Service, atmosphere, food was spectacular. Waitress was friendly, attentive. Old school Italian vibes. Shrimp beep and chicken savoy was great. Clam oreganata was good, eggplant parm was cheesy, pasta was fresh read more

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In the best possible way this throwback red sauce joint is a time capsule where track suits, faded wood paneling and a Brylcreeme pompadour feel right at home. This is quintessential Jersey Italiano that invites you to marinate in the ghosts of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Chesterfield past while you savor the scungilli and the abundant al dente pasta. Five stars for just existing. Pro tip -- glue on some extra chest hair before venturing out. read more

Belmont Tavern pops up all over social media as one of the top old school mob-style spots in Jersey, and my buddies and I make it a mission to check out every legendary place on those lists. This one did not disappoint at all. Walking in feels like stepping into a slice of Jersey history, the kind of place where stories were told long before Instagram existed. Every time we visit there are a few must haves. The Cavatelli with Pot Cheese is pure comfort food. The World Famous Shrimp Beeps is a masterpiece that lives up to its name. Stretch's iconic Chicken Savoy is on another level and absolutely worth the trip on its own. What really seals the deal is the staff. From the bar to the back room you are treated like family the moment you walk in. They know how to take care of people and it adds to the whole classic Jersey charm. Belmont Tavern is the real deal and an absolute must if you love those old school spots with big flavor and even bigger personality. read more

Excellent scratch-made Italian food! I had eggplant Parmesan and my friend had chicken savoy and hot peppers. We didn't take photos because we ate everything! Definitely try this gem in Belleville. Cash only so know that going in. read more

Belmont Tavern - Bar area - Italian Near Me - Belleville, New Jersey

I returned here after a long time away. The same five dishes and an additional one were ordered as last time (see previous review for similar thoughts), but some were a little different than I remember. The hot peppers were definitely better this time as they were all cooked to a near char. The shrimp beeps were not as good as I remember. They lacked a little in flavor and not fried as much as I remembered. The chicken savoy was a little inconsistent as the bigger pieces were a little dry, but not a big deal. The rest was still good. The new dish that was ordered was the pork chop with vinegar peppers. This was great. The pork chop was crisp with plenty of flavor from the vinegar peppers. It might have been my favorite dish of the night. read more

When I say I want Italian food, this is what I mean. I want old-school-Jersey Italian food. There's like 10 things on this menu and that's it - and every item is perfect. Don't ask for substitutions, you get what you get and you're going to be happy. They don't have dessert - just espresso, but that's all you need. The espresso comes in this tin-like coffee maker and you can get about 4 servings out of it. It's great. The salad (comes with all dinners) is fantastic- vinegary and salted and served chilled. Beautiful. My ONLY small picky complaint is that the bread is served cold. I always like the bread warmed, even if you throw a sliced roll in the oven for a few minutes. Something about toasted bread. Anyway, this place is a 6/5 stars and is fantastic. Parking? Good luck. But it will be worth it when you do find a spot. Also get some wine - they give you the small wine glasses. I love a small wine glass. read more

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The Jonas Brothers recommended this restaurant & the food was absolutely delicious! Service was great! It was a full house when we came & it was worth the wait. Chatted w/ some locals & had a good laugh! Get the Chicken Savoy, Spaghetti Oil & Garlic w/the Hot Peppers & the Belmont's Famous Shrimp Beeps! 10/10 read more

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William S. Have you read the entire review? Your response doesn't even scratch the surface. read more

Omg the food is amazing. You can't call to set up reservations. Just need to be patient and wait. No so bad to wait cause it's all worth it. Loved Loves the food excellent. read more

Excellent Love their dishes all of them Great atmosphere. Love the shrimp bibs Chicken savoy is amazing read more

IF you know , You know People go for the chicken Savoy But do not miss the shrimp Scampi The pasta is cooked perfectly Made with a touch of Ricotta and "extra Gravy" The atmosphere has a warm neighborhood feel which th mismatched plates and photos on the walls It's an experience ! read more

My husband has been going here for over 30 years. We've been going together for over 20 years. This has to be the best restaurant in NJ! The old school tablecloths, the jute box playing Frankie, the hundreds of famous people who have been there and have their photo hanging on the walls. The whole vibe is so welcoming (an Italian version of welcome) they don't ask for your name or have a book, they just know who's next. No reservations! Now here is everything you need to know for ordering: keep in mind we order a lot because we live so far away but trust me, if you have leftovers, it's even better the next day, which is shocking since it's already perfection! Start with the salad that's served with all entrees, so simple but delicious! Clams oreganata Shrimp beeps Hot peppers (we order well done) Ziti with pot cheese (one order) Mad chicken (2 orders, I'd order more if hubby didn't love the savoy so much) Chicken savoy (3-4 orders) The more you order, the more juice you'll get!!! Chicken Murphy (one order) These are our go to items but they have raviolis that are delicious and pork cutlets franchise, definitely worth adding if you have a large group. Honestly you can throw a dart at the menu and you'll be hooked on this restaurant! You won't be disappointed!! read more

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***CASH ONLY ***Small restaurant and tables are close together. You could hear each other's conversation and can be very loud. Service was fast and food was your good traditional dishes. Not a big menu. read more

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fun place If you don't want to wait two hours don't go on a Saturday everyone is so friendly that you don't mind waiting . Food was good and love the vibe . read more

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Here's the deal, if you don't like loud noise, stay home, if you don't like crowded places on a Monday night, stay home. Everything about this place is old school. Very simple, zero reservations, walk in, check in with some guy at the bar, have Al your people there and be seated. No frills, no bells and whistles, but...... great freaking food. Plan and simple. They gave us salad, which was very good, we had 2 different pasta, insane, some potatoes and onions,,delicious and pork franchise,,very thin. Phenomenal. Again, old school Hudson county, take it or leave it dining. Best part, tons of young kids also, means this place will around another 100 yrs. Will be back sooner than later. Btw, no desert. Lmao. read more

This small little place can pack them in and let me tell you now I know why. The best chicken I have ever eaten in my life and will never ever order chicken wings from anywhere else. Why get chicken wings when you have the Belmont chicken Murphy? Everything moves fast here but let me tell you well worth it and the service is exceptional. Can't wait to go back and get there early because you're going to be waiting. read more

Stick to their staples (chicken savoy, shrimp beeps) and you'll have a great meal. Maybe a carafe of cold red wine. The experience of dining here is as idiosyncratic as the food, in a good way. Show up right before opening because the dining room gets full, immediately. You can park in the nearby bank's parking lot. read more

WIlliam, Wow pretty amazing to see a response 7 years after our dismal meal at the Belmont Tavern. It doesn't matter where you shop for your products as obviously the truth as we stated was proof in our chicken savoy dinner. Having peoples butts up against your table while eating should never happen either in a high class restaurant or in a low class restaurant such as the Belmont Tavern. I can guarantee that the Belmont Tavern is also a FIRE HAZARD with the amount of people standing prior to obtaining their table.....a place sure to never visit again however thanks for reminding us of what a terrible place the Belmont Tavern really is. read more

My original review below was three stars. However, I took a star off, as not only did the owner tell me it was my fault I didn't like their food, he waited over a year and a half to respond. Which says a lot about how much they care about their reviews. I'm not Italian, nor am I a chef, but I'd happily bring my own sauce down there and let his customers take a "Pepsi Challenge", anytime. Either way, Belmont Tavern just proves my theory of Jersey restaurants: most are completely overhyped. read more

What has not been said about the Belmont. Food is always consistantly the best old school italian around. Clams and shrimp oreganato excellent. Chicken savoy to die for and a nice pot of espresso after. Yes it is only cash, dated but the vipe in the place is something you cannot recreate. read more

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This place is one of those nostalgic places that you either get or you don't. Their best dishes are hands down the pork chop with hot peppers and their chicken savoy. All other dishes are ok and I would stay away from the pasta with clams (canned clams) and know that the mushrooms are also canned. You visit for the fun, throwback ambience and a couple of solid dishes. Their house salad is yummy and garlic olive oil with hot peppers pasta is a pretty good dish before enjoy their famous chicken and pork chops. Go with it - enjoy something different, bring singles for the juke box and go with the flow of the mom and pop service. The staff is friendly but focused. Hot tip - bring dessert from the nearby Calandra's bakery. read more

If you want that typical, classic, old school jersey Italian thing... I mean this is probably one of the last of its kind. Service was kinda funny. I don't expect to really be treated well here. An older lady with a smokers voice will ask if you're ready, she'll call you hun but she's over it/you/life. You got all the ginzos in at the tables, on the walls are Italian memorabilia. If you wanted to know what it was like on the set of Goodfellas or A Bronx Tale, have a seat on the red pleather chairs and rest your forearms on the sticky white and red checkered tablecloth. Food came out relatively quickly. Short menu which is nice. Shrimp beeps lol little beep boop shrimp. I'd probably have a bunch more clams next time. Both raw and baked were great and the price is good. Chicken Murphy's good. Id say tho the spaghetti was a little overcooked for me. Sauce was fine tho. CASH ONLY, be prepared. Drinks from the bar are what you'd expect. No cocktail menu and wine is reduced to "red or white." Our Negronis might as well have been made in a shot glass lol but whatever. read more

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Drinks are expensive, the food does not taste good, and terrible customer service. The waitress judged us for not ordering chicken and basically told us what we were ordering didn't make any sense. She hovered over us like a fly. She cleared plates the instant someone finished their last bite and then insisted someone finish the food in the bowl so she could clear it. I can't emphasize enough how mediocre the food is. I would have rather had Chef Boyardee make me a meal than pay for this overly priced basic meal. The place is way too small to have all those tables. I had to constantly stand up and move so people could get to their table. I'm truly baffled as to why this place is so popular. read more

WIlliam, Wow pretty amazing to see a response 7 years after our dismal meal at the Belmont Tavern. It doesn't matter where you shop for your products as obviously the truth as we stated was proof in our chicken savoy dinner. Having peoples butts up against your table while eating should never happen either in a high class restaurant or in a low class restaurant such as the Belmont Tavern. I can guarantee that the Belmont Tavern is also a FIRE HAZARD with the amount of people standing prior to obtaining their table.....a place sure to never visit again however thanks for reminding us of what a terrible place the Belmont Tavern really is. read more

Very unusual place. Old school the ambiance is from a hundred years ago. The waiters can get a little surly but they are obviously overwhelmed That doesn't stop the food from being sumptuous and delicious. read more

Free salad and bread. Shrimp beeps appetizer honked loud but wasn't spicy as expected. Clams oreganto and cavatelli with a pot cheese was good. Chicken savoy, murphy and pork chops Francese were great also. Old school Italian red and white table cloths and pictures of past patrons. Great service. read more

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Definitely a place to go as I have made dozens of visits for the shrimp beeps with pasta and the chicken savoy! Only painful issue is the street parking! read more

Chicken savoy,Shrimp beeps,rigatoni with ricotta. Spaghetti garlic and oil, escarole sad. Cant go wrong with anything on the menu. Everything is delicious! Have a drink at the bar while waiting to get in. So worth the wait!! read more

This place is a homerun. Love the food and the vibes. Was lucky enough to be there for Jimmy Belmont's birthday. I prefer the Chicken Murphy because of those potatoes and onions, but the vinegar forward Chicken Savoy is delicious as well. Definitely get a pasta. That bitter green salad is so simple but so tasty. Cash only, baby. read more

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Very overrated, very rude and I'' very sure I will never return. Way too much attitude and the food is mediocre. I ordered the pork chop with hot vinegar peppers. Extremely overcooked and way too much vinegar. I was expecting a sauce with vinegar flavor not drowned in vinegar. The pork was dry and hard to cut. It tasted like a tire. The clams had sand in them and the scungilli was underwhelming. The place needs a major overhaul. I used to be a fan of the Belmont but my last experience here just turned me off. Will never return. read more

Belmont Tavern - pork chop with hot vinegar peppers - Italian Near Me - Belleville, New Jersey

Grabbed a quick bite to eat here. Food was good, prices were reasonable and the service was outstanding. We had a short wait for a table but we were able to enjoy a drink at the bar while we waited; pours were heavy and drink prices were also reasonable. Once seated we received prompt attentive service and were asked several times if we needed anything while there. All in all ambience was wonderful. Service was great. Food was good. I have no complaints. I would go back again. Place was a bit crowded for Thursday night but all in all great experience. read more

First and foremost beautiful atmosphere . Food is great . Staff is great .would definitely be comming back .

It was my first time. Went with a few others also our first time there. I heard nothing but rave reviews. Here is mine. Too noisy, too crowded, felt rushed the entire meal. Also, the food was just ok. The clams oreganato were cold. The pasta dishes needed salt, pepper, cheese and something. Very little flavor. Chicken savoy - very vinegary. Chicken Murphy - not spicy at all. Even with the hot peppers. The chianti - too sweet. I crossed it off my list of places to go. read more

Good portions, but the food was bland. The restaurant was incredibly crowded. And they rush you in and out of there so quickly.

In spite of recent reviews eluding to an unruly customer, I can assure you that is not the normal experience. They've addressed. The food is fantastic, the ambience is charming old school Italian. Once in your lifetime at least you need to have a wonderful meal with these fine folks. read more

The food here is so delicious and you get so much for what you pay for. I brought my family here and we all raved about the shrimp beeps and the pork. It feels very old school and the staff are friendly. read more

as we entered, got suspicious looks from bar customers, apparently wary of strangers. when seated, server kind of acted like she was doing us a favor by waiting on us. when we told her we needed more time to decide, she made a face and left in a huff. so did we. read more

First time to this neighborhood staple. The food was great and very homemade. Not a big menu but just enough. Everyone knew each other and even friendly towards newcomers. Not close to home but unique enough to visit again read more

First visit ,well worth the drive. Very nice but quick service We ordered their famous Stretch Chicken Savoy and the Shrimp. Both were outstanding . Good size portions, full bar if your interested. Very small dining area and very crowded, it fills up quickly, so be prepared. A N.J. classic ! read more

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Had to try this place based on a friends recommendation and heck they joined us. We arrived early as the reviews instruct and got a drink at the bar enjoying the cozy atmosphere. Everyone was super friendly! Our friends ordered a taste of shrimp beeps, chicken savoy, hot peppers and it was served family style. Piping hot and full of flavor, we thoroughly enjoyed every bite. Unfortunately good things must come to an end - after all, Belmont Tavern is very popular most nights. The server did ask us politely to depart after we paid. Walking out the bar area was packed shoulder to shoulder with waiting customers! Great experience! read more

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