Location: Passaic
Top Restaurants in Passaic
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Top 10 restaurants in Passaic, United States
Passaic (/pəˈseɪ.ɪk/ pə-SAY-ik or locally /pəˈseɪk/ pə-SAYK) is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents (+2.8%) from the 2000 Census population of 67,861, which had in turn increased by 9,820 (+16.9%) from the 58,041 counted in the 1990 Census. Passaic is the tenth most densely populated municipality in the entire United States with 22,000+ people per square mile.
Things to do in Passaic
1. Goodfellas Restorante
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56 reviews
Reviewed By Hope Susan B - Jersey City, NJ, USA
Thoroughly enjoyed our 1st experience at Goodfellas ! Valet parking made arrival easy. The two entrees we ordered were excellent. They split the serving of both entrees without making an issue of it or charging us extra. The service was spot-on. The ambience is lovely. We got lucky, arriving on a Wednesday, because they have music (a D.J.) Wed., Fri. & Sat. nights ! Their bread is so good; we overdid it on dipping into the wonderfully-seasoned EVOO. Sammy, the Maitre D', was attentive & helpful! Looking forward to returning !
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Biggies Clam Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 120 reviews
One of three New Jersey locations of the Biggies clam bar chain.
Reviewed By MenschinNJ - Wood RIdge, NJ
If you like fish (whether fried, baked or raw) this is a good place to go. Of course there are non-fish items also.The atmosphere is pub-like, and nicer on the inside than outside. It is a bit noisy, especially near the bar. We went during the week, yet it was still crowded, that is a good sign. The wine list was far from extensive, but fairly priced. The raw oysters were delicious, nicely presented and also fairly priced. The fried clams were the best I ever had. They were clam bellies served on the shell. Recommended.
7. Vesta Wood-Fired Pizza & Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 138 reviews
Reviewed By Number1NolesFan - Cape Coral, Florida
An upscale Pizza/Italian restaurant. Had a business dinner here, great pizza choices, expertly prepared, an extensive wine/beer list, with a full service bar. A full Italian menu that will take many many visits to try all the choices I want! Second visit was a holiday party in the downstairs private room. A bit small for the 21 we got in there but a very pleasant venue with dedicated staff. The bartender even went upstairs to get my draft Peroni's!Will be coming back many, many times. By the way, try the buffalo chicken pizza! Oh, and the calzone! Oh, and the meatballs......fried mozzarella...
8. Lyndhurst Pastry Shop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By BankerT27 - New Jersey
Chocolate dipped jelly cookies cannot be beat! Actually ALL of their cookies are great....wont be disappointed.
9. Sofia's Mediterranean Grill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 95 reviews
Gyros, Mousaka, Spanakopita, and all other things Greek, for the best casual Mediterranean dining experience in Northern NJ. BYOB!
Reviewed By desdemadridMadrid - Madrid
Great food, really nice terrace to have dinner. Staff was so friendly. Moussaka was so tasty and the salads/entrée are good. We will come back for sure.
10. Noches De Colombia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By Michelle N
If you love Colombian food, this is the place to go. Food is delicious! I totally recommend anything with the Churrasco or Bandeja Paisa. People there are extremely nice and make you feel welcomed at home the minute you walk in.
