Location: Nutley
Top Restaurants in Nutley
Where to Eat in Nutley: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Nutley is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 28,370, reflecting an increase of 1,008 (+3.7%) from the 27,362 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 263 (+1.0%) from the 27,099 counted in the 1990 Census.
Things to do in Nutley
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. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Aromi Di Napoli
Overall Ratings
5 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By Helenm912015 - Nutley, New Jersey
Went to get their rolls where I had purchased in a deli and ended up getting numerous other pastries. The cakes looked delicious and they had a good selection of breads and pastries. A definite one to check out.
7. 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.
8. 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! ❤️
9. 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.
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.
