02.23.24 I was looking for a 'chill spot' conveniently located between work and home. I went on Yelp and this place popped up. I just got off work and I arrived about 10:20pm. This bar/restaurant was still serving food from the entire menu. Andrea made my classic margaritas (5 star). I paired the margaritas with caldo Verde soup (5 star) and clams casino (3 stars). If I get off work early again and I'm not in the mood for typical 'bar food', this is definitely my 'go to' spot. read more

Another amazing night. Yummy food and yummy drinks. Highly recommend whether it's a girls night out or date night. read more

Oliveiras da Serra - Portuguese Near Me - Carteret, New Jersey

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Great people and great service. The seafood was fresh and delicious. Everything from the bread and rice to the Spanish chips were excellent. The place is very welcoming and has a warm ambiance. Highly recommend. read more

This place is a hidden gem. Food was delicious, big portions and friendly staff. Definitely will return. read more

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What a fantastic surprise! I was on an overnight trip and decided to give this place a try - a very smart move! I began with the caldo verde, which tasted like fine home cooking - with the most tender slices of chorizo I have ever had. The grouper special, recommended by the waitress, was light, tasty, and very refreshing. The side of fresh mixed vegetables came with cabbage and the mashed potatoes were buttery. The dessert knocked me out! A hazelnut encrusted dark chocolate, hard-shelled ice cream blew my mind. Two dry vodka martinis, perfectly shaken, brought the entire meal together. I want to travel back to Carteret just to dine here! read more

Oliveiras da Serra - Grouper special - Portuguese Near Me - Carteret, New Jersey

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Fantastic place. The food is beyond good. I've been going to "Down Neck", the Portuguese part of Newark for years. This place is by far the best. The owner George was a total class act and the food is off the charts. Great food, great z P.S. I never written a review on yelp before...but it's worth well worth anyone's journey. out of 10! read more

Good Value, very tasty would definitely get this again , service was good , and very fancy inside. Would recommend this to anyone in the area read more

Oliveiras da Serra - Portuguese Near Me - Carteret, New Jersey

Haven't been here in a very long time and some friends told me how much better the cuisine has gotten, so I decided to give it a try! Started with Sangria excellent. We had the chistorra appetizer perfect amount of spice loved dipping my bread in the sauce. My husband had the BBQ Codfish so good especially the vegetable medley. I had the grouper and am I glad I did. The sauce was to die for and the mashed potatoes were out of this world. Overall great dinner... great service! Will be back soon. read more

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The best food ever !! Service is phenomenal !! my friend, George the owner holds down great hospitality, fantastic friendly, family oriented guy. The place is clean and welcoming. read more

Oliveiras da Serra - Portuguese Near Me - Carteret, New Jersey

Horrible establishment. Horrible owners. We went here as a family every now and again times out of convenience. I'll say the steaks are tasty. But everything else is blah. Rice is bland. Mashed potatoes bland. Soup ehh. Clams weird. But that isn't even the issue. On our last and final visit, we decided to eat here last minute as we were hungry and kids wanted steak. I decided to order a soup and salad for the first time, trying to keep it light. The soup was weird but I ate it, as I waited for my salad. It took 2 hours for them to bring out our main dishes. We asked multiple times how long and response was kitchen was busy and behind. When they FINALLY, after 2 HOURS, bring out our meals, the kids are now in starvation mode. The owner came to bring my salad which I already asked to be canceled. As he brings the salad he starts yelling at me that I HAD TO EAT THE SALAD!!!!! I explained I already canceled it as I was turned off by the experience and filled up on bread. Explaining I was upset they had the kids waiting so long, normally they serve them first as we adults wait for our meals. He's screaming at me that I took so long to eat my soup and that is why they didn't bring our food and demanded I eat the salad. Hollering at me in front of my family and a room full of customers. I began crying out of frustration and anger, the audacity for him to even blame me and YELL AT ME LIKE A CHILD BEING FORCED TO EAT THEIR DINNER. Embarrassing, disrespectful and unprofessional doesn't even come close to explain in words how this small man had the nerve to treat us this way after eating here for 5 years. I left the establishment sobbing and vowed i would never return. And we haven't. Not to mention how uncomfortable he made me daughter feel each visit touching her hair, shoulder etc and every year since a toddler she was asking him to get away from her and stop. He never did. He's a creep and a loser in my opinion. Lacking in customer service skills and flavor in their food. Idk how they made it this long. I assume it's bc of how carteret runs as a small town gang. Treating outsiders as less than human. If you want a delicious meal this is not the place. Again, the only thing that was ever good is their steak. Every side dish, and other main dishes taste like paper. I hope carteret can open better establishments that provide good food and excellent customer service. Shame on this man for how he treated me in such a manor. I hope they close down soon and are replaced with a REAL Portuguese flavorful establishment, or anything really. We know they stay afloat due to their bar, not the food. I urge everyone to proceed with caution and look for other options. Hope you read this and are filled with embarrassment and regret. I've never shut up to anyone to never go here and I won't stop. Oh! And DIRTY. DIRTY DIRTY DIRTY. Dust fills every corner of this place. It needs to be shut down. read more

Food was very bad. I have had Portuguese and Brazilian food before. This ain't it. Friendly staff but the food itself not up to par at all. I had the steak with Ham and Eggs. Wanted Medium Rare, it came in Blue. Then they microwaved the plate. Not very quality dine in experience. read more

Everything was awesome! The food, the service the atmosphere. Great place to go before a concert at Carteret PAC.

Had a surprise party for my wife. Went with a family style sit down dinner. This included salad, four appetizers (chorizo, clams, mussels and calamari), entrees were chicken francese, roast beef, and veal and mushroom gravy. Dessert was flan. Price included two hours of beer, wine and sangria. Jorge was very attentive and kept asking if we had enough food. We weren't rushed and we all had a great time. Price was very reasonable. read more

Tried this place because they advertised live music on a Friday night. Entered and sat at a too bright bar (seemed a little like a diner counter). Found out the music was outside in a heated tent, which we weren't in the mood for on a cold night. Ordered an app which included mushrooms, sausage and shrimp in a slightly spicy sauce. It was OK. A total of 2 beers on tap. Don't want to slam the place because the service was friendly but we probably won't return read more

The best!!! First of all, George, the owner is so sweet & welcoming. Runs the business perfectly. The staff is super nice & makes you feel at home while dining. The service is great! You get your food in a decent time & it's always right; and delicious!!! Never any complaints when we're here. *during covid-19, they are maintaining social distancing, tables are spread apart, wearing masks, and constantly cleaning.* No complaints! This is the place to go! read more

I threw my dad his 70th birthday surprise birthday party back in March. The food was great and the Jorge the owner was very friendly and helpful! I booked it all on the phone from texas and everything ran smoothly when I got there! read more

Horrible, inattentive service. Place is outdated and looks like an old basement turned into a dining area. Food, meh. Prepared well but small portions. Chateau Madrid is better on all counts. Now for the SCAM: Dinner for 2. I ordered the surf and turf for $38.00. You literally get a 2oz piece of meat (cheap filet? SMALL) and maybe a 3oz tail, some good homemade chips, saffron rice and some veggies consisting of 4 pieces of sliced carrot and 4 green beans and the rest was sautéed cabbage as a filler. Who the f... wants cabbage??? CHEAP! Fast forward to the bill: They charge a "4%" FEE on top of the meal. FOR WHAT? This was BEFORE I even took any form of payment out of my pocket! The 4% is actually equivalent to 4.26%.of the food and beverage price. Then, they calculate the automatic "20%" tip (mind you only 2 people at this table) with the 4.26% FEE included. It gets better....the tip is actually equivalent to 20.45%. The tax was the only thing that was calculated correctly/with the correct % on the food and beverage amount only. The best part is, on their receipt they have a "suggested ADDITIONAL tip" perhaps if you think the cabbage was extraordinaire! This place is a dirty scam. Will never go back and would not recommend to anyone but my ex-wife and her husband. read more

Oliveiras da Serra - Portuguese Near Me - Carteret, New Jersey

My wife and I were looking for a place for lunch and we stumbled upon this hidden gem. We have to say that it was one of the best Dining experiences we have had in a long time. The service and the food was exceptional! My wife had the Tomahawk steak which she said was better than any steakhouse we have gone to. I had the red snapper and the preparation and taste was great! Oliveiras is a restaurant that shouldn't be missed. Have a sangria, cocktails or go for the dinner, you certainly won't be disappointed. Thank you John for a great meal and all your recommendations. You were spot on! See you guys again soon, Craig and Colleen Robbins read more

Excellent drinks, food and service! My new favorite spot! Passion fruit sangria was outstanding as well as the garlic shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, stuffed flounder, and dessert. read more

Good food great service but disappointing that they never have the grilled prime rib that's on the menu . I had it once there and I have been back several times to get it again only to be disappointed that they didn't have it.That's just my preference ..but I do recommend this restaurant read more

Good food and family friendly. The waitress was very nice and helpful. Price is reasonable. read more

Oliveiras da Serra - Paella valenciana - Portuguese Near Me - Carteret, New Jersey

The sangria is made with Sunny D, need I say more? The food was equally as bad. Food took an hour to get .

One of the best Sangria I have ever had Good range of appetizers reasonable priced Skirt steak is great as well the other steaks Always a great selection on the menu and the specials are worth trying The staff is warm and friendly and the owner George is a true gentleman This is my go to place at least twice a month read more

If I could give 10 stars I would to staff the manager the hospitality the service is fantastic the food is fresh and on more than what I expected highly recommend it read more

Oliveiras da Serra - Chicken pasta with a creamy mushroom sauce - Portuguese Near Me - Carteret, New Jersey

Great little restaurant! Stopped while in town on business based on a local recommendation. Had the garlic shrimp appetizer and a meatball sandwich. All the food was freshly prepared and served with hot fresh bread and butter. We left happy and full! read more

I was looking for a good restaurant to eat at and this restaurant had 4.5/5 stars on Google, so I decided to give it a try. When I got home and opened my food, I was beyond disappointed. The food was cold, and had absolutely no flavor. I had the pineapple sautéed chicken, which was not sautéed at all, and the pineapple was sour. The shrimp that I ordered was swimming in oil, and not cleaned. I spent $48.00 and was unable to eat any of it. I will NEVER order from this restaurant again. read more

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One of the best steak and seafood spots in Carteret, nice size portions of steak, t-bone steak and the filet mignon are great not over cooked and dry but tender and juicy, not over priced either, my second time here and no complaints, highly recommended. read more

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I haven't been here in a while. I completely forgot how good the food and people are here. Great staff and ambiance. Cecilia is an amazing bar tender and my man John does it all there. Such a cool place and good people. read more

When you first walk in the dining area (by the bar) it seemed like an old bar that locals of an older-aged group (40s+) would come to. I was surprised when my boyfriend told me it'd be nice and that I would think it's a cute place, but I did find out there's a bigger main dining area in the back. Complimentary bread. Really loved the complimentary olives; I'm not a big olive person but I would come back just to have their olives of everything we've had that night - I guess they earned that in their name! My boyfriend and I ordered the calamari appetizer which was like most calamaris, nothing special; although I did like the light breading and size of the pieces as they weren't stingy. We also ordered the steak (I forgot the name of it from the menu) but we heard that it was big enough for two... and it was! We were stuffed with complimentary starters, 1 order of app and an enormous entree. (We seem to always be full with leftovers to-go when it comes to Portuguese restaurants!) Oh, their sangria was yummy too but who doesn't love sangria with steak and rice! Overall good service, however, we caught the waiter after his smoke-break so he smelt like cigarettes (And I hate that smell). I would like to go back for another try in the main dining area. read more

Oliveiras da Serra - Portuguese Near Me - Carteret, New Jersey

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This is our go to spot each time we come back to NJ. Everything has always been wonderful. Can't wait to go there with friends or family on next trip. read more

Good food, friendly and good service. The sangria was very tasty as well. We sat in the bar area, next time we will try the dining room read more

The service in this restaurant this past Saturday night was a disgrace! My party of 3 arrived at the restaurant for our 5PM reservation, for a show in Carteret that started at 7PM. We were told when we were seated that there would be no problem making the show. At 6:30pm we still had not been brought our entrees! We got up to walk out, but not before being stopped and told to pay our bill for the salads and sangria we had while waiting. I felt this was adding insult to injury. Regardless, based on our experience, I suggest you don't go near this place on a Saturday night unless you have nothing better to than kill a lot of time waiting for your meal. read more

This is just about my favorite restaurant. The food is fantastic and the service is exceptional. The owner is also great, and has been serving the local community for a long time. I recommend the place to anyone coming through the area, you will not be disappointed. read more

Oliveiras da Serra - Filet Mignon cooked on a Portuguese roof tile - Portuguese Near Me - Carteret, New Jersey

Nice casual restaurant. Good service. Spanish/Italian menu. Little pricey for the location.

Awesome place. Food great. Staff excellent. We had a great time. I loved the Bacalaho Assada. Not for everyone but I was great.

I must start by saying I wanted to try this place out since I pass it to catch the NJ Turnpike everyday but did not do so until last night. I can instantly say this has become one of my favorite restaurants amongst all. The food is great and if you enjoy Portuguese food then this will be to the par or better of any other of its kind. Things to try - Definitely the salad with the ***house dressing*** It is one of a kind and have never had anything similar to it in taste. It was out of this planet for my taste buds. If you like a good meal then this is a place to eat different types of meats and a good entree. You better come with an appetite as they serve large portions in plates that must be over 25 pounds (no kidding). Their cook is excellent and this is definitely one place that you will want to come back to because the service is great and the whole family can enjoy. A hidden gem in Carteret, NJ... Last off, you have to and must try their house dessert. I can guarantee you will never have anything like it. I usually order a cheesecake for my wife, two kids and I, but in this case I almost had to eat one all to myself. The taste is so unique and not extravagant at all. It is on the sweeter side with such a soft fall to my stomach that I had to have some more. I loved it and could not believe it when I was done with it. I was five years old again looking forward to my next scoop of dessert with my spoon with none left to try. VERY RECOMMENDED TO ALL, TRUST ME ON THIS ONE.... read more

I love this place! The bar is usually busier than the restaurant. But the food is delicious no matter where you sit. This place is a gem, and Jorge the owner is a sweetheart. read more

Huge portions. I was starving so I ordered the chorizo appetizer. It was this huge link brought out sizzling on a platter which my waiter proceeded to slice for me. I was excited. I had the grilled Calamari which was accompanied by red potatoes and cabbage. All of it yummy. Sangria was pretty good too. read more

Happened to find this place on Yelp while I was out shopping with my wife and it was a great! the decor inside the restaurant is comfortable , with very friendly staff that is fast to act on your needs. The food was very good : I had the Pork loin with potatoes vegetables and mushrooms in a garlic sauce and my wife had the Shrimp in white wine garlic steam sauce with yellow rice ,fresh potato chips and sauté garlic cabbage. Fresh bread and water of course was on the table. To end the meal we finished with the house desert "yummm". At the end of it all the waiter gave us a desert liquor of amaretto shots on the house. It was great. Stop by and enjoy the large menu options and it fine tasting food. read more

50/50 chance of getting a good meal here. cold bread, frozen butter & instant coffee. Beware the owner begs for a good review to be posted on Yelp. read more