and 5 appetizers. They were the Salade Betterrave- Beet salad, Tuna Tartare, the Jumbo Lump Maryland Crab Cake, the Tarte Memere- Tomato confit, basil, mozzarella, parmesan. and the Baked Camembert-fig&hazelnut jam, baguette. We enjoyed all of the appetizers, although the pitcher of Summer Sangria was heavily watered down or had too much ice in it. It was overpriced at $58 and unacceptable to be served that way at any price. We ordered our entrees about 40 minutes into the meal and had the Saumon- Scottish Salmon, the Steak Frites, the Filet Migeon, and the Miso based Sea Bass. Our entrees came out about 15 minutes later which was fine and everything tasted good. After this point is where everything feel apart. Our waiter Gabriel was polite, although was not very personable. The rest of the experience was either a lack of training our he may not like the job. He did not come over at any time during the meal to refill our water glasses. Also remember it was a hot day. He never came back to ask how everything was or if we cared for anything else. After about 30 minutes we thought he disappeared. We found him sweeping the restaurant floors and I think mopping them as well. We had to ask to order coffee, tea and desert. About 30 minutes after that we had to ask for the check. The bill was $400 and we felt that the experience should have been so much better, even if we spent half of what we did. My friends live about 30 minutes away and wanted to come back for brunch today and just could not bring themselves to every go back based on their first impression. The one saving grace was our hostess who as we were leaving, thanked us for coming, handed us two small bags which contained 3 croissants which was a nice parting gesture. We felt so bad because she was so nice and wished she was our server. This morning I called the restaurant to speak with their manager as I thought they should know how my experience was. I told her about all the positive points as most of the time if a customer has a poor experience they do not tell anyone and just do not ever come back. I felt that the owners put so much time and effort into their business that they should be aware. In my opinion Gabriel either needs some training on the basics or this just may not be a suitable job for him. The manager was very nice, expressed concern and said she would be retraining him. She says she hoped they have the opportunity to service us in the future, although did not invite us back or offer to do anything to make up for the poor experience we had. I would say that based on my experience alone I could not recommend Brassiere Memere. You only have one chance to make a great first impression. There are a lot of comparable restaurants that "do it right" every time or when they are made aware of a poor experience do everything in their power to bring that customer back so they become a loyal fan. read more

See all

Lovely Italian restaurant with all the Euro vibes in Closter. Food is really good, service is friendly. Good for big groups. Parking is not a problem either. Option for indoor or outdoor dining. read more

See all

- Surprisingly large space with comfortable indoor and outdoor seating--unassuming from the front but opens up nicely inside - Clean and quiet for a Sunday afternoon; we had a noon reservation but didn't need it; enjoyed the shaded patio under the retractable awning - Attentive and friendly service throughout--our waiter was thoughtful and made us feel well taken care of - Tried 3 items from the last day of Lobsterfest: Lobster bisque--rich and flavorful; Lobster risotto--well-cooked with generous lobster chunks, but on the smaller side; Stuffed lobster--tender and delicious, topped with roasted potatoes and breadcrumbs - Kid's rigatoni bolognese was tasty with a perfect portion size--just wish it came with a drink and dessert - Kiddos were happy drawing with complimentary crayons on the paper table top cover sheet - Sides and dessert were hit or miss: escargot was too salty; almond croissant was decent; crème brûlée was just okay - Would return to try more from their regular menu--this spot shows promise read more

See all

My friend suggested going to this restaurant which I am happy she said let's go here. This restaurant reminder me so much of Europe. I absolutely loved this restaurant. The prices were a bit up there but the food was very delicious. I decided to get the quiche with a gardern salad which was very delicious. I also got a slide of sliced potatoes I forgot the name on the menu. I thought it was a bit expensive for $15.00. It was worth a try but next time I'll stick with just the entree. The waiter was very nice. My friend and I just enjoyed talking there and we weren't rushed out of the place which we both liked a lot. I highly recommend coming here and giving then a try. read more

See all

Waffle was delicious! Bellini was a tad strong, I was expecting a purée, but maybe it was a peach mixer instead?! It was good, just not what I expected! read more

This is an authentic French bistro that offers both traditional French favorites and innovative other selections. The indoor area is lively, but I chose to sit on their tranquil outdoor patio. They have a great selection of French wines by the glass and bottle. I selected a nice Bordeaux to accompany my steak tartare and escargot cooked in garlic, butter sauce. I also enjoyed a delicious crème brulée for dessert! What I loved most about this restaurant was the friendliness of all of the staff, especially my server and the front door hostess. read more

Brasserie Memere - Escargot - French Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

See all

Wanted to take the family out to a cute place and found this restaurant nearby. We made a weekend lunch reservation and were seated right away when we entered. Service from our waiter was very friendly and kind. Continued to make sure we had water in our cups, checked in occasionally to see if we needed anything and was reachable. Food was pretty good all around. We had several dishes including salmon, eggs benedict, fois gras, and french onion soup. I will say I was hoping for a lil more choices on the menu but overall would say everything was nice. Really cute place overall that captures that braisserie feel with a really nice bar. read more

See all

I love this restaurant! Their food, services and ambience are all very up to my high standards. I love the high ceiling and big dining area, the bars is huge but separated nicely. I also love their outdoor dining area so relaxing especially in the summer but also good in the not too cold weather with plenty of heat lamps. Their food are superb and their cocktail drinks are amazing plus their happy hours makes them a must go places. I was dinning there often and I even used them for my 60th birthday celebration my guests and I had a most wonderful time there read more

Brasserie Memere - Birthday celebration with my family and friends!! - French Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

We've been waiting to try this place, for a long while. In the past it's either been too crowded, too upscale for the attire we adorned or over-shadowed by a primarily Asian bill of fare on Main Street: Closter, USA. We finally made it to the brasserie for brunch; on Super Bowl Sunday. The place was dead. Maybe 3 or 4 tables at most. Perfect ! The nice waiter brought us the Brunch Menu, and decided quickly. We started with a Kouign-Amann, to split. It was very good. Although I was annoyed that they didn't just bring a selection of breads to the table. The menu said. something about fresh baked goods on Sat. & Sun. My wife ordered a French 75. She said it was not great, and the ones I make at home are a lot better. For Brunch, I ordered the Le Grand Burger. Sort of like an upscale Whopper with that flame broil taste. She had a Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. Which I never ever heard of. The waiter informed us it was made with their Award Winning Crab Cake. What award ?!?! It was only half an order, but I guess crab is expensive this time of year. We split the CrèmeBrûlée for dessert. It was good, but I believe they carmalized the sugar ahead of time. The top was cold and nothing was sizzling. This place needs work. It could be a lot better with some drive. Upon leaving, we were given 2 bags of croissants. The chocolate ones were fantastic, but the almond ones..uhh...how bout this weather ? read more

See all

It was and is great. Always a treat. Get dessert you won't be sorry it is really great

Loved our Mother's Day brunch here! $19 for unlimited mimosas for 90 minutes. Great food. Everything we had was really tasty! Cozy atmosphere. Pretty good service. I've also been here for a private event and can attest to a great experience then as well! They also rent out the semi private space for events. Looks great for a baby shower, bridal shower, etc. read more

See all

Had the most magical brunch with my sister at Brasserie--felt like we teleported straight to a charming café in Paris. Our waiter, Francisco, was a total gem and started us off with Bellinis and sangria that were light, refreshing, and dangerously easy to sip. The crab cake? Award-winning for a reason. Packed with juicy lump crab meat and served with a sauce so good we were tempted to lick the plate (don't worry, we showed restraint... barely). Escargot came swimming in garlic and butter--hello, bread-dipping heaven. Then the Tarte Parisienne arrived, topped with foie gras and truffle oil. Sweet, savory, rich, and totally indulgent. Basically, edible luxury. Finished with the Pot de Crème, which was silky, chocolatey, and the perfect sweet send-off. If you're craving a little French escape without the airfare, this is your spot. Bon appétit! read more

See all

A French dining place in Closter mall area. We've only had weekend brunch here so, this only applies to Brunch menu. Honestly, the portion is ... adequate ...(?) according to my skinny friend hahaha ..... The egg Benedict was properly poached and nicely presented, but I do prefer a bun on an English muffin.... Brasserie serves their egg Benedict on a toast. The waffle and crepe is great too !!!! read more

See all

Great restaurant! The food was excellent and the service was nice. I ordered the Steak Frites which was the tastiest steak and fries I've ever had. I find myself still thinking about this dish and wish I could eat it daily. Not pictured, but we also had the moules a la provencale. They were pretty good but a little too much wine which wasn't cooked down enough so the taste was too much alcohol. I didn't try the beef bourguigion but from what I was told, it was pretty good. The creme brulee was also excellent. I hope to come back soon! I really enjoyed it here. read more

Brasserie Memere - Inside the restaurant - French Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

Every time i go it gets better. The food, the service, the ambiance. Excellent.. The desserts and ssteak frites are amazing. Next best thing to being in Paris read more

Brasserie Memere - French Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

Overall an OK brunch, nothing amazing and typical French menu items...You can taste when Chef Thomas is not in the building--the brunch is very uninspiring. The award winning crab cake egg Benedict (singular) style was definitely tasty but leaves you wanting something more...like the second missing egg Benedict!!! The kouign amann are made in house which was a nice treat but not the best I've had and when you sit at a half booth that cuts through the restaurant you're at eye level with all the dust. Their version of a Big Mac tastes surprisingly similar to a whopper, very smoky flavor with grill marks, not bad! Unfortunately the crème brûlée is cold top to bottom--not sure how or when they caramelized the sugar ontop but it was very cold, not warm and crunchy. I know the custard is supposed to be chilled, I'm talking about the caramelized sugar layer on top. Service was nice, fortunately it was not a busy afternoon so we pretty much had plenty of attention. If I come back I'll try their dinner menu and preferably when the chef is in as well. Cheers! read more

See all

A delicious French restaurant tucked in the corner of an outdoor shopping mall. I was apprehensive at first but all worries vanished when we walked inside. The restaurant is elegant and the menu is expansive, with many unique dishes. A favorite for the table was the tuna tartare. The service staff was friendly and explained the dishes well. The short rib was a second favorite for the table. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely give it a try. I recommend reservations. We got there at 4:30p and managed to get a table but by 6p, the place was packed. It has an outdoor patio but it was closed for the season. Looks like a nice place to eat outside in the summer read more

See all

We came here for lunch and it was outstanding. In the month of August, they were having a lobster fest. I got the lobster quiche, which was outstanding. It was a perfect size and the pieces of lobster in it were very generous and tasty. We went on a Monday and it was three dollar mimosas which was a great deal. Someone else in our party had the burger which looked really good. For dessert we had some of the vanilla ice cream, which was some of the best vanilla ice cream I've ever had. I can't wait to go back and have more. We sat inside at a really nice booth and I noticed that they had great seating outside, but the weather was too hot that day. I will definitely want to go back to this place to go have dinner outside. They have some weekly specials out on their website. Service was great. They didn't rush us and they were very attentive. I look forward to going back to this restaurant. read more

See all

Great food & drinks with friendly service! Great for brunch, happy hour and also great for kids! read more

Brasserie Memere - Happy Hour Escargots "Persillade"and Jardin Salad - French Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

Authentic French cuisine. Most dishes are well made. The escargot was a bit bland. The cassoulet was great and the flatbreads are also very good. Especially the one with Foie Grass. Service is mostly good but can be forgetful at times especially when busy. read more

This restaurant has a great vibe but it is loud. Noticeably so. We were a large party that went for a birthday and I think that brought the overall experience down slightly. The food was solid. Only real ding was the waiter. He was very nice but did not write things down which caused some chaos. Drink orders needing multiple requests, an appetizer that never came out but was on the bill, some confusion with one of the entrees. A small pad to keep things straight would have raised the experience. Use a fountain pen if you want to keep the fine European ambiance. We will go back and give the restaurant a whirlpool as a couple. I have high hopes. read more

I discovered a place that understands the power of good food. All my choices from their menu have satisfied me. The establishment captures local essence. The staff exhibited sincere niceness, cheerful expressions, and real friendliness. Put this place on your agenda. read more

The menu is limited but they do everything very well. Try the brunch prix fixe Excellent cocktails read more

What an amazing find!!! This place represents the definition of hidden gem. Notably cordial staff working here! The kitchen delivers quality and the staff is courteous. The dishes taste freshly prepared. All components of my visit were satisfying. read more

What a lovely restaurant tucked away in the corner of the Whole Foods shopping center. It has a wonderful upscale vibe with French music playing in the background. The staff is friendly and attentive. Their wine list and drink menu are rather extensive and impressive. Now for the food. I have to agree with other reviews that this is one of the best french onion soups I have ever had. The broth had a beautiful complex flavor. The onions were so sweet and delicious, just perfect with the crouton and melted gruyère. We also had the rigatoni bolognese, which is absolutely delicious. I also had the steak frites, which was cooked perfectly, and oh so buttery and tender. The frites were crispy outside and tender inside. The sauce de maison was just wonderful as well and a perfect complement to the steak. I will definitely be back! Sadly, we were too full for dessert. read more

First time here, will not be the last. There were a few hiccups but overall, the place was amazing. The waiter, John Claude, had to be one of the best we have seen in many years, applause! So once we ordered the drinks, he was very patient with us and in no rush, which is refreshing. Very knowledgeable about all the dishes, and history of the restaurant. So, baked Camembert was delish! Hot bread, fig jam was top notch. Tater Parisienne superb, love Foie Gras!, mussels were great, except the cooking liquid was way over-salted, but the flavors were there, and they were fresh. Hamachi special was a bit lemony but great nonetheless. Drinks were great, seeing the Rathaus Pilsner was a treat, you rarely see it on draft. Now, I am used to this now, but, I asked for Pouilly Fuisse, he politely said, we don't have it. He offered a taste of the Sancerre, not what I was looking for, so i went to Riesling, OK not the end of the earth. So, entrees were a hit, Sea bass was decadent, the Pork special pasta was amazing and very flavorful, hangar steak cooked perfectly, and bolognese also spectacular. Dessert, I asked if they had port, he returned, and said, 20 or 30 year old. I went with 30, he returned to tell me, they don't have it. Pots d' Creme, I have not had since culinary school, that was amazing, creme brûlée I was expecting to see vanilla bean specks, but it tasted great without, Kougin Amman was superb, and delighted to hear they make it all in house. The restaurant was beautiful, and very Paris like, we had just returned from Paris a little over a month ago. read more

See all

My husband and I came here on a peaceful Saturday at 11AM. I easily made a reservation on Opentable. Parking is in a plaza so that was easy. We walk in and I tell the hostess my reservation time and name - she seemed confused and asked me how many are in my party. I look at my husband, and look back at her: "two...". She doesn't reply and starts to walk us to our table. I ask her if she found my reservation and she gives me an apprehensive nod. Some sort of verbal confirmation would be sufficient. This place is a gorgeous space. There is an abundance of natural sunlight. It really felt like I was in a brasserie, without it being too try hard or pretentious. Richard was our server. He is extremely friendly and his smile is contagious. He is knowledgable about all the menu items. For appetizer I ordered the Tarte Parisienne (foie gras, red shallot confiture, taleggio, pear slices, baby arugula, crème fraîche, white truffle oil). For entrees my husband ordered the Schnitzel Forestiere and I ordered the Le Grand Burger. My husband drank the Rothhaus pilsner (super light beer). All dishes were delicious. I would highly recommend! read more

See all

Dear webmaster / staff of Brasserie Memere: I have feedback and a bit of a confession to make. I waited the good part of a year before trying your restaurant because of the clown in your pictures here on yelp. My kids thought the clown looked scary! We have come here several times for brunch. The restaurant is usually busy but not usually full on Sunday for brunch. There are only a few brunch options but they are all very good. Specifically, I have tried the quiche, the scramble and the benedicts and they are all quite tasty and filling. They also have placemats for the kids to color on and make delicious kids pastas. You can also get bottomless mimosas, but we have not tried this. Service is very good and we have never gotten weird looks for bringing kids here for brunch. Also, fortunately, the times we have been here we have not seen any clowns. read more

I've been here many times now and it's always a great experience. The food is delicious, the ambience is very upscale without feeling stuffy, and the service is always attentive and friendly. read more

What better way to kill two birds with one stone than with French cuisine within a 40-minute drive from our house to celebrate a birthday dinner on Bastille Day. Located in the corner of Closter Plaza on Vervalen Street, Brasserie Mémère (French for "grandma") is a classy but casual French restaurant with a very large private patio adjacent to the establishment. The reservation was simply made via Yelp. Upon entering as first-timers, my partner and I were greeted by the host. We really liked the decor and authentic French feel with the white mosaic tile floors, large ceiling fans, wicker dining chairs, and white paper tablecloths. The bar area is really charming and reminiscent of a European restaurant. The dining room is very large. They also have a back room for small parties. Our server was Thomas, who was friendly, attentive, and helpful. The menu has many classic French dishes and a Bastille prix-fixe, especially for today's celebration, thanks to the creation of Closter resident, chef, and co-owner, Thomas. We decided on the Bastille prix-fixe consisting of an appetizer: Escargots "Persillade" (garlic-herb butter, rustic bread); an entree: Confit de Canard (duck leg, beluga lentils, pickled Swiss chard, frisée,Biellese pancetta); a dessert: Fresh Berry Galette (crème patisserie, seasonal berries); AND tonight's special: Mafaldine Pasta (bolognese, parmesan cheese). The escargots were covered by a heady, bright green butter sauce blended with fresh parsley and tarragon. It's a French delicacy that would be a shame to pass up, but it was a tad salty. Confit de Canard was tender with a nice crust and was amazing. Mafaldine Pasta was tasty and delicious with fresh ingredients. The general manager, Christian, came around to introduce himself and made small talk right when the dessert, Fresh Berry Galette (crème patisserie and seasonal berries), arrived at our table. The kitchen surprised the celebrant with the same dessert and wished my partner a Happy Birthday. We can't say enough good things about this Brasserie. By the way, the prices, especially for food and drink of this caliber, are very reasonable. Skip the NYC traffic and have a great meal here, which we can recommend. read more

See all

My wife and I enjoyed both dishes. The service was the most exceptional. I would go back just for how pleasant the staff was.

Love this restaurant. Excellent food, splendid hospitality, feels like Paris, and, like Paris, it's great to return.

We came here on the recommendation of a friend and upon arrival we were transported to Paris. Careful attention has been paid to every detail from the decor to the attire of the staff and the menu selections. Because it was a date night.We wanted to make sure we could have an intimate table away from others.That was gladly accommodated. And as we left the restaurant we were handed a bag with pastries. One pain au chocolat, one almond croissant, which we will enjoy with our morning coffee. read more

We went here for brunch and ordered the omelet of the day, the tarte flambee and the salade chinoise. The food was delicious, but the portions were small. For three people sharing, it wasn't enough food, so we added a Gratin de Pommes De Terre. The omelet entree was $22 and was served on a slice of bread, with nothing else. It did take us a minute to decide on drinks, and unfortunately, the food arrived before our drinks. For some reason we got a different waiter mid-meal, and service was slow. Overall, I would go here again, with expectations of good food, but small portions. read more

See all