Discover the Best French Onion Soup in Clifton

The French onion soup at The Grand Saloon starts the same way it always has: onions cooked low and slow until they turn deep brown and almost sweet. There’s no shortcut for real caramelization, and it’s the difference between a soup that tastes like onion and one that tastes like broth with onions floating in it.

Once the onions are done, we build the base with a beef au jus that’s simmered long enough to actually taste like something. A crock goes under the broiler with a garlic crostini floating on top and a heavy layer of provolone melted over it until it’s bubbling and starting to brown at the edges.

It comes out of a kitchen that runs late most nights of the week, so it works just as well for a cold afternoon as it does for something to order at the bar during Wednesday trivia or a Saturday with live music going. Pair it with a draft off the full bar, or order it next to a burger or the ribeye sandwich if you want something heavier alongside it.

We’re in Clifton’s Athenia neighborhood, an easy drive from Nutley, Passaic, Garfield, Montclair, Bloomfield, and Totowa if you’re coming from a bit further out. Stop in at 940 Van Houten Avenue, or check out the rest of the menu online before you come in.