This past Saturday, I threw a surprise party for my husband's birthday at Cafe 37, and I could not have been more thrilled with the experience. When I walked in to make the reservation 2 weeks before, I was greeted by the hostess, Lorena, who could not have been more lovely. Lorena was so accommodating, allowing me to provide plenty of wine and distilled alcohol (It's BYOB),and even mixers. She also allowed me to bring in a special birthday cake which I purchased off-site. I had also noticed that the dessert menu offered a cheese and fruit course, and Lorena agreed to serve several platters of that to the guests while they waited for my husband and me to arrive. We were so lucky to have Rene as our waiter. He was a magician! Such a kind gentleman, and he was masterful at remembering all the "little requests" that were not simply related to the menu. There were 14 people in the party, and Rene was constantly coming back to the table, fulfilling requests, offering refills on beverages, and asking if he could do more! He even offered our party an off-menu item of surf and turf (filet mignon with lobster tail) which was also not an item on the "daily specials". His service was nothing less than outstanding, and I am so grateful to him!! The food. Fabulous!! My friends and I dine at some of the finest restaurants in NYC (NoMad, The Carbone/ Torisi restaurants, etc.) and the quality of Cafe 37 is on par with all of them. The portion sizes were just right and everything was cooked perfectly. (For my appetizer I had the shrimp tempura which was outstanding and featured a sweet-piquant ginger vinaigrette over English cucumbers with sesame. I ordered the seafood pot with house made fettuccine for my main course and cannot wait to order it again). I had everyone order dessert ( I ordered the creme brulee -- wonderful) since the cake I supplied was simply to provide everyone a ceremonial slice, and the everyone raved, (even though they were stuffed!). Even the dinner rolls were ethereal and light. Any traditional menu items are given a sophisticated and exciting treatment. Chef Cesar Sotomayor is incredibly talented. I hope i have not left anything out. The other staff members were all so kind and very generous as well! They all have my sincere gratitude and i can't wait to return to this fine restaurant! read more

Lovely place, rather chic and quiet. Very gentle and attentive staff, even to our two young boys. Food was really excellent: Lick-the-bowl Mushroom Risotto that had just enough pasta to hold it together, otherwise it was all mushrooms, mature cheese and truffley goodness. Super yum. Our boys had the Duck Confit to start (terrific, perfectly prepared and a VERY hearty appetizer) then the Grass Fed Filet Mignon, cooked to perfection. So nice to see this (grass fed) in more places. My Burrata Salad was to-die-for. Fresh and flavorful with just enough veggie salad to accompany, with a tasty aged balsamic. Hubby and I enjoyed the perfect Venison. Not gamey at all, but if you don't like a sauce on your meat, give them the heads up; they will graciously accommodate. We enjoyed so much, going back with friends this week. Our new local Fave. read more

I went their for the first time and food was excellent. I had ribs for dinner. Atmosphere was really nice and service was super friendly. I could n't catch the name of the waiter but he was awesome. We will definitely go back again. read more

HIGHLY recommend Cafe 37 for anyone looking for delicious food, but also those with big groups. We had a dinner there with 20 people last night, and the service was beyond excellent. We did not do a pre-fixe menu, and they were so accommodating and patient. And, of course the food was excellent. Also, when dealing with the reservation, the chef directly emailed me to confirm any changes several times in past month, which was so reassuring and a service I did not expect. read more

Ambitious well prepared menu. Friendly and accommodating staff. Has the potential to become one of Ridgewood's "Go To", restaurants.

I really enjoyed this restaurant. I had been trying to get there for awhile but it was always booked on the weekends. I didn't like the fact that they only have two seatings on weekends, instead of letting the paying customers dine at times that are convenient for them. However, this night the 8:30pm seating was convenient for us and they had an opening. I started with the appetizer special of burrata, which was excellent - creamy and rich. For my entrée I had the lamb chops ($36) which were excellently prepared and flavorful. My wife and friends also liked their meals. They had lots of other things on the menu I'd like to try. I would definitely go back here. The waiter was also very good - friendly and relaxed, comfortable giving you a recommendation. (I hate when a waiter says "everything's good.") read more

Pretty awesome place. I travel a lot and often eat on someone else's dollar, but this place nailed it on not a lot of $$. First it's BYOB. SO I brought a nice bottle of oaky Chardonnay and a really good Zin. Both purchased at a cool place across the street. I struggled deciding what to get. All looked awesome. It made it harder when my waiter Felix described the specials. I decided on the 4 course prise fixe menu. To be short, I had the tempura shrimp app, watercress salad, filet medallion, and creme brûlée. My descriptions don't do them justice. All we fantastic. I asked for filet medallion medium rare and they nailed it. Not easy for a thin cut. The presentation was fantastic, and the service perfect. Just enough. It was a beautiful night so I sat outside. Since its BYOB there's no bar. Inside seemed a little tight but I'll find that out when I come back later this year. Right now if it's a nice night and you're in the area try this out. Get a Rez and request a table outside. There's only s few. read more

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This is one of our favorites! The food is always fabulous. We went back tonight for our anniversary and were not disappointed. I started with the crabcakes which are among the best crabcakes I've ever had. Super light and fluffy with fantastic taste. My husband had the broccoli soup which he said was creamy and flavorful. We both had the surf and turf with steak and lobster. Ridiculous! I'm a rare steak person and the steak was cooked perfectly. There was a nice sear with great flavor. The lobster was also well cooked and had a great smoky taste. The mashed potatoes were super creamy, the asparagus nicely cooked and the red wine reduction the perfect compliment. Dessert is always my favorite. The golden puffs are out of this world. Coconut ice cream between pasty. This is the only place I eat ice cream other than chocolate. My husband had the fallen chocolate cake which was also great - rich and creamy with a great caramel sauce. The staff here is always super attentive and the chef fantastic. I highly recommend for a nice night out - it never disappoints! read more

What a breath of fresh air! We have been searching for months to find a restaurant that I could give five stars to... Cafe 37 is that place! The food was amazing and the service was very very good. The crab and lobster app was fresh and enough for two to share. My filet mignon entree was perfectly cooked. The BYOB is just a bonus to this restaurant's charm. read more

Pretty, intimate and comfortable space. Everything our group of 4 tried was delicious. Service was top notch.We will definitely return!

You can't go wrong if you choose Cafe 37 any day of the week! I recently celebrated my birthday there with my family and everyone, including the out-of-towners, were SO impressed with every course. Every dish - appetizers, entrees and desserts, were expertly prepared by the chef, Cesar Sotomayor and wowed my family. They all want to come back again to experience the culinary perfection that Cesar prepares night after night. The wait staff is knowledgeable and friendly and aims to please from start to finish. If you want a dinner that will be perfect in every way, go to Cafe 37 - you will not be disappointed!! read more

We just had an amazing meal!! The presentation, quality and service left us wondering if we were actually in Ridgewood, NJ, or a NYC West Village hipster restaurant. We looking forward to returning! read more

Café 37 is an impressive place despite its understated exterior (don't judge a book...). The NY Times review drew me in, and the experience more than lived up to the hype. Rarely do waiters have personality these days (I wonder sometimes if managers tell their staff to be as blasé as possible), but I found ours to be helpful, wonderfully opinionated and generally good company to have around. He was conscientious and attentive and added a touch of class to what turned out to be a really special meal. I had the beet salad for an appetizer and the black pepper ahi tuna for a main course. For dessert, the vanilla bean crème brûlée. Everything was delicious! I look forward to going back soon. read more

What a wonderful experience. They have 4 course $38 dinner. What a value. To start off they serve olives with parmesan. . Then I had a tempura shrimp with a wonderful salad, with lots of wonderful flavors going on. Followed by a beautiful mixed green and beet salad. Fresh as can be. Then a tuna, slightly seared dish superb. The dessert was a heavenly creme brulee with fruit. My husband had a risotto with mushrooms, followed by a Kale salad and then filet mignon, all really wonderful. This is a must enjoy experience. read more

This Ridgewood restaurant was a pleasant surprise, with dishes that were superbly prepared. We started with oysters that were fresh and meaty. We followed with a delicious paella, with healthy sized shrimp, scallops and mussels. My dinner mate had the short ribs, flavorful and fall-of-the-bone delicate. We skipped dessert, but other tables seemed to enjoy the selection. The space is on the smaller side, and you are very close to your neighbors, but the service is very attentive. It is BYOB, and if you don't have a bottle, across the street is a wine store with a good selection. I certainly will return to sample more of the menu. read more

Café 37 is a small, BYO American fare restaurant. First thoughts after walking in is that the tables are way to close together. Our food had to be passed down because on one side of out table, another two tables were to close for the waitstaff to pass through. Their dishes are very funky looking - loved it. They come out with a trio for your bread (which is brought out by staff - rolls were a bit chewy). Also a small bite as the chef's welcome. It was good, although a bit too big of a bite to eat at one time. We ordered. Having wine and one of the people we were with put his wineglass down and it broke. Loud enough to hear anywhere in the restaurant. No one came over - we had to ask someone to clear off the glass as well as the trio of stuff for the bread - glass got into it. My feeling is that they should have cleared that end of the table to ensure there was no glass pieces (we did find another sliver on the table). We had to ask for another wine glass almost 5 minutes later as well as a new trio - they def didn't give the full amount of whatever was on the original dish. Appetizers and entrees were good although we felt the chef was heavy handed on the sauces; the entrees didn't quite look as beautiful as they could have as they tout themselves as nouvelle. One filet had to be sent back because it was rarer than rare. It was a bit disappointing all around. For the prices they charge, service should have been perfect. Because of the glass incident, I don't think we would be back. read more

Absolutely phenomenal food!! I personally had the Jersey scallops and they were the heat I have ever had! My husband had the tuna, without the soy sauce, and he loved it! The only disappointing dessert was the apples. The crime brûlée was extremely yummy and the banana foster was delicious. Next time we come visit our friends, we'll definitely be back! Do your self a great favor and come here to eat! read more

This restaurant is incredible! There is something for everyone to enjoy. Every detail is taken care of, you will never need to ask for silverware or napkins. The staff is outstanding. The chef is wonderful; he comes out to talk to all of the customers. The food is very delicious! They have a great variety of food including insanely yummy seafood, juicy meat and complex appetizers that will leave you wanting more. It is a real up-scale place. We are hooked to the point where all of our friends have tried it and we have been there three times in the last week. read more

This place is phenomenal. The food is very well prepared and elegantly presented. Service is also first class. Had lunch, can't wait to go back for dinner. Yes, the place is small but that is not a drawback IMO. The decor is tasteful and understated. Check this place out for sure! My friend was quite taken by the table settings. Unusual plates but entirely serviceable. read more

As expected, café 37 did not disappoint. This is a great restaurant for small get togethers with friends or larger groups to meet and eat. The service is always top notch and the food is delicious and well prepared. I recently had the prefixed dinner which consisted of four courses and cappuccino for $42. The portions were adequately sized which is sometimes a concern with prefix dinners. However, this was not the case. For my first course, I ordered the tomato gazpacho soup which was fresh and well seasoned. My second course was a tasty beet salad with mixed greens, walnuts, and strawberries and for my main course I ordered fillet mignon. It was cooked exactly the way I wanted it. It came with garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed fresh spinach and caramelized onions. Since I was pleasantly filled, I decided to take my last course home to enjoy later. I chose the chocolate cake with fresh cream and berries. The wait staff is always knowledgeable and attentive. Felix is my favorite. He takes pride in his work and does a great job managing many tables. He is attentive and professional and always makes your dinner experience pleasant. I'm looking forward to my next visit to café 37. Keep up the good work! read more

We recently had our daughters 16th birthday party at Cafe 37 and it was amazing! Our whole family which included about 35 people were there. Cesar who is the owner and chef is a true artist! He created a fabulous menu for the event. The food was breath taking! Every bite was exquisite. His team provided great service to all our guest. My daughter was really happy and thanks to Cafe 37 she had the best 16th birthday any girl can ask for. read more

One of our favorite restaurants! We always order the filet mignon, scallops with gouda and creme brûlée. Love Cafe 37!

The food is delicious and the service is excellent. I had venison and it was cooked perfectly! A bit cramped but that's normal for a restaurant in Ridgewood. Prices are reasonable; byb... read more

My husband and I ate dinner at Cafe 37 this past weekend and were not disappointed. The menu was inventive and refreshing and the food was delicious and beautifully prepared. I ordered a burrata appetizer special that was creamy and delicious, and my husband ordered a halibut ceviche that was memorably yummy! For entrees, he had the seafood risotto, which was artfully arranged on the plate, featuring a whole lobster tail, giant scallops, mussels, and clams. It was spot on. My ahi tuna was presented on a bed of quinoa with a coconut mango sauce and I loved it. Dessert was bananas foster for him and "golden puffs" (basically profiteroles without the chocolate sauce) for me. The service was excellent. Our waiter knew the menu and made perfect recommendations for us. Cafe 37 is a BYOB, and they never let our glasses be empty. The decor is a little sparse, but modern and the room is small, but there is outdoor seating. We will definitely return to this little gem in our hometown. read more

First review was in 2013 and it was good. Today I consider it one of the best restsurants in Bergen county. Never disappoints.

This is my second time to Cafe 37 only open approx 2 weeks....went for lunch this time...we had the cold soup of the day, soft seafood taco's and Salad.... just perfect ingrediants, presentation and preparation.... AB FAB!!!! Can't wait to go back!!! read more

My husband and I had the most delightful dining experience at Cafe 37. It was a nice evening so we sat outside and enjoyed not only delicious food but friendly, attentive service. Everyone working there seems to truly want it to be a wonderful night for their patrons. Even though they had just opened you would not know it. We dine out OFTEN and there have been more glitches at established restaurants then anything experienced here. We liked it so much we are going back with friends this Saturday. read more

I work locally and dined here for lunch by myself one day. Mauricio was my waiter and treated me like a star. My meal was fantastic, I had a chicken over Cobb salad. The owner even came out and offered me a chocolate soufflé. The cappuccino was fresh and delicious. I couldn't have had a better meal or experience- all at a great price for Ridgewood. As I was leaving, a group of ladies had just sat down for a late lunch... it made me think that the next time I go, I will probably do the same! Gotta try it! read more

My wife and I have had two dinners here. Both times the restaurant was busy, but not crowded. No issue with portion sizes, they were a bit on the small side but I prefer that to huge portions of mediocre food. We have enjoyed every entree we have had, which includes pork tenderloin, paella with mussels and shrimp, lamb chops, and fettuccine with scallops. Maybe the fettuccine was under seasoned, and scallops were under seasoned, but they worked okay together. My wife especially enjoyed the polenta which was a side with her lamb chops. Service was brisk, and appropriately attentive. read more

Everything was perfect! The pre fixe menu took any guess work out of ordering. The goat cheese ravioli was incredible and the filet mignon medalions superb. The wait staff was extremely attentive, humerous, and knowledgeable. With a liquor store across the street, this was a perfect venue. I would recommend this restaurant to all my friends. read more

Had dinner here last night and it was fantastic! From the moment we walked in, the service was excellent and the food was outstanding! The portions were more than enough. I had the Asian BBQ Pork Ribs and they were fall off the bone delicious. I can't say enough how much we enjoyed ourselves. I recommend this place highly! read more

this is one restaurant in the town of Ridgewood that is consistently good. We have eaten here at least a dozen times and never had a bad meal. Staff is very friendly and attentive Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees. read more

This is the best restaurant in Ridgewood. Everything is done perfectly. The service is amazing and every dish is delicious. The food and ambiance will never disappoint. From appetizers to dessert you will never have a bad meal. It's like having a NYC restaurant right in town. read more

Amazing food and amazing service! Everything was great! For an appetizer, we ordered the Shrimp Tempura and Tuna Brushetta. Both were delicious. For the entrees, we ordered the chicken and fillet mignon medialians. Excellent! I would definitely get the fillet mignon again. The presentation of the dishes were very impressive. The desserts were heavenly. We got the golden cream puffs with coconut ice cream and banana fosters. Both delicious and delightful. Kuddos to the chef!We will be back here again for sure! read more

No doubt the food is incredible. Hats off to the chef and cooking stafF. I have been there twice and ordered multiple appetizers both times just to taste a sampling of the food. The entrees were also well prepared. I would have given it a higher rating except for the noise level which was so loud it took a lot away from the dining experience. We were a party of four unfortunately seated next to a raucous party of 8. These people had no sense of decorum and were screaming to loudly that we could not hear ourselves speak. Unfortunately, there was another party of 8 across the room that was giving them competition on who was the noisiest table After we had finished our meal the young woman who I guess is sort of the maitre d asked about our meal and we explained had bad the noise level was. She just shrugged and pretended to be concerned and said it was like that on weekends. My advice is to avoid this restaurant like the plague on weekends unless you want to dine with ear plugs. read more

This is a great little restaurant. We went with another couple, and enjoyed the meal tremendously. Two of us had the scallops with smoked gouda fondue. It was an amazing dish, and defied conventional wisdom of not serving cheese and fish together. The place was attractive, comfortable, and had good service. It is BYOB, but that is no problem since there is great wine shop just across the street. read more

Been twice. First time supreme, second time, not so much. Second time I ordered red snapper and was given monkfish, NOT EVEN CLOSE, HELLO!??. That was pretty pathetic. Mentioned it to the waiter who did not deny it but just laughed it off. Salads are good ingredients but very small portion. Bread is to be complimented as are the diver scallops over linguini. read more

To anthony g. A parfait is a layered dessert very good. Not a crab salad with crap sticking out of it. As for the coat factory comment I suppose that was a low blow. Funny how your pictures are taken from the kitchen you guys must be friends or you work there. So in no way could you have an agenda. It doesn't matter what you say he still doesn't use salt and the food is bland. Have fun on your knees in the kitchen tony;). After a very immature private message sent to me from anthony g. I will admit there was a small amount of lobster in the "parfait". Which still isn't a parfait, and had no seasoning and was bland. If the owner of this place and his staff can't handle one persons bad review they should close up shop. As a chef for the past 10 years I've heard the worst. As a professional I shrug it off. Its a shame this crew over at cafe 37 gets hurt feelings over something that happens everyday to some of the best chefs in the world. read more

Not on the main road so you not be familiar with the location, but you should be because this place was delicious. We had the goat cheese ravioli that totally blew my mind; I wanted to lick the extra sage sauce out of the bowl. However this is a higher end place so that would have been a little weird. For our entre I had a short rid special and my bf had the steak that he swore was better than roots. Truffle mashed potatoes were so worth the calories. Plus BYOB so let's be serious you love it already. Make sure you don't have a table by the door. read more

Six of us went last night to Cafe 37 on Broad Street in Ridgewood NJ. I have an allergy which I specifically told the waiter about. I ordered an appetizer and entree and asked him to check with the chef to make sure the dishes could be made allergy free. It was checked so I was good to go. The appetizer came out to which the waiter made a point of saying it was allergy free. When the entree came out it was decorated with my allergic item. I called over the waiter to which he proclaimed the dish was prepared allergy free but the plate was decorated with it. I explained that I can't eat this. He took it back and a few minutes later returns with the dish saying happily that it was replated on a clean plate. I say I can't take a chance of contact and request a fresh dish be made. 15 minutes later the other 5 have finished eating and I'm eating by myself disgusted with the exchange. The bill cited my allergy so it wasn't the waiter. It was the chef. I would not recommend going to a restaurant where the chef doesn't understand food allergies or doesn't care. Cesar While I appreciate your learning experience, at your small restaurant that was half empty on a Saturday night, at my expense. I guess I am fortunateSix of us went last night to Cafe 37 on Broad Street in Ridgewood NJ. I have an allergy which I specifically told the waiter about. I ordered an appetizer and entree and asked him to check with the chef to make sure the dishes could be made allergy free. It was checked so I was good to go. The appetizer came out to which the waiter made a point of saying it was allergy free. When the entree came out it was decorated with my allergic item. I called over the waiter to which he proclaimed the dish was prepared allergy free but the plate was decorated with it. I explained that I can't eat this. He took it back and a few minutes later returns with the dish saying happily that it was replated on a clean plate. I say I can't take a chance of contact and request a fresh dish be made. 15 minutes later the other 5 have finished eating and I'm eating by myself disgusted with the exchange. The bill cited my allergy so it wasn't the waiter. It was the chef. I would not recommend going to a restaurant where the chef doesn't understand food allergies or doesn't care. Cesar, While I appreciate your learning experience, at your small restaurant which was half empty this past Saturday night, at my expense. I guess I should feel fortunate that I did not wind up in the hospital with an anaphylactic reaction. What disturbs me most is that the bill was clearly identified as having an allergy so I can't speak to the communication issue you mentioned. read more