Belford Bistro

Went Friday night and my waitress didn’t give me any water. She didn’t offer me bread either. Table next to me got bread and their water. I was left sitting there. She was busy chatting with another customer who was leaving and complimented what she was wearing. Still no water. I had to ask another waiter for any water. Asked for a hot water and they never brought it. I ordered their salmon and it tasted so fishy. Last time I went on a day it wasn’t busy and had a wonderful time with the other waitress who works there full time but she had no tables. I get it’s hectic on a Friday night but why did other tables get service or even their water while I was left with an empty glass?

Hands down my favorite restaurant in NJ! The service is always incredible, everyone is so warm, friendly, and helpful, the decor is so lovely, especially during the holidays, the atmosphere is so inviting and the perfect blend of upscale and homey, and the food is just incredible. There is so much flavor, skill, and love packed into every dish, and Chef Kurt’s knowledge and talent is obvious when you take that bite. The spicy rigatoni is my absolute favorite dish, it’s worth everything you can give it. Thank you to the entire Bistro team, especially Danielle, Alex, and Chef Kurt, for making our experience so special. We already can’t wait to go back!

Revisited this place after many years and it is still very good. A great date night cozy venue. BYOB. Don’t forget because the dive liquor store nearby best wine is SIMI 😬 The spicy rigatoni was delicious. The homemade goat cheese ravioli with blistered tomatoes was excellent too.

Wow! Baby arugula salad was fresh, not overly dressed & fabulous! Butternut squash soup was thick, buttery & delicious! Spicy rigatoni with eggplant was so so tasty. Special Pumpkin tortellini was very savory. Cider donut topped with ice cream was delectable. Chocolate peanut butter cup was outstanding. BYOB & you better get a reservation as this is as delicious of a restaurant Monmouth County has! Can’t wait to get back! 😋

My husband and I frequent the Belford Bistro, a local spot and it is always fabulous! There is festive holiday décor, reasonable prices, and BYOB, which is always a win. The food is excellent. A couple of must try’s- Scallop appetizer with Pork Belly, Mussels and Angry Shrimp with gnocchi! The staff is always friendly and attentive. Can not say enough great things about The Belford Bistro!

I have been a loyal patron of Belford Bistro for over 15 years, and until recently my experiences have always been excellent. Last month, however, my wife and I dined at the restaurant and were informed of the evening’s specials by our waitress. I ordered the ribeye special. When the bill arrived, I was quite surprised to see that the dish was priced at $260. I was disappointed that the price was not mentioned when the specials were presented. Had I been informed, I would not have ordered the dish. Given my long history with Belford Bistro, I would have expected clearer communication and better form in this situation. I wanted to bring this to your attention, as transparency around pricing is important to maintaining the level of trust and satisfaction I have come to associate with your restaurant.

Excellent food! We shared 2 salads, I had the fluke special and it was perfectly cooked. My husband ordered the angry shrimp and gnocchi. Our friends had it the hanger steak. The celebrant ordered eggplant with rigatoni. This is a BYOB. We will return.

The place is great! Local hidden gem! Highly recommend. Quality of the food is phenomenal and the service is always great as well! Chef can make accommodations and revise dishes!

I have come here between half a dozen and a dozen times. I swear this is some of the best food I have had in Jersey. Tonight I am writing this because I just had a rigatoni dish the world needs to know about. Homemade pasta, San marzano tomatoes, vodka, Parmesan reggiano topped with crispy eggplant. I cannot remember a time in my life when I have had dish this good. Service is amazing. Unbelievably sweet every time we have gone. Very local feel. I just love it here for so many different dishes. But mother of God ... that rigatoni. So good. I took a picture but the lighting is bad and I am a human horror show when it comes to taking pictures. Not sure it does it justice.

It wasn't good. Service was so poor. The other tables got their water and bread. I didn't get any water for a really long time until I had to ask my waitress again. She didn't bother giving me bread when she gave the other table bread. I wasn't exactly dressed up because I spent the day shopping. Worst part of not only being ignored, was that my salmon entree was so fishy. Completely fishy. So disorganised and chaotic on a Friday night. The one time I went was a fluke. I'm not gonna return.

The food was outstanding!!!! The salmon had amazing flavors. The halibut was prepared with roasted vegetables and gnocchi. The service was excellent!!! Danielle was so professional and personable. Loved dinner!

Classic great restaurant! Very detailed in the fine dishes and full of great taste, the building is gorgeous

Nice spot. Nicely decorated. Brought aged wines that they decanted properly, had a French feel. Food was very good. Onion soup was on point and not over done w too much cheese. Hanger steak was very tender and ample Others enjoyed. Long pause between appetizers and main service. Fine espresso and perhaps the best brûlée anywhere. You could skate in it BYO , winner

I got a gift card here for Christmas and my wife and I recently had dinner on a Friday night. The restaurant is pretty small, but was full for Friday dinner service. The food was very good and our server was great but it was a bit on the slow side. I don't blame her for that, she was probably spread a bit thin but we were there nearly 2.5 hours for dinner, not the end of the world tho. For food we got the day boat scallops appetizer, butternut squash soup, mushroom ravioli, pork chop milanese, creme brulee and cheesecake. The winners were the scallops, soup, pork chop and the cheesecake. The scallops very fresh and the pork belly and sauce accompanied it well. The cheesecake was so light and fluffy, I don't eat cheesecake but I ate this one. The mushroom ravioli and the mac and cheese were raved about but we found them kinda average so I'd skip them next time. Overall, glad we came and will be back in the future. The prices were very fair for what you got relative to what somewhere else would charge and its BYOB so you can save a few bucks on alcohol.

As always Belford Bistro delivers. Everything we ordered was delicious. They were very accommodating with our allergies and dietary restrictions and modified the dishes for us. Our waitress was absolutely wonderful. We have been there many times over the years and can't wait to go back.

Great lil place. Service is great and the waitresses are very friendly. Small menu but the food is delicious. Highly recommended you stop in

Hadn't been to Belford bistro in several years and decided to go back. Glad I did. The food was really delicious. It was fairly late do we each had an appetizer- the mussels one and the scallops with pork belly as our entrées and the Boston Bibb salad salad and then shared a delicious s'more brownie with melted marshmallow for dessert. Spot on!

The second or third best crab cakes I've ever had. But a full house meant a noisy room and a slow kitchen. We split a salad of the day and it was very good, perhaps the greens a bit chewy. My partner was not impressed with the entrees and chose to make a meal of the mussels appetizer. She was surprised by the large size, less happy with the curry being more like a broth. BYOB

When I'm craving exceptional takeout Belford Bistro is my 1st pick. This restaurant doesn't miss a beat with flavor. I'm so happy this chef stays with the times and is always using the freshest ingredients. I will continue to be a loyal customer.

This place is amazing and not just for the delicious food. The staff is always so pleasant we come just for the "sisters". If you're looking for top notch food in Monmouth County definitely give them a try!

We've been here 3 times now and this review is long overdue. Belford Bistro is everything we look for in a restaurant. It's cozy and charming and we love that it's bring your own. The staff here is very friendly and attentive and the food is absolutely delicious! We had the crab cakes, which my husband described as the best crab cakes he's ever eaten. (We eat a lot of crab cakes) We also tried the scallops and chicken dish. Everything is fresh and flavorful . Other members in our party ordered the salmon and pork chop which they both enjoyed. Dessert was a flourless chocolate cake and a slice of cheesecake. I wish I was eating them both again right now! We are already planning our next trip back! Highly recommended.

We have eaten at Belford Bistro on numerous occasions. The food is incredible. Everything is made to perfection and the presentation is fabulous. It's a small restaurant with an intimate atmosphere. It is highly recommended you make a reservation. BYOB so don't forget to bring wine. We highly recommend this wonderful restaurant, you will not be disappointed.

Food is delicious but to say the service was slow is an understatement. I felt a little like Rip Van Winkle emerging from his nap, wondering how the world had changed by the time we were able to leave.

Not much has changed in the intervening years as to this place. While we have been a steady customer of Drew's Bayshore Bistro (which is great), one can't eat off the same plate all the time. This restaurant remains an outstanding place to set one's feet under the white table clothed tables. A wonderful arugula salad with Asian pear, julienned carrots, golden beets & cashew in a very unusual balsamic (maybe some champagne vinegar in the mix) was delectable. The scallop and pork belly appetizer in a horseradish vin blanc was to die for. We shared the giant crab cakes, which had the creamiest mashed potatoes, and get this, a tiny mixed vegetable medley which were individually roasted and just beyond marvelous. Even the cheesecake (as light as a feather) in a blueberry compote was spectacular and such a fitting end to an amazing night of dining. I'd be remiss if I didn't comment on the service which was top notch. Our server, Danielle, is indeed special, who loves what she does. Go!!!!

Amazing pure food!! Loved the fresh Halibut...I plan to eat there every time I visit with my dear friend...she eats there weekly and always feels satisfied. Chef Kurt cooks with love and fills the room with repeat customers because of his skill. Oh and the desserts are divine

It wasn't terrible. I guess that's a good start. Have to say the service was impeccable. Friendliest staff ever and on time with getting things to you. I was really pleased with that, since I notice and comment on service being lacking more often than not. Service was definitely not lacking here. But the main thing that was lacking here was flavor. I often lament at how food is perfectly prepared, but service is poor. Here, service is excellent, food is perfectly prepared, but my food was just shy of bland. Maybe we're catering to the 65 and over crowd? The ones who can't take a little pepper? You could get a better french onion soup from the Food Network (Anne Burrell, try it). Had the special petite filet and while it was so tender, I almost wanted to ask for salt. (blasphemy) The food needs umph. However, if umph is not necessarily your thing and you want good quality food presented very well and prepared very well, then Belford Bistro is the way to go. P.S. Dessert was the outlier. Excellent peanut butter mousse/souffle and creme brulee. Kudos to the party chef!

Ok, imma go with the baseball 3 strike rule as to why I get inclined to leave a review. Ambience - lost a star, I mean if I choose a restaurant with a "$$$" out of 4 on the pay scale scale, I would expect something that didn't resemble a warehouse break room. All that was missing was vape smoke and the smell of the gasoline from a nearby forklift. And the gray paint, from the chair moulding to the CROWN moulding to the CEILING...really?? I mean did you run out of frog tape and a lighter gray paint?? The seating, could u cram anymore tables in there? You could play the "floor is lava" and ALL 200 people would get through...unscathed! The lighting, about 8 of em in all, 7 if you count the ones that actually worked and those 7...all a different hue of white. A ladder and a 10-pack of bulbs....easy fix. Food - lost your second star. Hey, it could be just what I ordered and was pretty excited for this French onion soup but I've had tacos with more cheese on it than that soup. You nailed the sweet component in the broth but at least leave a salt shaker in the vicinity so I can do the rest. Zero depth of flavor in that overpriced broth. Main course - lost your 3rd star. Ok the NY strip, so when you order the "special" you expect to get taken to the cleaners on the price, BUT after seeing the plate..I prayed they had some decency. The bland spinach(ok it's spinach), the basic mashed(eh something to spice it up, maybe even just a chive or 2), then the strip which I think had a red wine sauce, or coulda jus been a pool of blood because the salt they forgot to add in the French onion, was in the steak and that's all I tasted. The steak wasn't bad but the size and for 70.00?? Ugh the nerve, the audacity, and for a strip..not a ribeye. Dessert- fool me once..fool me tw..(you know how it goes) I skipped it....but not my wife...because you know, a woman always needs that dessert!! Well It was a peanut butter cup concoction and I had 1 regretful half spoonful of it to further cement my thoughts. It wasn't horrible but I'm not a fan of whipped up Skippy covered with a layer of dark chocolate. Overall- The place was packed though, not sure if it was "friends/family" night or if they all had their taste buds removed prior but the food wasn't "bad". But the "$$$" out of "$$$$" was my main issue, and you should do better. If it's 3 out of 10, then I would have no complaints and your right on par but u missed the mark. I gotten more flavor and ambience from a Longhorns and for a fraction of the price. So if youre looking for overpriced average food and a dungeon,packed break room,vibe, this is your place, but bring a flashlight and maybe a candle or something.

When the government finally gets around to executing me and asks me what I want for a last meal, I will simply respond "I'll have what Jennifer T is having." The elite squad extrodinair seems to have a super ability to locate fine food. If you haven't followed Jennifer's reviews as I do, her "go to" restaurant is the Belford Bistro. I took my wife there to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Belford Bistro resides in a strip mall on Main Street, surrounded by off street parking. The dining room is small and they have quite a local following so make a reservation. Bring a quality bottle of wine because they don't serve alcohol and the food deserves something special. We shared an heirloom tomato salad and enjoyed the warm bread. My wife had perfectly cooked scallops with a delicious mix of fresh vegetables. Her only negative comment was that the pork belly was too well done. I had the mushroom stuffed ravioli with a super delicious creamy sauce. We had cream brûlée and a peanut butter cup for dessert. I was amazed that the owner/chef also made the awesome desserts. What a talent. Thanks Jennifer for sharing your reviews and your fabulous photos. We truly enjoyed the Belford Bistro and I give my highest recommendation. I can't wait to return.

a group of 4 of us went here for first time tonight and it will be our last. we were exttremly disappointed in the price of halibut special. We go out alot and i have opened and managed many restturants. How dare you charge 60 dollars for a piece of halibut. We have plenty of money and go out often but we dio not appreciate being ripped off. We will spread the word of our experience and never come back again. Shame on you

Belford bistro is a hidden "little spot ". I honestly thought the food was mediocre. I liked that it was a byob . But in all truthfulness nothing to rave about. Simple dishes , small portions and a very grey ambience .

I was somewhat reluctant to go to this restaurant that is literally just around the corner and across the street from where I live. My expectations were on the lower side..... BUT- It was a busy Saturday Night with all tables full. The wait staff was obviously running their butts off, but we were greeted and welcomed with specials explained. The crab cakes were the best that I've had anywhere, the scallops and pork belly were done perfectly and delicious. the cheesecake was light and wonderful and the creme brûlée was awesome. Service was great and the whole experience was enough to make me decide to be a regular at this hidden gem. Great Job and we will definitely be back as frequently as possible.

Giving 2 stars due to ridiculously small portions, cramped tables and terrible service. We have been going to Belford Bistro for at least 10 years (usually a celebration dinner) and recommend it to our friends. This was the last time I'll do either. The owner/chef has just gotten very greedy. Portions are laughable. The tables are squished and we literally had the waitress's backside and long ponytail against our table. Short rib special was $65 for a tiny piece of meat, 1/2 cup of spinach and a smear of mashed potatoes. Crab cake app was good, but again very small and for $29! We finished our meals and wanted to get a slice of pizza next door. Waited for almost 30min for the waitress to ask if we wanted dessert. I have no problem paying higher prices for excellent food and service, but to pay that kind of money for lacking service and to leave hungry just isn't worth it. Such a shame.

This spot is up the road from my job in Belford and we decided to come here for our holiday dinner. My coworkers have been here before and raved about it so much that I couldn't wait to try. BYOB which is always a plus- reservations only which is a plus during these times. The staff was so sweet, accommodating, and attentive. The food was too die for. Delicious crab cakes and the butternut squash soup warmed the soul. Thank you to Kurt and the staff at Belford Bistro for allowing us enjoy our holiday dinner we couldn't be happier ! Thank you, WellsFargo Belford branch

Glad to finally try this place out. I was surprised how small it is, but it's true what they say; good things do come in small packages. I want to start off by saying the service here is great. Even on Valentines Day (one of the busiest days of the year), we were fully attended to at all times. Our waitress was so sweet/friendly, and she made sure our drinks were always filled and that our food was coming out in a timely manner. I started off with the lobster bisque, which was exquisite! So tasty, and very generous with the lobster. For my main, I went with the surf and turf, which was also delicious. I absolutely loved that the lobster was already de shelled, because when I'm hungry, the last thing I want to do is work for my food, lol. Our dessert was a petit trio, composed of a chocolate covered strawberry, a peanut butter cup, and a brioche bread pudding. I'm not a fan of peanut butter, so I didn't enjoy that dessert, but I absolutely LOVED the bread pudding and the strawberry. So, so, soooooooo good! Definitely a good spot but they're very underrated; I'm surprised they don't have more reviews. Glad this is close to home because I will definitely be visiting here again.

Our friends, who live locally, brought us here for dinner. It's a very small place with a comfy feel. Service is friendly and attentive and the noise level is good for conversation, even with a full house (a big plus for us). Two of us had the salad with goat cheese (really good) and apples, fresh and tasty. My wife had the Bibb salad, which she enjoyed. Two of us had the rack of lamb, 8 chops! It was cooked perfectly (we asked for medium rare) and was delicious. The whipped mashed potatoes were creamy and just right, and the green beans were also good. My wife had the Prawns special, and it was so much she took some home (and enjoyed them the next night for dinner). Our friend had the hanger steak, which she loved. While we weren't thinking of dessert, my wife and I ended up having the banana sundae and our friends had the bread pudding to share. Everything was fresh and delicious. Add in that this is a BYOB and we'll definitely be back!

high end for nice dinner. Service is great- a la carte and in the book! Very small and reservations required. It's always booked which says a lot. i keep in mind for special occasions.

I've dined at Belford Bistro more times than any other restaurant in my life! I have 116 check ins here on Yelp as of April 16, 2021, and I plan on dining here another 116 times because the Food is FANTASTIC! It's by far the best farm to table restaurant in the state! Chef Kurt is highly talented! I highly recommend ordering one of his daily dinner specials! He makes the best soups you will ever have too! He is so nice and custom makes me soups upon request. I had the best meals of my life here that's why I keep coming back week after week! Tonight I had the house made goat cheese agnolotti in a lamb ragu and the dish blew me way! It was one of the best meals I ever had! He uses the highest quality ingredients in every dish. Everything here is TOP NOTCH! Chef Kurt even substitutes sides upon request with no problem. He will cater to any of your dietary needs. The desserts are delicious as well. My favorites are the brioche bread pudding, triple chocolate mousse, and the peanut butter cup. Danielle and Maria who are the waitresses that work here are so sweet! I highly recommend dining at Belford Bistro!

There is no way this place deserves anything less than 5 stars. The food is fantastic. I had trouble choosing what to order, everything sounded so delicious. The combination of flavors in my dish was extraordinary. We split crab cakes, mussels Salmon, apple, Brussels sprouts with an amazing creamy sauce. My fiance ordered the Bucatini Duck Carbonara, it was to die for. Something I truly appreciated was that my mom is on a strict diet, and went out on a limb and asked for some substitutions, they went the extra mile, offering to put things on the side for her, nothing was an issue. The waitress acted as if the chef wouldn't mind cooking something completely different. I mean the level of service was unreal. The kitchen is visible which i loved as well. Our waitress was so nice, friendly, everything came out in a good amount of time. I have nothing but great things to say. I will 100% be back here, love it.

If I could give them 10 stars I would! Great food and service start to finish! Highly recommend!

Belford Bistro came highly recommended by my fellow Yelper, Jennifer T., whose opinion I respect. Turns out it was exactly what I was expecting. It is truly my type of restaurant. They do everything right, by keeping the focus on the quality of the food. All too often a restaurant will have a salaried cook, who doesn't really have his heart in it, or it'll be all glitz and glamour, without the substance underneath. Not here. You do not have to pay a surcharge because they are located in New York, Red Bank, or Downtown Princeton. You also do not have a problem with parking either because you can park right in front and go right in. (Women who are wearing heels and a dress will like this place.) You are also not paying an upgrade to have some sort of themed atmosphere. Just give me a clean, simple atmosphere. It's BYO, too, and they provide you with nicer glasses. The food is very reasonably priced, for all these reasons. The food itself is pretty much all prepared by the chef/owner, which I really like. That's rare to find these days. The food has both Italian and French influences. All their pasta is homemade. I like how they have half-portion sizes available of all the pasta, so that you can have it as a first course as in Italy. We got a lot of help with the menu, and I found the service to be excellent. We went for my 40th birthday. The only disadvantages, which are really minor and barely worth mentioning are that they could have taken the butter out of the fridge a little earlier. The salad also should not have been cut and had dressing applied a few hours in advance, so that it stays crispy. The crowd is older, too, so younger patrons might not be as comfortable. But those are minor details in the context of everything that the Belford Bistro does right. I just hope that they stay the same way for years to come so that we can go back.

If you don't mind small spaces, semi high prices and pretty limited daily options, and want high quality meals, you will be happy here. Can be tough to get a reservation so plan ahead. Offers takeout...that is delivered in containers that help it at the right temps for a reasonable time. Seasonal menus keep fresh choices cycling through the menu. Everything is top notch, from ingredients to cooking and presentation.

We discovered this hidden gem about 2-3 years ago & it quickly became our family's favorite!! The food is amazing; always well seasoned, well prepared, and fresh! The service is also great! The staff is always friendly and attentive! Although, Belford Bistro is a BYOB and may seem moderately priced; the menu, staff, and sophisticated ambiance make the experience well worth every dollar!! Belford Bistro earns 5 every time!

The food was average in flavor and very over priced. Service was slow. It took a very long time to get our table and our food after ordering.

I don't usually post reviews but I had to for this place. Everything from the staff to the food is AMAZING. They allow half portions on some of their pasta dishes which was life changing because I was able to try both dishes I wanted. My husband loved his soup and pork chop as well. The desserts were so good too but I didn't take a photo.

The food was incredible! Tasty with a bunch of flavor. The service was quick and staff were super friendly!

Called in a curbside pickup order a couple weeks ago and it did not disappoint- quality was still fantastic. These guys are open- support them please.

Food, service and atmosphere was wonderful. It's hidden gem in a strip mall. We'll worth the price. I highly recommend it.

I can't believe I haven't tried this sooner. Everything was delicious. Especially the squash soup!!! The pasta is made fresh. The bread pudding with gelato was amazing.

100% hands down best restaurant I go to always consistent. The specials will never let you down. Plus on top of that the homemade pasta is on point. I can't tell you one thing on the menu that's not too quality. All the food is amazing plus dessert is a whole other level. Definitely go for the bread pudding. This is a go to staple every night out all nights.

This place never fails to please! Awesome food and super friendly staff make for a great combination! Highly recommend the mussels, fish and chicken specials. Save room for desert as they make the best bread pudding ever!

Attempting to visit this place at 7pm on a Friday night I was turned away by the bus boy and a teenage waitress because we had no reservation. The issue I have is the place was nearly empty. Bad form Belford Bistro, if you had a Hostess this could have been handled professionally. There are way too many great places in Atlantic Highlands and Red Bank to turn away guests. Especially if your joint is in a strip mall in Campbell's Junction. I joined Yelp just to write this review however as a business traveler I dine out constantly. I am also well versed in the culinary arts and extremely restaurant savvy. I highly recommend not going to this place based on the poor quality of front house management.

Food was tasty but to order 2 appetizers for take out and pay $51 is price gouging. For a local place in a strip mall with no ambiance... I will not return.

We've gone here many times but haven't been in quite a while. I was disappointed to find that extra tables have been added since the last time we were here. The tables are now extremely close together. When the waitress is taking an order from the table next to you, her behind is in your face. The food was ok but I think it used to be better. The dinner rolls came out of a cellophane bag from Whole Foods. The two little balls of butter served with the two rolls were the size of chickpeas. Not what you'd expect from a restaurant in this price range. The topping on the crème brûlée was so thick that it was like trying to chew a lollipop or hard candy. Also, there are way too many entrees being served with whipped potatoes as a side dish. Something more creative would be nice.

Best restaurant in the Jersey shore. Food is so consistent, and clearly made with love. Service is very friendly and love the dim lighting and open kitchen feel. You don't want to miss out on this place. Added bonus of a BYOB

Delicious food and always friendly service. Never disappoints and it's a BYOB. Make sure you make a reservation as it is a small resto. Small portions but stays true to its menu. Highly recommend.

I moved to this area a few months ago and wasn't really finding any fine dining until we went to the Belford Bistro. Well we found our new go to place good was excellent and service was very good. We were slowed to split our soup and our pasta order . Very well prepared and was fresh and delish. We will be back again soon.

The Chef here serves up some of the best meals you can get in Belford however we wish the menu would get an overhaul with some new permanent entrees and appetizers. The scallops are to die for and great care goes into every meal. The portions are generous for fine dining. One dish to pass on is the angry shrimp - it is one note - I love spice, but the dish begs for some balance with sweetness or acid. The crab cakes would be much better paired with an aioli instead of the celeriac root. Appetizers are very tasty but not really made for sharing. A simple shrimp cocktail, oysters or calamari with hot peppers or some other shareable appetizers would be a welcome addition for those of us who frequent the restaurant with groups. They serve wonderful specials, but you never know what the specials will be. It would be nice to see them add a few more core menu options or even retire some of the less popular dishes and replace them. We stopped going as much in the last six months because the menu hasn't changed for so long.