Circa Restaurant

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Mags1007

Joined 5 years ago

GOOD BEER, GOOD FOOD!!!!!. Went to CIRCA with a bunch of friends and had a really good time!! If you like beer you'll like CIRCA!!! Selection of 8 micro beers. The staff was educated on the food, assertive and friendly!!! Great place to hang out with friends!!!!

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GoFlight

Joined 5 years ago

Very nice dining experience. A group of 8 friends visited Circa a few weeks ago and found it to be a very nice place. We were seated promptly by very friendly staff, and the waiter quickly approached and advised us of the speacials and helped answer any questions we had with the menu. for appetizers the table had the crab cake, shrimp tempura, and the calamari. Another member of our party also had the clams on the half shell. All were found to be delicious. Some of the entrees were the rib eye, chicken and prok tenderloin. Again, all were very tasty.

The only downside was the price. Not because the food wasn't worth it, but just for where the restaurant is. We didn't expect NYC prices from a small restaurant in a tiny town in western NJ. But we will definitely be back. Recommended.

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ravengrl2311

Joined 6 years ago

Great Ambiance, Food Quite Lacking. My boyfriend and I went there on our two year anniversary. The decor is great and the atmosphere is very stylish but warm. The hostess was friendly and the waiter greeted us promptly and informed us that they were out of tuna (good to know before looking at the menu). There was only one dinner special, which seemed a bit odd. My boyfriend ordered the calamari off of the menu and the dinner special, which was an 18 ounce rib-eye, twice baked potato, and haricots vertes(green beans). I ordered the shrimp tempura and the scallop entree off of the menu (served with black truffle risotto). The appiziters came out in a good amount of time - enough for us to talk a bit without feeling rushed, but not long enough where we were wondering when they would be served. My shrimp was excellent, but my boyfriend's calamari was fishy and rubbery. We couldn't finish it between the two of us, which is beyond unusual for us. Our entrees also followed in a good amount of time. My scallop dish was bland to the point where I was looking around for salt (which I almost never add to any dish). The risotto was good, but also a bit on the bland side. My boyfriend's steak was cooked perfectly and initially he said it tasted good, but then noticed that it had a terrible smell to it. His sentiments were that the steak itself smelled like body odor, to be honest. I work at a rather good restaurant in Chester, NJ, and know that sometimes cumin can produce that sort of smell (the waiter had mentioned anything about cumin though, if that was even what it was). It got to the point that my boyfriend could not finish his steak and certainly did not want to take it home. My tiramisu for dessert was yummy, but not outstanding. The bill was a surprise, as prices on the menu were reasonable ($7-11 for apps, $20-25 for entrees, $3-7 for desserts) but the price of the special was outrageous: $38! (at "my" restaurant, an 18oz Cowboy Ribeye is $26.00!) We were not impressed overall and will not be going back.

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burgundyfan

Joined 7 years ago

New York Style Bistro Comes to The Country. If you live in or around western New Jersey, and want a great evening out this is a must try. Chef Michael has put together a menu that has no flaws. From a scallop dish in which the scallops melt in your mouth, to a phenominal short rib in a reduction sauce that you can pick apart with a feather and the flavors are layered and deep. If seafood is your game, the Circa Tower is the way to go , the raw bar selection is one of the best in the area and market fresh. If you are a wine lover, Yvonne has put together a revolving by the glass list that includes a local Vidal blanc and Seyval Blanc to small production Red Burgundy and a Spanish Priorat. The interesting things is that the by the glass list is constatnly changing from week to week, which is a feat that most wine stewards are to lazy to do.

The quint rustic, yet bistro setting is perfect for those intimate dinners for two or for the monthly dinner out with two other couples. The service is "tag-team " style to where instead of having just one server, you have a minimum of two, with many others willing to help out to make your dining experience the best that is possible. This is an upscale restaurant, with no pretention. By night's end, you are likely to see the owners sitting at the bar and more than happy to chat over an after dinner drink, not only to talk about the food but about life in general. From a guy who basically eats out for a living, being in the wine business, this is a place that I will frequent often and enjoy it every time.