I have been coming to this place for years ever since they had the grandma in the corner stiring a large pot of sauce things have changed. Looks like they renovated the open kitchen and have a larger counter now. But it is still a great ad fast lunch spot, but you have to get here early, or the specials will run out! This is a classic hidden gem that most people would overlook, but the locals are well aware of. Today I had the spaghetti with calamari, the fish was so tender and the sauce delicious, just like I remember it. It came with fresh bread for dipping read more

Caffe Espresso Italia - Spaghetti with calamari sauce - Italian Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

If you are looking for a cozy and affordable breakfast and lunch spot, you have found it. Clean and friendly, and food is on point. Highly recommended. read more

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They are the best !! Always high quality food and very friendly staff. Would highly recommend trying, I get lunch here 2-3 times a week.

Great lunch spot in Newark. Clean & friendly. Nice place to grab a bite. Seems to be a favorite of local law enforcement. So it's a safe place to eat. read more

Ok, so... Ever since working in the gorgeous cities of Newark and Elizabeth, I've been privy to some eateries that I would never have the opportunity to visit. Today, I was brought to Café Italia. Wow.. What a little gem! When you walk in, it looks run down. They don't have any new fangled menu boards, no bright lights, nothing fancy... Absolutely nothing new about this place. But what it does have is incredible food. All homemade and Gigantic portions!. All served by little old Italian ladies with love! If you want it, they can make it for you. I was recommended the Chicken Cutlet salad, which came with fresh Mozzarella, sweet and hot peppers, olives, tomatoes, lettuce, and onions - dabble some homemade Balsamic dressing on that bad boy and you have one incredible salad! My mouth is watering right now just typing this! I saw others tearing into chicken cutlet parm sammaches, sausage and peppers, penne w/ Vodka Sauce, Cheesesteaks, Veal, OMG, you name it, it's here.. hot and cold treats! We got there about 11:15 and it quickly filled up. They have about 10 or so tables inside. Hell, even Newark's finest stopped in for lunch, so if the Po-Po come here, it MUST be some good eats!!! So, why 5 stars? Well, places like this are slowly going away. Long gone are the days of the small restaurants like this - that you can get incredible homemade food as good as this place. Great prices, you feel at home here. I live in Pequannock, so I'll never just hop in my car and come here for lunch - it's just too far.. But rest assure, if there's a lunch run and this place is mentioned, I'll be first in line to go. I don't think the picture gave justice on just how big of a salad that was, but it was chock full of chicken and garden goodies... That and a bottle water, yea only $8.00 bucks. If you're ever in the area, and want some authentic Italian food, do yourself and your taste buds a favor, and stop in. **Cash Money Only Homey!" Highly Recommended!!! read more

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Open during covid for takeout and limited outdoor seating. Same great homemade Italian food. read more

Caffe Espresso Italia - Open for business with outdoor dining - Italian Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

If you're looking for white tablecloths and waiters filling your water glass every couple of minutes, don't go here. If you are looking for stick-to-your-ribs food like your nonna used to make, then run, don't walk! Inexpensive prices, a smile from the ladies behind the counter, and the revolving menu on the white board always has something to please! read more

Came here for lunch and had the eggplant parm with spaghetti and it was delicious! This is an old school Italian hole in the wall with authentic Italian/American specialties! The 4 Nona's Cooking and preparing the food in the back made me think of my childhood! The meatballs are honestly as good as my mother-in-law's! Great place with great prices!!! read more

Caffe Espresso Italia - Italian Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Local hangout -- food is prepared fresh.. yummy Service - exceptional and attentive.. Learned it's a staple in the community for over 30 years.. read more

I've been coming here since I started working in Newark almost 5 years ago. I've never had a bad meal here. If you are looking for fancy this is not your place but if you are looking for a delicious lunch from an old school family owned and operated business then this is your place. Its not a big place so if you plan on going for lunch, go early because it gets packed. The breakfast here is also amazing, hands down the best Taylor ham, egg, and cheese sandwich I've had since moving to Jersey. It is cash only so just be aware of that going in. I can assure you, you won't be disappointed. read more

Amazing food. Super authentic and everyone is very nice. Highly recommend eating here if you're in the area

Had the meatball parm and it was banging. Nice and delicious as sandwich. No complaints.

WOW Pork & potatoes. Chunks of pork and potatoes in a spicy red sauce Unbelievable what a beautiful throw back place old school Italian at its best read more

Great lunch spot in Newark. Stop in for lunch and you'll see Port Authority workers, Newark PD/FD, Essex County Sheriff's, United Airlines workers, locals, etc. Place is like eating lunch or dinner at grandma's house. Everything is scratch made, fresh and excellent. Prices cheap. Check this place out. read more

Caffe Espresso Italia - Penne Vodka sauce special. Excellent. - Italian Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

This is one of the last home cooking Italian lunch spots left in Newark. The food is incredible and not only does the food taste like mother's it is actually better. The eggplant parmigiana can't be matched even at 5 star restaurants. And you can watch mother cook up the meal too read more

Caffe Espresso Italia - a man sitting at a table - Italian Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Places like this and Luigi's in north Newark are getting harder to find. Great food and great service, all from great people. The prices are great and the portions are big. Parking is always an issue and at certain times finding a table to sit at will be difficult. I usually get food to go but have always had a meal that reminds of my childhood and all the Italian grandmother cooking all day for their families. Stop by here and you will be glad you did! read more

Very good clean spot. The caffe is family owned and they are friendly. I only tried the breakfast there so far and it is delicious. It's old school home cooking. read more

This place is an absolute gem! You won't be disappointed. My go to place when working in the area.

Um, simply delish. I try to go here for lunch as often as I can and had them even provide some catering trays of food for a party. They never disappoint. read more

Great food and great service, all from great people. It's as if they're providing you with home cooked family recipes straight from Italy; which I actually think they are. The food is prepared right in front of you by a few sweet little Italian women who really know what they're doing... It's also a bargain, as I've never spent more than 7 dollars and always leave satisfied. The biggest problem with caffe espresso is deciding what to get. My favorite is their sausage with onions and peppers, but the smell of their daily specials can make it a difficult decision. Breakfast is also awesome and cheap. If you go around lunchtime the line can be out the door (mostly civil service and others who know good food in the area), but it's still efficient as I've never had to wait very long. If you've never been and you're in the area...you have to give it a try. You won't regret it. read more

Tasty Italian food! The portions are big and the price is great. Place gets full at lunch time by regulars; a sign that the food is good! Haven't had a bad meal here. Service is fast, and on point. Pat and Maria are awesome! After coming here a couple of times I already feel at home. Cash only. read more

Cheap, fast and tasty. The staff was on their phone most of the time and not so personable. However, it may just be the North East!

My 2nd Time here. Food is delicious. Old school feel. Not many classic places like it. If I didn't eat my lunch so fast, I would've taken a picture. Highly recommend read more

I love this place for a great "home cooked" Italian meal for lunch. My favorites include the chicken and of course eggplant parm which is usually available on Wednesday and Fridays. P.S. Breakfast is good too! read more

We were looking for a homemade Italian breakfast and we found it. The portions are generous and the price is low. Four of us had breakfast and coffee for under $25. The place is not fancy and the area is semi-industrial. All the staff was kind and they all spoke Italian. The the patrons seemed like they were regulars and they were all Italians too. We loved it. read more

I happened upon Caffe Espresso Italia whilst getting lost in the area. When i saw this place i was "yes, an Italian place". Been working down neck for a few years and although i love all the Brazilian and Portuguese places all over this area, enough is enough. So today i decided to take a ride over and man am i glad i did. Although i had a taste for brocoli rabe, that's served on Thursday, so i ordered a potato, pepper and egg sandwich. Delicious, simply delicious. Will definitely be back. read more

Caffe Espresso Italia is located in the Ironbound section of Newark at the intersection of Malvern and Adams Street. It is a safe area...never had any problems down there but then again I am a police officer. Since Emilia's and Catalucci's have closed, the caffe is one of the last Italian lunch spots left in that area. The Caffe has seating and during lunch time it is frequented by cops, firemen and Port Newark and Newark Airport workers. It tends to get crowded by 1130am. They have an assortment of deli sandwiches. My favorites are the hot plates. I love the balsamic chicken platter. It is 2-3 chicken cutlets with fresh mozz, roasted peppers and a nice hunk of italian bread for dipping in the balsamic vinegar. For $8.00 including drink, you will leave satisfied. They have daily hot plate and hot sandwich plates. You will find items such as Italian Hot dogs, sausage and peppers, pasta fagioli and lasagna. They also serve breakfast but I have not made it their for it. Nice family run lunch spot, you will find the italian grandma cutting potatoes or breading the calamari right behind the counter. Definitely a great spot to try if you are in the area. read more

This is one of the few remaining mom and pop type breakfast/lunch places left in this area. This is a great eatery, frequented by firemen, police peeps, and Federal Government employees. The food is tasty and the portions are big. Prices are very reasonable. Most days the place is very busy at lunch. The sandwiches are very good, but be sure to check out the daily "platter " specials. I only ate here once for breakfast and thought that they did a better job at lunch. read more

I have been here several times over the years since I work in the area. I've been very pleased with all my meals I've had there. You order over the counter and sit down and eat it. The prices are great and the portions are big. Parking is always an issue and at certain times finding a table to sit at will be difficult. My staple is the Chicken, mozzarella, sweet pepper, and balsamic vinegar platter. Execellent! Today I had the Eggplant parmigiana platter. Excellent. I've never experienced another meal here other than lunch. You won't be disspointed. read more

As good as it was 16 years ago when I was last able to get here! The daily specials as well as a larger menu. Also they moved across the street from the original spot. Glad to have a new customer very close by. I can be a "regular" again. read more

Impossible to express how much we loved this place upon our first visit. We are from Hawaii and found this cafe on Yelp. It was my son and my first ever visit to NJ, and he stated, "it is so authentic and with the people I feel like I'm in a movie!"We were hoping for a late breakfast, which had ended, but were not disappointed by the amazing eggplant parmigiana plate and Italian sub. Great food, great people, great prices! DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE!!! read more

Having lunch at Caffe Espresson Italia is like going over to a friend's house and their Nonna is visiting from Italy. She decides you are too skinny and beings to cook for you. The chicken platter is out of this world. The chicken cutlet is fried perfectly and not too thick (I skeeve thick chicken) and is served with excellent roasted peppers and fresh mozz. It is topped with an excellent balsamic and if you ask nicely, Nonna will give you a big old hunk of bread to sop up all the yummness. On my last visit, the lasagna looked excellent, but I didn't get a change to try it, so I guess I will have to go back for some more. read more

The coffee is terrible and the only reason I don't give it 5 stars but the breakfast sandwiches are amazing and cheap. If you're anywhere in the area before 10am, get yourself a Taylor Ham, egg and cheese sandwich on a roll. Completely worth it. read more

Three little sweet Italian ladies in a kitchen making some great food in the ironbound. I've been here numerous times and every time it's always been great food at a very affordable price. Majority of the customers are in some type of law enforcement, government or state job(self included) my favorite and basically the only think I get would be the chicken sandwich. It's chicken, fresh (very fresh) mozzarella, roasted peppers, italian bread that holds it together nicely and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. My mouth is watering just thinking about it right now. I have tried their other dishes, lasagna, pork chops, broccoli rabe... And not to say they aren't any good, but I've been stuck on this sandwich for awhile now. Two people can leave feeling satisfied for under $20, including drinks! This place does get packed around noon, and if you get there after 2 you might not find any food left. Parking isn't that great, but I think the police give them a break since they are like 80% of their customers. I will continue to hit this spot up on my Newark designated days. Makes coming to Newark sound a little better. read more

Great corner location with a sweet family crew making authentic Italian cuisines. Not the obvious stuff, either...like pasta & sauce. Think more along the lines of what mom would craft. Today I had chicken legs with peppers and potatoes in a delicious broth. The chicken was falling off the bones! A menu favorite of mine is the chicken salad that's loaded with olive, roasted red peppers, balsamic vinaigrette, and more. The best thing about this cafe is the prices. I don't think I've ever paid more than $10 for lunch. It's also probably the safest lunch spot in Newark, since there's an average of 12 police officers/detectives seated there at any given time. I think I will always come here for lunch when working in the city. read more

I am so happy to know this place is still around. Used to go with a police officer for lunch there years and years ago. The ladies in the back would definitely take a look at you and decide what you needed to eat that day. Best braciola ever. And the raviolis, or meatball subs, the best. After the lunch rush, they would sit at the table with us -- chop onions and garlic and chat-- probably not allowed these days, but we loved it. I don't think they had set prices, and they knew we were poor, so I never paid much. Went across the street for gelato afterward. Oh, I miss those ladies and their cooking! read more

This place is the real deal. Run by a little Italian woman and her son, Caffe Espresso Italia is authentic Italian food without all fuss. It gets really busy at lunch time but the food plus the fact that it's inexpensive makes it worth the wait. This is a great find and a great meal! read more

This is where you want to eat. Home cooking by some sweet ladies. Grab a double espresso while you're waiting.

A hole in the wall you'd never find without yelp. The food is good and you definitely feel like your dinging with your long lost Italian family. Breakfast has limited options on weekdays, better go for lunch. Important to note that your new Italian mother only accepts cash. read more

Caffe Espresso Italia - Spicy sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich - Italian Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Great food just like I was at home. Parking can be tough but totally worth it. Macaroni and meat sauce was very good