&grain — Restaurant in Garwood

For years, the company I work for has ordered &grain and collaborated with John (the owner), and the food has always left everyone over the moon after every meal. But today, on my way back home headed to Newark airport, I stopped at &grain myself and wow… it’s gorgeous!

I literally walked in right as they were closing (felt like the worst human ever), but John welcomed me with open arms when I told him I couldn’t leave NJ without having his food.

Here are my highlights + must-order recs: Pastry: Kouign Amann John explained that the caramelized, buttery croissant dough almost mimics an apple filling… and let me tell you, it EXCEEDED expectations. This was truly a life-changing dessert. I can’t wait to bring some home to my pregnant bestie and my husband, they’re going to freak out.

Apple Salad Shaved apples, blue cheese, candied walnuts, organic arugula, tossed in apple cider vinaigrette, plus a piece of fresh baguette. HOW is this only $12?? It’s literally two meals worth of salad and the flavors are so fresh and balanced. That dressing? To. Die. For.

Prime Rib Sandwich Garlic roasted prime rib + truffled caramelized onions + brie + arugula + horseradish crème on house 5-grain bread. I’m not kidding when I say: this is the best sandwich I’ve ever had. Truffle, garlic, horseradish, it’s a flavor explosion in every bite.

Supporting local businesses like this is my passion, and John is a wonderful human being on top of being an incredible chef. He honestly made my work trip this week!

Do yourself a favor: add &grain to your NJ must-visit list. You won’t regret it. It’s everything you dream about in a café, and...

Wow, I don't even know where to begin! This place has got it all! From the moment you walk in, the staff greets you with a smile and makes you feel right at home. The quality of their products is simply unbeatable, and the prices are so reasonable that you'll be wondering if you're actually getting the real deal.

Let's talk about the pastries - oh my goodness, they are out of this world! I haven't tasted anything this good since I visited Brooklyn! The flavors are just so rich and delicious, you won't be able to resist grabbing another one.

And don't even get me started on the coffee! They must be sourcing it from some magical coffee bean land because it is hands down the best coffee I've ever had. I could drink it all day, every day and never get tired of it.

But it's not just the sweet treats and drinks that make this place special. They've opened my eyes to a whole new world of breads, and now I know exactly what to bring to every occasion. From baguettes to rustic loaves, they have it all, and it's all absolutely perfect.

And to top it all off, the management team is amazing. They're always giving back to the community and making a positive impact. It's clear that they truly care about their customers and the world around them.

Overall, I can't recommend this place enough. From the friendly staff to the quality products, great prices, and community involvement, it's a true gem that you won't...

WARNING TO VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS

This place is not vegetarian friendly. There are veg options, sure, but not once, but twice I've had meat in a completely non meat dish.

The first time I got a pancetta salad which if you don't know has big bread croutons in it. They don't look unlike little chunks of chicken. So imagine my surprise that I ended up with multiple pieces of rogue chicken in my salad, one that made its way to my mouth before I realized. There isn't even meat on it on the menu. I must conclude that they are mixing salads in the same bowls and not cleaning them in between.

This was not enough to deter me, as I went back again and ordered an apple baguette sandwich that comes with a side salad. And on my plate there were- AGAIN if you can believe it- chunks of some type of red meat that looked to me like roast beef or something. Mixed in AGAIN with a completely vegetarian dish.

That's it for me. No more &grain. Great food but I can't imagine what goes on in the prep area if I've had the same meat contamination issue TWICE. It may not seem like a big deal to some but I know to others including myself accidentally ingesting meat for moral or religious reasons just isn't a risk they're willing to take. There's no way I could...