Garlic Rose Bistro

Cranford, NJ

30 June 2025

Garlic Rose Bistro has become one of our favorite spots to stop at for dinner in Cranford, NJ. Every time we visit, they are always so kind and their menu is delicious with some very unique dishes that we haven't found elsewhere.

On our last visit, we were even lucky to find a spot right in front of the restaurant (not a common occurence on the main street). However, as lucky as we were to find the spot, as soon as we turned off the car, a torrential summer rainstorm started, and only one of us managed to get out of the car before the rain turned too heavy.

I was stuck in the car for almost ten minutes waiting for the rain to slow down. Meanwhile, Edmund managed to check in and let the host know that we were present, but that I was stuck in the car because of the heavy rain. The host was so kind, and to our surprise he sent out a waiter with a giant umbrella (large enough to be a beach umbrella!) and rescued me from the rain. What an adventure!

Now, back to why it has become one of our favorite restaurants...aside from the hospitality, they add their own unique touch that makes a common dish much more interesting and flavorful. These little additions tie in nicely to its name "The Garlic Rose Bistro".

When the bread is brought out, they bring roasted garlic with their oil. Along with the oil, we both love to add a little bit of the garlic to our bread. It is a cute touch that ties in with not only the restaurant's name, but also with its logo. Our go-to appetizer is the Lemon Grass Chicken Dumplings, but the other appetizers are just as tasty! I have a soft spot for dumplings of all varieties, and it is hard for me to pass up on dumpling appetizers, but I particularly like the extra flavor and sauce used with these dumplings. For entrees we opted for a Caesar Salad and a daily special, the Garlic Rose Chicken. Both of these were so filling that we didn't have space for desserts, but there are a few desserts on the menu that I have been eyeing to try for a future visit!

Garlic Rose Bistro

28 North Avenue West

Cranford, NJ 07016