KUROBUTA - White Charcoal Grille — Restaurant in Caldwell

Our experience here was likely atypical….every restaurant can make a mistake - it’s how they respond after…3 of us came here on a Saturday evening at 630. Outdoor seating area is very pretty. Two of us ordered 6 skewers to share. The third ordered 2 skewers and rice. We also ordered an appetizer. After a wait the appetizer came followed by 2 of the couple’s non meat skewers and the rice for our friend. After another 5-10 minutes our chicken skewers came / our friend still only had rice and all 3 of us were waiting for the 4 pork skewers. After a long wait, the waitress came to clear our places. We said we didn’t get half our meal yet. She said that’s all we ordered, left, came back and then agreed we still had 4 skewers coming and they accidentally gave them to another table. At this point, we were 90 minutes in and our friend only had appetizer and rice and we had the appetizer and half our meal. They apologized and put in a “rush” order for the final 4 pork skewers which took nearly 30 minutes to come. We had asked and they brought out hot rice to replace the now hour+ old rice … so we’re now 2+ hours in and finally finishing our meal. Our waiter then offered us a SINGLE free dessert. We declined as it was really late. My thought was that if this was my restaurant and I screwed up a meal so badly, I bring out some food immediately while the customer waits, comp the 4 pork skewers I forgot to make, apologize profusely and ask the customer to come back and give us another shot. If they had, we probably would have. They did finally offer to take $10 off the bill, but that was way too little, too late to make right what they screwed up. Again - likely atypical that they screw up an order, but a poor job making a customer feel valued after a mistake. Overall, I thought the food was tasty, but the portions very small for the price. We also had to ask for water a bunch of times after initially asking to leave the pitcher which the waitress...

Our latest dining discovery - Kurobuta. My wife and I decided to break away from our usual spots and try something new for lunch. Well, let me tell you, we weren't disappointed. We originally had our hearts set on trying out their charcoal grill menu, but turns out that’s a dinner exclusive. No biggie, though. We pivoted to their tapas selection, and honestly, I think it was a blessing in disguise. Walking into Kurobuta, you're immediately struck by how welcoming the place feels. The owner is a friendly guy and was very hands on to make sure we had great service.

Now, onto the main event - the food. We went all out on the tapas. The Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce was an absolute hit. It’s this nice mix of flavors a bit of Asian here, a touch of Mediterranean there. Then, there were the Pork Buns with homemade chili crisp on the side - spicy, flavorful, and just downright delicious. They even serve this cool little slider with a Caldwell, NJ flag on it, which was a nice local touch. The Giant-sized Karaage Fried Chicken and the homemade pork wontons were must tries. What made our lunch at Kurobuta stand out wasn’t just the innovative dishes but the whole vibe of the place. It's one of those local spots that you can’t help but root for. Great food, great people, and a great atmosphere - it’s got it all.

So, if you're ever in the mood for something a bit different and want to support a local business that really deserves it, Kurobuta is your spot. My wife and I are already planning our next visit to dive into that charcoal grill menu. Can't wait! Trust me, give Kurobuta a try. It’s a small spot with a big heart, and I’m all about supporting places like that. Cheers to good food...

Updated September 2025, pictures added at end: Glad to try flagship dishes- • Fried rice with chicken: individual al dente pearly grains of rice with nice balance of vegetables, egg, and succulent grilled chicken thigh cubes. Flavorful without packing a salt punch. • Tomahawk pork chop: fun, dramatic aesthetics and grade A execution. Wholesome cut off meat chop with fabulous charred exterior and unadulterated, naturally umami interior. Toasted bread crumbs and chimichurri were great taste and texture accents. • Kyoto Tofu with bonito flakes: standout with the sophisticated flavor combination from the smokey fish flakes, vinegary sesame marinade, and the eggy Tofu with crisped exterior. Definitely would recommend trying. Recently updated menu with extra seafood dishes.

Intentionally designed dining experience, everything from interior aesthetics with the straw ceiling lamp shades to the utensils with the double-ended chopsticks. Ingredients are of quality and emphasis, the farm raised pork taking center stage. • Roasted pork carpaccio a standout with meltingly rich marbling in the mm thin meat. Sweet balsamic-type sauce on the arugula a nice balance to the saltiness. • Chashui bao bun a nice balanced bite of fluffy carb, soft roasted pork, crunchy vegetable shreds, and soy-based sauce. The spicy fried chili, peanut, garlic mala sauce was phenomenal. • Pork skewers likely most embodying restaurant's specialties. The slight char and crisp exterior from the white coal contrasted nicely with the toothsome succulent pork. Again the side sauce, an aidic flavor with minced red onion among ingredients, was a...