2 Bergen County Restaurants Named Among The Top 25 In The State

BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — Cafe Panache and the Saddle River Inn were two of the restaurants on New Jersey Monthly's annual list of 25 where, the publication says, residents should "eat here now."

For 32 years Cafe Panache owner Kevin Kohler has been offering such favorites as pecan-crusted chicken breast with mustard sauce, filet mignon ravioli, and crispy calf liver with port wine sauce, the publication said.

Now, Kohler is adding more fish choices to the menu, more shellfish to be exact.

"With Kohler, you can always count on clean, healthy and very flavorful — like a recent grilled-octopus appetizer with eggplant caponata, or a steelhead salmon gravlax with lime zest and fresh herbs," New Jersey Monthly said in its assessment of the restaurant.

The Saddle River Inn has, according to the magazine, "one of the most discerning clienteles around."

"Look around the old barn-turned-dining-room on a Saturday night; the big tables are buzzing and the twosomes are gazing deeply into each other’s eyes," the magazine said. "Later, many desserts come out with candles twinkling. Little wonder. The service is polished, and the pinlights above the tables lavish love on the real stars of the show, food as beautiful as it is delicious, imaginative and often brilliant."

Both restaurants were also on New Jersey Monthly's 2014 and 2015 lists.

Patch file photo