My wife and I were running errands in the area and wanted a quick lunch. I saw Salad House on Yelp…read moreand figured it fit the bill. I'm a sucker for healthy fast casual restaurants. Salad House is certainly that. Nice and clean, bright and airy, and a friendly and helpful counter worker. My wife enjoyed the fiesta chicken salad. I loved the Thai chili bowl. My bowl included rice, romaine, pickled onions, and some of the best crispy tofu I've had. The dressing had the right amount of zest to it. Really a fulfilling bowl!

In one word fine. Everything was fine, a little pricy but fine. Service was fine, quality of food…read morewas fine, portion was fine. Nothing above and beyond. I ordered the Fiesta Chx and it was, wait for it...fine. It came with beans, avocado, lettuce, chicken, corn and cheddar cheese. Everything was fresh and no brown spots on the avocado. Would I go back and order it again? Sure if I was in the area, but would not drive out of my way for it.

A Hidden Gem You Can't Miss!…read more I stumbled upon this adorable local café by accident, and I'm so glad I did. It's a truly special spot that feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the usual chain coffee shops. The coffee is outstanding. Their cortado and flat white are perfectly crafted and some of the best I've had. We also tried the cold matcha with a squirt of strawberry syrup, which was absolutely delicious a perfect refreshing treat. The pastries are a highlight too; they are homemade and baked fresh on a "need-to-basis," so you know everything is made with care and never sits around. What really sets this place apart is the atmosphere. It is incredibly dog-friendly, which was a huge plus for us since we brought our furbaby along. He absolutely loved his "pupachino"! We were lucky enough to enjoy the beautiful weather on their outside seating area, which added to the lovely vibe. We even got to meet the owner, who was kind, warm, and welcoming, and the staff is equally friendly. It's rare to find a place with such genuine hospitality. Definitely make this your go-to spot before heading to Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. You won't regret supporting this wonderful local business!

cute place, staff is friendly! pricing is a little on the high side especially with it being…read morestrawberry syrup and not ceremonial grade matcha, but good nonetheless.

This place is unbelievable in the best way! I have eaten at hundreds of Italian restaurants in the…read moreUS, and spent two weeks in Italy many years ago. No place in the US is as good as true Italian, until this place. This is authentically Italian in the best way. The food is all fresh, farm to table. My salad tasted like it was from Chez Panisse, which is famous for its salads. The pasta was freshly made; the tiramisu was the best I've had outside of Italy, and better than many in Italy, which I've never said in the US anywhere. The staff was delightful and helpful. The head chef is truly Italian and knows what she is doing!, Elisa and Aydon were both fantastic servers. Give both of them a bonus! The ambiance was great, with beautiful lighting and decor. Great for a romantic date or, as I was doing, dinner with a life long friend. I live 3,000 miles away and might make a trip back here sooner just to visit this place. Everyone should come here, you will not regret it!

A few friends and I celebrated a birthday dinner here, and overall, we had a great experience! The…read moretables are very close together, which makes the atmosphere quite intimate -- perfect for a cozy night out. We started our evening with the eggplant appetizer. We tried two of the specials: the orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe, which was absolutely delicious, and the chicken saltimbocca, which was fantastic -- by far the best dish of the night. We also had the cacio e pepe pasta, which unfortunately missed the mark. It was extremely undercooked -- even hard to cut with a butter knife -- so that was a bit disappointing. That said, everything else was wonderful! The desserts were outstanding -- their tartufo is unique and not like others I've had, and the Nutella ricotta pie was my absolute favorite. Very rich, very sweet, and a generous portion. Despite the pasta hiccup, we really enjoyed our meal and would absolutely come back again! Oddly they don't have a cappuccino maker and no regular coffee-just espresso I believe.

I've eaten at a lot of different types of restaurants but sometimes you just want friendly people…read moreplacing healthy ingredients in a bowl and handing it to you. Thankfully Salad House has that down! My daughter and I wanted a quick dinner on a Thursday night and headed to Salad House. Found parking nearby and lucked out that they weren't too busy. Ordered a Harvest Bowl plus grilled chicken and my daughter got a chicken Caesar wrap. Took advantage of some gorgeous weather and sat at their comfortable sidewalk seating. Harvest bowl had plenty of great ingredients and the highlight was the crispiest Brussels sprouts! My daughter found the lettuce to be very crunchy and the wrap was flavorful! Will gladly return to Salad House!

Had a salad bowl with salmon and steak…read more Had really fresh ingredients The salmon and steak tasted way better than your typical salad salmon and steak Especially the steak! Could eat the steak straight up. Would definitely come back, even though my bowl was $25

Lula is an excellent dining option in the heart of Ridgewood, NJ. I was recommended this place by a…read morecolleague and was pleasantly surprised to have such a great dining experience here. First things first as I'm sure other reviewers have flagged but Lula is BYOB. We forgot that memo but luckily they partner up and recommend local wine / liquor distributors who are able and willing to swing down to the restaurant with a bottle of your favorite thing. Prices are high (on-par with what you'd expect from NYC fine dining) but the ambiance isn't stuffy and staff were kind, friendly and generally attentive. Note that the restaurant is generally loud (there is no music) so you might find yourself raising your voice to talk to your partner. The restaurant was completely busy so reservations are necessary though thankfully did not find it as competitive as NYC to get a prime-time Saturday night dinner reservation. The focaccia, a staple on Lula's menu, was excellent though I would do without the +$3 additional sardine sauce / accompaniment which I felt was unnecessary. The beef tartare was my personal favorite, light and delicious and a generous portion paired with the cream sauce and chips. We were generally satisfied by the time our entrees came out and I really enjoyed the salmon / fish dish they served along with the clams. Finishing with the Baked Alaska was also excellent (though not game-changing) and we enjoyed our time here. Would recommend a visit and think there's enough going on nearby to warrant a trip to Ridgewood, NJ regardless!

Disappointing birthday dinner! We had a 7:30 reservation and…read morewere out of the restaurant by 8:30! Felt very rushed; the hostess ( not our waiter) came and took my plate without asking me if I were finished or not; I had to tell her that I was still eating my dinner! Also, they serve you popcorn to nibble on while you're waiting for your dinner? Felt like we were in a movie theater or a bar/ grill! I ordered the beef carpaccio which they serve with potatoe chips; for the price that they charge for the appertizer, you would expect better! Food was good but not great! Overall not a great experience!

This BYOB is a hidden gem. The food, service, ambiance were great! The flavors of every dish melded…read moreso well together. All the dishes were authentic Italian dishes with a flair. By authentic I mean you are not going to find chicken parm and heavy red sauces here but you will find great food. The chef/owner tries to come out of the kitchen but on a busy Saturday night you may not see him until late. Our table of 4 had the Zucchini flan, veal/tuna app)yes,sounds strange but you won't be disappointed ), meatballs, cacio de Pepe, fettuccine bolognese, black ink pasta with shrimp, pork chop and 4 different desserts! All the dishes were light and not too big, Just the perfect portion size. Don't be afraid the try anything on their menu and be sure to make a reservation. We can't wait to go back.

If you're expecting a red sauce extravaganza straight out of your grandmother's kitchen, this isn't…read morethe place--but that's exactly what makes it so special! Think of it as if an Italian chef went to culinary school and then returned to their roots, blending tradition with refined technique. This new Italian spot is like the cool, sophisticated cousin of your favorite local joint, and let me tell you, it delivers. First, the portions--yes, they're on the smaller side, especially for us Jersey Italians who are used to mounds of pasta that can feed the whole block. But honestly? It's refreshing. I'm not lugging around a doggy bag (as much as I love one), and I actually leave feeling *just* right, without the dreaded food coma. Each dish is thoughtfully plated, with layers of flavors that make you savor every bite. It's a bit more complex than your standard spaghetti and meatballs, but it retains that cozy, homey essence that makes you feel like you're dining in an Italian villa. Speaking of ambiance, our server even had a delightful accent that instantly transports you straight to Italy. They're friendly, professional, and just charming enough to make you feel like you're part of the family without the heavy hand of an overzealous nonna. Each dish feels like a perfectly balanced masterpiece--complex, yes, but never so fancy that it loses its soul. The flavors are vibrant and nuanced, making every bite an experience rather than just a meal. It's that perfect marriage of high-end technique and the kind of comforting flavors that make you feel like you're at home, but with a serious upgrade. I can already tell this place is going to become a regular in my rotation--just not every weekend, because my Jersey Italian stomach needs a little time to adjust to the elegance. But next time I'm in the mood for Italian that's both refined and comforting, this spot will be at the top of my list!

Met up with a few friends at Graze, and overall we had a great time. The wait was a bit long, but…read morehonestly pretty reasonable for a Sunday. I didn't get to see or experience the ambiance inside but I'm sure it's nice - we were seated outside as eating was our priority! I ordered a matcha, and it tasted a little watered down, but still okay. The main courses made up for it. The steak was phenomenal and the sides had so much flavor that nothing felt like an afterthought. Our waitress also had a fun personality, which added to the experience. I'll definitely be back.

4.5 stars -- only because I've only been there once. Once I return, I'm sure I'm going to pop up to…read more5 stars! This tiny place in Ho-Ho-Kus was a truly lovely brunch experience. The food was fresh (how did they find a flawless avocado in the middle of winter???) and the flavors delicious. The service was outstanding -- weekend brunch was packed, and they put your name on a list in case you want to walk around town while you're waiting. Don't go too far, because somehow they're able to move the tables without making folks feel rushed. Each person we encountered -- the host, the folks at the counter, our server -- was nicer than the last. I got a bowl that had slightly cooked spinach, poached eggs, sweet potatoes and that GOHgeous avocado I mentioned above. One thing I really liked about this bowl is that it didn't have rice in it -- something that would've made it too overwhelming. This was the perfect combo and portion size. Someone else in our small group got the avocado toast (more avocado!!) and also said it was excellent. Definitely plan to return!

This is one of my favorite vegan restaurants! Everything is prepared fresh right in front of you…read moreusing high quality delicious ingredients. The staff is friendly and eager to answer any questions. Today I had the cauliflower crust pizza for the first time and it was great! Definitely give them a try, you'll love them too!

Hidden gem right here! Let me start by saying that I am not a vegan, but I love eating healthy…read more(occasionally) and this menu looked awesome. I ordered delivery for the spicy vegan chili and potato croquettes. The FLAVOR of this chili makes you forget any beef or meat is needed and I am a big chili fan. The spices and depth of flavor is amazing. The potato croquettes are also very good. A bit on the dry side, but that's to be expected when they're baked and healthier. The side sauce (you can pick from several options) made things much more moist, but the flavor of the actual croquettes are great. Nice potato pillows! I can't wait to explore more of the menu and hopefully enjoy in person to test the service and overall ambience.

The quality of food is consistently delicious. Today was my 3rd visit. We had Pork souvlakia,…read moreVillage Salad(Horatiki), fried cod with skorthalia (garlic mashed potatoes) and beets. An order of Mousaka with oven fresh bread. The mousaka is definitely worth ordering. It is prepared in an individual iron skillet and served piping hot. We had Baklava & coffee for Dessert. This is definitely one of Bergen County's hidden gems. I highly recommend this food establishment as authentic Greek Cuisine!! By, Peter J Koulikourdis

I found Meltemi through the inKind app because we had some inKind credits expiring and were looking…read moreto have a Sunday lunch in Bergen County. We came shortly after they opened at 11:30 and there was only one other family dining there the entire time we were there. We had: -Assortment of three spreads - hummus, tzatziki, and skordalia (potato, garlic, olive oil). We originally wanted to get the roasted eggplant but they said they hadn't made it yet. All the spreads were fine - nothing special about it. It comes with some pita bread for dipping. Next, we had some grilled halloumi -Avgolemono Soup - comforting on a cloudy day. Even my toddler enjoyed it and she doesn't usually like meat but ate a few chunks of the chicken -Grilled Halloumi (with fig jam) - this was a little oily and very salty. I did like the fig jam with it but $17.95 for a chunk of cheese is pretty pricey -Gyro Combo Platter (pork, chicken, and lamb gyro served with fries, pita, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki) - I missed where the menu said it's served with tzatziki because then I probably wouldn't have ordered the assortment of spreads. The pork was chewy, and the chicken was dry, but the lamb was good. They did have a nice flavor though. Again, my daughter who doesn't like meat even ate some of the chicken and the lamb. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back here, especially since there were really only two things we really liked. But if you do visit, I'd recommend just getting the lamb gyro. Tip - BYOB

White Maple Café in Ridgewood is such a gem. The atmosphere alone is worth a visit; gorgeous,…read morerustic, and boho with a really cozy, welcoming vibe. Everything here is clearly made fresh, which absolutely shows in the quality and flavor. The mulled cider is incredible, and their soups are truly to die for (comforting, rich, and perfectly done)!! I'm giving it four stars only because if you're in a hurry, this probably isn't the spot. Service takes a bit of time, but that's the trade-off for how fresh everything is. If you're looking to slow down, enjoy the ambiance, and have a delicious meal, this place is definitely worth it.

We went there for Mother's Day, and I think that was one of our worst experiences…read more First of all, the menu they had on the table was very unprofessional. They only gave you options that felt like they were pushing on you. We had the Caesar salad, and it had no taste. The lamb chops I had were some of the worst I've had in my life, and I go to restaurants all the time. The service was really bad. The prices were way too high, and I think they were trying to take advantage of people for Mother's Day. Overall, it was a very bad experience, and I wouldn't recommend anyone to go to this place.