Location: Belleville
Top Restaurants in Belleville
Most Popular Restaurants in Belleville
Belleville (French: "Belle ville" meaning "Beautiful city / town") is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 35,926, reflecting a decline of 2 (0.0%) from the 35,928 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,715 (+5.0%) from the 34,213 counted in the 1990 Census.
Things to do in Belleville
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. Tops Diner
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 427 reviews
Tops Diner serves some of the freshest and most delicious food in East Newark, NJ! Come in for an amazing meal and some gracious hospitality!
Reviewed By Kevin B - Mount Juliet, Tennessee
Living in NJ for 3 years, you learn where the best diners are supposed to be, so when I was moving out of North Jersey, I had to stop in at Tops Diner to try it before I left. I came here mid-week and I only waited 5-10 minutes for a table. The service was prompt and the servers were quite courteous. I ordered a classic Turkey club and it came out quick and was cooked well. I enjoyed the meal and my service, but it's the prices that left me with a bad taste as my club was $15, which is just insane.
4. Hobby's Delicatessen & Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 170 reviews
Reviewed By lone6star - New Jersey
Came here for business lunch and was pleasantly surprised. It was like eating at Ben's or Katz's deli in in NYC. We were pleasantly greeted and shown to a table. Inside needs some decorating! Complimentary pickles were provided. Mushroom Barley soup was amazing! Corned beef was lean and potato salad was excellent. Will be back!
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. Anthony's Cheesecake
Overall Ratings
5 based on 86 reviews
We are a Bakery/Restaurant serving fresh baked items as well as breakfast, lunch, dinner. We are open Tuesday through Sunday and we serve dinner every Friday & Saturday 5-9 pm. BYOB You can see all our menus on our website at Anthony's Cheesecake.
Reviewed By alicemI6380LS - clark, United States
We (4 family members) went for Sunday brunch & were pleased beyond expectations. The place is so friendly you feel like family. The service is spot on and the food is perfection. The menu is creative and eclectic, never boring. And the price is more...MoreThank you so much for the kind words. We hope to see you soon.
7. Topaz Thai
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By Alvin C - Newark, New Jersey
We went for dinner on Friday night and we were put at a table immediately. We had as an app "Mama's Loaded Thai Tacos" which were really good. For dinner I had the "Spicy Basil Noodles w/ Chicken" which was delicious and my date had the "Pad Sweet & Sour w/ Chicken" which she states was also very good.
The place is pretty small but well kept. Prices were excellent ($37- for the night). With the exception of a little language barrier with the server, the service was really good. I would definitely return.
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. Colonial Diner
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 105 reviews
Reviewed By bob2bkk - Bangkok, Thailand
On the corner of Orient Way and Rutherford up the hill from the Renaissance Hotel. A very good run diner. Very clean, friendly and fun servers, great diner food, quick service and comfortable seating. An extra big menu, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Big selection of hot and cold beverages. Prices reasonable. Parking available, In front and if you go around the back. Clean restrooms and free wifi. Wheelchair accessible.
10. Lassoni Ristorante
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Idania60 - New Jersey
I was referred to Lassoni by our neighbor so we decided to try it for an early Sunday dinner. Restaurant is spacious with very simple decor. Our servers were pleasant.
Prices are reasonable including the wine list which is well priced with a diverse selection.
Appetizers
Octopus salad- was a special, generous portion and octopus was tender
Clams oreganato -very good
Oysters-fresh
Entrees
Veal Osso buco over risotto- veal was good but rice was not risotto and slightly under cooked
Ravioli of the day- good but lacked salt
Gnocchi- they were cut very big (unusual for gnocchi) and also needed salt
Dessert
Key lime pie-good
Napoleon - just ok
The food had some hits and some misses but based on the portions/prices I would say Lassoni is good overall and worth a visit.
