Garlic Rose Bistro

"***4 1/2 stars*** I didn't realize I'd brought my Dentyne Ice with me into the restaurant, but it was nice to have on my way out. Garlic Rose has been on my radar for literally years; they had a location in Madison that a few of my friends really liked back in the day, and while I don't have a strong opinion about garlic one way or the other, it seemed like a unique option. The Millennial Chum and I came here for dinner last night; Cranford is a "meet in the middle" area for us, so the timing was finally right for this one. Despite having to rely on the Parkway on a Friday night, both of us showed up uneventfully and were able to secure parking nearby. I parked on the street about a block away and had to pay $0.25 for half an hour of parking before the paid parking situation in Cranford expired - in this inflationary environment, I'll take it. We made a reservation for 5:45pm. It was pretty empty when we showed up but considerably more crowded by the end, so it probably wasn't necessary but I never see a downside if that's an option. It's a pleasant interior; there ARE white tablecloths, but it still maintained a pretty casual vibe. I was in nicer jeans and didn't feel like I was being naughty. I loved the way they handled the free bread situation here. The waiter placed a basket with two small rolls, along with roasted garlic to spread (that's a new one for me) and what seemed to be a well seasoned pesto-type dipping sauce. Initially the Millennial Chum was ruffled that we only had two small rolls to share, but it was clear that the basket would be immediately refilled, and the smaller portions prevented us from going nuts and filling up too much before the entrees showed up. Genius if you can keep a close eye on the bread inventory. The garlic and pesto-like sauce were delicious; each was excellent in their own right but I started combining them with my bread and really went to town. I'd accidentally had some dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets earlier in the day, so pasta seemed like the way to go. I opted for the Cheese Ravioli w/ Vodka Sauce (the website says $23 but I think this was around $25 or $26). Generous serving, and very good. As you'd expect, there was garlic involved but honestly the flavor itself was so subtle that I wouldn't have even known except for the visible garlic chunks in the sauce. That might be my big takeaway for the masses considering stopping by here - there IS a lot of garlic but it's not overpowering in any way, shape or form. The Millennial Chum had the Harvest Chicken and was very content with that, sending it viral almost immediately via her vast social media talents. The only slight ding I can give this place is that the one dessert I was genuinely interested in sampling, the garlic ice cream, was unavailable. Early on a Friday night, that seemed like a bit of an unforced error but obviously I don't know the background on why that particular item wasn't on the premises. The upside is that because i wasn't feeling the other desserts, I saved a few calories in the long run. I nibbled on the Millennial Chum's Rocky Road (the manager, I believe, stopped by right after she ordered it to tell her it had nuts, which makes me think a ton of people have ignorantly requested it not knowing what makes it Rocky, but I digress). The service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly, engaging and attentive. I can't speak for all females, but I'll take Miss over Ma'am any day, so hopefully he keeps up the excellent work in that capacity. Everyone was very pleasant and I'd have no issues going back; I'd be pretty devastated though if I missed out on the Garlic Ice Cream for a second time."

"Amazing!!! Romantic place and awesome food! I and my husband visited this place for our anniversary (we didn't mentions it to the restaurant). The place has cozy and warm vibe. I really loved their bread and steamed garlic(they serve it before appetizer ). It was really good. We ordered garlic chowder soup for appetizer and I asked extra bowl to share this soup (because I wasn't that hungry). The waiter divided it into two portions instead of small extra bowl. It was very nice of him. We were glad. For main dish, I got Shrimp scampi (pasta) and my husband had crab cake. Both were amazing! We enjoyed the food, enjoyed the vibe and had a great time. Thank you!"

"The best Italian restaurant I have been to so far in New Jersey. Our relative hosted a wedding here and we are so blessed to have the waiters/cooks make delicious food and set everything up for the wedding. The food did take a while to arrive, but it will always be worth the wait. Desserts are really good and sweet. I would take a visit at this place if you are looking for a good, fancy Italian restaurant."

"I tried this restaurant for the first time and it did not disappoint. The food was absolutely incredible. I recommend getting the chicken francese, the chicken was super tender and the sauce was delicious, along with the potatoes. The burrata was amazing as well as an appetizer. The owner is extremely friendly and genuinely cares about your experience. I will definitely be back, and recommend trying it out."