Samdan Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Cresskill

Nestled amidst its picturesque streets are eateries where every dish tells a story. One such establishment, Samdan, meaning “candelabra,” is located on Piermont Road in Cresskill, where my partner, our friends and I came as first-timers for dinner on Saturday night. Reservation was easily made via Open Table. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the host and got a table in their newly renovated dining room with a modern vibe and relaxing music in the background. Their menu centered around Mediterranean cuisine on lamb, eggplant, olive oil, grilled fish, and some vegetarian dishes. But the prevalent tastes of Turkish cooking featured peppercorns, paprika, cinnamon, sumac, and cumin. As appetizers to share, we opted for Lebni (curd of yogurt with walnuts and a hint of garlic) and Borek (flaky pastry filled with cheese and parsley). As our meal, we decided on Creamy Chicken Special (breast of chicken in white wine, heavy cream sauce, and a hint of garlic served with rice and grilled vegetables), Side of Mashed Potatoes, Lamb Chops (4 pcs broiled baby lamb chops served with rice and grilled vegetables), Chicken Shish Kebab (charcoal broiled tender cubes of marinated chicken with chef’s seasoning served with rice and vegetables), and Meatballs (Korte)—ground lamb mixed with bread, onion, and garlic served with rice and grilled vegetables. Complimentary hot bread accompanied with balsamic vinegar and olive oil began our meal. All our dishes had a great artistic presentation that was amazing, made with fresh ingredients, well seasoned, and tasty. The portions were just right. The only complaint was not all dishes came out at the same time. The service team was perfect, as we weren’t rushed. They were very friendly and nice, especially our server, Seder. The chef/owner, Chef Emre Yeşil, came to our table to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. The price was comparable to the area. We had a wonderful dinner experience, which we...

Samdan was definitely the right place to have a special dinner for Mother’s Day! The atmosphere was welcoming to all, and the service was very attentive, even though the restaurant was packed. We enjoyed sitting in the outdoor area surrounded by trees and listening to the pleasant music. Our main server, Nur, was particularly delightful and made sure we were enjoying ourselves the entire evening.

As for the food, I am glad we came hungry because we decided to get a full course of appetizers, an entree, and desserts. The mezze combo (Pink Queen, Babaghanoush, and Fried Eggplant) was refreshing with the toasty focaccia. And the Fried Calf’s Liver is a classic since we came to Samdan years ago, and it still warms the heart. And the Lamb Shish was a meat lover’s dream. The lamb was perfectly tender, paired with rice and roasted vegetables. Samdan’s rice is difficult to describe, but it is consistently the best Middle Eastern-style rice we have ever had.

Both desserts, the Kadayif and Kazandibi, were wonderful, and we would have gotten seconds in an instant if we weren’t completely full. Samdan’s Kazandibi was and remains a favorite dessert of mine since I was young, and I have never encountered another Turkish cafe or restaurant that makes a creamier custard in New Jersey.

Since the last time we’ve been to Samdan many years ago, their remodel was a pleasant surprise, and it is nice to see that the identity of the restaurant has not changed, remaining an upscale family restaurant where people of all ages...

I was very uncomfortable to have a disappointing experience at Samdan Restaurant, where I have believed in the name, flavor, taste and hospitality of the place for many years. I trust my food culture and taste buds very much. I think I make very few mistakes in choosing a place. A month ago, I questioned the taste of the meats and the bill with our family friend and guest at a dinner, and yesterday, I couldn't believe that a fly came out of the salad at Samdan, which I visited with my daughter after a long journey after work. I had witnessed that the flavor of the meats had also disappeared in my last few visits. I thought maybe it was the mistake of the day, but it was not, the culinary quality at Samdan Restaurant continues to be a disappointment. I am sorry that Samdan Restaurant, which is a decent place in a decent town I love very much and has a friendly and hospitable staff, has lost its culinary quality. The liver I had yesterday was the worst liver I have eaten in years, it was marinated wrong and cooked wrong. Unfortunately, experienced staff is important in meat and fish cuisine. It is difficult to get efficiency from the kitchen without full training of cheap unskilled people. I hope they will take measures and fix it. And the prices are almost as high as the New York menus. I will follow up with my friends, but I think I will not go again and I do not...