Location: Paterson
Top Restaurants in Paterson
Top Things to do in Paterson
- 1. Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
- 2. Gun For Hire
- 3. The Other Tales - Escape Rooms
- 4. Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center
- 5. Twisted Elm
- 6. Presby Iris Gardens
- 7. Brunswick Fairlawn Lanes
- 8. Sharky's Wings & Raw Bar
- 9. Van Saun County Park / Bergen County Zoological Park
- 10. Lambert Castle
Where to Eat in Paterson: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Paterson is the largest city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third-most-populous city. Paterson has the second-highest density of any U.S. city with over 100,000 people, behind only New York City. For 2015, the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated a population of 147,754, an increase of 1.1% from the 2010 enumeration, ranking the city the 177th-largest in the nation.
Things to do in Paterson
1. 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.
2. Oceanos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 196 reviews
Reviewed By AAndTMD - Maryland
Really loved the food. Atmosphere good , a little crowded and loud but the seafood was excellent. Very creative, everything perfectly done. Those who had the non seafood options were pleased as well. Decent wine list. Price reasonable for quality. Will definitely be back when in the area!
3. Libby's Lunch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 84 reviews
Reviewed By Frank T
I can't imagine anybody that lives in northern NJ, that has not eaten here. Libby's is one of those places that everybody knows about. The hot dogs are great and the sauce is delicious. Try their steak and cheese sandwich. One of the best I have had. The prices are right also. Another must stop place ti eat.
4. Francesco's Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By stkman88 - Orlando, Florida
Had a fabulous Saturday night dinner with friends. Wife had veal, I had chicken francese, other couple had Ribeye and Filet. All came with potatoes and vegetables included. Started with calamari and fresh mozzarella as appetizers. Finished with crème brulee, NY cheesecake and another dessert with sea salt caramel. Good service, good food, good company!!
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. King of Shish Kabob
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By PJCMD - Morris County, NJ
Tasty dishes that are meticulously prepared and served by a friendly staff. You will not spend a lot here or go home hungry.
7. Justin's Ristorante
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By Connie L - New Jersey
First time at this byob restaurant. We found street parking but you can also park across the street at the church. We started with the stuffed artichoke which was good and under ten dollars. For entrees my niece had red snapper and I had the seafood special with pasta in a pink sauce. Both were very good. They bring a plate of dessert samples to choose from and they all looked good. I can't remember the name of the dessert I chose but it was good.
8. The Shepard and the Knucklehead Pub
Overall Ratings
4 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By bob_franco27 - West Orange
A bit of a surprise find. We were heading to a concert a William Paterson University and came across this nearby place. If you're a beer person, this place is for you. Very cool. And the menu was diverse, from chicken wings to lobster bisque. It is not too big, limited seating (reservations only for parties of 6+). If you are in WPU area, definitely give it a try.
9. Spiga
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By ralph n - Wayne, New Jersey
A friendly, welcoming & highly competent staff characterized our foursome's first visit to this BYOB Italian restaurant. The menu had all of the basics & a huge number of interesting specials. So interesting that I violated my guiding principle of only ordering chicken parmigiana on a first visit. I was not disappointed. The food was uniformly very good & the service was noteworthy. And, no glass top covering the table linen.
10. Taverna Mykonos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By debsuzielauren - Paramus, New Jersey
Went here with my family. Ordered whole red snapper, lamb chops, chicken souvlaki, two kinds of salad, special rice along with hummus and Greek fries.
The lamb chops were excellent. Top draw. The hummus needed a bit of seasoning as it was very bland. The snapper was delicious but was served without the Greek lemon potatoes that was supposed to accompany it. We had to ask for them. The chicken souvlaki was standard. The one thing this restaurant needs to work on is smiling. Not overly friendly service. When you spend lots of money, happy staff goes a long way.
