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ZING!

well the sign definitely fits in with the rest of the businesses on newark ave

Terrible sign.. the owner should know better.

anyone admire the classy new signage in front of grove bistro.

Been here a few times. Had moderate hopes...didn't like all the bashing...some of the stuff is true.

The owner really should read some of this stuff. Last time i was there, about 10 days ago, i could easily see him berating his waitstaff and frantically running around the dining floor with an angry scowl on his face. This was an early dinner. They also removed the lamb chops from the menu, which were really, really good.

OMG - I can't stand those digital signs. I often wonder why so many restaurants in JC have them! It is the epitome of cheesy and it really just looks awful, especially in a place that tries to be "nice" (Grove Bistro, Hopscotch).

I think the owner of Grove Bistro should read the criticisms on this board and on Yelp (only 2.5 stars). The space actually looks pretty nice but the menu seems lost, and the place as a whole seems like it has a lack of focus/specialty (pizza here, bistro there, speakeasy down there...wtf?). I'm not sure you can be successful having all of those things under one roof, especially in this neighborhood where the residents/patrons are increasingly more discerning as to where to spend their leisure time. There are a lot of good restaurants opening up, and more that will continue to open up.

However, the place usually does have a decent crowd, so maybe they are doing OK. My guess is that their location is pulling a lot of the weight.

Glad they made a very attractive bar by the path in a space that sat vacant for too long. And we were in there for drinks one Saturday afternoon and served by a great bartender. But, the second time we tried it for dinner and our experience wasn't so great.

We sat for a while and no one came over to take our order. Then when someone finally showed up my bf ordered a beer and the server came back and the keg was kicked so he ordered another. She came back a second time - that one was out too. And she added that they were also out of Guinness. Ok, no big deal. Then we went to order food and at least two appetizers were out as well as one of the mains. It wasn't a busy night. Just really poor planning I guess? The food we got in the end wasn't great anyway. We won't be back unless positive reviews start pouring in.

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They are clearly taking cues from Paradise liquors/drug store/law office/medical offices. KLASSY!

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I noticed that today as well, looks like crap. Guess business is struggling?

Perhaps they ARE in fact adding pawn-broker to their already complex identity...?

What is up with the new digital sign on the front of this place? They threw up one of those scrolling (right-to-left) LCD signs that you'd normally see on a pawn shop or cash-for-gold joint.

Plus a bunch of the lights are out on the thing and it hasn't been programmed, so it just scrolls a bunch of generic messages and gibberish.

If that had been the only thing wrong with the ceviche.... I'll have mine at Orale, thanks.

Went in once a few months back to grab a beer at the bar and maybe a bite to eat as well, but was so turned off by the menu that I decided it wasn't worth trying. Too scattered and no interesting or unique dishes/combinations. And any place that spells "ceviche" as "cerviche" on their menu clearly doesn't have their stuff together.

The food is pretty good, it can get a little loud inside, but if you can get an outside table, that is usually a nice experience. The owner is very finicky, but he tries hard and understands good value for customers. I have seen him get upset because customers were waiting for drinks at the bar, he expects his staff to hustle.

My friends (a couple) have gone there several times (though don't believe they're returning ever again after a bad experience there). They said anything with meat is good -- burgers, steak, but that anything that wasn't meat wasn't great.

I ate there once. I like having Peroni on draft, but the prices were a bit dear. I ordered a salad with goats cheese, cranberries, etc (that has a name, right?), and I enjoyed it.

I think some of the reviews are harsh, but people have different experiences. I've always had decent food there; I wasn't looking for great and the ambiance is good.

maybe the owner should stay away if he is alienating customers!

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Really a shame- such a great location and I love the d?cor.

I?ve been there to eat a couple of times. Not fantastic, but so so. Regardless, not a fortune to dine there so my feeling is that in general it is great to have another option for the neighborhood. And sure beats an empty space!

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I see a future episode of Kitchen Nightmares in the making.

The reviews speak for themselves - http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-bistro-at ... ey-city?sort_by=date_desc

Coincidentally one of my favorite restaurants, The Dutch on Prince Street, is well known for it's fried chicken and it's oysters.

I haven't eaten at Grove Square, but from what I hear it's not quite on par with The Dutch :)

Grove Square seems like one of those places that doesn't know what it wants to be, so tries to be everything. Sort of like his other venture, Powerhouse Lounge. And the generic name Grove Square Bistro just kills me.

Um, American maybe? There is no reason Fried Chicken and Oysters shouldn't share a menu.

We haven't been to Grove Square Bistor before but have tried the pizza (pretty good). I looked at the menu today and was wondering what is the cuisine? There is friend chicken and oysters? Also, is it anygood when its so vast?