There is something magical about authentic French cuisine that turns an ordinary dinner into a special occasion. Perhaps it’s the unique flavors and preparation methods. Or maybe it is the atmosphere and decor that evokes the feeling of dining at a Parisian bistro. Either way, nothing compares to dining at the Best French Restaurants in New Jersey.
Some of the spots on this list are fine dining options, but a number of them are more casual. In truth, French cuisine is slowly fading away in New Jersey, with many longstanding restaurants closing their doors. There are now only a small handful of authentic, traditional French fine dining restaurants in the state. Instead, many French restaurants now offer French fusion or casual brasserie (informal) dishes. That said, all of the entries on our list offer high-quality French-inspired meals alongside an unforgettable experience.
Quick Click Guide: Select an NJ Region below to find the Best French Restaurants nearby.
| North Jersey | Central Jersey | Jersey Shore | South Jersey |
North Jersey
Featured from Bergen County:
Latour
Where: 6 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood
Details: Owner and Executive Chef Michael Latour has been in charge of Latour for over 27 years. This makes Latour one of the longest-tenured restaurants in Ridgewood, and Chef Michael one of the most experienced French chefs in the state. He is also President of the Societé Culinaire Philanthropique NJ Chapter, a community and association supporting French migrant chefs. (Members include a number of world-renown chefs and culinary experts in French cuisine.) Latour is one of the last remaining traditional, authentic fine dining French restaurants in New Jersey. For instance, they still serve a Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert, a lost art at modern French restaurants and bistros. Additional menu highlights include appetizers like French cheese ravioli, Escargots a’ la Bourguignonne, Lamb Bolognese, and Pan-Seared Foie Gras. Signature entrees include Dover Sole Meunier, Half Roasted Crispy Duck, and Filet of Beef Wellington. Mention iconic French singer “Edith Piaf” to receive 10% off your meal.
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Barbès
Where: Hoboken
Details: Barbès is a unique fusion restaurant that combines French and North African (specifically Moroccan) cuisine. The restaurant is named after a Parisian neighborhood, which itself translates to “a little piece of North Africa”. Patrons can expect a Parisian bistro vibe and a menu with both French brasserie classics and Moroccan specialties. Highlights include French onion soup, Moroccan Shakshuka, Steak au Poivre, Petoncles de Mer Poeles, and Tajine Kefta (Moroccan lamb meatballs).
Bistro d’Azur
Where: South Orange
Details: The menu at Bistro d’Azur focuses on Southern French and Mediterranean specialties. Refined palates will detect an infusion of flavors from Provence, Nice, and the French Riviera. In addition to a 5-course Chef’s Tasting, the menu exclusively offers 2 or 3-course prix fixe dining. The menu showcases seasonal dishes using locally-sourced New Jersey ingredients, and changes so often patrons could return weekly. Previous menu favorites range from lobster crepes and grilled swordfish to roasted lamb rib chops.
Brasserie Memere
Where: Closter
Details: Since coming to Closter in 2019, Brasserie Memere has become a fan favorite among locals. As the name implies, the restaurant is modeled after a classic French brasserie (meaning “informal restaurant”) with a casual atmosphere. Chef Thomas Ciszak combines traditional French cooking techniques with a number of German recipes from his grandmother (or “mémère”). They serve a lunch, brunch, and dinner menu that includes Foie Gras, tuna tartare, schnitzel, and steak frites.
Faubourg
Where: Montclair | Weehawken
Details: Montclair’s culinary diversity extends to fine French-inspired cuisine thanks to Faubourg. (The restaurant also has a second location in Weehawken.) Serving seasonal French cuisine, patrons can expect to find lunch, brunch, dinner, and even a separate midday menu. The latter serves lighter bites like Eggplant Baba Ganoush or Grilled Shrimp & Heirloom Tomatoes. Meanwhile, the full dinner menu features favorites such as ricotta ravioli & corn, ratatouille, and grilled octopus with lentil.
The Grand Cafe
Where: Morristown
Details: The Grand Cafe mixes French and American specialties and pairs them with a substantial wine list. With different menu options for lunch and dinner, they offer a variety of dishes. Popular dinner entrees include the Pan Seared “Rare” Ahi Tuna, Double Cut Roasted Pork Chop, and Long Island Duck Breast. Add a side of Homemade Pommes Frites or Truffle Macaroni and Cheese to complete any meal. In addition to sit-down dinner, The Grand Cafe caters weddings, parties, and special events, and also offers takeout.
Madame
Where: Jersey City
Details: This modern French bistro and cocktail parlor has flair, flamboyance, and style, in addition to creative French cuisine. Besides the dinner menu, which focuses on sharable plates, they have handcrafted cocktails and must-try desserts. We recommend the chicken cordon bleu with brussels sprouts, Marie Curie cocktail (or Phony Negroni mocktail), and “crepe brulee” dessert. It’s a cozy spot with music playing throughout the restaurant, so keep that in mind when planning for date night.
Restaurant Lorena’s
Where: Maplewood
Details: Classic haute French cooking techniques meet modern flavors and seasonal ingredients at Lorena’s. Their classic menu is brimming with favorites like French onion soup, salmon tartare, mussels, duck, filet Mignon, and roast chicken. Patrons love the warm and welcoming, bistro-like atmosphere, the exceptional service, and of course, the food. Lorena’s always keeps things fresh, so the restaurant frequently introduces new concepts like their summertime weekend brunches with live jazz.
Restaurant Serenade
Where: Chatham
Details: Chef James Laird has quite a reputation in the culinary community. The Culinary Institute of America graduate’s pedigree includes training with acclaimed European chefs Georges Blanc and Alain Pic. He is also the first New Jersey chef to be awarded the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence. As for the restaurant itself, Serenade promises high-end, inventive French cuisine. This includes dishes like Poussin, a spatchcock chicken served with creamed spinach, garnet yams, and aji panca.
Saddle River Inn
Where: Saddle River
Details: This restored-barn-turned-romantic-BYOB specializes in upscale French-American fusion. The storied history of this spot involves a previous life as a sawmill and basket weaving factory in the 1800s. Now, Chef Jamie Knott uses his culinary expertise to craft a menu that changes twice seasonally using fresh ingredients. Patrons may recognize Chef Knott from some of his other restaurants, including Cellar 335 (Jersey City), Kinjo (Newark), and Madame. (Yes, the same Madame also on this list.)
Central Jersey
Chez Catherine
Where: Westfield
Details: Chez Catherine is one of the oldest French restaurants in New Jersey, first opening in 1979. This pillar of French dining is still just as popular today thanks to their upscale lunch and dinner menu. Dinner offers 3 or 4-course prix fixe dining, whereas lunch allows for ordering a la carte. We also recommend saving room for dessert, because Chez Catherine has a number of standout treats. Their Souffle du Jour (chocolate mousse, salted caramel, creme chantilly), creme brulee, and Panna Cotta au Grand Marnier are all popular picks.
Chez Daniel
Where: Frenchtown
Details: One of the newest restaurants on this list, Chez Daniel opened in 2024. The casual BYOB dining spot offers French fusion, blending traditional French and American cuisine. Chef Daniel Gras grew up in Cape May, but his grandfather owned a restaurant in France. Likewise, his father is a classically-trained French baker. So it’s no surprise Daniel’s restaurant merges the French cuisine of his heritage with the traditional American meals he grew up loving. We recommend the French Onion Burger, rack of lamb, or classic steak frites.
Sophie’s Bistro
Where: Somerset
Details: This classic French bistro aims to offer hearty comfort food at fair prices for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The atmosphere is equally inviting, boasting French country antiques, large open shuttered windows, and family pictures along the walls. The menu is a crowd-pleaser, with inventive options to satisfy even those who don’t love traditional French food. For instance, they serve a unique Pizza de Provence with blue cheese, toasted sunflower seeds, and baked pear slices. Stew lovers will enjoy the Le Coq au Vin de Sophie.
Verve Restaurant
Where: Somerville
Details: Verve is one of the few French restaurants in Central Jersey serving bistro cuisine and handcrafted cocktails. The a la carte dinner menu is available Tuesday through Sunday each week. The French and American fusion menu includes pan seared duck breast, miso glazed salmon, bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, and more. Besides sit-down dinner, they offer take home catering and a Lil’ Frenchie Brunch on special occasions. For dessert, they offer creme brulee, Parisian style cheesecake, and homemade ice cream and sorbet.
Jersey Shore
410 Bank Street
Where: Cape May
Details: One of NJ’s longest-tenured French restaurants, this BYO spot has been in business for over 40 years. While most of the menu focuses on Creole-Caribbean fusion, 410 Bank Street is also renowned for their French dishes. This includes their baby rack of lamb and their fresh fish brought in daily from their local fishing fleet. They pair options like Atlantic swordfish, mahi mahi, and yellow-fin tuna with their signature in-house sauces. Be sure to save room for one of their desserts, always baked fresh in-house.
Maison Bleue Bistro
Where: Cape May
Details: Maison Bleue Bistro defines their menu as “refined bistro cuisine,” putting it somewhere between the casual menu of a traditional brasserie and the authentic techniques of a fine dining French restaurant. They offer a prix fixe early dinner menu between 5:00 – 5:30 pm. Otherwise, their a la carte menu is available for the rest of the evening. Maison Bleue Bistro also participates in the Dinner and a Show program at Cape May Stage. This offers discounted same-day ticket pricing for anyone who dines at a participating restaurant.
Pascal & Sabine
Where: Asbury Park
Details: As a somewhat unusual backstory, Pascal & Sabine takes inspiration for their restaurant from the 1956 short film by Albert Lamorisse, The Red Balloon. In short, the restaurant wants to lift patrons above the mundane nature of day-to-day life. As a restaurant, they fulfill this goal by creating dishes that transport customers through a rich sensory experience. That starts with small plates like Oysters du Jour and Brandade Croquettes before moving on to entrees including Duck Cassoulet.
River Pointe Inn
Where: Rumson
Details: Another fusion between American and French Bistro cuisine, River Pointe Inn is especially popular for its oysters and cocktails. Their featured oysters exclusively come from the Barnegat Oyster Collective, and include two rotating varieties that change often. Other menu highlights include Ratatouille, Moules Frites, Chicken au Poivre, Steak Frites, and Roast Chicken for Two. As for their cocktails, seasonal delights range from Orange Crush and Bourbon Sour to Summer Berry Spritz and Passionfruit Daiquiri.
South Jersey
June BYOB
Where: Collingswood
Details: June BYOB corners South Jersey’s fine French dining market. They frequently craft special menus like multi-course Sunday tastings. In fact, the chef is constantly dreaming up new menu items to introduce throughout the year. Together, Chef Richard Cusack and his wife Christina — a Level 4 certified sommelier — craft dishes with wine pairings in mind. (Ask for a recommendation.) Recent menu highlights include Beef Wellington, Lamb, and Golden Eye Snapper. There’s a reason the intimate dining room is almost always at capacity.
The Little Hen
Where: Haddonfield
Details: Originally opened by Chef Michael Stollenwerk in 2019, the restaurant was sold to Chef Alan Lichtenstein in 2021. This cozy spot seats just 18 diners at a time (Chef Alan operates the restaurant himself, with only his son assisting part time), offering a concise dinner menu that features four mainstay entrees and a rotating special. The Little Hen doesn’t strictly adhere to traditional French cuisine, which allows the menu to be a little more flexible. Menu highlights include Chicken Liver Mousse, Duck Frites, crispy frog legs, and Cauliflower Au Gratin.
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