Le Rendez-Vous Bistro

TERRIBLE service… I called and no one answered so the answering machine message said to leave details for a reservation and they would call back. I did but no one called the next day so I called them. The guy that answered already sounded rude to begin with and he tells me that they JUST booked the last table. What about my message that I left? Why didn’t anyone call me back so I could book something? Thanks for nothing…

Went with my husband tonight. The food was amazing. The hanger steak melted in my mouth.

I expected something truly spectacular, it was fine. The food was decent but did not blow me away.

Service is very slow. 30 minutes of waiting to open the wine and get menus. Two of our party had the duck with cherry sauce and it was pretty good. I had the boulliabaise. It came out after my 3 dinner companions were almost finished. It was grilled seafood in a watery broth. Meh. Not at these prices. Will not be back.

This place was great. Make sure to call for reservations! We happened to get lucky on a Sunday night but because of how intimate this experience was– one chef and one server– it was very lucky that we were seated. We ordered the Chevre dish to start– a seared cheese of sorts (I forget which kind) with candied beets and arugula… so delicious. I had the duck dish and the sauce was absolutely amazing. My husband ordered the lamb dish and he was thrilled. What made both of our main courses was the sauce… some of the best I’ve ever had. The two of us literally ate every morsel on every plate they served us– regardless of how stuffed we were. To finish things off… I highly recommend getting their trio dessert plate. We split it and it was a great portion for two (or to have on your own if you are feeling ambitious) and it came with the lavender crème brûlée, the caramelized banana crêpe, and the chocolate ganache. I can honestly say that I LOVED each one equally– that almost never happens– they were just each prepared so perfectly. The atmosphere was cozy and quiet and the service was lovely– definitely not a quick dinner though so you should expect to take your time for this meal, which is definitely part of the appeal. This meal was up there with the best meal we had in France on our honeymoon… without the fancy attire required.
We will definitely be back.

Great food. We had the cauliflower soup, rack of lamb, seabass and bronzino. For dessert lavander crème brule and a crêpe. It was all excellent, certainly the best french bistro in the area. If you go, be prepared to wait for your food. It took about 30 mins for my soup and about 1 hour for the main course. We ordered dessert with the main course which came out promptly after dinner. Well worth the wait, next time we won’t go there so hungry. Its byob which was another added plus.

Let me start by saying I was very much looking forward to celebrating a friends farewell dinner with a group of 7 women on a weeknight at this restaurant. Overall, I was quite disappointed. The waitress was adequate but not friendly and definitely steered us wrong when it came to how we wanted the rack of lamb and t bone steak prepared. I asked if I should order it medium rare if I wanted it very pink but not raw in the middle. She said the chef is French and his version of med rare would be closer to raw (I.e. Bloody in the middle). So she talked 4 of us into ordering the meat medium or medium well. All The meat came out brown with no pink at all. At $ 34 a plate I expected the meat to come out as the waitress promised not over cooked.
Only one of us sent the plate back. Of course everyone else finished eating before the plate reappeared. The lamb was much better but t bone steak were missing from the plate (excuse was that it would take too long to cook) and the asparagus was replaced with a doughy object that was not on the menu. No price adjustment was offered.
The meal overall was quite expensive considering that the 7 of us shared 3 appetizers & 4 desserts. No alcohol or beverages were ordered. In fact the waitress dropped off the desserts and never bothered to ask if anyone wanted a hot beverage. At close to $ 60 pp it is not likely that I will be returning any time soon.

Went to this cute little corner storefront restaurant last night for an occasion dinner and we are now fans! The bistro is tucked into a small corner and the dining room is diminutive, although there is outside seating during the warm months. The décor is shabby chic, there is French pop music playing, but you get an idea of how seriously they take their food here when you sit down at your table. Immaculate, off-​white tablecloths, laid over colorful under-​cloths, fancy folded cloth napkins and precisely laid cutlery. This is no fly-​by night business, it is well deserving of its Zagat rating. Service is solicitous and nicely paced. The menu is small, but even so we had a hard time deciding between the delicious offerings. In the end, we went with a brie tartine with honey and actual lavender as a starter, the bouillabaisse (the chef makes the rouille with harissa and it is absolutely divine) and a rack of lamb. The food arrived piping hot, beautifully presented and perfectly cooked. You have to experience it for yourself, words alone do not do the food justice. You’re best off ordering dessert with your main dishes, it comes out just at the right time. We got the «A Partager» or «To Share» — a delicious flight of bread pudding, crème brûlée and a ganache chocolate cake which will make you swoon. Good, strong cappuccino and coffee. It’s a BYOB, and as soon as you sit down, your bottle disappears, only to be brought back and poured according to each type of wine. It was a wonderful evening, a wonderful dinner and one we hope to experience again soon.

I always enjoy my meal here. The place is small, and the service is spotty, but the food is very good.

Tasty French cuisine and a nice atmosphere. Not quite as cramped as I thought it would be from the other reviews — c’mon guys, restaurants in big cities can be way more cramped than this.
The food was a bit pricey but the quality is there. French food can be quite expensive for a variety of reasons — demand, scarcity, hype, image, etc (basically the same reasons Chinese food is dirt cheap, fortunately or unfortunately). So comparing apples to apples, this restaurant actually is actually reasonably priced.
I am no French food expert but I did live in Quebec for a few years and got to experience some French restaurants. To my perception, Le Rendez-​Vos appeared and seemed authentic. At the least, the spices in the bouillabaisse and the deliciousness of the crêpe and the foie gras was well worth the trip. Portion sizes were decent — it was a bit on the small size overall but for French food, not bad.
The environment was pretty nice with impressionist era paintings on the wall and French music. They have a lot of plants and vegetables growing just outside the restaurant on the corner. Before you forget where you are though, just next door there is a mom and pop shop selling pork rolls aka Jersey filet mignon. I wanna try that place next time I am in Kenilworth.
The service was very good. The waitress was very personable and hands-​on. It was a sight to see her running back and forth pouring byob wine for everyone. Also it was pretty cool that the chef Philippe came over to personally serve some of the food and greet diners.

Philippe is a genius. Most of the food is very simple French fare executed perfectly. It may seem pricy, but the quality of food is very high. I’ve spent a lot more at restaurants that weren’t nearly as good.
The menu is seasonal, and always changing, but a few things are usually there. The rabbit stew is sublime. Anything Philippe does with duck is masterful. If there is a tasting menu, do it – he brings out his best, tastiest, freshest things whenever I do this. Even the simply-​cooked seasonal vegetables are just perfect and delicious!
The dessert is good, but not mind-​blowing. It’s clear the the chef focuses more on his appetizers and main courses. They are rather nice. The real stand-​out for me is the lavender crème brûlée — very elegant and satisfying.
My wife and I would go there more often if we had the budget for it. We go there for every anniversary and each of our birthdays. It’s a little hidden gem in Kenilworth of all places.

Overall the food was good a bit pricey, place is nice to go on a date and the view. Service was Quite slow waited too long between meals.

Such excellence… Food, service, and great setting. We have been going to eat here for many years… Wonderful for intimate dinners or family gatherings. We LOVE it!!! We have never had a dish that disappointed us on the contrary, the food is memorable and we can’t wait to go back. Thanks Philippe for a great experience every time.

Been coming here for a long time and few local places remind me so much of being in France as Le Rendez-​Vous. It’s consistently superior performance is based on simply excellent ingredients and a knowledgeable staff — much like the charm of many bistros in Paris!
Bring a great bottle of wine — or better yet a nicely aged Champagne — and enjoy. Their foie gras preparation is a thing of beauty as is the lamb. Great for a quiet dinner for two or with friends.

Great for special occasions. Staff are attentive without being over bearing. Food delivery was paced well. One waitress even offered alternative presentations for menu items including my wife’s dessert. Best foie gras i’ve had in New Jersey. BYOB helps keep dinner cost down a bit as you are paying more for the French cuisine cooking style. Well worth the trip.

A hidden gem! We have dined here several times and always have thoroughly enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere. It truly is the definition of a French bistro — small, intimate, home style, slow cooked simple meals. The service couldn’t be nicer and more welcoming. They’ll get to know you by name soon enough. You can even call them a day before and ask for a special dish to be made — amazing! It’s BYOB and anyone you share a meal with here will be grateful you did.

GREAT!
A more classical style of French cuisine.
Dishes are not over-​seasoned allowing the flavors to come through.
Pan seared duck seared enough to get a crisp skin with plenty of the fine duck flavors and the notes of cherries.
Carrot soup had all the full flavor of rich sweet carrots and cream again not allowing seasonings to overtake it.
The 3 Amigos or was it called the Trifecta or was it the Menage à Trois? I don’t know, it was a dish of 3 proteins’ scallops, shrimp, and sea bass. Only the sea bass was very good and shrimp was tough.
Good banana chocolate crêpe with a hint of lavender vanilla ice cream. I think the crêpe would have been better if served warm like the bananas.
Overall, excellent execution of dishes.
This restaurant is run by the Slowsky family of slow service dining. You know the one with the turtles on TV.
These are their French cousins.
At one point, when one of the wait staff started walking towards our table, I could swear one of her feet stopped in mid air and held in suspension for a very long time. She was not going at a speed that I could notice when it hit the floor.
Still…great food!

Great find. Went in here for my first anniversary and it was everything I could ask for. Romantic, great service, wonderful atmosphere and above all, outstanding food. I had reservations and when I walked in, my table was immediately available AND the only one open. Great scheduling on their part. Did I mention BYOB. My wife and I ordered a 3 course meal in which we like to try each other food and I must say, 6 out of 6 things were great. I would definitely come back for a nice outing. If you’re single, great date spot.

A lot of Mediterranean places only really cover the European dishes. Not true at Le Rendezvous. I had a really delicious Merguez sausage and lentils appetizer (north African). It was nicely spiced and hit the spot.
For my entrée, I had the trio of fish (red snapper, scallop, and shrimp) with a zucchini flower beignet. I loved the sauce that came with it, although I’ve forgotten what it was exactly.
The place is a little cramped. My chair was bumped into about a dozen times by one of the waiters. A little annoying when you’re trying to enjoy the food. Altogether, I enjoyed the meal though.

Heard about the prices, mixed reviews, and it is in Kenilworth… relax, not taking a shot at «your» town and if you’re not blinded by your Jersey pride, even you will admit that high quality French cuisine doesn’t evoke thoughts of Kenilworth, NJ.
All that being said, very nice surprise on a Saturday night that the wife made me miss playoff football in exchange for dinner out with friends. BYOB and as other reviewers say, bring a nice bottle to accompany a solid meal. There is a liquor store right across the street but I didn’t hit it to see the options.
Street parking which oddly wasn’t a problem on a Saturday night at 7:30.
Anyway, space is small no doubt but that only matters if you’re weirded out by the couples around you staring at what you ordered and then checking the menu like they’re cheating on a midterm. Went with the Foie gras as a start and Venison as the main event. I must admit the Venison was no joke… cooked perfectly (medium rare), came out hot and drizzled with a nice red wine reduction. Now I probably am being petty but can a guy get some hot bread with the healthy portion of Foie gras!!! By the time the bread came the Foie gras cooled… ohh well. Banana crepes finished off the meal… tasty but I thought it was going to blow me away after waiting 20 min for it.
Service is pleasant but on the slow side so if you’re looking to get in and out, good luck. Then again it seems that most people come for special occasions so sit there, sip/​gulp your wine, and take in the company.
Bottom line, Kenilworth… not bad, noooooooot bad at all.
***Wheelchair accessible — serious little incline up through the front door and tight quarters make calling ahead a must.