Hans Egg, a really great chef
DESCRIPTION: It is always a special pleasure to dine at the Saddle River Inn. This is European cuisine at it's best, with that special touch of Swiss chef Hans Egg. Outstanding food, great service, cozy atmosphere. Highly recommended.
DATE: 2004-07-20
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : All, without exception

Never again
DESCRIPTION: I had sworn to never again visit the Saddle River Inn before, but have returned really only because it's one of the very few such restaurants in Bergen County, an upscale BYOB with a lovely, quaint atmosphere. But that's all it has to offer, and after this colossal disappointment, truly I'll never make the choice to visit again. Upon arriving, the hostess ignored us for a good 3-5 minutes while she was on the phone. Eventually, we were seated and then treated to slow service (15 minutes or so before anyone came to our table), a haughty waiter, and unmemorable food. But the end of the evening sealed the deal for me: I came with 2 wine carriers and four bottles of wine; we opened three. On my way out, I was told to and did pick up my wine carriers which were stashed by the waiter in a corner. Only when I arrived home did I realize that the fourth, unopened bottle was not in the carrier. I called the Saddle River Inn, and the hostess confirmed that my bottle of wine was still there. Mistakes can happen, but without any apology at all, she said simply and repeatedly, "Madam, the wine is your responsibility." And the viability of their restaurant is theirs .
DATE: 2000-11-29
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

Simply the Best
DESCRIPTION: Superb in every way. Bev, stay in Westwood, perhaps the Iron Horse would be more your style.
DATE: 2001-07-19
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8

Me Too - Never Again ! !
DESCRIPTION: Saddle River Inn Yuk It was a totally inferior restaurant. The service was lousy. We waited 40 minutes between our appetizers and main course. The "head" waiter had an annoyed attitude when he talked to us the first time - welcoming our party of eight adults. Actually, it was an attitude problem. Everyone s food came in cool to cold. We asked for one dinner to be rewarmed and it took 20 minutes. The coffee was horrendous, to put it mildly. No one drank their coffee. The food was fair to poor. The salad was big enough to feed a one year old child. The main course was a little skimpy in the protein area. In other words, have dinner some place else. Also, the waiter, without asking, took our unopened bottles of wine and began stashing it under a staircase closet instead of giving it back to us. Response - "I thought you did not want the unopened bottles." What a lie! It was a good thing that the gratuity was included in the bill. Zagat s should go over their review for this restauran
DATE: 2002-03-18
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
OVERALLRATING : 2

Our Favorite Restaurant
DESCRIPTION: We return to the Saddle River Inn every year for our Anniversary. We have never had anything but a great experience (I'll have to agree that the coffee could be better). We love the food, and the ambience.
DATE: 2002-10-03
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10

Excellent!
DESCRIPTION: I would recommend this restaurant to my friends! Excellent service, our glasses were promptly refilled, the table kept free of crumbs.... The waiters were friendly and very attentive, especially the suggestion for dessert very good, an excellent choice. The ambiance was welcoming and warm.
DATE: 2002-10-19
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Smoked salmon for appetizer, for dessert custard wrapped on a crepe with raspberry puree

Service with an Attitude
DESCRIPTION: Upon entering the restaurant a pungent aroma of smoky incense immediately reminded me of forced visits to church many years ago. The "old barn" ambiance was warm, though a very squeeky / creeky kitchen door made it difficult to converse. Our head waiter appeared inconvenienced and annoyed when taking our orders. Special requests were instantly rejected by the Head Waiter - as he did not want to insult the chef!
DATE: 2003-03-26
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Skip the desserts & coffee has no taste

New York in New Jersey
DESCRIPTION: If you want a dining experience that will remind you of the best in New York, then this is it. Outstanding food, excellent service, cordial welcome without the tolls and the outrageous parking fees. The Maribar is more that I can describe: a plethora of flavors that make your senses come alive. The potato rosti, never had any better (even in Switzerland). Bringing your own wine just adds to the experience. Bev, I agree with the hostess, the wine should be the customers' responsibility, after all we bring it in and are charged nothing - no corkage or service - so, if we want to take it back home, we should remember and make sure to pick it up on our way out. I never had a problem with it. I sure hope that your remembered the wine service when filling the space described as: TIP!
DATE: 2003-05-31
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10

Swiss cuisine at it's best
DESCRIPTION: I am extremely happy that there is a place in the Metropolitan area where Hans Egg is celebrating a genuine Swiss cuisine at it's highest level, better that in many top places in Switzerland. When in New York, it is a must to visit his charming Saddle River Inn.
DATE: 2003-11-21
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : All, without exception

What a find!
DESCRIPTION: The dinner experience there this past Friday had to have been one of our finest dining moments in New Jersey. A native Swiss, I have been living here for more than thirty years; why is this gem of an Inn such a well-kept secret? We were very happy with the service, the ambiance, the beautiful food creations, and everything else that must be present to make it a memorable moment. Well done Cheff Egg!
DATE: 2005-02-07
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Fish (Artic Char) - supurb!

NEVER AGAIN
DESCRIPTION: I will never again visit the Saddle River Inn. Never in my life have I ever felt like such an outcast. As soon my fiancee and I walked in, I could feel the eyes of the staff burning a hole in my head. I'm not sure why I got the stares that I did (skin color maybe), but the food to say none the less was horrible. Not only did the wait staff not look me in my face the whole time I was there, when my food did arrive it was as if they just slung my dish onto the table. That was the last straw for me. I spoke with the manager and told him that I, nor any of my fellow friends would ever dine there again! We Left promptly, without eating anything! I would have my fiancee buy the entire restaurant, and fire the staff... but it's a waste of time!
DATE: 2005-08-17
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Something from another restaurant completely

Never Again
DESCRIPTION: We have been dining for years at the SRI and always saved it for special events. Although we enjoyed the food, our anniversary dinner was ruined by the man on the cell phone at the next table. When my husband told our waiter to please ask him to leave the table with his phone and very loud voice, we were asked if we wanted to change tables! We replied that we didn't want to change but wanted him to take care of the cell phone issue. Nothing was done. The woman at the front door walked part way across the room and did nothing. We were grateful when the fourth member of the table arrived as he had been giving him step by step directions on his car ride to the SRI. Employee attitude was horendous and we look forward to going to other places for our special events.
DATE: 2006-04-03
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

Do Not Waste Your Time!
DESCRIPTION: Food was good, but there are better places in the nearby area to dine, with much friendlier Managers. The waiters are excellent, but the hostess is another story!
DATE: 2006-04-29
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 2