Epernay

Of all the restaurants in the county of essex I can seriously say that Epernay is in a class of it own. Having gone twice since the new owners took over , this place is over the top GREAT. My wife, mother of our five children and a good cook, always prefers to stay home because there really isn't much out there....But let me just say...I know a good meal and so does she..Epernay is the real deal...from professional service, timely service, quantity and quality of food, atmosphere, etc... it's the best..the very best!!! These people know how to run a restaurant..anyone that thinks otherwise is seriously not in touch. The bill(and I am $ conscious) is something you don't even care about because no matter what you rec'd .I've already been telling friends and family!!!! And there's alot of us!!
Best Regards
Doug

Oh and by the way, I just read some other people's experiences and some of you should be ashamed. There is an old saying..for all you self important people.."It's nice to be important but more important to be nice..and if you haven't got anything nice to say don't say it at all"...
Have a great day!!

I have enjoyed dining at Epernay a few times since it has changed hands. I had also dined a couple of times under the old regime. I find the atmosphere to be much improved with the new owner. I am treated warmly, they cater to my wife's dietary requirements, and when we bring the kids they make them welcome. I was recently in Montreal on business and I had some wonderful French cuisine. I feel Epernay offers the same quality.

As part of my " World Dining here in Montclair" segment, I feature visits with Chefs / restaurants from - Argentinia, France, and Italy...My French selection this time was Epernay, with Franco preparing, tableside, Pasta and lobster in a special cream sauce ( you'll love it montclairdoctor).

You can see him doing this, by watching the new episode of Inside Montclair on Tv - 34.

Mon. Wed. Fri. at 8:000pm

Enjoy it, get hungry, and go and say hi to Franco.

Wayne Robbins Producer / Host of Inside Montclair

Tenth time eating here in 3 years: Still great food, nice service, and calm atmosphere... A special place.

Went there a few months ago. They took all of the garlic out of the mussels. Does anyone know if they put the garlic back in? It kinda sucked without it.

If you like French, try Passione. Then post your side-by-side comparison. Passione is pretty damn good.

Hey Wayne last time I checked pasta and cream sauce was Italian. But maybe im just screwed up in the head.
Get a clue man.

Hi Melange....yeah, you must be screwed up in the head...Chef FRanco made one of his specials offered at Epernay, if you watched and understood the segment you'd know that..

Why not just go and try it, instead of picking on him for making it...you might even enjoy the table side presentation.

Wayne, dude, I watched your show the other day. Question for you - why is it that you never let anyone finish what they are saying before you cut them off? Have you been hitting those venti triples at Starbucks a little too much? A little advice - your show would be watchable if you let the people you are supposed to be interviewing actually talk.

Just ate there & had two dishes that were perfect in years past, but were mediocre. The tuna was ok - but the sauce, lentils & spinach were dull. The muscles in curry used to be amazing, this time the sauce was think and tasteless - like milk with a splash of curry. Really lame. The fries are still good. For the prices they're charging - the food & service should be special, and they aren't.

I LOVED it! I went with my Mother, who is very into fine food and she was avry happy with everything. The service was great and the food was delicious! My Mother ordered the mussles and raved about them for days. The portions are big- she didn't finish the mussles and by accident did not tell the waiter to wrap them up so they threw them away but the chef made her another order to take home! The duck is incredibly heavy, not to mention fatening but worth it (if you hold off eating for a few days). GO HUNGRY!

incredible food. Great atmosphere. Escargot and the mussels were splendid apps. The veal was terrific and tender.

one complaint, The waiter, a blonde young man, looked as though he was drugged up. But everyone has their bad days.

we miss chef jeff..

we miss chef jeff..its just not the same

we miss chef jeff..its just not the same

Chef Jeff?? Who is Chef Jeff? I have been dining at Epernay for two years now and the food just keeps gettin better and better. I dined at Epernay just two weeks ago and not only did they have so many new delicious items on their menu, but they also featured four or five new specials in addition to their daily plats du jour. I sampled the new double cut pok chop which was outstanding, and my husband had the lamb stew which was just as delicious. The service is also great at epernay. They are so accomodating it is unbelievable! So, I have no idea who this chef jeff is, but they just keep getting better and better. Keep up the good work epernay!

he has only been the chef there for the past 4 years...i heard he moved on to bigger and better things

Now I know you are mistaken because when I discovered epernay two years ago, a very sweet woman named Courney was the owner and her husband, whose name was MARK was the chef!!! Epernay has since changed ownership and Chef MARK is no longer the chef at epernay.

your right..there is no chef jeff. i made the whole thing up. ya got me

and wayne must be wrong too

"And you can watch Franco prepare another culinary delight, tableside, and too also say hi to Chef Jeff. Just see the latest episode of Inside Montclair on Tv - 34, now airing.

Mon. Wed. Fri. at 8:00pm on Tv - 34

BTW..All the food is great..Go, you'll love it."
Posted by wayne robbins | October 3, 2006 9:48 PM

Jeff worked 1 year and half at Epernay and left few months ago. He was as good as the new chef now who used to be sous-chef under both chef Mark and chef Jeff. You should go to Epernay, try the food and form your own opinion. I recommend the lamb stew, the pork shop and the choc. torte.

I recently had the opportunity to dine again at Epernay, the cute french bistro on Park street, and it was wonderful! The food was amazing, like always, but what I would like to comment on most of all was the service. It was absolutely fantastic! They are all so nice there. They seem to try their best to accommodate the customers, even if special requests are made. If you want to have delicious food in a comfortable, friendly environment where you receive great service, Epernay would definately be my recommendation for you!

Sort of a mixed bag here Friday night. Good, attentive service. Nice host, and great people-watching. I liked the atmosphere, but the faux Monets were a bit Epcot-France...

However, the food was not as good. Nothing was awful, but nothing was superb. Bisque too salty, salad too vinegary, salmon overdone, and creme brulee was cold. Overall, a disappointment, but there's the potential for so much more.

Went there about 5 years ago w/ my Father. I hate to give a negative review of any sort, but service was lacking. I agree w/ previous commments about the water, very hard to get refills. When the entrees arrived, the waiter brought my Father a dish that was completely different from what he ordered. He did not apologize, admit he might've made a mistake, or offer to change it. HUGE NO-NO! The meal was decent, but that lack of service was something that stuck in my craw, which is why I haven't returned since.

Skip973, the ownership changed about two years ago.

This past Saturday night my husband and I had the chance to dine out at Epernay again with two of our close friends. It was their first time at Epernay and our first time back in several months. WE LOVED IT!!! Everything was even more delicious than we had remembered. There were so many new things on the menu! We had an appetizer special...foie gras and scallops with an artichoke soup...FANTASTIC! My husband had the grilled octopus and our friends had the stuffed pepper and frisee salad. All were equally delicious. For dinner we were temped by so many choices that we decided to share and all selected a different entree. My husband and I chose from the specials, for me the halibut and him the mahi mahi. Our friends chose the pork chop and steak frites. The portions were large, but we couln't help ourselves, we finished everything! We all agreed, EVERYTHING WAS WONDERFUL!!! Dessert was just as good as the rest of the meal. We all shared the champagne rice pudding and profiteroles, savoring every bite. Our friends who moved to Montclair two years ago had tried many restaurants in town, but they agree with us...Epernay is the best! We will all be back again very soon! What a perfect night!

Last week I went to epernay with my husband and kids. I was delighted to see that after 2 months the menu has changed with an addition of new, summery, lighter dishes. I just loved their grilled octopus, delicious codfish and still superb choc mousse. Our waitress was very attentive and even asked the chef to slice my children's steak. I cannot wait to come back and try the other new dishes.

Did they change their chef at Epernay??? I asked the attentive waitstaff last tuesday but everybody said NO!!! I ( my husband too) have always been a huge fan of epernay but the 5 courses dinner with the liquor store amanti vino was OUTSTANDING. The lobster salad was delicious and the duck breast so tender. When is the next one??????

The food is wonderful, the service attentive. However, we had an uncomfortable experience with the waiter, Jay, who was flirtatious (it felt somewhat inappropriate) with a member of our party. The awkwardness didn't ruin our night, but it did cloud it.
Also, one of us got a seared tuna dish, which tasted fishy-instead of really fresh (unfortunate, since it was one of the most expensive items on the menu). All the other food was wonderful, though.

Something struck me, Ellewood : "the food is wonderful, the service attentive" but after that you are bitching at Jay (service) and tuna (food)...what's going on???? The rain makes you cranky and illogical??? Do you need to eat and have a glass of wine?? Or just a huge hug??? Everything is going to be OK...Obama won!!!

Chef Franco, prepares a fab entree as part of this new episode of Inside Montclair.

Check out the new episode info below.

Inside Montclair on Tv - 34 Update

Hi to all...the new episode of Inside Montclair is now airing. Join
me as I walk around town visiting our neighbors.

This episode features: An opening segment of our neighbors wishing
all a Happy Halloween to Montclair...The next two segments,
highlights Dining in Montclair - with Chef Franco from Epernay ( a
French Brasserie )and Chef Omar from Mexicali Rose - both preparing
a culinary delight you'll love to see being made.

We end the show with a very special segment. On Oct. 4th, at the
Unitarian Church, a special benefit ( one of three days ), was held
for Jyoti Chrystal, the founder of Starseed Yoga in Montclair. Where
local residents and businesses were sponsoring a weekend fundraiser
to benefit Jyoti, who has been stricken with nonsmoking's lung
cancer, to help cover her medical treatment.

I've known her for many years, and had a very unique interview with
her that night..that's the closing segment.

Air time schedule - Mon., Wed., Fri. - 8:00am, 1:00pm, 8:00pm

A few past segments of Inside Montclair can be seen online at
Letschatnj.com