Black Sheep Bar and Provisions — Restaurant in Garwood

We love this place! The manager always tries to squeeze us in and is really welcoming! Service is outstanding! All staff know the menu inside out, and give us great advice both on food and wine, AND are so friendly! We even got some wine options that weren't on the menu that turned out to be good. Yes, that white Burgundy ;-)

As for the menu... As a Frenchman with years in the food industry, I feel like the chef is still working on it. And this is really meant to be constructive feedback.

I did love the Manila Clams, that tasted just like in Portugal, and taht's a huge compliment! Simple, yet very efficient. I didn't understand the Mortadella skewer, although I didn't taste it, but I saw several plates coming back half full, not a good sign. The Lomo looked promising but not at this price point, sorry! I think that they should not try to do such sophisticated plates, focus on sourcing great ingredients, maybe great locally sourced charcuterie, cheeses, and keep things... simple! As they say in Italian food, the 3 ingredient rule is queen, but the quality of the ingredients is king.

The wine list is good, but could be so much better! My $18 Pinot Noir was okay, but at this price, I was expecting more structure, more complexity, and certainly a litlle more wine in my glass! Why not look into organic and biodynamic wines? Wines with more personality, character. Wines who have a statement to make. The Grape Collective in Montclair have a great selection of those (I'm not working with them, I just like what they do!). Why not source interesting wines from passionate small winemakers that have a great story to tell? Then your staff could convey the story and wow your customers? Check out the Union Larder in SFO!

Don't get me wrong, we love you guys and we will keep coming because you're by far our favorite place in the neighborhood (along with Common Lot)!

NEW REVIEW 12/31/2024: We came back to the Black Sheep for an early new year's eve dinner... and were so pleased to see that the menu had become so much more thought through and solid! The seared scallops looked amazing, but too expensive for me, so I had the prosciutto as a starter and the steamed mussels as an entrée. The prosciutto was delicious, thinly sliced and paired with what I think was Manchego. Sourdough bread was toasted to perfection, crispy on the edges and softer in the middle. The mussels... wow! I mean, WOW! Large mussels, steamed just enough so that they weren't over-cooked, and the sauce was to die for! That's when I realized what the bread was for! Dip it in the sauce after eating the mussels, and enjoy the perfectly balanced sauce of sweet Vidalia onions, the garlic confit, white wine, Dijon mustard and cream! It is incredibly smooth, not so garlicky, and the whole thing tickles your taste buds like magic!

We sat at the bar again, because we like the vibe better. The 3 Ks (Kyle, Kate and Kaylee) were great again!

My only (constructive) feedback is about the wine list. I still don't understand why a place like this doesn't serve organic/natural/biodynamic wines! Then the staff could add more storytelling to their repertoire in terms of provenance, tell the story about the wine makers and how they produce their wine... My Tempranillo ($10) was really not worth it, and the Cabernet Sauvignon I had next...

This is one of the best restaurants anywhere in the world that I have eaten at. If I could give it a Michelin Star, I would. Just as exceptional as the food is the service. Every server passing by refills water, takes finished, plates, etc. Our server, Julia, was fantastic. She gave great recommendations and had a great presence and personality. My wife started with a glass of wine, and I had a cocktail, Smoke and Mirrors (mezcal spirit base). One of the better cocktails I have had - - very well balanced. At Julia's recommendation, we got the duck pastrami as our first appetizer. It was one of the best dishes I have ever had (thinly sliced duck, cheese, grapes, honey, and Dijon mustard). We got the Sea Bass as well as an appetizer. It was also fantastic. Again at Julia's suggestion, we split the Mafaldine pasta between the appetizers and main course. I'm not really a pasta person, but I liked the pasta (with pesto and pistachio). My wife, who loves pasta, said it was some of the best she has ever had. For our main course, we each got their steak prepared medium rare. I give it a 10 out of 10 but with the qualification that it is untraditional. It's served placed on top of roasted roots (beets, carrots, etc). For someone who really loves the taste of a high quality cut on its own with just salt, you lose that option when the steak is joined with the flavors and juices of the roots. But, although not necessarily my first choice of presentation, the meat and roots were perfectly cooked and delicious. At that point we were full, so we passed on dessert, so we paid the check but moved to the bar so I could get another of the same cocktail. There the service was, again, equally fantastic, and our bartender, Karlee (sp?), took great care of us. It was fantastic...

A Great Night Out with One Small Miss Came here last Friday the 27th with my brother (visiting from Tennessee) and my son to celebrate my son’s high school graduation—and overall, we had a fantastic experience. It’s a very upscale steakhouse that truly knows how to treat its guests. The staff was warm and attentive from the moment we walked in, and several people came by the table to personally congratulate my son. It really made the night feel special. When we were placing our order, the server let us know they had a special that evening: the porterhouse for two. Based on that, my son and I decided to go with the special, while my brother ordered the steak frites. When the food came out, my brother’s dish was fantastic—cooked perfectly and full of flavor. He loved it. Unfortunately, the porterhouse for two was a disappointment. The portion was surprisingly small, even for one person, and it came out cold. Taste-wise, it was just okay—not on par with the rest of the experience. Given the cost, I expected more from that dish. That said, the service, the vibe, and most of the food were excellent. It might’ve just been a one-off with that particular item, and it wouldn’t stop us from coming back. We had a great night, and next time we’ll likely stick to the...