Cafe Matisse

went for our anniversary in october, and again for valentine… a true culinary experience… pricy, but worth every penny… best crab cakes ever, the venice was cooked to perfection. dessert was very french like (tiny). but still tasty

Everything is just sooo delicious! It’s a lil pricey but worth every single bite! The ruby tuna tacos were soooo delicious as well as the crab stuffed meatballs. I could have eaten that all day long. The service is great! A lil slow since everything is made to order so be sure to bring a double bottle! Lol

Valentine’s Dinner with my husband at Café Matisse was definitely more than we expected. The greeting at the front door, the romantic table looking out to the courtyard not to mention impeccable service and delicious food, what more could you want. The evening was romantic, courses were served at a leisurely pace, we had time to talk, relax and enjoy our
Night out.

Today, Valentine’s Day, was our first time dining here. It was pleasantly packed, as expected. But No One missed a beat! Rose petals & romantic decorations adorned the tables & the restaurant. The tasting menu choices were exciting and the result was exceptional! Each course was more beautifully presented & tasted better than the next. My husband and I shared everything so we could taste as much as we could & it’s as if we couldn’t get enough. Each dish was as creative & inspiring as the décor in which we sat. And the service! The gentleman that greeted us at the door was the sweetest thing and treated you like you walked into his own home & he had known you for years. The wait staff was exceptional. My water was always full & more importantly so was my wine glass! They cleaned the table after each course & folded our napkins each time we left our seat. There was a lot of care that went into that. Those are the simple, little things, that can make or break an experience. This MADE the experience. Even down to when I ordered decaf tea with our dessert & they presented the tea in its own brewing pot and a tray of various sweeteners. When we were the leaving, the same hospitable gentleman at the door was even more suave & thankful in his «good bye». He truly enjoyed being there and that great spirit echoes throughout the restaurant. We loved the experience & can’t wait to go back in the warmer months to sit in the beautiful, enchanted garden they have hidden in the back like a treasure! As we were told, the chef is a «one man show». The kitchen is open so you can see them working. You can see how they keep the kitchen clean even when they are as busy as they were. It was truly impressive. It just works like a well oiled machine. We really enjoyed it.

Like a few other reviews can sum it up quick and say it’s worth the hype for sure. Some very interesting blends of ingredients in the ‘savory’ menu result in a delicious and memorable experience. Add to that exceptional service and you have a winner. Only downside here is the some of the set-​up, the hallway where you wait is very cramped and the jackets are on one of the walls, exposed to everyone passing by including a cut-​out to the kitchen. Also in the winter you do not want to sit by the far wall bordering the outside garden, as it was quite drafty. Those can be dealt with, and should be because the food is top rate.
We got the spicy crab cake and venison loin to start, almost impossible to pick which was better. The braised pork shank was also really good, but the first two were better. Got a fourth dish, the 3 meat meatball which was really good, but to be honest there is no need to get a fourth savory dish at all — I was stuffed. The deserts were awesome, banana parfait was tasty and had an awesome marshmallow texture.
One more time worth mentioning the staff and owner. They are extremely attentive and friendly, the owner will spend time with you at the end of your meal to make sure you had a memorable experience.

Went last night with my wife and another couple. Hadn’t heard much about the restaurant, so had no preconceived notions which was good.
IN SHORT: Impeccable and attentive service, cute and romantic dining room, but overly fussy food that too often muddies the main ingredients in an attempt to achieve 5-​star dining with prices that are just too high considering the overall dining experience.
I’ve eaten many price fixe menus, but this was the first in which the menu wasn’t either completely set or in which there weren’t categories to choose from. You’re able to choose 2, 3 or 4 of the savory courses + 1 dessert. The chef determines the order, apparently, which is fine.
Service from the moment we walked in was excellent and accommodating. Wine we brought was taken and put on ice and we were asked if wanted white and red poured simultaneously. We all ordered the 3-​course, but asked to share an additional course between us which they said was no problem. Throughout, we were well taken care of, but it seemed like they were just trying to check things off a list that they have seen elsewhere: asking to swap white napkins for black to match our attire (always a bit ridiculous to me), replacing silverware with each course (good), wiping down table in between course (good, but don’t use that cheap plastic brush), refilling wine glasses too often, not refolding napkins when one of us left the table, worn dessert and after dinner drink menus printed on thin loose paper.
A couple of missteps here and there weren’t that major, like being out of two of the desserts and after having a conversation with the waitress about avoiding spiciness («the only thing on the menu that is spicy is the meatball»), but letting my wife order the crabcake. Fortunately, I got my crabcake in an early course and asked them to tone down the spice for my wife which they did («We left out the tabasco for her,» they later said…)
The food was good, just not exceptional at these price points. Nothing I’ll remember the next week. Everything seemed to have 3 more ingredients/​elements than necessary and be slathered in sauces that masked the main ingredient. Very often, you just weren’t quite sure what was in the bite you were eating. (Was that a fried onion, cornbread, crab or something else???) My crabcake was good, but messy. The sirloin also good itself, but sitting on a beyond soggy crostini and slathered in a mass of pesto or creamed spinach. The dark lighting only helped each plate to look like a brown mass.
Desserts were the weakest part. They looked nice, but my chocolate bouchon was dry; ditto for the others’ cheesecake and blackberry cakes.
As others have noted: it’s a long dinner – You will wait longer in between courses than seems necessary. No bread seems very odd for this type of dining (at least they could offer the option) as does the lack of an amuse bouche or anything small and sweet following dessert (like small cookies or candies). The small bowl of olives delivered 15 minutes after sitting down didn’t scream fine dining (and 50% of our table didn’t like olives anyway), nor did the very small bathroom with paper towels strewn on the floor.
I think it’s great there is this type of restaurant in the area, but wish they used maybe half the ingredients they did in each dish, letting what’s left shine a bit more. And again, at this price point, you do wish for something a bit more memorable and refined.

Just finished an absolutely amazing experience — that perfect combination of delicious food, great service, and beautiful ambiance. My lamb tacos had unbelievable flavor & texture. The venison was cooked just right and was the accompanying sauce made it that much more scrumptious. The poached pear dessert topped the meal off just right. I’d highly recommend the restaurant & can’t wait to come back.

Pure perfection! Undoubtedly one of all time favorite restaurants. Chef Loria has an imagination that is only met by his culinary talent and has a way of combining tastes and textures like nothing we ever had elsewhere. The menu changes frequently so to detail what we had on our last visit is kind of moot. Their menu is what they call a ‘grazing menu’. Not tapas since the dishes are not communal nor meant to share (but you will be tempted to try a nibble of your dining mates dish) but are sized somewhere between appetizer and small entrée. If you are ordering the four course graze (3 savory, 1 sweet) it is more than enough to suffice. You will feel pleasantly full but not unpleasantly stuffed. The savory dishes can be combinations of glazed cheddar shrimp over a crab cake, or an ahi tuna taco or sirloin with a potpourri of different accompaniments. These dishes are all embellished with a wonderful assortment of creative additions. You can check out the menu as it does change at least seasonalIly. The décor is comfy and kitschy but fun. The newly added Moroccan Room that replaced their liquor store is moody and romantic. Their best features besides the food is the gorgeous garden in the back of the restaurant. It is only open for dining during the warmer months but you would swear you were transported to Napa or some Tuscany locale but never in Rutherford New Jersey. The service is also perfect. Larry the Maitre D’ runs the ship without ever a flaw or a slip up and the wait staff follows suit. Where have you dined where a black napkin was offered so as not to leave the lint a white cloth would? Exactly. I can’t say enough good things about Café Matisse. As much as I would love to dine there as often as possible it is a special occasion dinner for us although we have indulged ourselves occassionally just because. It’s expensive but worth every penny. There is a reason it has deservedly received the only 4 star rating from The Records Elissa Ung. It’s just that fantastic.

It was my first time here and certainly won’t be the last. The experience upon entering was top notch. The waitstaff was there to greet us and took us on a delicious culinary journey from beginning to end.
We went with the four course dinner which was more than plenty. The dishes were explained to us in detail and unlike some places, they really tried to cater to our taste buds. My favorite being the scallop with foie gras! We brought our own wine as it is BYOB.
The place is small in comparison to some other places I’ve been to before, but they make up for that in service and food!
I will be back in the new year for sure!

Almost only fine dining-​ish restaurant around the area. Hard, more like impossible to find place like here in area
Food is good place is lovely could be bit clean and renovated in my opinion. Service isn’t bad. People are nice.
Pay in cash and it will be some-​how cheaper :)

What a hidden gem! Fine dining in NJ, who would have thought. Gorgeous, intimate space with fabulous top notch service. The garden in the back is beautiful! Excellent food.

This is definitely a date night spot. A Very artistic and romantic setting. Their menus are seasonal which is great because you know the food is constantly moving, and it’s byob. All dishes are packed with multiple favors and amazing ingredients. You certainly get what you pay for when dining at one of Bergen Counties’ most unique and elite upscale restaurants.

Pretty bummed I’ve been living in Jersey for nearly 3 years and only now discovered this place. Took fiancé here for his birthday dinner last night because the Michelin star restaurants in NYC were all booked up. No regrets. Quite the opposite actually. This place was significantly cheaper and did not disappoint.
The menu is seasonal — changing only a few times a year and consists of 8 to 10 «savory» dishes and a about 6 to 8 desserts. The premise is a fixed price for your choice of either a 3, 4, or 5 course dinner wherein 1 course must be a dessert. Other than that, all of your choosing. We each got the 5 course meal because 1.) we were hungry and 2.) we have no self control. The 5 course meal was $ 108 per person which I think was a deal for the quality and quantity of food. I have quite an appetite and was more than satisfied after having 2 savory dishes, but I bravely trekked on and devoured the last two, and dessert.
Between the two of us, we had:
1.) Crapbcake
2.) Beet and Goat cheese salad
3.) Tuna carpaccio
4.) Lamb tacos
5.) Venison
6.) Sirloin
7.) Scallop with foie gras
8.) Dessert: roasted butternut panna cotta
9.) Dessert: Dark chocolate tart
Although all dishes were tasty, our favorites were the crapbcake which had a bit of a southwest BBQ flare, the beet and goat cheese salad, the lamb tacos and the scallop with foie gras. The dark chocolate tart was to die for. I would come back for the same menu and I think just get a 3 course meal considering I’ve tried nearly the whole menu. However when they do change their menu, I’ll likely come back and have the 5 courses since I’ll want to try every last thing on there like I did during this visit. Service was excellent. The complimentary olives are tasty. BYOB. 10% discount if you pay in cash! I think this place is a steal considering the quality and quantity of the food. Will be here at minimum every time the menu changes!

Best food and service I have had in years. Everything was delicious except for the olives but I hate olives lol!
You can’t go wrong! Everything is a price fixed menu. Includes desserts. The chocolate brownie was like no brownie I have ever had. It’s a real treat.

Best meal in NJ hands down! After living in the city for over 7 years we got used to going in to celebrate special occasions. For our recent wedding anniversary I figured let’s give this a try. AMAZING!
The service was top notch the moment we stepped inside. We were seated outside at a table near the fountain and it was just the perfect summer evening.
We brought a bottle of rose and at first I thought it was strange they only poured a tiny amount for each refill but then as the evening wore on I really appreciated the burst of cold wine. (BYOB has its pros and cons– keeps costs down and you can bring whatever you like but I missed getting a cocktail to start the meal!)
They brought out delicious marinated olives (but NO bread, which my husband missed).
Now on to the FOOD– we tried the scallop, crab pancake, quesadilla, burger, shrimp, and venison. Some items were better than others. My favorite was the scallop and least favorite was the crab pancake. My husband loved it all! Only thing I wish that they had more like an actual steak item on the menu. The venison was incredible.
The dessert was good and the staff came out to wish us a happy anniversary– we each got a candle in our dessert which was so sweet !
Would highly recommend for a special occasion!

6 stars. I cannot do this place justice handcuffed by the impossible 5,000-word character limit. Located in the cut of Rutherford, Cafè Matisse appeals to the jewel-​in-​the-​rough aficionado in me, as well as the irreverent food presentation snob. To claim that this restaurant is the best in North Jersey is a serious understatement – I think it compares favorably with the best restaurants the island of Manhattan has to offer.
The dimly lit décor is absolutely wonderful and deserves a brief mention, complete with the apropos fauvism colors worthy of the restaurant name, and an intimate, cozy sensation. The dining area overlooks an immaculate, serene garden with a fountain. Unfortunately, the one table with the direct view was taken, so we had to settle for a table in the middle. Opt for the «best view of the garden» table when making reservations.
What really stands out in Cafè Matisse is the food. I recommend the 3, 4 or 5 course tasting menu. The portion sizes are petite by American standards, so order 5 courses if you require some level of gluttony to lead a happy existence, or if you simply enjoy distending the cardia. Four would be perfect for most people. Yes, the dishes are quite small, but the presentation is out of this world; I can confidently say that no restaurant I’ve visited previously (and likely no restaurant on this planet) boasts more sophisticated plating.
I ordered the best of seafood that I could find on the menu: Sushi Tuna Pizza with Chorizo, Red Snapper Ceviche, Ginger Soy Lacquered Chilean Sea Bass. When the food looks this spectacular, it’s surprising to proclaim that it tastes even better than it looks. It does. I was not a huge fan of the tuna, but the red snapper and bass were the best I’ve ever had. The ceviche was incredibly rich and satiating given its size. The bass was similarly delectable, with exquisite use of heavy sauce to accent the flavor. By the time Sliced Muscovy Duck and Roasted Foie Gras with Apricot Ginger Glaze arrived, I was actually quite full. I would not recommend ordering the scallops if you are having the foie gras lest you become overwhelmed by the creaminess of all the saturated fat you are consuming – I could detect butter in almost every sauce – a true French dining experience.
The glazed hazelnut browny desert was sweet, uneventful, and almost unwelcome given the quality of the food we have devoured. Our waiter was not just helpful and courteous, but humorous and entertaining as well, as to be expected with good service. The bill came to $ 200 before tip, which I promptly declared a bargain given the experience. If you live anywhere near the Metlife Stadium and need a romantic location, do not hesitate. At the risk of sounding elitist, I must confess that I feel Cafè Matisse’ excellence is wasted on the humdrum environs of dirty jerZ, but if you are the type of person who enjoys sensational food with remarkable plating, hit up this place for your anniversary. Do not order the burger.

Came here for my anniversary dinner… I was very delighted. The food was delicious. Décor was beautiful. Plates were very small. You pretty much have to do at least 2 «entrees». Get ready to shell out a few bucks! 2 people=$ 200+
It’s byob, so that’s a plus.

My husband surprised me for my birthday evening by taking me to dinner at Café Matisse. Wow it was so wonderful! I gave my hubby high praises for choosing this fine establishment!
First off, the service was perfect! Friendly not stuffy, knowledgeable about the menu, and great with recommending their favorites.
We each got the 5 course tasting menu, which was so fun! Each course was a nice size, so we definitely left feeling full and satisfied. My favorites were the crab cake and the bittersweet chocolate tart, but everything was awesome! Each dish came with so many elements. different sauces, unique food combinations, surprise crunch, and all would equal just total flavor fabulousness! This was seriously delicious cuisine, and one of the best dining out experiences I’ve ever had! (And I’ve been to many, many high end restaurants in Manhattan and done many tasting menues. This was probably my favorite of them all!). I enjoyed each and every bite… Unlike some tasting menues that have some weird (and off-​putting) combos. Everything at Café Matisse was spot on!
We were also pleased to learn that Café Matisse will open their backyard outdoor garden in May, and that they will have new items on the menu around May/​June. We very much look forward to going back!
Overall, an absolutely wonderful experience. Oh and the décor is so beautiful!

What a great place! From service, to food, to ambiance this place has it all. Service was incredibly attentive and friendly. The food was presented so nicely and every bite we had was delicious. It’s a small space but very cozy and great for a romantic dinner. We’ll definitely be back when they open the outside area in the spring.
Just note this is a tasting menu where you choose 3, 4 or 5 courses. It is also BYOB.

Let’s start. My wife and I enjoyed the food immensely. We decided to try this place after having lived in Rutherford for 6 years. The food was excellent. The service was spot on without being too stuffy or uptight.
We went on a Sunday which has a prix-​fixe tasting menu. The restaurant, like most Rutherford eateries, is BYOB. Check out the day’s menu online so you know what to bring. You will not be surprised to find that many other diners bring multiple bottles of wine to pair with their meal. The portions are large and filling.

I have eaten at some amazing places
Colicchio and sons, nyc; Jose Garces in AC; Craft Steak in Vegas. Other Michelin star rated places with forgettable meals and forgettable names. And yet one of the best meals I’ve had in recent memory is here in my little hometown of Rutherford.
Touché.
My meal began with the roasted beets. Incredibly rich, sweet perfectly roasted. Served on crostini with mild goat cheese and candied walnuts.
The meal built to another amazing dish, the pan seared dry scallop with foie gras. Now I had a bit of the foie by itself and it was a turn off for me — it’s a texture thing. Then I had it with the scallop and pow wow pow.
As you dig deeper into the dish you find succulent duck prepared confit with was blueberries? Oh my. Layers upon layers of loveliness By far my favorite dish.
The next item was just richer than rich. Veal wrapped in speck. Way too much food for me and I planned on it for lunch tmmw. It didn’t make it past 20 mins after we got home. We have a budding foodie in our 12 yo who enjoyed it for her dinner
Served with rigatoni and a thick rich pesto.
To top off the meal I enjoyed the vanilla bean cheesecake. The cheesecake was rich dense and perfectly set. The apples, candied walnuts, berries just added a sweet and deep taste to an already impressive desert.
Thank you. Customer who will return!
To be clear — I have had tasting menus at many many fine dining locations. This is on par right up there if not better.
Kind of hard to match Garces for me, but darn close!
And before I fail to mention. Service was on point. The chef should be proud he has excellent staff in front of house

The food here is good and I would recommend going here to anyone who wants a special/​tasty dinner. However, I knock one star off because of how the dinner is served and dessert.
The main courses are good and beautifully presented. I had a little taste of many dishes, but my favorites include the Sushi Tuna Pizza and the Crab Cakes. The menu changes, so hopefully these are still there when you go and if they are then you should definitely order them. Both have some spice, especially the Crab Cakes, and are filled with flavor. So much goes into these dishes and one can taste the effort and pure ingredients put into perfecting this food.
I was not aware beforehand, but you can get either 3,4 or 5 courses and the plates are all about the same size. I would say that the dishes are all on the small side, but after 3 – 4 course one will be full because the food is rich and flavorful. Personally, I like having a main course and this is a personal preference, so for me this is a negative. In addition, the desserts I tasted were underwhelming. I was expecting them to be spectacular and after having a couple of bites I was disappointed and felt like desserts at other restaurants are far better. Maybe I will try the Bitter Sweet Chocolate dessert next time (FYI one of your courses must be a dessert).
I will visit Café Matisse again and I am sure I will enjoy it. I recommend this restaurant to anyone for a special occasion or just to try a restaurant like this, but I don’t think this is a place to go on a monthly basis or anything like that. The value for money is ok, but there is no flexibility and the cheapest dinner will be $ 68. I have trouble rating this restaurant because there were some parts I loved and other parts that were not my favorite so I will end by listing 3 pluses and 2 minuses.
(Also, this is not a french restaurant as the name might imply. Not a bad thing, but something to be aware of if this is what you’re looking for.)
Pluses:
1) Flavorful/​Well Portioned Main Courses
2) BYO
3) Staff/​Atmosphere
Minuses:
1) No «true» Main Course
2) Dessert

Superb dining experience.
I took my mom here on the girls night out. She had never been to this type of restaurant before. I was very excited the way everything turned out.
From the moment we entered until the end of the night, both of us felt as though we were transported into France.
We ordered a 3 course meal. The meal included two main dishes and a dessert. The size of each dish is larger then an appetizer and smaller then an entre. By the end of our second course we felt stuffed. We both agreed that the desert is too big and should be given an option to opt-​out. Keep in mind we didn’t eat the whole day.
The only thing I wish we did is brought some wine with us since the restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol. So, BYOB if you want to have a drink.
I will remember this night forever. Thank you all for a great service and wonderful food.
Will be back again.

New Jersey Monthly recently announced their annual ‘Top 20 Restaurants’ list and immediately people started to comment that Café Matisse should be on there as well. Having only been to one restaurant on their list — Thirty Acres — I have to agree with the people because I thought Matisse was superior by far.
I don’t think we could’ve picked a better spot to celebrate our 9^th anniversary… everything was flawless and impeccable. Although we didn’t get to eat in the back garden my view was just as good: across from me was the wife (she’s not on Unilocal but it can’t hurt to butter her up!) and behind her the garden (and as the sun set the lights strung throughout the trees come on and it’s really a beautiful view).
Lamb carpaccio, Muscovy duck, foie gras (her pick, so don’t yell at me for being a cruel human)… it was a night of firsts for myself and every dish was absolutely perfect. (Portions lean on the smaller side but I was full with just the 3-​course option.)
And with such stunning food you might expect a stuffy atmosphere but it was the exact opposite: the entire staff were a hoot (did I really just use that word?!) and I don’t think I’ll ever see or say the word ‘satay’ without thinking of our main waiter’s insane skit on the proper way to say/​yell it and the extravagant arm gesture that goes along with it.
BYO (always the way to go!) but it’ll still put a dent in your wallet. Highly recommended all the same.

I recently had a big birthday (shhh) and my amazing boyfriend brought me here to celebrate. I was blown away from beginning to end. Truly a one of a kind experience that I will not soon forget.
If you’re familiar with the famous Matisse painting, «The Red Room», then you get the idea of the décor inside Café Matisse. The raspberry red walls throughout are lush, romantic and cozy. I loved the colorful glass chandeliers and the «Secret Garden» feeling of the outdoor patio in the back. I hope one day I can come back and dine outside. Perhaps for my next «big» birthday.
The food tasted just as it looked… stunning and extraordinary. I loved the layers of intense flavors. I can only compare the ingredients to a painters palette and the resulting dish is equal parts crazy and subtle strokes of flavor. I could probably write a couple of paragraphs about each of the four courses I ordered but I’d rather just tell you to go and experience it for yourself. Just as it’s true for most art, the menu selections here are probably subjective. No matter how much I might rave about their Crab Cake tower (it was one of my favorites of the night) it might not be anything you’d ever give a thought to.
Another note about the food, the portions are described as «bigger than an appetizer, smaller than an entrée». I would disagree and say that they are all close to being small appetizers. It’s hard to break out of that American standard of giant portions. That said, after 3 or 4 courses you really are left full and satisfied.
Leaving the best for last… service. I might not do a lot of fine dining so forgive me for sounding so amazed by the little things… wine and water glasses magically refill, conversation is light and casual for a place that you would expect to be snooty or highbrow, the tablecloth is swept between courses, delicious little olives take the place of bread on the table and are surprisingly bottomless (the waiter just kept bringing them out as fast as we could gobble them down), a birthday candle was placed on my dessert and this happened to many a table throughout the night.
Highly recommended for special occasions. If you’re rich and can afford to dine here often, well, I’ll try not to hate you. If you’re not rich, go print the discount coupon on their website (for real!) which will shave off 10% from your bill on Friday and Saturday sittings.