Food is exceptional. So fresh made to order. Love their garlic shrimp. I had their chicken special. It was phenomenal. This place is by far one of the best authentic Spanish restaurants around. Get their seafood... To die for! Friendly staff, fresh food. One recommendation... For Friday and Saturday nights! You're better off making reservation unless you want to wait for over 2 hours, well worth the wait though :) read more

Went there for the first time last night and all I can say is the food sucked and the service sucked. Needless to say I won't be back. The lady who seated us told the waiter to speak english but she said it in spanish. We were treated like second class citizens by the waiter and rushed through our meal. My take is, this place is mostly visited by locals who for some odd reason like the place. Maybe they get better food and service. Simply a horrible experience. read more

Went to Casa Vasca last night to celebrate my 65th birthday with family. This was my fourth time at the restaurant and lived up to previous visits. We had the Family Party Package which included a nice variety of food, beverage, and desserts. Service was very accomodating, especially dealing with children and special diets. One negative was the white sangria which could have been sweeter. However, the food was delicious and plentiful. To me, Casa Vasca is a more authentic establishment compared to other Spanish/Portuguese restaurants in the Ironbound which have become tourist attractions Thanks to Maria and staff for providing an enjoyable celebration on a very busy Saturday night. read more

I decided to try this place out for Newark Restaurant Week and I ordered from the prix-fixed menu. The food was hit or miss. The sirloin steak was a little too tough (cooked to medium), but the chicken & spinach dish my friend had was tasty. Also, the chorizo that we had for an appetizer was so-so, as was the sangria. The service was pleasant and the atmosphere was comfortable. However, the food was just ok. Definitely nothing to rave about, but it was not terrible either. I would not go out of my way to eat here again, but I would not object to going if others wanted to. read more

By far the best Spanish place in the Ironbound! Been going there for the past Twenty Years plus, gets better everytime! There soups are to dye for, esp there potatoe leak, getting hungry just thinking about it. The best Garlic Shrimp as well, great for dipping there fresh bread into. There Sangria is awesome as well. Im more of a red sangria fan, but there white is out of this world! For dessert if you have any room get the sampler. They have there own little parking lot as well! Enjoy! For the best Spanish Food around, you have to try Casa Vasca. read more

I'm so disappointed in the service at this place. I traveled from Miami to visit family and made reservations, when we got to the place the owner proceeded to argue with us about our reservation. I have been to this place a few times but will not be going back and neither will my family. Service was awful. read more

This is the type of food I grew up around, and I have to say my meal was excellent. It is a modest and reasonably priced place, that has maintained it's quality, unlike the rest of the Iberian establishments in Newark. read more

Very good Basque cuisine. The best French chefs are usually Basque. Have not been there recently but intend to do so soon and will file an update review. read more

Tried this place out for the first time tonight. It was busy but not very crowded so we were seated right away. Right away we could tell that the service was going to be outstanding. The host made sure we were comfortable where we were seated and sent our waiter right over with menus. We ordered some garlic shrimp and sangria to start. Before these came out, we were given the soup special compliments of the house. It was sort of a potato beef concoction. Very tasty. The sangria was excellent and the shrimp were not top quality but the garlic sauce was so good that it made up for it. We found ourselves polishing the sauce off with their excellent bread. Next we had the paella with sausage, chicken and shellfish and then a veal dish with a brandy sauce. To be honest, now that I think of it, I don't think they put any chicken in the paella but there was tons of sausage and even more shrimp. Many places will load up the rice to give the illusion of big portions...this place loaded up the fish. Lots of shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and half a lobster tail to top it off. The veal dish was out of this world. Apparently it is a popular item here and we can see why. 4 stars for the veal. 3 Stars for the Paella. 3.5 stars for the shrimp (could have been 5 if not for the shrimp quality). 5+++ stars for the service. The attentiveness of the staff made this meal a delight. If it weren't for the service, I'd give this restaurant a 3. The prices were also great. We would definitely go back again, after trying out some of the other portuguese restaurants in the area. read more

i know there's soo many places to eat in the ironbound. a friend recommended cafe vasca years ago and its still going strong. one of the big reasons is the owner. she's a 68 year old woman that is non stop all the time we were there. she's amazing. from greeting you right away, talking to every table to see if everything is fine. she told us while we had an amazing dinner that her son works at goldman sachs during the week and helps out on weekends. what a great team. all the service people were great too. there was a private 39 person party in back room but didnt effect our food coming to table. as far as the food, soup was nice starter, garlic shrimp, clams casino. pork chops in a brown garlic sauce and paella...all great... the restaurant was packed and noisy. parking can be hard to find close to vasca but they have parking behind the restaurant w/ attendant. read more

This place has very large portions and is inexpensive. I guess it's probably good if you like this type of food. I don't find it very interesting. read more

The food was mediocre but what made it a horrible experience was the service. The bus boy and even the hostess, an older lady at the door, were both arrogant and rude. The one that took the cake was our waiter, he is a short bold hispanic guy with the angriest grin, you better ask for another one if you get him. I would tell you his name but he didn't even introduce himself. I was there with my family today, a party of eight and it was clear to us all that he hated his job and his life. I couldn't help watching him to see if it was selective or if that was just his personality, don't take it personal, it's just him. He must be related to the owner because no one in there right mind would hire someone so incompetent and unprofessional. He didn't come over to check if there was a problem with our food, we had to hunt him down for the hot sauce and refills and waited forty minutes after we finished our dinner to get his attention for the check. The food was not even close to being worth the terrible service. I would never recommend this place or any of the dishes we shared from here. If anyone gives this place five stars, it is because they have not been to places like Brazilias or Fernandes not too far from there, right in the Newark or ironbound section. The dishes are much better and the service is very professional. read more

I only ate here once (I usually don't like to review on just one trip). I had an enjoyable meal. But I have to say, been to better. Food was good, as was the service. Place is outdated, but most spanish/portugese restaurants around are. Usually my guy eats everything on his plate, and mine, but not this time which is a telltale that it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. They have a lot to park in half a block away from the restaurant. If I recall, you enter the restaurant through the bar. read more

i really like this place. the atmosphere is relaxed and romantic. the place is clean and the service was on point, really classy. we walked in on a sunday evening and were promptly seated and given a very generous basket of bread. the server was polite and knowledgeable and recommended the grilled red snapper and the monk fish. i was happily surprised with the red snapper; i was afraid that being grilled would make it dry; it actually was super succulent and moist. the monk fish was meaty and had a great garlic sauce. both dishes came with soup (caldo gallego), potatoes, & either salad or veggies. really enjoyed my meal. the fish was well cooked and the sides didnt overpower it so it was really able to shine. we had a small pitcher of sangria and it was just right not too bitter or too sweet. great place for a nice date! read more

Nice. has a parking lot; very friendly owner and wait staff. Mariscada is not salty, lots of seafood, plumb muscle, sweet and clean bay scallops and shrimps. Octopus is super soft. Garlic shrimp is nicely done. All dishes were not salty which is important for those who are salt sensitive/high blood pressure. The cappuccino is excellent. it is hot and strong. The flan is ok; had better. read more

after a few more visits, i've decided that there's absolutely no reason for me not to give Casa Vasca 5 stars...the space is pleasant, the service is solicitous in a low-key professional way, the food is consistently superior and the prices are terrific...i've eaten here for over 20 years and haven't had even one single unpleasant experience with either the food or the service...if you've never eaten here, please do...highly recommended... read more

Best Spaniard food! By far my favorite restaurant in the Iron Bound. Excellent customer service. The food is always very delicious and flavorful. I've been going there for years. read more

Food was ok. Service adequate but cold and felt rushed. The women in charge is not a people person.

Casta vasca is not cheap, and the servers can be a little over the top, almost aggressive sometimes, but the food is just amazing. Squid in black ink is an experience! The lamb rack is 5 star. I even tried the rabbit here. Portions are typically large, so order accordingly. read more

Wonderful food! Great service! Gastronomic delight! Lots of food on your plate, aka plenty to home.

It's always a treat to come to this family owned restaurant. I don't eat shellfish, which seems to be one of their specialties (my husband is a huge fan of the paella), but that doesn't make the other options any less scrumptious. The veal marsala is delicious and is served in a huge pot full of sauce and mushrooms. Probably enough for three servings, I always manage to eat it in one. One of the best parts of the restaurant is the complimentary soup that is served to everyone before the entree. I've tried a couple different soups of the day and they are always delicious (and I love to dip the yummy rolls in the soup and the marsala sauce). Very reasonable prices, especially considering the amount served in each portion. This is a great place to go with your family and enjoy a really hearty meal. read more

Adequate. Largely flavorless food. There are much better choices. The Paella that I had and my wife's Seafood in Green Sauce were pretty flavorless. I would not go back. read more

Amazing meals every time, nothing pretentious, just delicious. Love the attentive staff. Please open a restaurant in Buffalo NY!

Delicious, large plate of "merluza a la plancha" -- hake grilled simply with olive oil, and lemon on the side. The fish was served with boiled potatoes, a green salad, and sliced hard boiled egg, with green olives. With espresso coffee afterwards and a bottle of the famous fresh Basque white wine Txakoli, our meal was very reasonably priced. We would definitely return. read more

The food is not that great. I have eaten here couple of times and the food still comes out bland. This place has potential.

I was there last week, we had made a reservation for 7pm. When we got there they told us to wait at the bar for a few minutes. We had rioja wine and sangria. The sangria was excellent the wine wonderful. I a few minutes they called us to the dining room . Our party of four had a paella (marinera) . stuffed little peppers(piquios) , and another two dishes. Everything was excellent. We have been going there for years but it seemed to all that everything was at peak. The complimentary soup and french fries were excellent. It was a very special evening. The service is prompt, to a fault, and a little impersonal. read more

This quaint and cozy restaurant took me into another country. The friendly yet extremely attentive staff were able to accommodate our every need. My family and I were even greeted several times by the owner. The sangria was absolutely delicious. The appetizers were generously and promptly served. By the time the paella was served , which by the way one order comes in a pot and beyond description in terms of tasty, we were already very full! Awesome restaurant. read more

Very sub par food for the price; actually, even regardless of the price - my cod had the texture of rubber and tasted only slightly better; my companion didn't like his entree either. Good service though. read more

Great neighborhood restaurant. Food, service and price all very good. Paella is outstanding, not to mention the sangria.

When we first walked into this place, it seemed really nice. And I remember it took me some time to make a choice on the menu, because there was a lot to choose from. I eventually picked a paella dish. The first thing I noticed that it was a bit oily and salty, but it was ok. And it was a lot! I might go there again, but probably not anytime soon. Staff was really nice though, but I've had better paella! read more

i visited Casa Vasca for the first time and I was very impressed with how authentic everything was - the food, the staff, the atmosphere, etc. etc. I ordered the famous paella. It came with fresh seafood. It took 25 minutes to cook and it was very much worth the wait. The location is only a few minutes away from Newark Airport. This will definitely be one of my favorite before-airport restaurant. read more

I was there this weekend and I have not been there for a couple of years so I was looking forward to it. It used to be my favorite Spanish place that I would go to on special occasions. I have to say that I was disappointed with the food the shrimp in garlic sauce was uneventful and the shrimp used were not the best quality. My mariscada an salsa verde was nothing to talk about and I guess there was a great deal on shrimp because that seemed to be the main ingredient. I really hope they look at who is in the kitchen cooking because I think they were the best when their love was cooking and not just turning a profit. The service was impeccable as always. read more

if you want to sample the best of what the ironbound has to offer, leave ferry street behind and head over to elm. casa vasca offers top notch basque cuisine. each dish is preceded by a complementary bowl of soup. the white sangria is as good as i have ever tasted. paella is fresh and tasty. all the entrees i have ever had were excellent but be warned their food is very rich so no need to overorder. read more

We've dined at Casa Vasca several times over the years and always enjoyed it. The food is always delicious and comes in very generous portions. It's very traditional European; which is what we like. They do great traditional recipes with fish, seafood, and meats that are very good. The service is hands down better than any restaurants around here besides restaurants of the caliber of Jean Georges. The wait staff is professional and attentive. They wait until everyone is finished to clear the dishes. They prepare the bill so that it's ready when you are and bring it when you signal and not before. I'm so tired of all of these new, chic places in the Montclair area that don't know the basics of professional service and don't serve or pick up appropriately - places where there is no consistent training of the staff in the basics of traditional service. Most places around here are always trying to clear a plate here and there when people are still eating resulting in people feeling rushed. Not at Casa Vasca - professional, friendly service is what you get there. The only place I think they could improve is if they added a creative cocktail menu. Not that my Negroni was bad - it was just fine. The flan is the best I've had in a restaurant - not as good as our friend Maria makes, but really very good with a touch of anise and Grand Marnier and other wonderful flavors. Go to Casa Vasca and enjoy! read more

Let's start with the parking. It's at a premium. You can circle the block for hours. Or you can flip the attendant a sawbuck to park your car in the private lot. If the streets were empty, which they are not, I'd still duke the attendant a couple of $$ for access to the private lot. Old School is the motto for CV. It's on the 1st floor of a multi family house. So cool. You walk into the bar area and everyone in the place, mostly neighborhood folks, give you the once over to see if you belong. Locals rule. Once the hostess sees you to your table at which time a seasoned waiter takes over. The food is ridiculously authentic. We had several dishes featuring goat, veal, octopus, monkfish, and it was ALL delicious. Dishes typically featured potatoes, hard boiled egg, cherry peppers. If you were Portuguese and had a grandmother or grandfather who could cook. THIS is what they would be serving. I hadn't been back here in years but was in the area for the USA Turkey game and swung by afterwards. I'm now adding it to my list of regular spots. Do yourself a favor, eat a tiny breakfast then skip lunch. After that gas up the car and head down here. Go hungry and pace yourself! I'll see you down there where I'll be looking at you to see if you fit in! read more

This is a great Portuguese restaurant with authentic Portuguese food. They start you off with bread and soup before your meal. The place can be a little noisy but that's half the fun. Everyone is having a good time. This is one of the better places in Newark. If you want to eat with the tourists you can eat on ferry Street. If you want to eat with the locals go to casa vasca. read more

Excellent service, food, price, atmosphere. Treated like a king from start to finish and if you go for lunch or dinner, you never burn a hole in your pocket. If you like Sangria, ordering app's and a decent meal look to spend about 30-35 a person for dinner, and about 20 a person for lunch. Always recommended and always well worth it! Thumbs up. read more

THE BEST, THE ORIGINAL! No other restaurant in Newark compares to this restaurant: authentic Basque and other Spanish regional delicacies along with Portuguese and some South American favs. The tapas are great, the croquetes and octopus stand out the most. The owner is really nice and she personally assures your order is perfect. Anytime I'm on a business meeting or on a date I go here to impress my guests! A+!!! Love the house desserts, the orange cake and flan, spectacular! read more

I called this afternoon to make a reservation for dinner for my wife and myself. I called and asked for a 5:30 reservation. I was told at that time no reservation was necessary. I told the person on the phone that we were going to a concert at 8 pm. Again I was told no reservation was needed. I asked one more time and was told the same thing. I got there at 5:30 and was told it would be an hour wait. I complained to the manager and was given a lame excuse that this was unexpected. I received no apology and they were very rude! We left and went elsewhere. I would not go back and beware they are not good with reservations! read more

Food was good as usual. I've been coming here with my family for the last 15 years and love the portions and food quality...but one of the servers was less than polite. It's a shame because our waiter for most of the night was respectful. I ordered a melon sorbet for dessert. It came in a cantaloupe melon but tasted like fake watermelon (think bubble yum watermelon flavor). On asking if I could substitute it the waiter sent over an older gentleman who passive aggressively treated me as if I was an asshole despite my polite request for a lemon ice...ruining a nice birthday meal. When I spend over $100 on a meal I expect decent if not great desserts and if you serve fake tasting cheap italian ice of course I'm going to have an issue. Short story I got a lemon ice after dealing with the impolite waiter and it tasted just as fake...like lemon cleaning solution. I expect a better experience after years of going there. Highly disappointed about the end of the meal. read more