MUST ORDER JUST FOR THE EXPERIENCE: Stage Left Burger $15 and Wagyu Flat Iron with Salt Brick $49 An upscale and classy American restaurant. Nice atmosphere. Very relaxing environment. Somewhat romantic for dates. *hinthint* Complimentary bread - Nicely toasted on the outside and soft in the inside. Warm from the oven! (Tip: Don't overstuff yourself with bread!) Wagyu Beef - Clean cut. Rather, the best cut given. Melts in your mouth! Makes me want more beef!! The Salt Brick is used to cook the beef for extra taste and flavor. Unique eating experience! Stage Left Burger - JUICY BURGER!! The chef is very good with the temperature. I asked for Medium and it was perfectly timed. You can tell them what temperature and they will give you IT!! It is a huge burger so be prepare to be stuffed after adding the lettuce, tomato, red onions, cheese, and bacon hehe. I usually can't finish big burgers but I managed to do so because it was that delicious!! Food Network rates it the "Best Burger in NJ"!!! I totally agree. Oh yeah, I loved the homemade Chipole sauce that came with the burger. I finished it up in seconds and left the ketchup semi-untouched haha. (Note: $1.50 extra for bacon.) Waiters/Waitresses - Very efficient and professional staff. Very courteous. Knows exactly when to bring the dishes to our table and when to take them away. It is as if they were watching our every move but we couldn't see them watching us lol. On the expensive $$$ side, but good food usually has a price, right? PS: We had free Champaign because it was Stage Left's 21st birthday celebration on May 26th. Too bad we didn't get to try the cake!! Note: Make reservation!!! read more

Stage Left Steak - Stage Left Burger!! JUICY!!!!!!! - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

My experience tonight was absolutely perfect! I loved the cozy ambiance, attentive staff and creative menu offerings. We started with some top notch cocktails and house made burrata cheese, then enjoyed a pear gorgonzola salad with garlic bread. Our perfectly cooked lamb chop and filet mignon paired well with a bottle of pinot noir. Everything was nicely presented, cooked to perfection and well paced. The meal concluded with a hazelnut bread pudding, candy cane gelato and cappuccinos. I couldn't have asked for a better dining experience! Thank you for a wonderful Valentine's dinner. We will certainly be back! read more

Not the most vegetarian friendly place, but the place does have a nice decor and good charm. Surprisingly their soup of the day was veggie with no chicken or beef broth. Pumpkin pappardelle was my veggie (did not see any other veggie options on the menu) choice and it was pretty good - raisins on the top were yummy, however, the pasta had a tad bit too much grease for my taste. Serving was friendly and well-paced. The house bread roll was really soft, fresh, warm, and yummy. They have a very extensive wine selection. The place was voted as the one having the best burgers - BUT they didn't mean veggie burgers (*LOL* too bad). Overall a great place for a nice group or a private celebration dinner. Hint2Mgt: consider adding more veggie options! read more

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Second trip to Stage Left. Very much worth the drive from OH. The food was excellent. The gnocchi were silky soft and wonderful. The filet mignon was cooked to perfection, and the house made sauces were amazing. The service was beyond compare. Our server Joel was awesome, he took great care of everyone in our party (there were 4 of us). Max helped keep our table cleared and ready for the next course. Joel and Christian helped us plan out our meal and provided the best selection of wine to go with the meal. All the courses were excellent - cheeses, salad, pasta, steak, and dessert. The house made gelato is to die for. We are already planning our next visit for the summer when we can sit out on the patio. read more

Food was just ok. The service was awful and we were eating there before a show at the State Theatre. Very unattentive. Gum stuck under the table and the owner was very matter of fact about it. Said it must have been the younger crowd there for Valentine's Day but the table tops are clean. Very disappointed and would not go back. read more

I am not a person that often leaves reviews, but I also feel people are more likely to leave reviews when upset than after having a great experience. After my experience last night, I think Stage Left Steak should have more 5 star reviews than I see so here is mine! We made a reservation after purchasing tickets for a show at the theatre and deciding to stay the night at the Heldrich. This was a birthday gift evening so I wanted it to be top notch! My husband loves steak, so Stage Left Steak seemed like a no-brainer, especially because of the proximity to the venue and hotel. I did look online at the menu and location prior to arriving, so I was aware you could order from both of their restaurant menus and that there would be a charge for using a credit card. I thought the two menus was an awesome idea and something I'd never seen before. And bringing cash was an easy solution to the service charge (which really would not have been that big of a deal anyway). Arriving at the restaurant, we were quickly greeted by a host, confirmed our reservation and were brought to our table by the "host". Turns out the "host" was actually one of the owners! He asked if we'd dined with them before and when we said it was our first time, he gave us a little history of the two restaurants, which was really interesting. He explained the menu and got us started with drinks (which he helped me select and it was a perfect choice for me). He then returned to tell us about the specials, with detail, and asked if we had questions. My husband was already prepared to try the wagyu tasting, but I was torn between two dishes. He helped me decide and made some suggestions for appetizers and sides. He was spot on with his suggestions. The food was incredible. I'm honestly not sure my words could really do it justice, so I'm not even going to try. From arriving to leaving, the meal felt more like an experience than just dinner. Is it expensive? Yes. But I knew that before arriving. Was it worth the cost? 110%! I'm a believer in you usually get what you pay for. Not only did we get a top quality meal but also service. I haven't been to many places where an owner is also your host and person discussing the menu, as well as taking your order. That's a different level of service. This may not be a place my husband and I can budget for a weekly or monthly dinner, but it is going to be our first choice for a special occasion. We have already decided that this will become a place for us annually, whether it is coordinated with a show at the theatre or our anniversary dinner. Thank you Stage Left Steak for an unforgettable evening! read more

Stage Left Steak - Wagyu tasting - cooking on a Hot Himalayan Salt Block at our table - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

I've heard great things about the burgers so we stopped in to give it a try. We had a very helpful waiter named Charlie. He helped us pick a wine and made great recommendations. Started off with the potato leek soup, great flavor. Next came the burger. It was huge, cooked to perfection and had a great flavor. The bun was not too overwhelming and also very tasty. The fries are huge steak fries, nice change from ordinary fries. Also has a nice atmosphere. The burgers are part of the bar menu so you need to sit in the front of the restaurant. Good crowd on a Friday not too packed or overwhelming. Can't wait to go back again. Update! Came back to try the steak. What a meal! Started with the crab cakes, loaded with crab! The escargot was garlicky and perfectly cooked. Ribs were good and served with corn bread. They have rub not sauce. Makes for a much cleaner meal. Flat iron steak was my favorite. Get the truffled creamed corn it's a must! Cauliflower creamed spinach was also tasty. Much lighter than traditional creamed spinach. Huge wine selection to make the night even better. read more

Stage Left Steak - Famous $17 burger - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

This was our first time at Stage Left and I had rather high expectations. As mentioned, some things were good, but others not so much. Maybe it was the choice of meal we made, so I wouldn't discard it altogether. But for the price you pay, You can and should expect more. It was a perfect evening, so we had the chance to sit outside, which was lovely. Let's start with the good things. Their grilled asparagus is out of this world. The best asparagus I have ever had. Seasoned perfectly and the fact that it is cooked on the wood grill gave it a taste unlike what I've had before with asparagus. The duck I ordered was perfect. It is served with arugula and some confit on the salad. The salad was well seasoned but hidden in there were apples and either cranberries or some other dried fruit, which I wasn't a fan of. Were it spelled out in the menu, I would have asked to hold those rather than waste them. The salad had just enough dressing to bring out the flavor of the duck, but not so much that it overshadowed everything. The duck was cooked medium rare (the only way tog o as far as I'm concerned). Great texture, perfect crispiness on the outside, with just enough fat to enhance the flavor without making it greasy and unappealing. As our waiter John put it, they can make any drink we want in addition to whatever is on the special drinks menu. I asked for a Pineapple Jalapeño martini and it was pretty good. I was missing some heat but otherwise, I enjoyed it. Their old-fashioned is really good. So don't hesitate if you're a fan. My BF had the one from the special drinks menu, not the regular one. Not sure what the difference is, but there are two. He also had the Roasted Pepper soup with goat cheese, which he enjoyed. From a presentation standpoint, I would have liked there to be a plate under the bowl. The double-thick bacon was also quite good. The reason for the 3 star rating? My BF ordered the Bone-In Filet Mignon. His recommendation.. Don't do it. It was dry and a little gamey in his view. He's had dry aged steak before and this one did not compare. With the bone, you're getting about 2/3 bone and 1/3 filet, so the price:meat ratio isn't great. As he put it, he was supremely disappointed. And it comes with no garnish at all. Just a slab of meat on a plate. Not particularly appetizing. My green salad appetizer was a little too simple, though the dressing married very well with the micro greens. Service was very good. John was attentive, checked on things when we asked him questions and took great care of us. One surprising thing. You would expect that an establishment that wants to portray and high end image would make sure their bus boys/girls and their bartender's outfits are free of stains and smudges, especially when they are wearing all black outfits. read more

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Amazing burgers and filet mignon was the best! The thick slice of cheddar was perfectly melted. read more

Stage Left Steak - Cheeseburger - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

We are from Washington DC, a town overflowing with steak houses. We have never experienced a steak house as spectacular as Stage Left. We had the Waygu beef sampler that we seared over their heated salt mineral block. The taste is superior to any steaks we've ever had. The service is so friendly, helpful, and personable. The owner Mark visits every table and his personal touch shows through in the food and staff. The side dishes and desserts were nothing short of spectacular. We now consider Stage Left a dining destination for future trips to New York. No wonder they've had a successful run for over 30 years. Stage Left is a "must go" for anyone who loves fine cuisine . read more

I came here for Thanksgiving and I was very disappointed to have a bad experience on a holiday. Pros: The dining service although busy was very good, the kind you don't need to ask for a refill of water Cons: The food wasn't good at all for what the price: dry aged bone in steak- $70 Thanksgiving meal- $60 The steak was interesting because I never had dry aged, the taste was fine, but I ordered a medium rare and it came out cold, might have been sitting in the window too long. The Thanksgiving turkey was dry and the turkey leg was so hard I couldn't cut into it and just had to bite off what I could chew. I was really mad because the next day when I reached to have "thanksgiving leftovers" I asked for my $70 steak leftovers to be packed with the bone in a box as well as everything else. To my surprise the next day my steak was no where to be found. The only items they boxed was my sweet potato side(no entree) and the dry turkey meat(no leftover side dishes of the Brussel sprouts, sweet potato mash, and regular mashed) basically half our meal wasn't packed to go. The only thing worth the money in my opinion was the chocolate dessert For spending around $200 and not having a good experience is fine, you live and you learn, but to not even have my leftovers was really frustrating. read more

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One of the co-owners, Francis, told us the origin story of the restaurant and how it's morphed and changed over the years since he and his friend owned it since they were 26 years old (graduates from Rutgers!). The upstairs bar area (Catherine Lombardi's) serves cocktails that include a pisco sour drink and a frozen version of a bees knees. The bee's knees was my favorite!!! Goat cheese crostini, mozarella crostini, and mushroom puffs were flavorful and well prepared. The restaurant has beautiful decor by local students in the Rutgers Masters in Fine Arts program; a really nice touch. Their menu includes a variety of items such as a charcuterie board, crab cakes, ribs and corn bread, bone marrow (my favorite!), selection of cheese, grilled cheese, and more. The steaks are served along with a highly heated salt block that infused flavor along with heat to further cook your meat if you so chose. A variety of sides can be chosen to accompany the meats. Crazy amounts of flavor with these sides! Ham fat cooked carrots, truffle corn was a super star, cauliflower creamed spinach, and baked then fried potatoes, and the BEST seasoned onion rings I've ever had. Definitely a wonderful dining experience. The staff are friendly and attentive from beginning until end! read more

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Great restaurant with amazing steaks. The appetizers and desserts are awesome too. Really liked the porterhouse.

I took my wife to Stage Left Steak last night before a show next door. Walking into the restaurant it looks and smells like a steak restaurant. From the time we we're greeted and checked our coats, through the meal, the service was great. For an appetizer we shared the tartare. The meat was tender, and it was seasoned perfectly. For the entree we shared the Wagyu tasting. It was our first time having Wagyu. Wow.... I guess messaging a cow and playing classical music does make a difference. The meat was so tender. For not being a fatty cut of beef it was flavorful. We also shared the Amish bacon cut. When isn't bacon delicious. Grilled asparagus and whipped mashed potatoes. They were all good as well. We paired our dinner with a nice bottle of red. For dessert we had cappuccinos, toffee bread pudding, and the chocolate peanut butter pie. I liked the bread pudding more. While waiting for the dessert the owner stopped by the table and thanked us for dining with them. He was very nice and gave us a card toward our parking. Not sure why Stage Left Steak is only 3 1/2 stars on Yelp. I really don't think the rating reflects the restaurant. Can't wait to go back. read more

I had a big work dinner there and just had a horrible experience. Terrible food, terrible service, terrible management, and just overall crappy. To start with our waiter didn't even know the soup of the day but instead of making an announcement decided not to tell anyone he didn't know so he had to repeat the fact to every single person at our table that I'm sorry I don't know the soup of the day it might be potato bacon but the chef changes it daily. Really buddy, that's why they call it the soup of the day. Then he proceeded to dump a salad with ranch salad dressing all over me onto my shirt and my jacket. Barely got an apology from that. Not even a comped diet Coke. Next our steaks came and they were a joke. The file was rough and stringy and of six people that got it all six of them were various different sizes and none of them were cooked properly. Additionally the cream spinach was horrible and the potatoes were just mush. I would give it next to zero stars but you can't. Definitely don't go here. read more

The first time I visited this Resturant was two years ago and it was a pleasant experience. The food and atmosphere was great! They even had live music that night which we didn't expect prior to our reservation. However, last night after 2 years we decided to return for my wife's birthday. I called ahead to let them know that it was my wife's birthday. The lady on the phone said, after dinner they will bring out a dessert with a candle to wish her happy birthday. I asked "is there anything that I need to do", they said "no, we've got it from here". Once we arrived at the Resturant I passed the winery and headed up the elevator to the Resturant. To my surprise, the lights were off and the Resturant was completely empty. I headed back downstairs and asked the winery, what happened to stage left. She said they're next door. Confused, I went next door and asked the hostess "wasn't you guys located upstairs the last time I was here?" She said yes but they change the location from time to time. I thought that to be very strange. Your Resturant's food and atmosphere is the footprint of your brand. One Resturant was spacious and elegant and the one downstairs was intimate and artsy. Which is fine but that's not what I was expecting for my wife's birthday celebration. Her and my teen daughter took extra time to pick out formal attire for the evening. Fast forward, I notice the menu changed, there were no steaks under $100 and the steak I wanted was a whopping $160. I requested my steak be cooked medium rare, closer to medium. When the food arrived the waiter placed a ladle of flaky salt next to my steak and instructed me to put it on the steak. I thought "seasoning my own steak? This is different" but I'll go with it. Then I cut into the steak and it's blue!! The waiter said the cook preferred to cook it this way and allow you to finish cooking it to your own specifications. So he places this huge hot block on my table. So, I'm thinking this is a top tier Resturant, Perhaps they are just trying to be unique. So I slice and start cooking my steak. However, once I bit into the steak it was extremely salty!!!! Unbeknownst to me, the hot block was a hot block of salt!! The salt block was not only cooking my steak but it was seasoning the steak as well. This would have been fine, if the waiter didn't already instruct me to add the flaky salt on my steak!! Time for dessert. However, My family was full and didn't really want dessert but I knew the Resturant and I had birthday plans for my wife. Without prompting Staff, they immediately placed dessert spoons and forks in front of us. My wife gave me a suspicious smile and went with it. We waited and waited and waited some more....I forgot to add that it was a school night for my kids so we really needed to get home. Just as my wife suggested we should cancel dessert, I saw staff members approaching us with plates of desserts until they past us only to deliver it to another table. I turned to see candles lit on their dessert while their table sang happy birthday. Another 5 minutes past when 3 desserts were placed in front of us...no announcement, no happy birthday wishes and no candles! The waiter did however give us an extra slice of cheesecake for our wait. The bill arrives and it was almost $500!!! Now, I must say This is the biggest bill I've ever received for my family of 4 to date. Now, I have no problem spending money at a quality restaurant but if I'm going to pay almost $500 for food then I d**** we'll better love my food and the service. I spoke to the manager and all she offered was an apology. She mentioned the complimentary cheesecake as if it was a consolation to my wife's birthday flop. Terrible experience! I will never return. read more

Stage Left Steak - Raw steak on salt block - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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I have lived in this area for almost 25 years, and have never been to Stage Left. Over the years have heard wonderful things about the restaurant, one of which that its expensive, which is probably why I have shied away. But I finally ate here. The service is a standout. They are very attentive, all in a good way. The food was good, but must admit not my favorite. It could be that it was the meal choice. I went out on a limb and ordered the duck, not something I usually order. My date ordered a steak, which looked very good, and he finished his plate, as did I. We then split a molten lava chocolate cake... a la mode. can't go wrong here. Topped it all off with some wine and beer (wine list is extensive) and some coffee... As a matter of fact, the room we were in was lined with wine, it was the wine cellar... or wine room. I recommend it if you've never been. read more

Stage Left Steak - Duck - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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I had always heard about Stage Left, but I actually went there for the first time last week. And what can I say? It was good. The downtown location near The State Theater, The Heldrich, the colorful ambiance of this college town. You know? It was great. The steak -- I got a Porterhouse. You know? It was good. Really good. But who needs to hear all that? Let me let you in. Into my mind. My mind... when I was there. On uh... Friday. Friday at... whenever. Here are the thoughts that were going through my head when I was there: "Steak, steak... porterhouse... yeah... this is a lot of meat, too much meat if I'm being honest about it, and why wouldn't I be? Because, you know, I'm here, sitting here at... Stage Left "Steak," and, you know, I'm... a... human, you know, a human being, by all accounts, and, you know... hey what is that guy doing wearing a Bane mask to a fancy restaurant? Who does that? I mean, we're here in public, and you're wearing one of those cringey Bane mask things that weird, intense guys at the gym wear, sometimes, if they are feeling extra misanthropic that day. And, here you are, a Boomer, wearing a Bane mask at Stage Left, walking past my table, past my beautiful wife, and past me, and, you know, it's just... you know, like, it's not very classy of you. Between us? I'm the more classy one. Let's see... what else... been feeling really stressed at work. Ugh. Steak, steak, steak... yeah... you know." So there you have it. Would I eat here again? Yes. Would I wear a Bane mask in public? No. Not unless I was a truly despicable person. I wonder where that guy is now? I wonder if he has any loved ones. Or, alternatively, if he is just as awful as we collectively all know he is. P.S. -- If that guy had a health condition somehow requiring him to weak a Bane mask, then... I still stand by what I said. Sorry. read more

Who are the mentally challenged idiots who are rating this place 3 stars or less. Come on Yelpers. Get a damn clue. This place is an American treasure, and the guys that run it have true respect for the food and wine they offer. Just had a Zinfandel dinner there with my wife and it was hands down one of the better meals (and experiences) I've ever had. read more

I stand by my original review, even more so now that karen replied with her discourteous and terse statement. If she saw the bloody raw piece of meat that her waitstaff tried to pass off as a steak or used a baseball bat to hit the rolls into the stands at yankee stadium or broke a tooth upon biting the solid hard roll, her answers might not be as flip. Dunkin donuts or mcdonalds serves a better meal and has kinder staff. Karen, do not worry, i will not waste my time coming back or even thinking about coming back. read more

The best food in NJ! Top notch service and food!! Beautiful atmosphere, amazing steaks, great wine list... must try!!

My wife and I and two friends met up at Stage Left for dinner. We've not been there before so we were looking forward to it. We had the strip steak sliced with a salt brick, my wife had the Wagyu tasting and our friend had a petite filet. We also shared a burger as an appetizer along with a charcuterie board, the cured ham and some fresh mozzerlla (yes we went hungry !). The house bread was good. The garlic break was FANTASTIC ! It was one of the very best meals and experiences I've ever had. The food was so perfect. I like that you could further heat your sliced. steak a little more on the hot brick if you like too. The staff was so friendly and service was excellent. We recently ate at two different Michelin star restaurants in NYC and we enjoyed this just as much. The double barrel bourbon Manhattan drink was REALLY good too. Also, the strawberry shortcake dessert was excellent. Even the music playing in the background was fantastic- we found ourselves enjoying the familiar tunes. GREAT PLACE, GREAT FOOD, GREAT SERVICE, we can't wait to go back and try the Italian menu next ! read more

Its nice to find a fine restaurant that treats you like human being. In two separate experiences at Stage Left I never felt rushed or taken for granted. The best example is the night I went with a group of three other guys. We had started dinner and were joined by another friend. Even though our friend chose not to eat dinner, he was treated by the wait staff and the owner as if he was a dining patron. Stage Left gives you plenty of real estate for your money. I never felt crowded or in the way. That is one of the big benefits of dining in NJ. But all that is expected along with great food. The first time dining at Stage Left I shared a Porterhouse for two. Although not a steak place, it was the best steak I've had in NJ and tops places like Peter Luger's in Brooklyn. Cooked perfectly at medium rare, the steak wasn't overpowered by any other flavors like garlic, butter, or pepper. The asparagus were the perfect match for the steak, much better than the typical creamed spinach that is a steakhouse staple. My second trip I had the best pork chop I've ever had. I usually avoid pork chops as they are typically dry and flavorless. This one was juicy and and subtle. The broccoli rabe was bright and bitter, not limp and drenched in garlic. Perhaps the best part is the extensive wine list. The wait staff is very helpful with your wine choice and there was no attempt to push us into a higher priced wine. Five stars for great service and better food. read more

Stage Left Steak - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Amazing food. Flavor, presentation, and ambiance, this place has it dialed. The service was impeccable and couldn't have had a better bartender than Joel. read more

I've never had a bad meal here, while at the same time, I've never had a meal I'll remember til the day I die. However, I've had individual dishes that have blown me away--their seafood soup is an absolute killer, and the steaks I've had there have always been very good. The sides are nothing spectacular, but they're still good. The service is always very good, the cocktail menu is always interesting and the environment in the restaurant is very comfortable, although I'd like to see nicer seats and tables. I agree with what I read in one review about the desserts not being up to the meals, so I like to get the cheeses for desert instead. I've read a couple of things about the place being pretentious, but I don't see it. Pretentious would be thinking they were as good as a place like Le Bernardin, but there's nothing wrong with aspiring to work towards being that good. I think they're just trying to provide a dining experience that's a little finer than what's ordinarily found in the area. The owners can sometimes seem a little full of themselves on their radio show, but I don't feel that extends to the menu or the staff. read more

5*****squared! We were lucky enough to get dinner and 2 tixx to see Harry Connick Jr. All I can say is WowWow OMG Wow!! The ambiance, our waitress Beverly, the cocktails, the wine, the appetizers and of course the dinner - were PERFECTLY presented and made for a great segue to a rockin' show at the State theatre with Harry. The hype I have been reading in the 'Restaurant Guys' emails was true - it was everything I could have dreamed of in fine dining, truly outstanding! #BestAnniversaryDinnerEver1991. read more

Stage Left Steak - #1991AnniversaryCremeBulee - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Not my favorite. Steak was ok, appetizers disappointing Environment definitely pleasant Service efficient read more

Stage Left - An American Haiku --------------- Impressive wine list Dishes were "mehh," hit or miss Thirteen hundred bucks read more

Had an amazing time today for the Mother's Day brunch. The menu was pre-fixed and everything was scrumptious. The service was phenomenal. Over 1000 wines and we sat in the wine dining room. The room was unbelievable! Such an awesome experience. Everything was delicious. We had the lobster & crayfish bisque, potato cilantro soup, scallops and cured salmon as appetizers. For the main dish, we had the salmon, The wagyu steak plate which was fantastic, and the flank steak with poached eggs. Again everything was great. Say hi to Frances, one of the owners. He visited our table and made us feel right at home. We will be making this our LOCAL establishment. read more

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Nice place for dinner after theatre. We had great burgers & excellent dessert. Would love to have dinner here. Rapid & friendly service. read more

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Highly disappointed! This was our first time eating here and being a restaurant owner myself I understand why this place didn't have a wait list tonight. I don't care how many times a manager offers an apology it shouldn't even have to happen. The filet was so tiny, the plate looked empty!! And no food presentation at all. Then when you take a bite all you taste is burnt charcoal. We never received rolls or bread as a starter as the waiter promised. It finally showed up after our food plates and then every piece was burnt! They were out of whipped potatoes so my friend had to order something else. The waiter didn't even check on us, and didn't even bring us a steak knife to use. We left everything as is on the table and paid the full bill and left. Now I understand why nobody was patronizing this place on a Saturday night. read more

I have been going to Stage Left since 2006, ever since the first time I went to see a play at The State Theater next door; and I'm a New Yorker. I went yesterday for one of their special events, and like the previous ones I've attended it was top notch. Francis and Mark are not just excellent hosts but they lead a top, professional team. Do not hesitate to go there for their mixology and wine themed events. My friend and I stayed for dinner and ordered off their combined Stage Left/Catherine Lombardi menu. I really wanted to try the Italian side of the menu and my friend and I shared the linguini and clams and the eggplant parmesan, which I can write that as a lifelong aficionado of the dish it was up there with the best I've had. The best part of dinner was watching the my friend's incredible smile all through dinner, exemplified by her asking me to hide the garlic bread because it was too good. Thank you Francis and Mark, and your team for a wonderful evening. P.S. For the event they had an incredibly talented jazz guitarist who literally brought tears to people's eyes with his rendition of "Over The Rainbow". I understand he's there weekly on Friday nights. read more

This was a good meal. Place is nice. We were going to a show at the State theater. So it was very convenient. Cocktails were good. We sat at the tables by the bar so the menu was different. It had the burgers. I do not think the main restaurant offers that. I was waiting at the bar for my daughter to arrive and the cheese plate was out. And it did not smell good. Also I kind of felt pressure to order the Wagu steak which is $70. Could have lived without that. On a positive note. Burgers were good. My daughter had the flat iron steak. Which was good as well good meal. Not great read more

Wow, wow and wow. First...the place is so quaint. It's decorated tastefully and comfortable. The bar was inviting and sophisticated. The bartender made our experience remarkable. Damon was the most professional, knowledgeable, classiest server ever. We enjoyed his company and his recommendations and that steak with the sizzling sea salt board was over the top. This place is golden. Simply amazing. We can't wait to come back. 6 stars. read more

Stage Left Steak - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Ambiance : 8/10 The atmosphere is very classy. An upscale american restaurant. Right when you walk in the first thing you see is the bar area, I would also describe it as a nice and cozy place. Service 8/10 The server was very good and informative on the entrees witch I liked. No problems at all. Food 10/10 The main reason though that we decided to go here was for the Stage Left Burger. The burger was very good, nice and flavorful. Also it's a pretty good size I might add. I ordered my burger rare and it came as such. I also ordered steak fries but was unable to finish due to the size of the burger. Overall, I would totally recommend you all check out Stage Left and have their burger it is pretty good. I am looking forward to trying whatever else is on their menu the next time I come back. Final Verdict : 7/10 read more

I recently attended a business meeting here, and was very impressed with my entree and the staff. The restaurant was very easy to find- the parking was not. I ended up getting a spot on the street two blocks away. For the meeting, we were placed in a private dinning room which was nice. Menu's were specifically printed for our meeting- and we were able to select between 4 options for an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. The selection was good, and included vegetarian options. Homemade Bread was offered- and they had a few options. I had the dinner roll, nothing special. The bread wasn't left on the table- instead the wait staff came around with a basket of it for you to select a roll. After everyone was done their roll and appetizer- they offered seconds. For an appetizer I oppted for the garden salad- overall it was good. The tomatoes in the salad were a little funky- almost like they had been crushed beforehand. For lunch I had the Wagyu Flat Iron- it was delicious! It came with asparagus and potato. The asparagus was ok- a little hard for me. But the potato was crazy good- it was sliced thin and coated in something- I could have just eaten a ton of those and been happy. The flat iron was awesome. It was very tender and had a delicious sauce on top. I selected the chocolate molten cake for dessert. This came with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream and lots of chocolate sauce. It was came out nice and hot. I loved the cake part of this dessert, but didn't love the chocolate sauce. The restaurant is old and has a classic feel. The staff here was great- they were very attentive to all the guests at the meeting. At the same time they were not disruptive at all. The room got a little cold- someone asked for the air to be turned off, and they did that right away. It was a great place for a business lunch- but I am sure it was expensive for the host. read more

Pretty nice dinner tonight at Stage Left. Very different menu, service was great, had a great dinner over a casual few hours. The wine list is a book, and the decant the wine, which makes a bug difference! I started with an oyster and clam cream bisque, that was new! Had the Prosciutto appetizer, for an entree had the three way Wagyu beef (from around the world!) served with a hit salt brick. Pretty nice dining experience! It was pricey, so be prepared if you go! read more

Stage Left Steak - Three way Wagyu, served with hot salt brick - American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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After a lovely show at the State Theater, my friend and I decided to enjoy a fine dinner to go along with the mood. We chose Left Stage because it was right by the theater, and I always wanted to try this place! The ambiance and service were wonderful, but the taste of my meal left me dissatisfied. My friend and I were too young to order wine, but I saw that they had a pretty decent selection of wines! They had a relatively small menu, so at first, I was very excited because usually when the menu is small, the chefs really put a lot of effort in making those few dishes! You know, quality over quantify! However, that was not the case! I got the salmon dish while my friend got the chicken. My salmon was over cooked and dried, and on top of that, I don't think the fish was too fresh because it tasted fishy! The food wasn't that good, but the service was great! The hostess was very friendly and welcoming, and the waiter came by very often to check on us! read more

SUCH an amazing experience. Wait staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. The wine list is a bit intimidating but they always help me find what I need. Went for my girlfriend's birthday and they went above and beyond, even hooking her up with a free tiramisu (her favorite) 6/5 Stars! read more

Highly recommend the cucumber gimlet cocktail for those who like me have a sweet tooth and prefer lemon drop, mojito-esque drinks! (Cucumber martini was good as well but too strong for me). Servers were all extremely friendly, and I enjoyed my (huge) burger very much. Sweet potato fries * are * pretty good but bear in mind they are unconventional... large, not too crispy, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. (Even though I liked them I felt like they weren't really a match to order with my burger... felt too dessert-y perhaps?) I also feel obliged to comment on the hilarity of the high scale restaurant juxtaposition to the egregious stain on our waiter's suit. He was so nice I take away no stars for it, but it was indeed amusingly unprofessional. Ditto the paper menus, felt awfully out of place! Nonetheless, we all really enjoyed the food and company. Also they warmed the bread that they serve before dinner, which can of course never go unappreciated. read more