Stay away if you have food allergies. I have celiac. I was dismissed and questions unanswered around clarification of what was gluten free and what wasn't. We asked if the baked Brie could come with vegetables and we were responded with a head shake and a uh uh weren't sure. Very disappointed as I previously called the restaurant the afternoon before the reservation and was rest assured of the kitchen confidence around gluten allergies. In addition, my boyfriend received the incorrect beer and was told he was wrong around him questioning. Customer service industry is rough, however being aware and able to listen is so important for any experience. We barely received that this evening. read more

Came here on a Friday night with reservations, and even though it was packed the service was super quick. Our waiter was awesome and gave us great recommendations for drinks and food. I started off with a cocktail which I don't remember the name of, but it was pink and sooo good. I haven't had a cocktail that delicious in a while. For dinner I had the Roasted Chicken with mashed potatoes, and it was AMAZING. I ate every last bite even though I was bursting at the seams. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Verve Restaurant - Roasted Local Chicken Breast - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

A bit of a mixed bag, a bit like our last visit a few years ago. Nice atmosphere slightly upscale but not so much you can't dress casually. Great service exemplified by fixing an accidental incorrect wine bottle order. Mixed drinks are good. Ahi poke and french onion soup were both really good. Ribeyes ordered medium rare came out well done, one was sent back but still came out medium not medium rare - they were tasty though. Duck breast was tougher and less tasty than I'm used to from other establishments. The best entree was the rabbit cavatelli stew(?). Desserts were good. read more

Verve Restaurant - Long Island Duck Breast - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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My local favorite when people are visiting. The best cocktails for something different. Small plates and bar menu for picking. Or full entrees. I recommend the Princess dumplings for a vegetarian treat. Lobster rolls are fresh and summery. read more

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Have been here a few times decided to make reservations for the lounge this weekend. In accordance with social distancing there were only a few other tables occupied - by the time we left we were one of two parties. Was really pleased with the cozy intimate vibe. Drinks were delicious, for the app we got the gnocchi: 10/10. For our entree we got the steak and duck. Also delicious. I have seen some reviews that said the portions were small but we thought they were perfect considering the quality of the food. Will be back! read more

Verve Restaurant - Roasted Long Island Duck - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Dangerously small portions That would be the title and overall crux of my review. After being warmly greeted at the entrance, I was guided past a narrow corridor housing the bar, reminding me almost of a typical dive bar in Manhattan, which somehow, gave way to a rather cozy and opulent dining area. The ambience was great, to be very fair, and the service was delightful; everyone was so warm and courteous. We ordered an appetizer. I then ordered the duck, and my partner the salmon. Any pleasantness I felt quietly died upon receiving the food. The appetizer came with 4 humbly-sized dumplings, the scarcity of the presentation begging you to believe that you only received half the dish somehow. Then came the duck. It was scrumptious. The flavor and umami of the duck was brought out well by the sharp, sweet bite of the cherry gastrique, and it paired well with the side dishes. However, the duck was a cutlet just equitable to the length of my middle finger. This was served with a significantly undercooked portion of green beans and a restrained portion of whipped parsnip. The whole dish took maybe 1/3 of the plate, and not in a "this is totally intentional because this is fine dining" sort of a way. It just felt restrained. It felt cheap. For full disclosure, my partner's salmon was a more sizable dish, but the majority being the accoutrements of sides that it came with, which in all honesty is somewhat expected, just not as fulfilling. To summarize, this restaurant has good service with endearing staff, and the ambience was charming and warm. The food was good, not good enough to warrant the portion you get for the price you pay, but good nonetheless. I WOULD recommend you try this place, at least once, especially if you're on a date; the ambience and hospitality are reason alone to bring a special someone. Just don't get too excited about the food, there are better venues nearby. read more

I only ate here once when they had crabfest, which was okay. But let me tell you, I absolutely love the bartenders and drinks here. I just tell them what kind of flavor I am craving and they make it. I have never been disappointed by the drinks. They are also very attentive and I love the vibe. It is the one semi upscale, lounge/bar type feel in the area. Super cute for date night and you can actually hear the person next to you. I love it. read more

Verve was highly recommended to me by a couple of coworkers. So, after months of having it bookmarked, my boyfriend and I made it our date night spot to grab a drink before dinner. And I'm glad we did! It's a such a cute little place nestled right on Main Street. It has a charming vibe to it; homey, dimly lit, and romantic. The space itself is pretty tiny so it probably isn't the best choice for a big group. Instead, come here for a date night or to grab a drink with a friend. I had heard the drinks here were pretty good so I was excited to dive right into the cocktail menu. After some debate, I ended up ordering the 50 Shades of Pink which consisted of citrus and orange vodka, kinky liqueur, hibiscus, and lime. It came in a dainty little coup glass with a cute garnish. Of course, that meant I had to spend a few minutes snapping pics! The drink itself was good and definitely on the strong side. While it was good, I wouldn't have ordered another one because it tasted pretty sugary to me. There were some other drinks that caught my eye (cough cough the Fernet Mule and Winter Spice) so I'll be sure to check them out next time! read more

I went to Verve for an early Sunday dinner. The service was awesome our server Zoe was outstanding. The food was some of the best I have had in a very long time. I highly recommend this restaurant. We were a party of 3 and it was unanimous, we all loved everything. read more

Very nice small cozy place. Drink was good and I thought food was amazing. Service was great as well. Only thing I didn't like was when I walked in there was no one there to greet us. I'm not sure if that is the concept but I was confused on where to sit. My mother and I went up stairs and I had to ask a few other customers how we had to be seated and order. You sit yourself and order everything at the bar. read more

I took my husband here to celebrate his birthday since he likes French food. Upon making reservations I mentioned that it was my husband's bday, and they said they would notify our server. I never once mentioned while at the restaurant, and to my surprise they brought out a special Dessert at the end of the meal. We were so delighted. The food is terrific. I had the bison carpaccio which was delicious. And my husband had the Tuna Tartare which was equally amazing. The portions for apps are so generous you can easily fill up before dinner. I had the steak and my husband the crab cake special. The cocktails and the environment are truly special. You feel like you're in a NYC speakeasy given the vibe and quality of the drinks. It is truly a gem. Can't wait to go back. This can easily become a weekly habit for us. read more

The food was delicious on our most recent visit, but the service and ambience were less than perfect. The restaurant was full, so the service wasn't as attentive as I had expected, and the tables were close enough together that the conversations from adjacent tables was annoying. I noticed that none of the servers were smiling and I found that odd. I enjoyed my three appetizers and they were so filling that I didn't have room for dessert, other than a delicious glass of Warrior Port. I recommend the poached pear salad (I ordered the dressing on the side), the tuna tartare and the gnocchi (with brussel sprouts, feta and squash or pumpkin puree.) read more

I think verve is the best bar in Somerville. And I'm pretty sure they actually won an award for the best bar in NJ too. Well deserved. And necessary. I get a consistently tasty drink and WONDERFUL service by Charlie. He's extremely kind, funny, and charismatic. The old bartenders always left us hanging and gave us a weird vibe. Charlie has been nothing but attentive for our weekly Friday/Saturday visits afterwork. It's a clean place. Smiling faces. Good vibe. Nice outdoor patio at the front for our crew. And good music. I tell all my friends to come try this place out whether it's a date, girls night or happy hour. Loveeee verve read more

Verve Restaurant - A specialty fruit cocktail. Beautiful and deliciousss - French Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Been here before but gotta say last night meal and service and overall vibe was absolutely outstanding. EJ was our waiter he went above and beyond with his outstanding service. The food was impeccable I ordered the special bronzino my date ordered the steak. From the minute we got there to the minute we left everything was just superb anyone would be an absolute fool not to frequent this establishment often!!!! 5 stars indeed read more

Verve had given new meaning to the term "FAST FOOD " My wife an I arrived about 8:15pm . We were seated and within a period of 10 minutes we were reminded no less than 5 times " the kitchen closes at nine"- Within 3 minutes our appetizers were out and before we finished about half we were hounded for our entree selection . I said we are not nearly finished our apps and enjoying our cocktails. Again we were informed the kitchen closes at 9 !!! I placed my order from the vast selection of five entrees only to be told they are out of fish and the kitchen closes at 9 !!' I thought only at McDonald could you have your desert with your main course but Verve proves me wrong lol For $235 I would have like to enjoy not inhale our dinners Steve & Robin Tarnoff read more

We came here to celebrate a birthday in the summer time. Weather was gorgeous so we requested to sit outside. Although our server was super sweet, service overall was very slow. I'm not sure if it was because we were sitting outside, but the service was very slow. We constantly had to try to wave down a server for simple requests like ordering, getting water, ect. We ordered a meatball tomato appetizer, calamari, seared tuna, duck breasts, and a vegetable side to share for the table. Everything was delicious including the cocktails. While we were enjoying dinner though, there were so many people around us smoking that it became unbearable. We quickly finished our dinner and moved indoors for dessert, where once again, service was pretty slow. I definitely would like to return since the food was so good. However, next time, we will choose to sit indoors. Also, the verve may be a better place for late night desserts and cocktails rather than a full sit down dinner. read more

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I've only been into Verve to sit at the bar, which is an AMAZING experience, until last night. The food and service was outstanding.First the bar, the bar has the best of the best mixologist. Their creations of set cocktails and custom drinks are curated perfectly. You can see what it has been named NJ'a best bar. Now the restaurant and food. The service and wait staff are friendly and very professional. Very attentive and 5 star service. The oil that they give you with the bread for the table is unlike anything I've had before, the seasoning is on point. The French onion soup is hands down the best in the area; one of the best I've ever had if not the best. The rest of my family started with the lobster bisque, very flavorful with nice sized pieces of lobster, definitely another must try. The entrees we had were the salmon, branzino, and short rib. All were plated well and full of flavor. Last, we had the tres leches cake to finish. It was so light and full of flavor yet not overly sweet. The toasted coconut on top was to die for! Finally the ambience there is one of a kind, it takes you back to a old world vibe yet modern at the same time. Perfect for special occasions, date nights, girls nights, and a place to grab a good drink. Check it out; you won't be disappointed. read more

***COCKROACH INFESTATION*** A giant cockroach crawled up the wall and almost jumped onto my dinner date's shoulder while she was eating her entree. I calmly grabbed it with my napkin. I didn't cause a scene. I didn't let any of the other customers know what just happened, out of professional courtesy, as I used to work in the restaurant business for several years. I got up from the table and showed (who I thought was the manager) the napkin and the still living COCKROACH. I told him that I kept this quiet and that he should be aware of the problem. Management thanked me by offering us free dessert. We don't eat dessert, plus we didn't want to touch anything else inside this COCKROACH NEST, so we declined. NOTHING WAS TAKEN OFF THE CHECK. Bad move. Now the story gets shared on Yelp. DO NOT GO HERE. COCKROACHES ARE EVERYWHERE. The Somerville Health Department will be contacted today. This place is dangerously filthy. read more

Food, ambiance, vibe was all amazing! However, our waiter was very aggressive. We felt pressured to order quickly and we barely swallowed our bite when he came back to take our plates that still had food on them! I wasn't even finished and he had his hand on my plate while still asking me if I was finished. I only said yes because it was already in his hand!! It's a shame because my dinner was delicious...I would have loved to finished it. read more

Excellent food, great bar, perfect setting for catering small special events. Convenient location in downtown Somerville; street parking can be challenging. read more

Great food and ambiance. Went for Valentine's Day and it was a very romantic dinner date with FANTASTIC DRINKS

Verve - where to start? I have been coming here since my college days. I went to HS in Somerville and never knew about Verve, well because I was a little punk and Verve was always to rich for my blood! But not that I am a refined adult, who enjoys the finer things in life, Verve is always a go to! Don't know what to drink? No problem! Literally tell the bartenders, I like vodka, with some fruity taste, but not too sweet. BOOM! You will be served a drink that taste like what they would serve in heaven. You may ask, "O MY, what is this drink called?" with a reply of "IDK, I just made it up!" The bartenders work magic creating elixirs in front of our eyes. The price point is normal for their drinks, some people think $10-$15 for cocktails is too much, but hey, you can buy some cocktails at TGIF or Applebee's that cost almost the same, but taste like garbage. Spend some time in the upstairs bar, if it is open for a more intimate feel. The 3rd Wednesday of every month in the upstairs bar is also a gay night, organized locally. Tip: go to the upstairs room, for a more intimate feel, if it is open! read more

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Unique ambiance, a little cramped feeling but very intimate. Food is quite good. Service is friendly and prompt.

Very nice place for dinner and cocktails, I had the hot two burboun cocktail and the New York strip excellent!

Have had dinner here a few times, and always consistent. Staff is friendly and their COVID protocols are spot on.

Fabulous Valentine's Day dinner. A little pricey, but the food, drinks, and service were great.

A disappointing Valentine's Day dinner with my new bride. I enjoy the cocktail bar here, so I expected better from a Valentine's Day dinner. First, I ordered a 2012 Pinot noir. What showed up was a 2014. Bait and switch? When I noticed, I mentioned it to the waiter. All he said was, "that's what he gave me." He did nothing more about it. Then, the bill came, and 20% was added onto it for gratuity. The tip is to insure proper service. For a large party, perhaps I could understand adding on 15% or 20%. Certainly not for a party of two, and who are you to decide to 20% is warranted? And there was a tip line under the 20% gratuity line. How many couples were tricked into adding another tip? The food was good, but not great. 3 stars is generous. read more

For dinner, bar food or just drinks, there is no place better. Never had a bad experience at Verve.

honestly had a shitty experience with an upstairs bartender like a month ago that i am still thinking about. we ordered cocktails, 5 minutes later he comes back with two wine glasses. i politely say oh i think we got cocktails!, since in the dimly lit bar it looked like he was bringing us glasses of white wine. this dude looks at me with the bitchiest look and says "um no its water...ya know the stuff that helps you live?" my rage hasnt subsided and i wish him the worst! read more

This is absolutely a beautiful place to come to every time I am in New Jersey....at least, once a year...... we wanted to order everything on the menu! We decided to share 3 appetizers: the grilled octopus, the Crispy Brie salad and the crabcakes...all 3 were excellent....for entrees, Chelo chose Poached pear salad, Mitch had the crispy skin pan fried Branzino, and I opted to have another appetizer...the duck buns..... they were all outstanding....at the start I felt embarrassed asking the waitress what a kinky liqueur was....... and ended starting with the Verve Manhattan...we somehow ended this fantastic meal experience with the Parisian Blueberry Cheese cake which was to die for and the equally enticing chocolate ganache!!!!! W O N D E R F U L...our compliments to the CHEF...Sante.....a bientot!!!!....thanks to our wonderful server for helping us choose both drinks and food! Service was excellent. read more

I greatly enjoyed Verve. Our party sat in the moody, romantic bar area and enjoyed several of the signature cocktails and a bite to eat off the bar menu. The creatively named cocktails were properly shaken and top notch! The skirt steak served with parmesan fries was delicious and really hit the spot. This is my new favorite cocktail bar in Central New Jersey. Skip the chain restaurants and head straight to Verve! read more

Food is great but probably the worst service I have ever experienced in my life. Waited 30min for each order, drinks were not refilled, waited 45min for the check. Food is top notch but the meal took 3 hours because of the terrible service. read more

Two weekends ago, I hosted a birthday party in the 1933 room. I have to say everything was beyond my expectations from the welcoming at the hostess stand to the waiters and waitresses and bartender to the food and ambience. I could not have been happier with the outcome of everything. It is a quaint room for about 35 people comfortably. It had its own private bar and bathroom, which made it most convenient for everyone! All who attended could not believe how wonderful and how amazing the food. Kudos to the owner it is a quaint room for about 35 people comfortably. It had its own private bar and bathroom, which made it most convenient for everyone! All who attended could not believe how wonderful and how amazing the food was. Kudos to Rick and his entire team for creating a wonderful night for all of us!!!!!! read more

Food was outstanding. Service was great. Ambiance was nice: trendy bar in the front and white tablecloths in the back. Innovative cocktails. My only complaint was the price. Big bucks. read more

I made a reservation for a Monday night as my third choice destination - a lot of restaurants in Somerville are closed on Monday apparently. When I arrived it wasn't busy, so I wound up at a table in the bar section anyway. My first table was wobbly - embarrassingly so and enough that I was afraid I might actually knock it over. The second was better, but still wobbly. Split the hummus and duck meatballs over cocktails. Neither of us were super hungry so it was a good amount of food. Cocktails were creative and delicious. I really don't remember any negatives other than the tables which were a dealbreaker for me. If it had been more crowded and only that wibbly wobbly table was left, I wouldn't have stayed. read more

Went here for an outdoor show on the patio. Friends have raved about this place and I was excited to finally check it out. The drinks I would give a 4: good cocktails and nice range of flavors (pricey though). We ordered some shared plates and I thought the food was totally underwhelming and absolutely overpriced. The calamari was overcooked and rubbery- just not special or good at all. Hummus platter was very basic. All food items were way too expensive for what you got. Overall a disappointing first experience. read more

Verve is my go-to cocktail bar! I've been here numerous times with my boyfriend or a group of girlfriends. Whenever we go we all enjoy some of their delicious cocktails (a new menu seasonally) and usually order one or two apps. I've never had dinner but if the apps are any preview of their entrees, I know they must be amazing The front area is a bar, lounge vibe whereas the back room is a formal dining room. Personally I prefer the front part of the restaurant and even if I went for dinner I'd want to sit there. I believe they also have a downstairs but I've never been. I do know there is a bar upstairs but whenever I've gone it's either closed that night or for a private party. A super romantic and intimate restaurant that is perfect for a date night or a nightcap cocktail. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

I came here over the weekend for the first time. I ordered the ravioli appetizer which was tasty. I had the lobster over risotto dinner and my companion had the chicken entree. WOW! They are generous with portions. We were both pleasantly surprised, and we both enjoyed our meal. For desserts were the lava cake and the apple crumb both were a nice portion and had a great presentation, but unfortunately it was overcooked and burnt at the edges. The apple crumb was better but just ok. This place is also a great spot to meet up for a glass a wine as it has a nice lounge inside. The service is very good as well. I would recommend this place if your in the area. read more

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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

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