Faubourg Montclair — Restaurant in Montclair

UPDATE 1.23.24:

The manager of the restaurant reached out to me immediately after I posted my review to better understand what happened that night. Instead of providing excuses for why the service was so poor, he listened to my concerns, said that he would address them internally and hoped that I would come back for another visit. I haven't been back yet, but my previous experience won't deter me because the manager had been so kind and wanted to ensure that the level of service that his diners experience is elevated and exceeds standards. Getting a phone call was incredibly personal and it shows that they actually care, and that means a great deal to me. So thank you, I appreciate it and I will be back! (Also note for future diners, there IS a coat check!)

Major disappointment. I have been to Faubourg over many years and have always been impressed with the food and the service. Last night the food was good but the service was lackluster - management really needs everyone to brush up on their skills.

When I entered and gave my name at the host desk for my reservation… the gentleman had an incredibly hard time finding it… not because he couldn’t use the system but likely because of the extreme focus he had to apply as there were two other hosts at the stand just barking at each other. I quickly found the other guests in my party who were sat at a table right in front of the door in a relatively vacant restaurant. I did need to check my coat, but upon asking where the coat check was, one of the barkers said “honey we haven’t had a coat check since Covid” …and I was given no alternative assistance.. I guess the solution is for me to sit on my coat in a booth? So that is what I did, not thrilled as it’s a nice coat and would prefer not to sit on my coat as I dine like a toddler, but here we are.

Dinner service was strange, every time a fork was put down, a busser was right behind to pick up the plate. I’m all for speedy service, but it didn’t just feel rushed in an averagely filled restaurant, it was pushy and shocking. A second drink order was missed and the waitress directed her confusion to us instead of apologizing and quickly going to get it. She comped the wine, which was the right thing to do… thank you.

Now it comes time for the check… again, immediately as the dessert plates are cleared the check is dropped. I looked around the restaurant again to see how busy it was, and to do a reality check…. 5 other tables on the patio… and mind you, we had a 6:30 reservation… if it was 10pm I would understand the need for the rush… but this just seemed so aggressive. We were a party of 4 and quite nice diners, if we had been boisterous I could again understand the need to scoot us out quickly.

Anyway so the check is dropped and when we put our credit card down, a man… who I can only assume is the manager with no introduction, quickly picks up the check and and asks us how everything was but with a pace so fast that gave us the impression he was not at all interested in the answer...we all looked at each other a bit stunned after experiencing what we have this evening… but said good, as at this point, we are just ready to leave and unfortunately will probably...

Dinner for 2 on a Saturday night. The specials, hamachi crudo appetizer and halibut entrée were exceptional. The creamy tuna was sliced thin and served with avocado and a citrus base. The nicely-portioned halibut was perfectly cooked and accentuated well with a light saffron sauce. Both were extraordinary. We also started with the gougères, which had good comté flavor. While tasty, they were not as airy as expected, like a profiterole or popover, but that is a very minor nit to pick.

The other meal was the grilled octopus/lentil appetizer and beef duo entrée (oxtail and grilled bavette, served rare, as requested). Both were prepared very well and adequately sized, but the flavors were not as inspiring as the seafood specials. The beef dish, which was served with spinach in a horseradish flavored sauce, would have benefitted from one more accompaniment. For example, grilled asparagus spears, carrots, or sunchoke -- just a little something extra on the plate to add a bit of variety to balance the heavy dose of meat.

Shared dessert was the blueberry vacherin and the flavor was to die for! Our only complaint was the thickness of the meringue shell – sides and bottom. Perhaps a delicate sponge would have allowed for more of the delicious filling, of which you simply cannot get enough.

The whole meal was paired with a Figgins Family Toil chardonnay (due to the predominance of the seafood), which was excellent. Overall, the food quality and portions were very, very good. Now for the major complaints…

The background music was a very odd selection of classic rock, e.g., Led Zeppelin and Joe Jackson/William Shatner (an obscure cover of Common People); the point being the style and volume only added to the din of the dining room, which is quite loud when full (as it often is). To these ears it just seemed an odd pairing for fine dining. However, the main complaint was with the meal pacing.

Guests were very clearly pressed to eat and get out – there’s a second seating coming right behind you! We were seated at 5:40 and the bill was placed on our table (with dessert, but without being requested) at 7:00. A couple arrived next to us as our appetizers arrived and they completed dinner and dessert (without appetizer) prior to us. We DO NOT recommend the early seating if you want to dine and enjoy pleasant conversations in a relaxed atmosphere. On the other hand, if you are heading to a performance with a 7:30 or 8:00 curtain, have no fear – Faubourg will see to it you are out the door. However, there is a big difference between dining and...

⭐☆☆☆☆

I visited this restaurant for the first time after hearing great things from friends. Walking in, the atmosphere is beautiful modern design, open kitchen concept, and a lovely patio area. It definitely sets high expectations.

Unfortunately, the service didn’t match the setting. Our server, Conrad, was not very attentive from the beginning. After dropping off menus and water, he disappeared for a while. We had to flag him down just to place drink and food orders, and throughout the meal there were no check-ins at our table. At one point, he was setting up candles for dinner while we were still waiting to order.

Midway through, our server switched without notice. The new server cleared our plates but then dropped the check without asking if we were finished, wanted dessert, or even another round of drinks. That was confusing and disappointing. When I raised the issue with another server, Haley, she was very professional and apologetic! I appreciated her demeanor and efforts to smooth things over.

What stood out most is that the back servers who dropped food and water were more attentive and friendly than the actual servers. As someone who also works in this industry, where we go above and beyond to make sure our guests receive the kind of service they deserve, this really disappointed me. At a restaurant of this caliber, I expected a much higher standard of service and consistency.

Beautiful restaurants lose their charm when the basics of hospitality are missing. I hope management invests more in training so the guest experience matches the reputation and the space itself.

I wanted to point out the positives: my drink the Elvis Parsley was delicious! The Jumbo Lump Crab & Citrus was okay. It definitely needed a bit more citrus and a touch of salt to brighten it up. The rhubarb was a great touch, though maybe just a bit more of it would’ve balanced the dish better. I also had the Lobster Rolls, but honestly, I enjoyed the French fries more than the rolls themselves. My friend ordered the Steak Frites, and I found myself wishing I had gone with that — it was delicious! we had the Passion Fruit Vacherin, which was...