The bar at Becca.
Becca is a new top-tier kosher restaurant in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, overlooking the Hudson River, facing Manhattan, where it gets much of its inspiration. The restaurant brings fine kosher Mediterranean dining with impeccable service to North Jersey, along with New York-style aesthetics and an upbeat, fun atmosphere. Becca would be right at home in Manhattan but is much more accessible on the Palisades cliffs. With valet parking and an on-site garage shared with neighboring River View Ballroom, you never have to worry about finding a good, close spot.
Everything is made fresh in-house at Becca, from the Frena bread, which is baked in a special taboon oven, to the custom dessert menu made by Becca’s full-time pastry chef. The full bar turns out specially crafted cocktails. The wine list was developed by Becca’s sommelier after a comprehensive tasting of kosher wines, and features price points from moderate to premium.
Baking bread in the Taboon oven.
The inviting exterior and stunning contemporary interior design serve as a backdrop to the high-level Mediterranean cuisine. The look of the restaurant, a feast for the eyes, is the work of the partners who have 30 years of experience in the restaurant, events and construction industries. Together, they designed all the materials for Becca and had them manufactured to their design guidelines.
When you enter Becca, you are immediately captivated by the curved arch over the bar, with circular lights that can change color. To the left, a special taboon oven turns out Becca’s Freena bread, which requires a three- to five-day fermentation process before being baked. Walk down the hall and you’ll pass the long bar, a washing station with white marble sinks, the wine room and a 36-seat private dining room. You may want to keep walking but beware—ahead is an infinity mirror that only gives the illusion you can keep walking forever. Turn around and enter the dining room, where tables that hold 68 people are spaced for privacy and comfort. Look up and you’ll see wooden rafters filled with greenery.
The main dining room at Becca.
Although Becca has been open since mid-September, there’s more to come in the next few months. There will be another party room with an enclosed terrace pergola for about 86 people, called The Garden Room, with a beautiful view of the river. The room will be heated and cooled, and have a designated cigar-smoking area. This is destined to be the setting for many lively social events. Both the pergola and private party rooms can be rented with a prix-fixe or open menu.
In addition to the upscale Mediterranean menu, what sets Becca apart is service and atmosphere. The maître d’ is a veteran of high-end New York City restaurants in which service is customer-focused and flawless. He is teaching the staff how to meet those standards. A happy, enthusiastic vibe is maintained with an upbeat Mediterranean playlist in the background, and staff who cheerfully greet and serve customers.
Broiled lamb chops with roasted vegetables.
When I visited with my husband at 5 p.m. on a Sunday evening, there were a few tables with several children. It’s the kind of place where both adults and children can enjoy themselves. Becca has a children’s menu with kid-friendly food done right and non-alcoholic mixed drinks that are a cut above the usual soda choices. While they wait for dinner, children are provided with crayons and paper for coloring. As the hour gets later, the families with children leave, the music volume goes up and the lights go down, for a more sophisticated atmosphere.
We began our meal by looking over the wine list, which has many selections not often found in the few kosher restaurants that have a liquor license. We spotted our favorite white wine, a French 2024 J. de Villebois Pouilly Fume and decided to order it even though we would be having meat.
Yellowtail crudo
The dinner menu is well rounded with a variety of appetizers, salads, steaks, meats, fish and desserts, all with a Mediterranean flavor profile. For appetizers we chose the Green Falafel, served with tahini and shug, and the yellowtail crudo. The falafel was deliciously crispy on the outside with a herb-scented filling. The shug was the perfect blend of herbs, full of flavor but not too spicy. The yellowtail crudo was smooth and silky, infused with the flavors of fennel, anise, lemon and Calabrian chili. It’s like ceviche only with a Mediterranean accent instead of Latin American. The crudo was served with shredded fennel and tangerine segments for another burst of textures and flavors.
For our main course, we shared broiled baby lamb chops and roast duck, which highlighted Becca’s state-of-the art capabilities. The duck was first simmered in a sous vide bath and then grilled for perfect medium rare texture and crisp skin. It was served with farro, a grain gaining in popularity for its nutty texture and nutritious whole grain composition. The baby lamb chops were grilled and finished under Becca’s unique infrared broiler. The lamb was seasoned just right so that it was tender and juicy without a sauce, and served on a bed of creamy, slightly sweet pureed parsnips. Offered a choice of fries or roasted vegetables, I took the latter. I enjoyed a selection of crisp zucchini, white asparagus and carrots, served with Becca’s original dipping sauce made of different leafy vegetables and mint. The dip was also great with Becca’s signature Frena bread, which we ordered with our meal.
Duck with farro
Desserts are irresistible and a little different, with their Mediterranean flavors. We had The Becca, which is described as a pistachio tiramisu reinvented. Almond pistachio sponge cake is soaked in cardamom-infused coffee, layered with “cream cheese” mousse, pistachio dust, coffee orange liquor gel shots and a touch of orange-infused ganache. I couldn’t pick out the individual elements but just enjoyed the combination. We also ordered the Pesek Zman Tribute, which the menu explains is inspired by a popular Israeli candy bar. Becca’s rendition has a chocolate crunch base layered with chocolate cremeux, hazelnut mousse, a touch of spike praline, passion/raspberry sauce and tuile roll. I loved the sweet/tart accent of the fruit with the chocolate and nut layers.
Becca, 700-B Palisadium Drive, Cliffside Park, New Jersey, is the place to go to celebrate a special occasion, or make any day special. Becca will have a sukkah and be open for Chol Hamoed on Thursday, Oct. I1 and Sunday, Oct. 12. Follow Becca on Instagram @becca.nj. Reserve a table at https://beccanj.com.
Tiramisu
The Pesek Zman Tribute dessert
Bracha Schwartz is special sections editor at The Jewish Link.
Dining and Cooking