Location: Bloomfield
Top Restaurants in Bloomfield
Where to Eat in Bloomfield: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 47,315, reflecting a decline of 368 (-0.8%) from the 47,683 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,622 (+5.8%) from the 45,061 counted in the 1990 Census. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District.
Things to do in Bloomfield
1. Highlawn Pavilion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 330 reviews
Reviewed By ninip0st - Bernardsville, New Jersey
We chose to celebrate a special brithday at Highlawn and now regret our choice. Having eaten here over the years we looked forward to sharing lunch with loved ones enjoying what is an undeniably spectacular setting and view of NYC. But, the food today fell so far short of acceptable that not only are we embarassed for inviting our guests here but are saddened that this day was wasted at Highlawn Pavilion. Perhaps the place is irrelevant now, past its prime, and out of touch. My choice of entree was served completely undercooked, I was afraid to eat it, and when I politely informed our server, he returned it to the kitchen where the chef challenged my opinion. The dish was run through the broiler after which it was returned to me in utter disarray. The appropriate, professional, and courteous solution, at a restaurant that purports to be fine dining, would have been to start from scratch and prepare a new dish. My husband's risotto was served cold and inedible and the shrimp component of our appetizer tasted just awful. In the end, our server wished to satisfy and the cost of the my entree was removed from the check - which was fair - but I, in turn, sat without eating. It seems that Highlawn has some catching up to do. The customer, the paying customer, has a right to determine that, if their meal is undercooked or unnacceptable to them it should be remedied, no questions asked - without a dispute from the kitchem.
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. Star Tavern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 203 reviews
Reviewed By buffylane - Long Valley, New Jersey
Famous for its pizza, you must try their thin crust pizza. There are unique toppings, but we stayed with the usual meatball and mushrooms. The fried calamari is awesome and the salads are enormous. The eggplant and portabella mushroom appetizer is outstanding. Nice bar with tv's and people were watching basketball while we were there. Lots of families, very comfortable place.
5. 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!
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Gencarelli's Bakery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By Carolyn B - Bloomfield, New Jersey
Have been going to Gencarelli's for many years for the best tasting bread, rolls, cakes, cookies, pies, and specialty pastries! The best cannoli and cheesecake ever! I have served my guests the strawberry topped cheese cake and they always ask "did you make it?." Why, it is so good that you had to make it! I am always amazed how much people rave how lucky I am to have such a good bakery in town. The Gencarelli Family business is based on tradition, good quality standards, and it what they know! ❤️
10. Holsten's Brookdale Confectionary
Overall Ratings
4 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By Richard U - Stansted Mountfitchet
Visited on a sunny Saturday in October and my son and I sat at the counter where we were able to see the staff busy creating all of the ice cream wonders, milkshakes and the rest of the goodies in the kitchen. The place was bustling with families dropping in for food and ice creams as well as a lot of people coming in for takeout ice cream.
We had ice cream and the selection was massive. We could have filled up on samples of the 20 or so that we struggled to choose between. Some amazing flavours and specials too. Spoiled for choice. I struggled to finish the two very generous scoops that came for me and my son was defeated by the four that he went for.
Staff were speedy, attentive and fun with some good chat over the counter while we watched them work with speed and efficiency.
We didn't get any of the huge selection of sweets that they also do but they were doing a roaring trade there too.
A classic bit of Americana. Got a double thumbs up from my 8yr old son.
