The Hill — Restaurant in Closter

What a fabulous find in North Jersey! Located in Closter, the name of the establishment is derived from the word Schraalenberg, meaning barren mountain or hill during Dutch times. The owner, Ben Pollinger, who won a Michelin star in New York back in 2006, finally opens his own restaurant—in his home county. Formerly on the site that housed Harvest, this restaurant is our first timer and describes itself as an attractive contemporary rustic farmhouse. From the minute one parks in their private parking lot and walks up to their gorgeous enclosed patio designed for outdoor dining, you will know you made the right choice! It was easy to get a reservation via Open Table, but they asked for a $25 per person deposit in case of no show. Upon entering yesterday, my partner, our friends and I were greeted by the host and whisked to our table in the main dining room. It’s one of the rooms with plush blue chairs, striking light wood floors, a glorious cathedral ceiling, and a stunning stone fireplace. They also have a lounge area for additional dining with a bar and a private room upstairs on the next floor. Our server was Chelsea, who took care of all our requests and promptly brought complimentary focaccia bread with olive oil to start our meal. It was so good, we had to ask for seconds. The menu was limited and always changing. For starters, we decided on today’s special: Turkish Style Falafel (hummus, pickled red onion, arugula), Salmon Tartare (ponzu, sesame, avocado), and Sautéed Shrimp & Crispy Polenta Cakes (smoked gouda, pickled fresno chili, garlic). For the main meal, we opted for Today’s Special: Moroccan Style Wild Boar Tagine (chorizo, figs, almonds, cilantro, lime yogurt), Short Rib Mac N’ Cheese (tillamook cheddar, smoked gouda, herb bread crumbs), Slow Cooked Halibut (cherry tomato-chili-herb vinaigrette, wilted spinach), Roast Duck Breast (sauteed sweet and sour peppers, mandarin orange gastrique,israeli couscous), and Organic Green (cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, sherry vinaigrette). We even found a spot for dessert to share and got Chocolate Strawberry Cake (moist chocolate cake, strawberry ganache filling, milk chocolate crunchies) and Chocolate Mousse (strawberries, vanilla whipped cream). The food was cooked with fresh ingredients and was tasty and delicious. One suggestion to the Mac N’Cheese and wild boar would be to reduce a notch on the pepper. The staff is very personable. A little on the expensive side, but still great food. We can’t wait for a repeat performance, and we can...

I think this may be my new favorite restaurant. I was looking for a local restaurant with outdoor dining and found this gem online. It was Saturday night and I didn't have a reservation. As I was pulling into the parking lot with my girl friend we saw a guy standing in the lot. We stopped and asked, "do you work here?". He smiled and said I'm Ben the owner/chef. We stated that we did not have a reservation and would like to sit outdoors. Thankfully, he said yes. The outdoor dining area is newly renovated and absolutely beautiful. We met everyone from the service manager, general manager, assistant manager, our server and the owner. The staff was super attentive, but not intrusive. To start, we had the most delicious homeade focaccia dusted with sea salt served with a light olive oil ~ so yummy. The bread was served warm and was very light and airy. The gentlemen clearing our plates asked if wanted more. We declined, because we wanted to save room for our salad and entrees. We decided to share a salad and 2 entrees. The kitchen was so kind, they actually plated the food in the kitchen so we didn't have to split at the table. We had the arugula salad with a very light house dressing that was delicious. We ordered one item from special menu and one item from the main menu. We had the autumn squash risotto and the flank steak. Both items were cooked to perfection, we ordered the steak medium and it was prepared exactly the way we ordered it. The steak was served over some fresh vegetables (fresh corn off the cob, fresh green beans, some red pepper). We ate everything, and nothing felt heavy. I felt like a ate a very healthy meal. Too bad we didn't have room for dessert. They do have a bar, my girl friend had the Pinot Grigio and we had Saratoga still natural spring water. I can't wait to return. They also have a loft that seats about 40 for an indoor party. The inside of the restaurant is equally gorgeous with plenty of tables and at least 2 sections. Love The Hill in Closter. Make a reservation, you...

I have been to the bar to have an afterwork drink and watch a game and the bar menu provided an elevated menu that was satisfying and craveworthy without being simply fried and salty like the typical bar food one finds at a local pub. The crowd was friendly and lively and the bartenders were knowledgeable as they provided both higher level mixologist options and opinions on IPAs. I have also eaten in the dining room which is homey and gorgeous, I did not realize The Hill also hosts weddings or wedding parties but that makes sense when you see the space. I usually go out for special occasions in Manhattan or locally in Jersey City or Hoboken but we travelled to Closter specifically because of the Chef Pollingers reputation and our meals at Oceana when he was in the kitchen. The dishes are well thought out and composed with intention. The plating is gorgeous and the portions are larger than what we remember in the city. The prices are reasonable for the high quality of service, atmosphere and food. I particularly enjoyed the fireplace and massive floral displays in the grand dining room. The food was why we came and as an omnivore I enjoyed all of the dishes from the tuna appetizer through the duck breast entree. My colleagues were vegetarian and they loved the on menu item (risotto) and loved the off menu items that the chef prepared on the fly (a true test of a skilled crew and welcoming establishment). They didn't just boil some vegetables or throw together a pasta dish, they took the time to create menu worthy entrees that would make us feel catered to. The deserts were amazing as well. We asked about the pastry chef and it seemed like Chef Pollinger may have had a hand in these as well. The molten cake and the strawberry tiramisu were both excellent. This is clearly a thumbs up review and a strong recommendation. I am thrilled that there are Manhattan worthy places to go without having to go...