We found this place in route to QC after playing MusikFest in Bethlehem. We like to obviously…read moresupport small businesses when we are travel traveling when possible. The main woman (maybe Priscilla?) was super nice and helpful on what to choose the moment we got in. Everyone in the family was happy with what they got. There are tons of options too! Very very YUM! The sandwiches, salads and wraps are HUGE too and the coffee is GOOD. The pastries looked amazing but we only got one thing. :(

Stopped here for Small Business Saturday, but they were closed for the weekend. So, my wife and I…read morewent the following week and wasn't disappointed. We made a quick stop here for coffee and and a breakfast sandwich. Didn't get a chance to walk around and check out the entire space, because the photos on here shows it to be nicely decorated. The staff was extremely friendly and very courteous. The service was quick and the food is absolutely delicious. I ordered the bacon egg and cheese sandwich and it hit the spot! We will be sure to comeback and grab a seat!

The service and atmosphere are 5+ stars. The restaurant is stunning both inside and out. The bar is…read morea totally separate experience. We opted for the quieter dinning room with natural light. Our server was great along with the helpers who were very quick to respond to any questions we had or clear something from our table. First let me say we completely enjoyed our dinner. We loved our salad and appetizer and one of the 2 desserts (cheesecake). We both enjoyed our mains and took home leftovers so we had room for dessert. Our only comments and reason for just 4 stars is that our mains weren't seasoned enough. I saw garlic in the pasta with scallops but didn't taste any of it when eating. The red sauce on the chicken parmigiana was great but the chicken and breading was just ok, missing seasoning. Would definitely try again for a special occasion dinner or maybe try the Trattoria which is attached and upstairs. However if spending $100+ per person everything should be wonderful.

Ristorante MV offers a cozy atmosphere with classic Italian dishes. It's a cute little restaurant…read morethat's charming from outside of the restaurant, which offers a couple of outdoor dining, to inside which was well decorated. I ordered their Sogliola Alla Oreganata, which was a fillet Of Sole with Lemon, Garlic & Herbs, Lightly Crusted & Grilled.The fish was fresh, moist, and tender, allowing its delicate flavor to shine. However, I do wish it came with a sauce instead of just a lemon wedge to add a bit more depth. We tired their tiramisu for dessert, which was served in a cup which I was very skeptical about because I'm all about finding authentic ones. It delivered a wonderfully bold espresso flavor without being overly sweet, which I really appreciated. However, I did not like the construction of the dessert as it had only 1 layer of lady finger and another layer was replaced by a sponge cake. I would have preferred both layers to be ladyfingers for a better texture and flavor. I would also like more mascarpone layers instead of a layer of cream on the top. This just tells me they are trying to save on the cost by cutting the corners with the ingredient replacements. Our server was friendly and the service was super quick. There is also a valet parking available which was very convenient it may not be easy to find street parking especially on weekends. Overall, Ristorante MV is a cute little restaurant that's a good option for date nights serving Italian cuisine with fresh ingredients and balanced flavor. I do find it to be quite pricy for what you get and also the location. I initially was looking at their special menu and was shocked to see 1 meat dish for $70-80. The tiramisu was also very small (one small tea cup size) for $15. There are definitely other options in the area so this may be a one time visit for me.

We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday, three buddies and I on motorcycles. I had never been before,…read moreand had no idea what to expect. It was interesting - we arrived at opening, and were the only patrons... except for about 50 beautifully dressed women! Apparently there were two large parties, one a wedding shower and the other a bachelorette party. And us. The ambiance is great. The place exudes a sort of sophisticated charm, the kind of feel you only get in old, established places with great food and great reputations. Our waitress was impeccable, well informed, and right on point. I ordered red lentil soup to start, and a turkey burger. The soup was delicious and warmed the bones of this chilled motorcyclist, and the turkey burger was juicy and tasty. Service was excellent. Food was excellent. I shall return!

Beautiful venue with lovely grounds, seating area and separate bar. We attended a wedding there and…read morethe grounds and weather were perfect for a late May event. The food was amazing and everything was served on time, well prepared and hot. After the adding some folks headed to the bar which was small but cozy. The drafts of Guinness were perfect for a night cap before we walked across the lot to the inn. Good distance floor was greatly enjoyed. All staff encountered at the adding and later in the bar were friendly and helpful.

Good mexican meal with mexican interior design and music! Pleasant dining experience. Clean…read morerestroom. High chair seen. Accepts debit/credit card. Limited parking space since it is shared with other buildings tenants. See images for reference.

A friend was raving about Plaza so we decided to try it one Friday night in January. There is…read moreseating and space is casual and colorful. We were able to grab a table and placed our appy orders. Unfortunately it took about 30 min. Looked like a small staff and everyone was hustling to do their best. Dinners came out and they checked up on us a few times. Was taking a while though to get check so I went to the counter myself. Aside from the wait, the staff was great and food was tasty. It's a great spot for Mexican. There's some street parking. We parked next door at the post office.

For some reason this restaurant popped up on social media today and since my wife and I had the day…read moreoff, we decided to take the short drive here for breakfast. This popular cafe is located right in the heart of Basking Ridge. It's small inside but there's outdoor seating also. We had a half hour wait for a table inside. The place has a very cozy feel to it and everyone we met who worked here was very friendly. I started my meal with a Vanilla Chai Latte and my wife had a Macha Latte. My wife ordered the Blintzes with blueberries and I had the Paris Morning breakfast. We both loved the food! My dish came with 2 potato pancakes, 2 poached eggs, and smoked salmon. Just delicious! A cool bit of trivia is that Paul McCartney and his wife stopped in here a few years ago. We didn't see Paul today, but we did enjoy the experience!

We went to Blue Cafe for brunch yesterday, Saturday. There was a 25 minutes wait with a bunch of…read morepeople waiting to eat here. The place is small inside with outside seating. It was very busy yesterday around 11:30 am. When we finally got seated, the place did not disappoint. We first ordered macchiato, cappuccino, and lemonade, the coffee was strong and great! We ordered two American breakfast and Warsaw breakfast. One of the American was scrambled eggs and the other was egg over medium. The sausage was very tasty. It was not salty and the bacon was a little thick, and it was also not your typical salty bacon. The sausage was delicious and the bacon was nice and crunchy. The side potatoes were so delicious with onions and peppers. I finished all of mine. It was perfectly seasoned and not salty so eating this brunch was such a joy. The side roll was also delicious with butter. It looked like a sesame and wheat roll. It made it even so more enjoyable. The Warsaw breakfast was on a very hot small iron skillet. The Kabasa was delicious and it was typical on the salty side. The breakfast potato was delicious with the Warsaw breakfast, it had small cherry tomatoes with the potatoes. We also ordered two side pancakes. The pancakes were not as fluffy, but it was very good. It was on the expensive side for one pancake. It was around five dollars. Overall this breakfast restaurant was awesome. Small with a lot of character inside. The service was quick and on point.

We stopped by here for lunch under a locals recommendation and it was a very solid experience. We…read moregot the nachos and a chicken sandwich.

The worst. 90% of the time they get it wrong. Can't even make bread into toast. How difficult is…read morethat?! Stay away if you care about being aggravated by people that don't listen and don't care. Maybe time to retire

My mom and I stopped in here to grab lunch - she couldn't stop raving about how much better it is…read morenow that it's under new ownership. They have a variety of hot sandwiches, cold sandwiches and paninis as well as a selection of prepared sides, desserts, baked goods and coffee. You come in, order what you want and then pay at the end. My mom and I grabbed one of the 4-5 tables they have to sit and eat inside. I had the Black Forest Ham and Brie with Honeycup Mustard on Pumpernickel and my mom had the Hot Breaded Eggplant and Mozzarella with Roasted Red Peppers and Balsamic on 7 Grain. My mom's sandwich was excellent but mine was pretty soggy and had way too much ham for the thin slices of bread it was served on... I'd definitely try something else if I returned. Other than that the ingredients are high quality. I especially liked the taste of the breads.

Monterey Gourmet was once a staple of the Bernardsville and Basking Ridge communities. Fifteen…read moreyears ago, my wife and I would happily drive from neighboring towns just to enjoy their outstanding sandwiches, homemade desserts, extensive catering menu, and the warm hospitality of the two women who made the place feel so welcoming. When we moved to the area over a decade ago, Monterey still had that same charm for a while. Unfortunately, after it was sold, nearly everything that made it special began to disappear. The redesign of the interior was the first warning sign. The refrigerated display cases along the back wall and the bakery counter were removed, along with the shelves showcasing quality wines, spirits, and local craft beers. In their place came an awkward circular display island that forces customers to walk around it just to see what's available or even read the menu. The new layout simply didn't and still doesn't work. The food quality also declined. Hot sandwiches were prepared on the same small plug-in flat top grill used for bacon, leaving nearly everything with a bacon flavor whether you wanted it or not. Over time, higher quality meats were replaced with cheaper alternatives, and the thoughtfully selected wines and spirits gave way to lower quality bottles carrying surprisingly high markups. The business changed hands several more times, but each owner seemed to leave the store in worse condition than the last. The space gradually began to feel neglected; dusty shelves, tired fixtures, and the lingering smell of a freshly bleached floor mopped with what felt like a decades-old mop...an all too typical way businesses try to mask an odor with another. At one point, the shelves were so empty and the catering operation so diminished that many locals genuinely wondered whether Monterey was still open. Recently, the newest ownership has been promoting the business on Facebook as having "the same great food," great coffee, and now functioning primarily as a liquor store. While advertising the business isn't a bad idea, it's difficult to see how a small neighborhood market can compete with established retailers like Gary's or Adelphia in either selection or pricing. Of course we decided to give it a try, despite high expectations, the dishes felt flat and disappointing. Even more concerning is the marketing approach. Large "Under New Management" banners now cover the storefront windows, while bright advertising flags promoting cheap alcohol line the front lawn along Route 202, obscuring neighboring business signage. Rather than conveying quality, the presentation feels out of place for the community and comes across as more desperate than inviting. It suggests a lack of understanding of the local market and the customers they hope to attract. It's disappointing to watch what was once one of the area's premier lunch destinations become little more than a bodega style market. Monterey Gourmet used to draw customers from all over Somerset and Morris counties for exceptional food and catering. Today, little remains of that reputation. I genuinely do not believe the business will succeed and with the route it has taken, I hope it doesn't. If it does want to succeed, it will require more than new signage. It needs a clear vision. The space deserves a complete renovation: remove the impractical center island, thoroughly deep clean and refresh the interior, redesign the layout to improve customer flow, and create a menu that honors a handful of Monterey's classic favorites while introducing new, high quality offerings. Most importantly, the catering business should once again become the heart of the operation. Monterey was once known for catering lavish weddings, The Hunt, corporate lunches, parties, and community gatherings. Rebuilding that reputation could once again make it a destination rather than a stop of convenience. This will take time and money though, something most of the owners have refused to accept. The store should also return to offering a carefully curated selection of quality wines, spirits, and local craft beers displayed on classic shelving instead of relying on tacky outdoor banners and discount-style advertising. Finally, ownership should take the time to understand the community they're serving. Bernardsville and Basking Ridge value quality, consistency, and authenticity. Since the original owners left, each successive ownership group has seemed to overlook those values, and the decline has reflected that. Sadly, the Monterey Gourmet name itself has accumulated years of disappointment. Rebuilding trust may even require starting fresh with a new identity...a name change and riddance of the carbon copy logo from a neighboring pizzeria. Whatever the future holds, I hope someone eventually restores this location to the destination it once was, because this community deserves a neighborhood gourmet market worthy of its history.

Just great service, food and drink. Sunny out but sat at the…read morehigh top Bartender ? Awesome and engaging

The tavern was everything they said it was, good onion rings and massive burgers. The WuJu Burger…read moreand goat cheese fritters were very good. We really enjoyed the dumplings...yum. We all enjoyed the food and the ambience.. My wife loved wedge...portions were generous and delicious. The service was great and our server was friendly and welcoming. It will definitely be a destination next time.

This was a cool spot with tons of seating. I sat in the permanent outdoor tent where there was a…read moregreat ambiance. I did not get a look at the inside. There were tons of intriguing options on the menu, and it took me longer than usual to decide. The service was friendly and appreciated. For appetizers, the oysters ($1 each), and the salmon ceviche special ($21) was ordered. The oysters are typically $3, but on Wednesday and Thursday, they are $1. They were from the East coast and small. The cocktail sauce was pleasant with just enough heat. The ceviche had serrano chili, pineapple relish, and a micro salad. This was tasty. I really liked how the salmon was cut. There was a good amount present, but some parts were a little tough. I liked the combination of the spicy serrano chili with the sweet pineapple relish, but I surprisingly wanted a little more of the pineapple. For an entrée, I had the blackened pork chop ($38). It came with a roasted butternut squash puree, sauteed asparagus, and a pineapple chutney. This was great. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium temperature with the right amount of seasoning. The puree was a nice touch and the pineapple chutney paired nicely with the pork. The asparagus was nice in the puree and cooked ideal too. I also tried the sesame-crusted ahi tuna that came with a Jasmine rice cake, baby bok choy, and a ginger Thai coconut sauce. The tuna was cooked to perfect rare, and the sauce was essentially a curry which was flavorful. The bok choy was hardly seasoned though. Regardless, it was still solid. Will I go back? I would.

Food is above average. Table services need much improvement. Very difficult to get anyone's…read moreattention for water refills or additional orders after the initial order is taken.