Location: Clifton
Top Restaurants in Clifton
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Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136, retaining its position as the state's 11th-largest municipality, as the population increased by 5,464 (+6.9%) from the 78,672 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 6,930 (+9.7%) from the 71,742 counted in the 1990 Census.
Things to do in Clifton
1. Cafe Matisse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 202 reviews
Cafe Matisse’s mission is to provide our patrons with a fine dining experience in an elegant yet casual, convivial atmosphere. We strive to address every detail and exceed expectations to create an experience that is truly a departure from the ordinary. Chef Owner Peter Loria’s hand crafted dishes are presented in either a three or a four course grazing menu option. We look forward to providing you and your guests with a special evening to remember! Nestled in a renovated circa 1898 firehouse, Café Matisse’s elegant dining room is adorned with Matisse silhouettes and bejeweled chandeliers. Our European courtyard, complete with romantic water features, is open each summer season from May 15th through October 15th.
Reviewed By careertutor - New Jersey
It's been over a decade since I dined at this restaurant, just too expensive for frequent visits. Intimate setting, nice ambiance, quiet without being stuffy. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, the wine service was impeccable as four of us celebrating a birthday drank our way through three bottles. You have to appreciate the very limited menu choices as a tradeoff for quality to enjoy dining here. The 2-savory, 1-sweet prix fixe was definitely enough food, and I can recommend the fried artichoke and the crab cake; my friends also raved about the duck, the sirloin, and the tuna; each dish had many other side tastes and different items to accompany them. Food was original, and there were bursts of several tastes and flavors and textures on every plate, but curiously, the presentation of each was the same, a pile of circles in the middle of the plate. Both the duck and the crab cake had an onion ring circling the main protein. The server not only did not know which diner had ordered which dish, he could not identify which dish was which, making for confusion. At this price point, I expect the sang-froid and precision of a seasoned diner waitress, at least. I applaud that no one tried to remove a plate until all of us had finished, halleluljah someone still trains servers for that. Then we ordered coffee, and one of us asked that hers not be served until after dessert, the French custom, and that it be served hot. That request was honored, but no one asked when the rest of us wanted ours; I expected my coffee to arrive with dessert and was disappointed it wasn't. Worse was that having chosen a $9 hazelnut cappuccino, I was expecting unsweetened hazelnut-flavored coffee; instead it was clearly flavored with a hazelnut syrup that was sickeningly sweet. A bit of a disappointment to end a festive occasion. Call me a prickly fuss budget, but at over $100 per person, I want perfect everything. We were pre-disposed to have a great time, and we did, but it was carried more by our celebratory mood than by the experience, at least for me.The 10% cash discount was an unexpected plus.
2. Queen Margherita
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
Reviewed By 726walterh - Nutley, New Jersey
Regina Margherita is a wonderful little Italian restaurant in the center of Nutley, which is renowned for its cuisine. Not only is the food top-notch but the ambience & attentiveness truly make it a "must go".
Through a recent expansion, there are a few more tables accessible for diners, especially on those beautiful early evenings and weekends. The owners clearly love their heritage and honor that legacy with everything they do. Be sure to "take home" some of Italy by visiting the bakery next door as well.
3. ROYAL WARSAW
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By Jezziebones - Southampton, NJ
Our friends from Poland ate here a few nights ago and loved it, so we decided to try the restaurant. We were not disappointed! Beautiful ambiance, easy access and good parking. We started with the sampler plate with delicious potato pancakes, pierogis and grilled kielbasa. We also had pork cutlets and stuffed cabbage and both were delicious. One of our group had a special which included "potato salad". Not the potato salad that you might be used to. This was made with sliced potatoes, red, yellow and green peppers, celery and garlic (among other ingredients). The flavors just burst in your mouth. By far the potato salad was our favorite. Our waitress was very pleasant but she may have been new because she described a mayonnaise potato salad, then brought my friend mashed potatoes. She finally went to the kitchen and returned with the steaming hot potato salad I described above. Apparently, she was not familiar with it. One other "minus" was that our mashed potatoes were clearly instant. All the other food we had there was from scratch and delicious so I hope they start using real potatoes in their mashed potatoes soon.
4. Matthew's Italian Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 179 reviews
Reviewed By reenie532 - Passaic Park, New Jersey
Short version: Matthew's deserves all the five-star reviews it has received.
Long version: I'm not from Jersey, but have grown to love it here. Well, North Jersey to be clear. Part of it is the southern European enthusiasm for food - Italian, Portuguese, not foodie stuff - although plenty of that - but the ability to take a concrete block of a nondescript building next to a state highway with a sorry excuse for parking and turned it into a fabulous place to have a meal through energy, enthusiasm, great cooking and a desire to do good for people by feeding them well. The night a friend and I arrived for a late dinner on a lousy weather, mid-week evening in early February, Matthew's, a smallish restaurant, located in a nondescript building next to a major interchange off Route 3 in Clifton was filled to the brim. We waited a cheerful 15 minutes as a hostess brought us each a glass of wine as we sat in the cramped wait area, accompanied by a passed hors d'oeuvre, and updated us about the wait, swung by to chat with us and other patrons who were waiting - in short, even though we weren't yet seated, we were welcome and included. At the table, the owner, Matthew, who I was told is there almost all the time, stopped by to say hello and welcomes us as new patrons - obvious since so many of the other ones addressed him by name, including the two cute kids with their father sitting at the table next to us who told us openly that when mother has to work late, they love coming to Matthew's. Don't misunderstand, this isn't a diner - this is white-tablecloth, candle-in-the-center restaurant, but it still has the feel of a happy, family, good China, Sunday dinner kind of place. The place is intimate, but alive - people eating, conversations happening, wait staff helpfully serving and advising. And the food was great. Well-known Italian, but good Italian. Not fancy, but the pasta fresh, light, not sticky or starchy - the veal marsala - or as the menu lists it - vitello marsala - so easy to mess up - was excellent. Eggplant rollatini - another one of my favorites, fortunately was soft, but not soggy and the ricotta smooth and creamy, the eggplant not bitter (yea for that extra step!!). Some people may think that writing vitello and pesce and zuppa on the menu is a bit over the top - why the fancy/shmancy names? - but it reminded me of the way that so many immigrant families (including mine which is not italian) tie their family heritages together here in north jersey - nonna says zuppa, tony jr says soup and whether it's polish or hungarian or portuguese - you blend the home country with the jersey suburbs and whether here or there, it's about comfort, about home, about family, friends, fun and great food. Matthew's Italian Restaurant nails it.
5. Mishmish Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 170 reviews
Reviewed By M3659GGsarahs - Montclair, New Jersey
When I want absolutely reliably, traditional, delicious Middle Eastern food, I eat at Falafel Hut, also in Montclair. When I want delicious Middle Eastern food with a twist, I eat at Mishmish or its new sibling, which is even more convenient to my house, Marcel's -- same chef. Marcel's isn't yet on TripAdvisor, but it has a Moroccan chicken soup that makes me want to have a cold, though it's also luscious when I'm not ill. I bought it the first time when I was, though, and it hit the spot. Marcel's is my favorite of the two.
6. Rutt's Hut
Overall Ratings
4 based on 408 reviews
Reviewed By allamerican1 - New Jersey
Typical New Jersey hot dog place. Their Texas wiener sauce is not the primary draw it's basic and not worth the trip. They have a special sauce which appears to be a mix of yellow mustard and relish. Although their dogs are deep fried till they split open ( called rippers) and good , pretty much any new jersey Texas wiener place offers this type of dog. If your on the area worth a try but don't go out of your way.
7. Stamna Greek Taverna
Overall Ratings
4 based on 139 reviews
Reviewed By PatrickNYC2014 - New York City, New York
A couple of friends got together for dinner recently, and wandered into Stamna on Broad St in Bloomfield / and we had a great meal. Waiter was a card; funny, personal and attentive. Try the seafood salad (so large), the chicken breast stuffed w/spinach, and the brussino filet - it's all great. But remember to bring your wine with you, they don't have a liquor license.
8. De Novo European Pub
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 159 reviews
Reviewed By BobVirginiaUSA - Virginia USA
We first went to DeNovo with friends for lunch and were very happy that we did so. The menu has many varied food and beverage selections. The wait staff is really excellent: responsive, attentive and courteous without being intrusive. We dined there again two days later with family and again everything about the menu and service was the same: excellent. I would note that what is also true, as stated in other reviews, is that the noise level varies depending on how crowded the restaurant is. If you are looking for friendly conversation, go for lunch during the week. For a more “lively” atmosphere, shall we say, expect that went it’s busy.
9. Aki
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 61 reviews
Reviewed By Deborah B - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The best of any Aki I've been in. Friendly staff. More home made food then some of t g email others. I had the best won ton soup then anywhere and great sushi too
10. Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas
Overall Ratings
4 based on 149 reviews
The place for Italian tapas small plates, hand tossed pizza and world class wines.
Reviewed By tms012016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This place is more about the wine than anything else. Lots of quality selections. Nice, friendly clientele and knowledgeable waitstaff. Unusual tapas on the menu but what they do have seems to complement the wines more than stand alone. Good place to grab a drink with friends or a first date. Not so much to go for dinner
