We've trusted Akanksha with our kids' birthday cakes time and time again, and she always exceeds…read moreexpectations. Every cake she makes is not only delicious but also beautifully crafted and thoughtfully designed. She uses clean, quality ingredients and offers great options, including vegan and healthier choices, which makes her stand out even more. There's always a wide selection of flavors and styles to pick from, so it's easy to find exactly what you're looking for. She's also a pleasure to work with--responsive, accommodating, and truly attentive to what you want. Her cakes are always a hit with both kids and adults. Highly recommend her for anyone looking for a cake that looks incredible and tastes even better!

The party was a triumph from start to finish. A went above and beyond to make sure the girls had an…read moreauthentic macaroon making experience. I personally loved that she explained the process and why each step mattered. She also has the patience of a saint. I can't recommend her business enough.

We had excellent lattes and an absolutely divine raspberry chocolate croissant. The array of baked…read moregoods, prepared goods, desserts, and macarons would entice anyone. The service was courteous and thorough, and I loved the array of choices of this charming little bakery.

Truly awful lunch there today. Cold and super soggy "croque" and a sloppy and soggy ham and cheese…read morecroissant. $30 no less! If a Frenchman ate there, there'd be an international incident!!

I'm an out of towner and stop here on my way through town. I love how this store feels more like a…read moreKing's or Wegmans. They have a nice floral section and decent inventory but sometimes I can't get the meat I'm looking for and it's standard stuff so that's why I took off a star. Still, it's a clean store with plenty of parking and the parking lot isn't nearly as busy as the ones I'm used to.

Open more registers! If I have to check for expiration dates, check myself out, and then wait on…read moreline for self check out because you video the people scanning there is something wrong with your company. Go to ALDI in the morning where the produce is actually fresh and people do their jobs.

We stopped by for a quick sweet fix, and Penguin Ice Cream did not disappoint…read more If you're in the area, it's absolutely a must-visit. Whether you're a die-hard ice cream lover or just in the mood for a simple treat, you'll find something to love here. The flavors are rich, creative, and clearly made with care. I'll definitely be back--probably sooner than I should!

it has amazing ice cream flavors with many different options to choose from! The workers are super…read morenice and work very hard all day. Penguins ice cream is truly an incredible place with all of the kids artwork!

Burrinis is a place we return to often. Great selections in deli. Love the Turkey London Broil and…read moreall the other typical deli products. Their frozen foods are excellent for dinners or sides. Nice selection of other products and first rate butcher provisions. We shall return perhaps even today!

3 Not exactly "too good to go" Tried Burrini's through the…read moreapp and got wings plus a couple of forgettable items. It was about $3-$4 more than what I usually pay at other establishments, and raising the app price makes it seem like you're getting something better -- you're not. Everything here is a little pricey, though their challah, baked goods, and prepared foods are great. I'll skip the app deal.

We chose Redwoods Catering because of their excellent reputation, and I want to start by saying…read morethat the food truly lived up to the praise. Our tasting experience was wonderful, our guests enjoyed the meal, and the quality of the food was excellent. Unfortunately, the service and communication surrounding our wedding did not meet the same standard. Throughout the planning process, communication was inconsistent, and the contract terms were often unclear. I reached out multiple times for clarification on what was and was not included, but many of my questions were never answered directly. Looking back, I wish I had received more transparent and detailed communication before the wedding day. One of the biggest challenges arose months before the wedding. Our contract included ovens, china, glassware, and other rental items. I was later informed that Redwoods had double-booked another wedding and could no longer provide the ovens and other items that were included in our contract. I was told I would need to secure my own oven rentals which was especially surprising given that the company markets itself as cooking over wood, yet the backup plan involved renting standard ovens. Because of this change, they wanted me to scramble to coordinate another rental company for ovens on relatively short notice. Even with the rented ovens, several guests commented that their food was barely warm. I was told that Redwoods did have some china and glassware available, but not enough matching pieces for our event, and that they wanted everything to match. While I appreciated that consideration, it did not change the fact that I unexpectedly had to coordinate and pay attention to an entirely separate rental order because items that were promised in my contract were no longer available. Even our wedding coordinator commented that it is highly unusual for a full-service caterer not to be able to provide the china, glassware, and related service items included in their contract. On the day of our wedding, there were several preventable issues. One of the most frustrating involved the cocktail hour setup. My coordinator asked that the cocktail tables be moved to the correct location, as the setup of our rentals was included in our contract. She was told, "That's not my job." As a result, my groomsmen had to move the cocktail tables themselves while dressed in their suits, taking valuable time away from photos and from enjoying our wedding day. The most disappointing issue was that the coffee and tea station we paid for was never served. This was a contracted service that simply did not happen. I had to reach out to them to discuss the issue. When I asked what happened, I was told, "It was hot, and I was busy cutting the cake." While I appreciated the acknowledgment that it was missed, that explanation did not change the fact that we paid for a service our guests never received. I recognize that mistakes happen at weddings. However, I was initially offered only a $150 refund for a coffee and tea station whose contracted value--including the beverage service, coffee urns, mugs, and rental spoons--was over $600. Despite requesting an itemized explanation for how the refund amount was calculated, I never received one. I ultimately created my own itemized breakdown using the prices on their website and in our contract. Redwoods agreed to increase the reimbursement beyond the original $150, but I still lost money on a service that was never provided. It was disappointing that it took multiple follow-ups to partially resolve the issue, and we still came out at a loss. A smaller but notable point, throughout the planning process and even on my wedding day, my name was repeatedly written and spoken as "Sabrina" instead of Sabina. While this may seem minor, after months of working together, it contributed to the feeling that the attention to detail and personal service were lacking. Overall, if your top priority is excellent food, Redwoods certainly delivers. However, if you value professionalism, clear communication, accountability, and confidence that every contracted service will be provided as promised, I would encourage you to ask detailed questions, request everything in writing, and carefully review every aspect of your contract. Our wedding day was beautiful despite these issues, but several unnecessary stressors could have been avoided with better communication, planning, and follow-through. Redwoods over promised and under delivered. If I were making the choice again, I would go with a different catering company.

If you are wondering who to use to cater your next event, look no further!!! Talk to Bryan at…read moreRedwoods! I had been looking around for a caterer for my October 2018 wedding in my parents' barn, and had a lot of wedding prep to do- I didn't have time to spend on the details of table set up, equipment rental, cake delivery- Bryan took all my stress away! He came to the barn and shared my vision with me to make my dream wedding reception come true. I had some interesting requests that he took on with no problem! He was even able to help keep my mom calm (Mother-of-the-Bride!) He worked with my budget and was very accommodating and professional. Reliable. Also-the food was amazing! And the details that the maitre d provided by decorating with flowers around our cake and decorating around all the food went above and beyond. Ovens were brought on site for fresh, hot food. I kept hearing stories all night about how fun the bar tender was. Wow- thank you Redwoods team and Bryan for everything. I can't say enough good things!

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.