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    Garlic Rose Bistro

    4.3 (338 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Italian
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Garlic Rose Bistro Photos

    GARLIC ROSE BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Garlic Rose Bistro

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    Onion Soup Pork Chop
    Alan L.

    A Cranford Instition! The Garlic Rose Bistro has been in downtown Cranford for many years, probably with the same menu. They do what they do very well. The Garlic Soup is outstanding. The Onion Soup Pork Chop is moist and tasty. Parking is easy - there is municipal parking lot in the back. The room is large and comfortable. The service was attentive.

    ORECCHIETTE VODKA BOLOGNESE
    Nina L.

    Everything here has amazing garlic flavor! We started off with a whole roasted garlic and I knew that I'd love everything in the menu. Ambiance: - cozy, festively decorated with nutcrackers for the winter holiday season - plenty of larger tables for big gatherings Service: - staff was attentive Food: - started with their free warm bread with germ olive oil and a whole head of roasted garlic. The olive oil is so fresh and has a blend of fragrant herbs like parsley. You have to spread an entire garlic clove on the bread and dip into the olive oil - ORECCHIETTE VODKA BOLOGNESE: I love bolognese and vodka sauce and this was my first time having pasta with both sauces. The sauce was delicious, creamy and meaty. Pasta was perfectly al-dente!

    Pork Chop Giambotta - truly the best pork chop I've ever had!!
    Brittany M.

    Garlic is most definitely on the menu here!! If you love garlic and Italian food, you will likely be at home at Garlic Rose Bistro. Everything is made with the love of garlic. They start you off with some bread and an absolutely delicious perfectly-roasted bulb of garlic, as well as a herby dipping oil. While looking at the menu I couldn't resist ordering the "garlic chowder" which tasted like a garlic-focused potato soup. I also read on the menu that the pork chop options would be "the best you've ever had" and I always love a challenge. Well, I'm happy to report, the pork chop giambatta was truly the best pork chop I've ever had! It had me with the description- cherry peppers and onions, YUM sign me up, but the really amazing part is how tender and juicy the chop was. I'm usually disappointed by pork chops because they tend to be dry and/or tough, but that wasn't the case here. You may think, ok, but surely there is no garlic on the dessert menu? Well, you'd be wrong. You can polish off your night with a scoop of garlic ice cream! We got it because we had to try it. The consistency was divine, and at first it tasted like a high quality vanilla ice cream, but, the after taste was pure garlic! It wasn't terrible, it kind of tasted like we were eating ice cream off of a savory plate. Would I get it again? Probably NOT! But fun to try all the same! The staff was attentive and friendly, with multiple servers making sure we had everything we needed. The restaurant is clean and even with our group of 8 we felt we had plenty of room.

    Shrimp and garlic sauce
    Ricardo F.

    Not the first time here and definitely not the last either. Close to home this place always hits the spot when me and wifey want something cozy and casual. Staff always so welcoming, nice and polite. Food is always great, nothing can be bad here. Love it

    Seafood combo
    Todd C.

    We visited Garlic Rose for a birthday, and it was a very good experience overall. The Seafood Combo was packed with seafood and was a big portion. Our server, Dana, was very helpful and got everything to us in a timely manner.

    Lee C.

    I haven't been here in about 15 years. I asked around & a lot of people said this was still a good spot, so I figured I'd try it again. I have to say that I was really impressed with the service, the food & the very welcoming staff throughout the restaurant. Loved the olive oil spread for the complimentary bread! Our server was "Dana" and she exemplified what that role should be. She was very attentive, offered us reasonable entrees when we asked her, and was never pushy. She was gracious in allowing us time to chat & you could tell that she was invested in making our dining experience first class. Everything she suggested was amazing and we will most definitely be back. Even though we like to rotate area restaurants and sometimes not revisit one for over a year, we can make an exception for Garlic Rose. My only suggestion would be to make some small updates to the aesthetics as the decor could use some sprucing up, in comparison to other establishments in the area. A restaurant this good should also look a little nicer & brighter inside.

    Garlic bulb, garlic and oil, perfect bread.
    Marge M.

    The food is prepared to order and anything can be changed to your taste. Our food was very fresh and you could taste the quality. You could have as little or as much garlic you want. Ben our server was a delight. He very patient with my indecisiveness. He was genuinely kind and knowledgeable about the restaurant, menu, and gave us great recommendations. The restaurant is on a main street but once you step inside it is quiet and charming.

    Mussels
    Althea A.

    Garlic Rose is becoming a frequent go to for us. Im obsessed with their mussels and french onion pork chops.

    Menu
    Kevin H.

    Garlic Rose Bistro is a local township fav diner/bistro. Very well known in the area for good home cooked flavors. The interior has the rustic look of the town's history. Restaurant is very nice for quiet dining experience. They offer drinks as well as BYOB. Service is solid and staff is experienced. Food is also very solid and well priced and the flavors are spot on. I had the special prime rib dinner. Almost everything has a garlic touch on it. So if you don't like garlic then you have a hard time here.

    Penne and sausage
    Amy M.

    My husband lives for garlic. Last time we were in the area we wanted to try this place and finally got the opportunity. The service was amazing. From the first person we encountered to the last, everyone was friendly, helpful and attentive. We started with the garlic shrimp appetizer and it was delicious. The sauce was so incredibly scrumptious and the shrimp was fresh and cooked perfectly. An awesome starter! Then for our main course I had the Penne with Sausage and hubby had Chicken Francese. It's a favorite dish of his and he said it was the best he's ever had. My entree was terrific, and had it not been so filling, I would have eaten it all and licked my plate (hahaha!)... it was excellent. I look forward to the leftovers!! We often save coffee and dessert for a different venue, but were so thoroughly enjoying our time that we decided to stay and have coffee... and even that was great. We visit this area often and I think this will become a favorite. It was so incredibly good. Definitely if you like garlic -- and good Italian food -- go here!

    Saltimbocca
    Em K.

    5 stars! Love the touch of garlic in all the dishes, never overpowering and always just the right amount. They start you off with some warm bread, roasted garlic, and a garlicky/herby green dipping sauce. It's kind of like a pesto but it doesn't have any nuts in it (great news for me, as I'm allergic). It's a super yummy way to begin the meal. The French onion pork chop is life-changing. My friend also ordered it, and he's adamant that this was the best pork chop he's ever had, and he doesn't even usually like Swiss cheese. If you like French onion soup, you definitely need to try it. The Gilroy potatoes that come with this dish are outstanding and taste even better in the demi Glace. Service is friendly and fast. They were excellent with my food allergies. They took them very seriously and even had the manager come over to speak with me. They have a full bar, which I found a little confusing because I didn't see that information anywhere on their website.

    Cheese Ravioli w/ Vodka Sauce.
    Emma G.

    ***4 1/2 stars*** I didn't realize I'd brought my Dentyne Ice with me into the restaurant, but it was nice to have on my way out. Garlic Rose has been on my radar for literally years; they had a location in Madison that a few of my friends really liked back in the day, and while I don't have a strong opinion about garlic one way or the other, it seemed like a unique option. The Millennial Chum and I came here for dinner last night; Cranford is a "meet in the middle" area for us, so the timing was finally right for this one. Despite having to rely on the Parkway on a Friday night, both of us showed up uneventfully and were able to secure parking nearby. I parked on the street about a block away and had to pay $0.25 for half an hour of parking before the paid parking situation in Cranford expired - in this inflationary environment, I'll take it. We made a reservation for 5:45pm. It was pretty empty when we showed up but considerably more crowded by the end, so it probably wasn't necessary but I never see a downside if that's an option. It's a pleasant interior; there ARE white tablecloths, but it still maintained a pretty casual vibe. I was in nicer jeans and didn't feel like I was being naughty. I loved the way they handled the free bread situation here. The waiter placed a basket with two small rolls, along with roasted garlic to spread (that's a new one for me) and what seemed to be a well seasoned pesto-type dipping sauce. Initially the Millennial Chum was ruffled that we only had two small rolls to share, but it was clear that the basket would be immediately refilled, and the smaller portions prevented us from going nuts and filling up too much before the entrees showed up. Genius if you can keep a close eye on the bread inventory. The garlic and pesto-like sauce were delicious; each was excellent in their own right but I started combining them with my bread and really went to town. I'd accidentally had some dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets earlier in the day, so pasta seemed like the way to go. I opted for the Cheese Ravioli w/ Vodka Sauce (the website says $23 but I think this was around $25 or $26). Generous serving, and very good. As you'd expect, there was garlic involved but honestly the flavor itself was so subtle that I wouldn't have even known except for the visible garlic chunks in the sauce. That might be my big takeaway for the masses considering stopping by here - there IS a lot of garlic but it's not overpowering in any way, shape or form. The Millennial Chum had the Harvest Chicken and was very content with that, sending it viral almost immediately via her vast social media talents. The only slight ding I can give this place is that the one dessert I was genuinely interested in sampling, the garlic ice cream, was unavailable. Early on a Friday night, that seemed like a bit of an unforced error but obviously I don't know the background on why that particular item wasn't on the premises. The upside is that because i wasn't feeling the other desserts, I saved a few calories in the long run. I nibbled on the Millennial Chum's Rocky Road (the manager, I believe, stopped by right after she ordered it to tell her it had nuts, which makes me think a ton of people have ignorantly requested it not knowing what makes it Rocky, but I digress). The service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly, engaging and attentive. I can't speak for all females, but I'll take Miss over Ma'am any day, so hopefully he keeps up the excellent work in that capacity. Everyone was very pleasant and I'd have no issues going back; I'd be pretty devastated though if I missed out on the Garlic Ice Cream for a second time.

    Garlicious Chicken Rigatoni

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food is always great here! We have tried many different menu items. I do think the inside needs to be update so we always take out.

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    Food is delicious and wait staff is friendly. Had the pork chop smothered with onions and cheese.

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    Page 2 of 9

    Ask the Community - Garlic Rose Bistro

    Do they do take out?

    Yes just did take out last night. Have done it several times in past. Never any issues with the orders. Always great food

    Is this restaurant byob?

    I don't think so. They have a full bar in the back. The brought a menu with wines and various beers

    View All 3 Questions

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    Publick House

    Publick House

    4.0
    (318 reviews)
    2.5 mi
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    Outstanding dining experience with delicious food, beautiful presentation, and exceptional service…read more Every detail reflected genuine care, creating a memorable evening that exceeded expectations from beginning to end.

    Came here for a birthday lunch with my husband, the ambiance is beautiful especially this time of…read moreyear. My old phone was taking blurry pics from far away so I wasn't able to capture it, but think very cozy, fireplace with candles glowing from within, and little alcoves in the wall for candle clusters. It was perfectly elevated while still being casual and approachable. When we came there was a Mac and cheese special with pulled bbq pork on top. I knew we had to get that because it is right up my husbands alley. It did not disappoint, my husband was tempted to order some to take home! The pasta was super creamy and cheesy, mixed with the roasted pulled smoky bbq pork on top, it was the ultimate comfort food for the cold rainy day we were having. For my meal I got the Grilled Cheese which is more of an elevated "grown up" grilled cheese. It had cheese, thin apple slices, fig jam and bacon. The flavors were great, I only wish there was a little more cheese or a little less jam to balance the sweet and savory a little more, because for me it was a touch too sweet. The sourdough it was made with was delicious and fresh, I also appreciate that they don't seem to soak their grilled cheese in oil like a lot of places do (butter or nothing, please!!) My husband ordered the burger which he really enjoyed but nothing was going to top the pulled pork Mac and cheese for him. They should consider adding it to the regular menu! He originally wanted the duck sandwich but it was unavailable on this day. All in all it was a cozy afternoon together. Our waitress was very friendly and made sure to check on us without ever being too overbearing.

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    Millburn Standard

    Millburn Standard

    4.3
    (411 reviews)
    4.7 mi
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    We came in for just a drink, but we were tempted with the late night bar bites that were available…read more We were absolutely blown away by the tempura battered chicken tenders and the truffle fries, and need to come back ASAP! I've been for dinner as well which was lovely, with a great wine list as well.

    Lovely neighborhood restaurant with an inventive menu and cool riffs on classics and specialty…read morecocktails and mocktails. My nephew who lives nearby treated us to an al fresco meal recently while visiting for a family event. My pulled pork smashed burger was everything you want in a packed meat sandwich, with an onion ring and tangy sauce on the brioche bun. The sweet potato fries and a refreshing mocktail to drink made for a perfect meal. Sweetie ate a pasta bolognese (I think) which looked and ate good, and drowned it with a nice glass of red wine. It was packed on the Friday night we visited, with folks lined up for seating, or to hang at the bar and enjoy the bar scene. No reservations. Our late dinner worked fine as the mostly millennial and Gen-Z crowd started thinning shortly after we arrived. Millburn has always been a draw for neighboring townsfolk in search of a meal out. I remember this foodie town from 25 years ago, when its pizza, kosher and diner offerings were top notch. It seems to have upgraded its food scene several notches since my last visit so many years ago. Pure nostalgia for me which made for a very flavorful evening. TOP TIP: Street parking in this part of town is a hassle and the local cops keep a sharp eye for illegally parked cars and inebriated drivers. So park further away from the center of town where you are more likely to snag a legal spot on a busy night.

    Photos
    Interior angle
    Interior angle
    Truffle fries, Philly, cheesesteak, sliders, loaded baked potato
    Truffle fries, Philly, cheesesteak, sliders, loaded baked potato
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    Willow & Whisk

    4.3
    (141 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    I take my friend Rose she's really like my mom. She is 77 yrs old and doesn't like to eat anywhere…read moreincluding home. At Willow and Whisk she found her most favorite place to eat. She feels like she is the First Lady of the USA. From the moment we pull up in parking lot till she is done eating the service and friendly atmosphere is obvious. I wish I can give Willow and whisk a 100 star. I highly recommend Willow and Whisk to anyone you won't regret it. LOVE LOVE how this particular restaurant give a chance to our youngsters and college students. they give young women and men an opportunity to proof themselves to our society. keep up the excellent service, hospitality, food. Family oriented place to go.BTW we Go every day.

    I have been to willow and whisk 2 times. The food is amazing!…read moreA great menu with interesting snd very well put together selections. Different than your average brunch /lunch menu. They also have a good kids menu. Very good beverage and a coffee station plus wine selections including Mimosa. They have Excellent service . The wait staff very attentive and accommodating to your needs. I ordered the So Cal burger. It tasted so fresh and great ingredients. It is a Breaded chicken cutlet,sharp Wisconsin cheddar, avocado, pico de gallo, roasted tomato aioli, brioche bun. The bun was so soft like it just came out the oven and all ingredients paired so well together.The chicken had a crisp to the texture and moist not dry. I had the maple-Dijon salad as my side. To be dressing was so tasty with fresh lettuce. I fell in love with the freshly made pita chips and feta dip it was a shareable and menu special. I had a mocha frappe and the way it came out looked perfect! It was blended very well. Our waiter he also made it a pleasant experience. Very accommodating to however and whatever we needed. The ambiance is very updated and a relaxed vibe to it. It has a spacious area not on top of each other .They are very pleasant as soon as you're greeted in until your leaving out. I would highly recommend this restaurant! Note... I have gone before this for breakfast but I have no Pics. The breakfast was so good. Really fresh ingredients. I had breakfast Classic and lemon ricotta pancakes. Their homemade sausage and bacon is amazing!! I was 3 other people and they raved about their breakfast selections.

    Photos
    Interior.
    Interior.
    Turkey Panini with Ciabatta
    Turkey Panini with Ciabatta
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