Great place to throw a party! Went to our friends 50th (twins) surprise birthday party! They…read moresevered hors d'oeuvre all night long! The place is pretty big on the first floor! They served coconut shrimp, mini burgers, empanadas, meatballs, potstickers, and more. Had a great time at this place!

We recently hosted our baby shower at The Loft in Montclair, NJ and it was truly an incredible…read moreexperience. From start to finish everything went smoothly thanks to the amazing team especially Te'Niijah and A'tasia. The space itself was beautiful modern and spacious with a great layout that worked perfectly for our event. One of the things we really appreciated was that they provided tables and chairs which made planning so much easier. It's a great setup and the venue is very well maintained. Te'Niijah and A'tasia were an absolute dream to work with. They were professional friendly and always accessible whenever we had questions. They offered helpful recommendations and made us feel supported throughout the planning process. You can tell they genuinely care about making your event special and stress free. On the day of the shower everything went off without a hitch. We were able to enjoy ourselves and be present with our guests while knowing that everything behind the scenes was being handled. We're already looking forward to rebooking The Loft Montclair for future events. Huge thanks and major kudos to Te'Niijah and A'tasia for their incredible work collaborating with us, and our vendors. We wholeheartedly recommend this venue and team to anyone planning a special celebration.

This place is perfect for any type of party.. I have been to…read more30th surprise partys, baby showers, engagement partys, and even a small wedding.. They have custom lighting installed so you can set the mood to however you are feeling. They have a pool table and darts to keep the kids entertained. Their sound system is great so you dont need to hire a dj and you can use your spotify playlist.. Save money by bringing your own food and drinks and party all night long like you are at home without having to worry about cleaning up.. Cant wait for the next party here..

Nice venue but parking is a real challenge. Would use them again for smaller parties.read more

EVENT VENUE REVIEW ONLY:…read more Last night, my husband and I attended a board meeting held at Van Vleck House & Gardens. I've driven past its gates many times over the years, but this was my first opportunity to visit Van Vleck in Montclair. The meeting took place at 6:30pm, but the hour leading up to it was allowed for check-in, picking up name tags, and a light cocktail hour with food and refreshments. The organization had the check-in outside of the main house's entrance way. When we walked inside, there were cocktail tables covered in white cloth and adorned with floral center pieces and tealight candles. There was a buffet table in one of the first floor rooms to the left. There was also a bar setup in that room, as well as some seating. The library was rearranged for another bar setup and more cocktail tables. The library has windows that let in natural lighting and there is also beautiful fireplace. The catering and bartending team did a great job. The food spread was high quality and delicious. My vegetarian husband gave two thumbs up for the butternut squash ravioli, mushroom penne, and goat cheese salad. The bartender in the library was great. The people offering hors d'oeuvres were all professional and kind. It was a lovely hour before the meeting. The meeting was held in the room where most likely wedding ceremonies or event activities take place. That night, they had a stage set up for speakers and performers, and white wooden fold-up chairs for attendees. The room acoustics are good. At this meeting, there was short musical performance from two string musicians, and you could hear every detail of the notes played (i.e. great sound). After the meeting concluded, attendees began to exit. There were desserts by the front entrance for people, which was a nice surprise. It's a very special venue. My only note would be - and it's because I'm always looking out for this stuff - the pathway from the front door to the gate opening has very low lighting. Our meeting ended at 8pm and it was already sundown. While my husband and I were fine, another attendee exclaimed how it was so dark. We offered the flash lighting feature on our phones to help her out and lit up the path to avoid any falls. This may not be the usual for events as I imagine many people have them during the day to enjoy the lush gardens and natural beauty of the property... but I'm just saying should this apply to you.

We went here for Mother's Day, so it was exceptionally crowded as expected. It is a lovely smaller…read moresized garden. There aren't many walking trails available, but nice flowers, trees, and open areas to roam around for a bit. It's a nice spot to go and enjoy some outdoor time. It isn't someplace that you could really get some farther walking in. But nice mini escape.

Unfortunately, they're closing on Dec. 20th. The location is the only thing I can think of. The…read moreservice was great and the ambiance was well thought out. Ordered only apps, though unique presentation and flavors. I enjoyed them and so did the customers I yapped with.

Points for taking a crack at "just like in the city," but the "economic difficulties" definitely…read morecome from this area of Essex County not being able to turn tables as if it's the city--and not at the premium Bacarosa needs to charge to make that magnificent menu and this space pencil out. I give the team a lot of credit for pivoting when it was clear The Hudson Rose wasn't going to take, but Nutley still exists a few steps below Montclair and Maplewood in this regard. A post-pandemic restaurant needs certainty and needs to minimize the weird lulls that now exist in the dining calendar. Bacarosa had the product and service, but there just weren't the logistics to drive this kind of scale. Nutley's always been kinder to the smaller places on Franklin Avenue, and I think that's still where it sits as a dining destination. That's no fault of the staff or product, but that makes it very difficult to manage overhead on this space, quality, and staffing. I don't look forward to this space inevitably taking a step back to its Gondola/Peter the Great banquet hall days of yesteryear, but The Franklin Steakhouse set a poor precedent by moving from its cozy spot just north of here to a space that could hold two of its former locations. I wish this team the best and hope we see them in this corner of the county again sometime. Thank you for giving the place the quality it deserved, even if the traffic just wasn't there.

Was here for a family event. My husband and I thought the decor was very nice. The party was well…read moreplanned and the service was excellent.

Two weeks ago 4/6 I had a surprise birthday party for my sister. I had looked at various venues and…read morethe Brookside stood out to me the most. Because I live in Atlanta majority of the planning took place over the phone. Lorraine was simply AMAZING! Christina worked with me due to the fact that I was planning a party all the way from Atlanta. Everything was explained to me in detail. They even assisted in an area where I couldn't make a decision. The night is the event Chris was the Mgr assigned to my party and everyone on that team were beyond helpful and amazing. From the set, drinks, food, and lighting were done to perfection. We had guest arrive super late, and Chris went out his way to see if it was possible for food to be served. Food: Italian Meatballs- Great, Shrimp and Rice: Great, Pasta: Great. I was very pleased with the food. You choose 6 entree's. Dessert: Whoever Baker their cakes Great work! I got nothing but who made this cake? I would highly recommend the Brookside for any parties. They carter to you. Now, they're not cheap, but I am firm believer you pay for what you get. The service provided took care of any additional cost for the services I needed. Again, THANK YOU, Lorraine, Christina, and Chris for making my sister super surprise 40th birthday a night to remember. She is officially 40 & Flawless!

Verona/Montclair, NJ - this medieval castle-like mansion was the cozy home of industrialist…read moreFrederic Ellsworth Kip in the early 1900s, and, saved from the ignominious fate of being developed into a row of townhouses during the modern era, the estate is now part of the historic Essex County Park System and thankfully is being preserved as an eventual resource center for the arts & culture. Although the 11-acre grounds of Kip's Castle Park is open from dawn to dusk year-round, the house itself is normally closed to the public except for a brief few days around Christmas, when the home is decorated in vintage holiday splendor and the first floor is open to viewing. The home looks grand but is charmingly intimate inside. It doesn't take long to tour but makes for a lovely little visit if you happen to find yourself in the area over the holidays.

I absolutely love castles! First visit!…read more Kips Castle is a replica of a Medieval Castle! Located in Verona and Montclair New Jersey. The Castle was closed but you can explore the 11 acres of land on the ridge of First Mountain. You have beautiful views of the New York skyline. On our way out, saw the deers!!

Dream Venue! Fantastic and experienced staff from Booking, to Tasting with the Chef, to the…read moreWedding Planners & Coordinators. Excellent white glove service. Experienced and skilled staff trained to be attentive and provide guests with exceptional service and hospitality. Meticulous venue, food, service and staff. Very Impressive. ​

I've been here twice this year for two separate occasions and it's always been a pleasant…read moreexperience! The food isn't half bad and the ambiance is absolutely gorgeous!

A great charitable organization. We do things for people that need help…read more We have a terrific banquet room which has been recently updated. The room can hold a max of 600 We can cook for you or you can have it catered and use oyr facilities. You can't go wrong for the price. Call the Lodge and ask to speak the person in charge of booking the room.

I had my daughters baby shower here. It was a perfect space, and they had a bar which you can…read morechoose to use or not. The manager was nice, and the price was affordable. They allowed me inside hours earlier to decorate with no problem. They do not give you access to the kitchen, but they do allow use of the refrigerator and microwave. You had to clean up the area after your event, which was not a problem, as our guests helped us. I would definitely use this lodge again if needed.