

Welcome to Toba Restaurant & Bar, a beacon of culinary excellence nestled in the heart of Westwood, NJ. As a fine dining restaurant that prides itself on unparalleled service and an exquisite menu, we are dedicated to providing an unforgettable dining experience for each of our guests. Our location at 250 Center Ave is not just a place to eat; it’s a destination for those seeking to indulge in a meal that transcends the ordinary.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 250 Center Ave, Westwood, NJ 07675
Phone: (201) 359-8497
Website: https://www.tobarestaurant.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Related Web Results
Toba Restaurant and Bar
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Reviews
We started with the samosas as an appetizer—crispy, flavorful, and perfectly spiced. For our mains, I had the filet mignon and my husband ordered the halibut. Both dishes were cooked beautifully and full of flavor. My filet was tender and juicy, and his halibut was fresh and paired with a vibrant, colorful veggie medley that brought everything together.
The drinks were fun and refreshing—we especially loved the creative presentation. The atmosphere was cozy and stylish, with a warm ambiance that made it perfect for date night. Our server was incredibly friendly and attentive, which made the whole evening even better.
Since they just opened, everything felt fresh and exciting. We’ll definitely be coming back—and we highly recommend you give them a try soon before the word gets out!
The lighting was extremely bright—more diner than upscale restaurant—and we were seated in booths, which didn’t match the price point. The food was disappointing overall. The pork chop was massive but completely flavorless; I honestly couldn’t even tell what it was supposed to be, and it was overwhelmed by coleslaw. The lasagna was just okay, the meatballs were good, and the bread was cold and forgettable. The only standout, according to others at the table, was the octopus.
There were no specials, the drinks were ridiculously overpriced, and they still couldn’t get them right. The waitress was very sweet, but clearly confused. Dessert was equally disorganized—the “chef’s surprise” changed answers multiple times, and three coffees came out ice cold.
A couple with us had previously loved this restaurant and said it had to be under new management. The waitstaff, manager, atmosphere, and food were completely different from past visits as waiters wore ties and there was music playing.
Everyone was polite, but $765 for six people was absolutely not worth it. We won’t be back. Wishing you luck.
The Good: Decor was lovely, staff was friendly. Very tasty cocktail, and food presentation was very nice.
The bad: We arrived with a reservation but were never asked our name, and the host sat us in the waiting area (the restaurant was only maybe half full on Valentine’s Day Saturday) and assumed we were with another couple already waiting. The setup of the restaurant is a little awkward and we were eventually seated in a little nook off the bar as opposed to the main dining room area. Our table had a stovetop built into it – we assume left over and not updated from the Melting Pot restaurant that used to be there several years ago.
We were surprised to be given a special but much more limited Valentine’s prix fixe menu; apparently they did advertise it on their social media but it wasn’t on their own website or on OpenTable so we didn’t know. Shortly after we ordered, another waitress asked to take our order; attentive, just not coordinated.
Salads came with little or no dressing. For mains we split a daikon steak (creative and pretty with a tasty sauce, but the daikon didn’t absorb much of the flavor) and branzino (well presented but dry. Mashed potatoes were very good). Dessert was a sponge cake (seemed kind of stale) and this pudding/cheesecake combo that sounded great but was actually mostly inedible (the pudding half was too hard for pudding but too soft for cake, and the cheesecake part was just fair).
I had gotten a very good cocktail, and the special menu came with complimentary red wine; however no one ever came back to see if we would like another drink.
While the space was nice looking, it was largely empty on what should be a packed Valentine’s Saturday. At one point the music switched off and then the ambiance got even quieter.
In any case we had high hopes but cannot recommend a visit.
The lighting was bright rather than dim or intimate, which took away from the evening atmosphere. The tables still appear to be the same cooking-style setups from the previous restaurant (The Melting Pot), which made the space feel mismatched for the concept.
Service issues added to the frustration. The servers seemed inexperienced and moved very slowly. At one point, my brother-in-law ordered a Blue Moon beer and was told it was unavailable, only to receive one later from another server. When he ordered a second beer, a completely different beer was brought instead.
There was also confusion with menu items. My sister ordered a dish called the miso steak and specifically asked our server what type of steak it was. She was told filet mignon, which influenced her decision to order it. A few minutes later, the server returned to inform us that it was not actually steak at all, but a vegan option. This type of miscommunication was frustrating and avoidable.
Additionally, I asked for bread after we placed our order and was told they did not have bread due to the Valentine’s Day special menu — another disappointment.
We did not request a manager, as he appeared to be busy scurrying around ensuring dishes were being served. Unfortunately, the food quality itself reminded us of what might be served at a wedding rather than at a restaurant we had been looking forward to trying.
We have absolutely no issue spending money on a great meal and dining experience, but this visit simply did not justify the amount that was charged.
Overall, we were surprised given the restaurant’s generally positive reviews, although we did notice a few recent one-star experiences. We chose to give it a chance, but sadly, we will not return and would not recommend it to others.
I am not sorry we did! I had the pork chop millanese, and the wife had the meatball appetizer. Both were AMAZING! The service was great, the atmosphere is very cozy, and Eva made some of the most interesting drinks I’ve had in a while.
I would absolutely recommend trying them out.
the bad: drinks were expensive and watered down, service was not great (owner(?) was nice and attentive but it was very awkward and scattered with wait staff), atmosphere was odd for a Saturday at 6:30, the music was terrible (outlaw country style)
overall: the price wasn’t worth it – even for the portion sizes. it’s a place id take my parents to, but there are tons of better places that fit that category in the area.
I am sorry to disappoint that owner (?) with my review, he did seem like he was trying to make the place welcoming. there was just too many things that went oddly and it was way too expensive for the experience overall.