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Interior - Stern & Bow, Closter, NJ

Stern & Bow

4.7 (1228)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
171 Schraalenburgh Road, Closter, NJ 07624

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A photo of Stern & Bow restaurant

Stern & Bow

4.7
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Closter

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 36 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for groups
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Lively
Stern and Bow: a casual, upscale restaurant from Russell Stern of Harvest, featuring seasonal, eclectic American cuisine, premium raw bar, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, oven-roasted dishes, craft cocktails and much more.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Oyster Bar, Pizza Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–2:45 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–10:30 pm Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Pasquale Frola
  • Area
    Closter
  • Cross street
    Old Hook Road
  • Parking Details
    Valet parking during dinner hours
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Stern & Bow.

4.7

4.7
(1228)
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Bergen

    Great for brunch

  • Bergen

    Good for groups

  • Bergen

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Stern & Bow offers an inviting atmosphere with "excellent service" and delicious food. Highlights include fresh oysters, crispy calamari, and "perfectly cooked bronzino." Guests appreciate the "lively atmosphere" and dog-friendly outdoor seating. Despite occasional noise and mixed food prep reviews, the restaurant remains a favorite for its "impeccable service" and welcoming vibe.
1,228 Reviews
  1. Jean Gold

    New Jersey127 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 31 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    A wonderful evening here great food awesome service it was loud with almost all the tables in use but you could still talk to your dining partner the ribs last night was amazing tender and delicious fresh made coleslaw my favorite can’t wait to return

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  2. Athena Gold

    New York City13 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on 31 October 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1
    We went for lunch, not busy. Ordered pizza, I saw the guy making the pizza flipping the dough, joking with two of his coworkers, throwing the dough at one of them, the dough fell on the counter , the coworker threw it at him, he caught it, continued flipping and made the pizza. Gross.

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  3. Frantz

    Fort Lauderdale1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 25 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent across the board! Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a classic night out!

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  4. Denise

    Orlando / Central Florida East1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 24 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The owner Russel and manager John are amazing! We had the most delicious dinner and the service was impeccable.

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  5. Danielle

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 23 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a great girls night at Stern and Bow. The oysters are the best around and the crispy artichoke was one of the best appetizers I’ve had in a really long time. Also really enjoyed the bronzino, which was cooked to perfection.

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  6. Betys

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 17 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a wonderful time at Stern $ Bow and would highly recommend it. The food was delicious, our server Danielle, was attentive and made sure we had everything we ordered and needed. We ordered the calamari, hanger steak, the lobster bucatini special and affogato dessert. All amazing. It was the little extras from the tasty warm bread to meeting the owner Russel Stern that made our time even more memorable.

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  7. Darrell Gold

    New York City14 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 16 October 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The service was outstanding, from the valet to our waiter. However, the food preparation was disappointing compared with previous visits. The charbroiled oysters were overcooked, leaving the cheese hard and the oysters dried out. The fried calamari consisted only of rings, and the accompanying peppers were not fried as they had been on prior visits. Finally, the spicy pizza had too much sauce for its thin crust, making it difficult to eat by hand. While we appreciated the excellent service, the food fell short of the quality we had enjoyed previously.

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  8. Patricia

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 11 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Stern and Bow is a family favorite. We typically go for brunch and really enjoy the menu. This time around, we ordered the avocado toast, the BLTA with eggs, and chicken and waffles, all with minor modifications which were made graciously. (Thanks, Chef!) They serve excellent coffee and the service is top-notch. A great place.

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  9. Linda

    New York City12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 10 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious especially the crispy calamari and striped bass. The cocktail choices are great and the apple cobbler was the perfect autumn dessert. The staff is very attentive and friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed and casual. My husband and I had a great dinner and definitely plan to go back soon.

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  10. Lauren

    New York City5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 10 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I brought my dog with me and we ate outside. Everyone was super friendly, warm and welcoming. There was a great atmosphere and the food was delicious as well as reasonably priced! Highly recommend and I will definitely go back.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Oyster Bar, Pizza Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–2:45 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–10:30 pm Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Pasquale Frola
  • Area
    Closter
  • Cross street
    Old Hook Road
  • Parking Details
    Valet parking during dinner hours
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

For families, yes, the restaurant provides high chairs and kid-friendly touches like paper and a giant bucket of crayons to keep children entertained.

Portions are generous, guests often describe very generous servings, noting big salads and plentiful portions at events.

Yes, guests recommend Stern & Bow for special evenings, with several anniversary visits and praise for its inviting atmosphere and well-crafted cocktails.

Stern & Bow tends to draw a lively crowd on weekend nights, reservations are especially important on busy evenings, while Sunday evenings have been noted as a quieter, more relaxed time to visit.

Stern & Bow feels lively and modern, a seafood-forward spot with a prominent premium raw bar, two bar areas and frequent live-DJ nights, yet it also has a quieter side for more relaxed conversation.

Casual dress, comfortable, neat clothing is appropriate; nothing formal is required.

For a quieter meal, choose Sunday evenings; if you want energy and a DJ-driven night out, Saturday evenings are lively, weekend brunch (Sat–Sun 11:30–2:45) is also popular.

Yes, families are welcome: guests report bringing children who enjoy the pizza and kid-friendly options, and staff provide paper and a big bucket of crayons to keep little ones entertained.

Yes, dogs are welcome on the patio: guests report a dedicated pet menu, staff bringing water and treats, and special dog events like a "Bone Apetit" three-course pup dinner.

Weekend brunch (Sat–Sun 11:30 am–2:45 pm) is a guest favorite, Sunday brunch in particular is praised for lively atmosphere and entertainment.

Yes, Stern & Bow welcomes private parties and regularly hosts events, including larger gatherings of roughly 30–35 guests.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. New Jersey
  4. Bergen
  5. Closter

Make a booking

A photo of Stern & Bow restaurant

Stern & Bow

4.7
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Closter

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 36 times today
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