Had drinks at the upstairs bar on 7/7/23. The bar was not crowded when we arrived but the turnaround times for our drinks was excessive. The bartender looked and acted like he was put out to be there. He only engaged the barback, who was great, and a friend and the friend's girlfriend. read more

Verve has to be one of my absolute favorite places to grab a drink. Their bartenders can whip up a variety of cocktails in a minute. Don't know what you want? That's not a problem. They'll make something exactly to your liking. I've gotten food a few times from them and it's been mostly great, though it's typically apps and that sort. Hummus, clams, etc. But I've never had anything there that I didn't like. I had their shrimp gumbo on mardi gras and it was awesome with the perfect amount of kick. It's really a fantastic place to lounge on any given night, and great for anyone who loves curated cocktails. You'll definitely feel special. read more

Verve Restaurant - Shrimp Gumbo on mardi gras - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Our go to place for expert drinks. The bartenders and owner really know what they are talking about. We love the whole place, but particularly the bar area. There is such a great feeling being in there- classy but also like everyone knows each other. Highly recommend! read more

This would be a 3-star review if I counted the fact that I liked the ambiance and decor of the upstairs lounge (old man bar stools AND Barcelona chairs), a lot. I ended the evening with a Campari there from the bored moody bartender. Where to begin. Saturday night. No reservation. Got a table for 2 no problem. Dining room was nice overall. Fancy but not stuffy. Points for red Gerber on our table. Waiter kind of snotty--seemed like a nice guy who was used to dealing with jerks; treated us like we were dine and dash potential--annoying. I started with a Chloe & Leo ginger cocktail, which was served in a highball glass but would've been better in a martini glass, and was low on booze content. I moved on to a South African Mulensberg (?) rose, which was good with my meal. Ah, my "meal." Butternut squash ravioli: squash didn't have much taste and was described as served in butter and sage but came drowned in some apple salsa mess--too sweet and not as billed on menu. My friend had garlic mash for app--yeah, it's what he wanted, so what, mr snot?--and they weren't the best (best=Lobo in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, I am told). My risotto was mushy porridge. With pancetta in it. And I don''t eat meat. I sent it back which I never do--food diva though I may be, and when it was re-served, the presentation was not as nice and they must have run out of English garden peas which was part of why I wanted it : ( so the chef threw in a bunch of sauteed diced zucchini. Very sad. Friend's seared tuna was good but the soba noodle portion was so skimpy as to be ridiculous and the vegetables served with it made no sense: sauteed carrot and celery chunks with seared sushi grade tuna wth?? I thought they'd comp us a dessert or glass of wine. Alas... no. Verdict? Never again Verve dining room. $130 not well spent. 2 drinks, 2 apps, 2 entrees. Attitude, endless. Upstairs lounge=Yes. Night night, everybody! PS: BYO but $15 cork fee, or buy off their wine list which has the typical markup. read more

Eaten at Verve several times and it has offered consistently good food in an upscale setting like those usually found in Manhattan restaurants. Verve strives to be everything to everyone -- an outdoor cafe, a happening bar, and an upscale restaurant offering inventive menu options including poached pear salad and duck confit spring roll, butter and braised shrimp risotto -- creating a unique venue in the Somerville scene. However, as many others have pointed out, be forewarned that it is somewhat pricier than some of the other dining options in the Somervile area (I recommend taking advantage of the BYOB policy and purchasing a discounted gift certificate from Restaurant.com to make it more affordable). Price aside -- the food is pretty good. I've tried several of the appetizers without any disappointment; the hangar steak is excellent. Cocktails are terrific and the desserts are great. read more

Wow! Just wow! It was a late night for my wife at work and a long day at work for me. I didn't want to cook, clean up and she just wanted to eat. It was a perfect opportunity to try Verve, which I've been wanting to go to for a few years. Serve was tight, food was excellent, we ordered a ton and the bill was fair. Given the quality and service, the prices might favor the customer. I started with a dirty V martini up, because it was one of those days. I quickly repeated. I only photo'd our apps. Then I had another . I wonder why I didn't take pics of our entrees . We stared with a pear salad, 1/2 dozen blue point oysters, lobster bisque. All good things to order! For dinner, we ordered steak (I think it was NYStrip), roast chicken, and a side of the lobster risotto... again, all very good choices. Honestly, I've never ordered risotto before, but I absolutely loved it. My wife: I def want to come back here... and so do I. See you soon, Verve! read more

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Great ambience, phenomenal food and drink were heavenly. Had the escargot, it was the highlight I the meal..absolutely fabulous! For the main course my husband had the ahi tuna which he enjoyed and I had the duck, both were delicious. For drinks we had a pumpkin drink and 50 shades of pink..the pumpkin drink was amazing! The 50 shades of pink was a delicious drink, perfect not too sweet but strong enough! Waitress was nice, we sat outside and the outdoor seating was a nice touch. If the owner reads this review please post a menu outside and have a hostess standing to greet outdoor customers. While eating outside we saw two parties walk past the restaurant and look around for a posted menu, wait for a hostess and eventually leave. One party of three waited then left to go eat at the Greek restaurant next door, while the other party waited and then eventually walked away..such a silly way to lose clientele. Overall I woul eat here again in a heartbeat. Yes it's pricey but you get what you pay for and I would pay for it again and again and again if the food quality continues the way it is! Great establishment, waitress was friendly, food was awesome and drink were phenomenal! Great place for a date or like us for a young family to have a relaxing dinner. On a side note restrooms were down the stairs but there is a handicap one on the main level. read more

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ok so I think this place is a little weird... and I say that mostly because the atmosphere is bizarre. I'm not sure what kind of vibe they're going for. anyway, my boyfriend and I got a cozy table in a back corner against a wall so we weren't sitting next to other couples (I always appreciate this). we ordered 5 appetizers since we thought they sounded much more interesting than the entrees which all sounded boring (salmon, duck, chicken, steak)... we ended up with: lobster bisque: I thought it was so-so. there weren't real chunks of lobster, just strands. 3/5 stars gnocchi: amazing. this was definitely my favorite. the gnocchi melted in your mouth. it was paired with chunks of tomato and mushrooms and onions. 5/5 stars pork belly: this was a good dish but not amazing. it was a Asian style dish with kimchi and cashews and a slaw. my complaint was that the kimchi wasn't spicy at all like kimchi usually is. 3/5 stars. ravioli: also amazing. they clearly excel in the pasta department. the raviolis had a nice spice to them which was unexpected but so so great. 5/5 stars. Maryland crab cake: don't waste your time. the sweet corn was good but the crab cake itself has almost no crab and was way too fried/crispy- way too much breading. 1/5 stars. I also ordered a dirty martini which wasn't really dirty at all but I still manages to put it back, no problem ! 2/5 stars. all in all, decent place for pretty good food but I'm not sure I would seek it out again if I were in the area. read more

Verve Restaurant - lobster bisque, pork belly & gnocchi. - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

We've always come for the cocktails, but tonight for our anniversary decided to grab dinner too. Honestly everything we had was really excellent. We ordered a crab cake appetizer. I ordered the short rib and my husband ordered the halibut special. My entree at first seemed a little small, but by the end I was satisfied. The meal itself was truly quite good- probably one of the best short rib dishes I've ever had. read more

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My go to place for pizza. Every week for years. Love the pepperoni and sliced sausage, margarita and chicken parm. Great group of people.

This is the perfect example of good idea gone bad. The interior is cute, stylish , and welcoming . We stopped by for a drink and maybe dinner. We sat at the bar which had maybe 5 people at it. It took some time to get the attention of the the 2 bartenders who seemed more interested in chatting with each other than paying attention to the customers . We ordered 2 drinks...one was good and the other was ok . My wife ordered a smoked bourbon drink that had a smoking cinnamon stick in it. She had to struggle to get the attention of the bartender to ask what to do with it. He seemed put out and said that most people stir it into the drink. He then said that he would take the raging hot stick away. Thanks . The other point I'd like to make is the bartender we had wasn't very good. He had the look....hip beard, tattoo sleeves , clip on suspenders, indifferent attitude, however, he kept dropping stuff(mixing glass, bitters bottle, squeeze bottle0. He might do better to pay attention to what he's doing as opposed to looking in the mirror. read more

Place has good vibe but they have nothing to offer for vegan diet. The only option available was poached pear salad which wasn't great.

A Somerville staple. Excellent food and service. I would go more often but it's always packed.

Best bar around....giving it 4 stars....not sure what it takes to be 5..... Food is always well done....mixologist is a nice gent, very comfortable feeling place. Come for the mixed cocktails....always something new... Sunday night is the best...small crowd, great service, open late..... read more

Verve Restaurant - Sautéed Head-on Prawn - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

John the waiter was the worst waiter I've ever had. Huffed and puffed cause my girlfriend has a gluten allergy, wouldn't provide us veggies instead of crostini's with the baked bri. Gave us an alagash instead of an IPA and argued with us it was an IPA. Dirty plates on our table all night long even with our main course coming out. He shouldn't be working. read more

Wonderful vibe and atmosphere. Delicious farm to table menu. I've never had a bad meal. Service is impeccable.

My friends and I had a fabulous time at Verve. Karl at the bar is a fantastic mixologist. Trust this man to make you something special at the bar because he knows his stuff. The atmosphere is slightly upscale, but casual at the same time. The staff are very accommodating, friendly and nice. The food we had was excellent. They had a rib eyes special with truffle butter that was perfectly cooked. We also had some delicious gnocchi and prosciutto wrapped stuffed figs. If you're in the area check this place out. You won't be disappointed. I look forward to going back. read more

Stopped by verve on a Saturday night with a few friends. Loved the vibe upstairs, it was cozy yet had a nice romantic feel to it. Great for a date night or intimate dinner. Drinks were strong and the Parmesan truffle fries are a must. Order the Simon and Sage, it's unique and refreshing! read more

Verve Restaurant - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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This is one of only a few of the many restaurants in Somerville that is not BYOB - but has a bar instead. And occasionally I get tired of wine and want a real drink - but not just any drink, a good drink. This is where Verve comes in. The drinks here are so great because they are well balanced, creative and flavorful - like the Honey Dew Me or the Cucumber Gimlet. Your bill can add up real fast from these goodies but they are worth the prices. Now let's talk about food. The second most important part of any meal, after the liquor. It has been delicious with hearty portions each time. I recommend the Lobster Mac n Cheese but the steak is also good. The décor (particularly of the upstairs dining area) also adds a lot to the ambiance - it is funky but intimate. read more

Verve Restaurant - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Don't mine at all to drive 1 hours occasionally to eat here ! Everything was so good!! Love my duck and the pear salad ! Let me just say everything was on point!!! Until I come back!!!! read more

Verve Restaurant - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Love the food that comes out of the kitchen at Verve. It is prepared with great care and thought. Love the classic dishes with modern twists. Flavors are always on point, my favorite is the duck and the bar burger. A classic restaurant in a growing town, love what Somerville restaurants are doing. Bringing that NYC dining feel to central jersey. Oh and how could I forget the warm chocolate cake is finger licking good. read more

This owner was so rude to his staff that it was embarrassing and painful to watch. I will not be spending anymore time witnessing that and paying $$$$$$ for the displeasure. Maybe I'd go back if they started selling mini hot lava cake balls to throw at him when he starts his "show"? FYI you don't exude cool bro, just sweat. read more

Read a lot about this place. Finally was able to check it out. Much smaller than i thought it would be, but that didn't matter at all. All of the staff was so welcoming and friendly. Didn't know what kind of drink i wanted so the bartender crafted something based on flavors that i liked. They definitely know what they're doing and it's a different kind of spot. Worth checking out. So delicious. I can't wait to come back here read more

Terrible food, slow service, boring environment. Don't bother with this place. Being a French restaurant I was expecting a much higher level of experience read more

To start, we love coming here and there's never been a bad experience up until last night 2/15. We asked to sit at a table to have drinks since the entire bar area was filled as well as the upstairs, at first the hostess had no problem with it and as we waited to be sat a woman serve came up to the hostess stand and started OPENLY AND LOUDLY complaining about how we can't sit because the dining room is closed and that we'd have to stand in the bar area instead. Coming from a server point of view i totally understand how at some point when the kitchen is closed that the tables should also no longer be sat. However, another server said he would take us way before this woman felt the need to complain and be rude to us when it seemed like it wouldn't be her table. We had no problem moving to the bar at any point as room opened up too. So at this point we went upstairs and not long after that the amazing hostess came to get us and said there's a table after all. The server who initially said he would take us, did, and he was great. Pretty much from the time we sat that rude server would shoot is dirty looks and even at some point came up to us aggressively asking if our other two friends were joining us but again it wasn't her problem because we weren't her table and honestly she should have left us alone after acting so immaturely and unprofessional at the host stand. Other than that terrible server and her attitude, we had a great night and the cocktails and EVERYONE ELSE WORKING THERE, was amazing. Never saw that woman there before and hopefully won't have to again. read more

This review is for the 1933 room and not regular dining. The good: atmosphere, food, bartender is kind and talented The bad: I've been upstairs a handful of times and have received horrendous service. Most recently, a group of friends and I showed up for bar plates and drinks. We arrived at 9:30 pm and the tables were disgusting. There were 5 tables covered with dirty plates. We awkwardly stood for a while and considered going somewhere else but then saw two other diners clear their own table so we decided to sit down. The female waitress bused the tables while the male waitress stood there. I made eye contact with him several times and he just smirked at me. Such a bad attitude. We waited 25 minutes before anyone started to serve us. I saw one woman so thirsty that she drank from a glass water bottle left at the table. Another woman at the table near us said that they don't serve bar guests until the last dinner guests have left. We sat there and collectively glared at the remaining dinner guests. They already finished eating. They were just talking and hanging out. What a ridiculous rule. The woman at the table near us also said that the male server refused to take her food + drink order, even though the bartender was overwhelmed with customers, and he claimed that the bartender hated him. The female server was begging for his help. I was so embarrassed because I was the one who recommended this place. My friends who had never been have no intention of ever coming back. The other time I went with a friend of mine. We were drinking several drinks at the bar and then decided to sit at a table. The waiter came to our table and asked if we were going to order anything. With full drinks in our hands, we said we were good. He came back again when we were done and asked if we were going to get anything. At this point, we were 3 or 4 drinks in each so we just ordered fries. The waiter scuffed and responded, really? So still no drinks? He had the biggest attitude but we ignored him. Then when I asked for the bill, I also asked if the server wants to know which drinks we had at the bar because the bartender never asked for our card. He said, no, rolling his eyes. The bartender knows what you drank. He said it in a way as if we were trying to get one over on him. When we got the check, I was surprised by how low it was. Clearly the bartender didn't remember how many drinks we were served (and understandably so since it had gotten busy by then). But why would I tell the server that they undercharged us? He was a jerk when I tried to tell him how many drinks we ordered and just a jerk in general. I should have learned from this experience but I really wanted to believe in this place. I'm so disappointed. I want to love this place for the food, atmosphere and bartender but it's not enough. Please upgrade your service upstairs. It's awful. And please allow for more flexible rules and be more agile so your servers can attend to your bar/tapas guests when dinning is taking too long to wrap up. read more

Food was excellent. Sat upstairs. Bartender (don't remember his name but he looked like that dude fro Maroon5), was attentive, quick and had a great personality. We realize when we sat down that we only had 45 min to eat and pick up the kid. Bartender rushed it and nailed it. Great experience. Hint: get the dang gnocchi. It's excellent and not drowning in cream butter and cheese like usual. Thanks to Maroon5 dude and Verve read more

Visited Sunday night 1/26. Maybe 3 tables occupied and 5 or 6 at the bar. Service was a little slow especially for a 4 drink order of wine by the glass. We ordered the Trout appetizer, chestnut ravioli, and 2 beet salads. Chestnut ravioli was hands down the best of all. Beet salad consisted of a large pile of greens, 4 slices of beet and 4 cheese crisps. ...$16.00 yikes. For entrees we ordered the salmon, short ribs, chicken, bronzino and the salmon. Salmon was over cooked and very dry. Ribs and chicken were good. Bronzino a little dry but had the best flavor of them all. Descriptions on the menu sounded good the execution was lacking. For this price point I expected better. Heard and read a lot of positive comments about this place....guess we went on a off night. read more

over priced menu. a bunch of flair that doesn't add to the food. prices are high for what your getting. the menu is extremely confused. French cuisine? nothing on the menu screams French cuisine at all. Good wasn't bad, just a confused menu, high prices for what you actually receive. Service was good. wants to be fine dining but falls short read more

Great staff that is extremely knowledgeable of their drinks. If you tell them how you like your drinks, they will make it for you. I went with 3 other people and the drinks were all specified to their own liking, I must say they were all delicious! I had the hanger steak as an appetizer and it was delicious. I'm so glad my friends introduced me to this place. DELISH! I didn't eat dinner because it was too late but I must say, I will definitely be returning! read more

Awesome short ribs. Best I've ever eaten. The Parisian cheese cake with cherries is also a real winner. My dining companion had duck with huckleberries. Also outstanding. We'll be back for special occasions. read more

Verve Restaurant - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

I went here for the first time being in Somerville to hang out in town on business. This is was an amazing experience. Carl I have to say was the friendliest, welcoming, and pleasurable bartenders I have met in a very long time. I do not normally write reviews but his service was so exceptional I could not resist. If anyone comes here you will enjoy amazing food, atmosphere, and most importantly impeccable service. Ask for Carl! read more

Very good food in a fun, bustling, vibrant atmosphere, with attentive, enthusiastic service. There are two distinct dining areas. The top floor, situated to the rear of the restaurant on the same level as the bar by the entrance and a lower downstairs dining area. The top was a bit noisier with a hustle and bustle vibe, while the lower was a quieter more intimate type of setting. I did not explore the upstairs "speakeasy" area, but I imagine it (from pictures) to be a fun place for cocktails and tapas if it is in any way in line with the rest of the feeling of the restaurant. I truly enjoyed the bistro feel. There is a fun and creative cocktail list. I went with a Koch Brothers (Bourbon, Clove Infused Port, Home-Made Grenidine, Lemon) as I was informed by my server that the bartender had nearly won a national bartending award with the drink. I can see why, it was dynamite. The wine list is a bit overpriced in its markup. As an Ap I shared the grilled octopus. A plus, it is excellent. Great combination of flavors and textures with a tender octopus and a citrusy finish. However, at $15 I felt they could have made the portion about 25% larger. However, it was a rendition I'd order again. I loved that the baked scallop is served in the shell. A+ for presentation. My duck, served medium-rare was on point. The meat was cooked perfectly, while the skin was rendered just enough so it wasn't tough or chewy. I could have done without the beets in the vegetable mix, but as that's a matter of personal taste. The salmon was cooked perfectly as well. Very moist and fork tender. A very good rendition. We also enjoyed the side of brussels sprouts. Cooked just to tender, but not overdone. Too full for dessert. Lucked out in finding street parking (head-in diagonal style) right in front. However, parking can be a bit tough in this area necessitating a short walk. During the warmer months they offer smaller outdoor table seating in front along the sidewalk. I'm excited to return to try something different. read more

GET THE CALAMARI. Hands down the best I've ever had. Their meats are very tender and juicy as well and their sides are also yummy. It is a small, narrow place that's a little bit more on the dressier side so plan accordingly. Might want to make reservations on a weekend night. Staff was good, a tad on the slow side but very helpful and kind. read more

My experience at Verve was amazing!! Food 5/5, drinks 5/5, Service ABSOLUTELY AMAZING 6/5. We were seated inside and the ambiance was just okay, but the food and service more than made up for it. read more

Strictly a drink review as we only went for drinks and apps. The apps are fine. You don't get much for the money. But the drinks and bartenders are awesome. If in the Ville go here for a round or two. read more

I was very happy with my experience at verve. The patio (or what looks like a parking lot that they creatively turned into a little French courtyard in the back) was a great little spot for outdoor dinning. The heat lamps on the tent kept us cozy on the fall evening, however as it gets colder they may need to add more lamps for the tables not under the tent. Might get a little to chilly for those tables. The service was great, the waiters were definitely stretched thin (only 3 servers for what looked like 18 tables) they were great. Staff was super friendly, provided suggestions, and all had masks on with respect for COVID protocols, absolutely no complaints. The drinks were delicious ! The dumplings and the salads were light, flavorful and all used very fresh ingredients. The steak was nothing to go home screaming about ( slightly over seasoned with pepper) but it was tender, juicy, and perfectly complemented by the truffle fries. I cleaned my plate. Highly recommend this restaurant. One of the best in Somerville ! read more

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Had a birthday dinner there for the family. Verve is the perfect combination of lively bar and finer dining in the back. There is very little to separate, so being close to the front of the house may be louder. Even still, i would say it added to the experience as opposed to taking away. the bar is top notch. Great cocktails and superb execution of the standard cocktails. They also had a good wine list. They gave you lots of options and even a category for interesting reds and interesting whites. The prices on the wine list varied, so you can get something good at the level you are comfortable spending. The food was also fantastic. i had the fried oysters and then the duck confit. The oysters were done perfectly - juicy, crispy and briny. for the duck confit I was surprised by two duck legs. I was expecting just one. I have to say it way more food than i was expecting. I ended off dinner with the creme brulee and an espresso. Both delicious. I am looking forward to coming back again. read more

Verve rocks our world on every visit. Food is always great and prepared to perfection - whether its the steak, poultry, or a burger. The vibe on the patio is eclectic. Hip crowd that always stays longer than planned. The drinks prepared by alejandro are a delight. read more

I have to say my visit to verve on a Friday evening was uneventful. I had ordered one drink at the bar, which was my favorite drink 50 shades of pink. I often go there in transportation of taking an Uber and I had had dinner and drinks prior to coming to the establishment so I have to sitting down and ordering the drink. I simply took a picture of the nice drink. On social media advertising for the restaurant after finishing the drink, I had asked for a second drink, and the bartender told me which I was very shocked, he said. Leave and use the F word telling me to get the F out and that it was time for me to leave using the F word several times and then threaten me when I simply said wow that why did I have to be spoken to like that and the gentleman bartender said that I was behaving like an a hole which I sat there quietly for the whole 30 minutes I was there, not bothering anybody, but I have to say I'll never go there again to use. The F word threaten me that they were going to call the police and tell me to get the F out I just called the restaurant was on hold forever trying to get a hold of the manager or the owner of the place, but I got to tell you in my 55 years of my life I've never been to a place before whether you're slightly intoxicated or whatever the case may be to use the F word several times and be threatened the way I was by a male bartender, he should be fired . read more