We made it to Perla Oyster Bar for the first time last night, and wow -- it was worth the wait…read more Every item we ordered stood out with its own unique flavors, and we genuinely enjoyed each one. Our waitress was so sweet and welcoming, which added to the great vibe. Since I had requested a regular table when booking, we were seated in the back with a comfortable, semi-private space that made the whole experience even better. We're already talking about our next visit. Absolutely recommend!

Perla is a small corner venue on a Main Street in Maplewood. The parking situation is crappy, but…read moreit is free when you find it. They are BYOB with high top seating, "bar area" seating, & some regular tables in the back. Service was friendly & knowledgeable. A great experience all around. We had the Oysters Kilpatrick (a current special), Oysters on the 1/2 shell which we upgraded to one of the seasonal specials, the Broiled, & Shrimp Cocktail. Grades: Oysters Kilpatrick: A+ Oysters on the 1/2 shell (Brined & Shine): A Broiled: A+ Shrimp Cocktail: A

I have visited here few times with friends, mostly on the weekend and it has always been a good…read moreexperience. They had Live Music one night during Christmas time and the band was so awesome. They have some great options on the Menu and the Cocktails are always good. They have pretty much had the same Menu for the last 3 years, hope they make some additions or at least some seasonal options to kick it up a notch. Service is usually fast enough even if they are packed, and Staff are friendly.

Pretty cool vibes with cool decor. Service was decent and the drink I ordered was pretty strong,…read morebut the menu items are limited and a bit pricey for what you seem to get. Ended up moving to the bar a block over for food + more drinks, which ended up being so much more fun. I would recommend coming by with a group of friends + a fuller stomach if you plan to stay here a while!

When entered this cozy neighborhood place on a frigid Sunday afternoon. Greeted warmly by the…read morebartender and took seats at the bar. The place is small with a bar that seats a dozen or so people and some tables against the wall. Also another small dining room that looks like it was added on to the building at some point. I ordered a blue moon from approx two dozen tap choices and wifey ordered a red sangria that she liked. We ordered nachos grande and "street corn smashburger tacos" which were hefty and delicious! Most patrons at the bar seemed to be regulars but everyone was friendly and engaging. The bartender was efficient and very friendly, she made an excellent old fashion for me! We'll be back!

Went to Suspenders on a Tuesday for a "guess the song" trivia night, super cool idea and a great…read moreway to get people into the restaurant on lower traffic days, however I think this trivia took way too long, I personally felt bad taking up a table for the entire duration of the game and this included our group ordering entrees, a couple beers, and more food items after our initial meal. This could be a personal thing, but would recommended speeding this game up. The food was decent! I ordered the sausage rigatoni, it was good and tasty however did not leave me full and I felt the need to order more food after. I got a side of fries after the initial meal and it was a good amount, fries were also tasty just needed to add my own salt. I also ordered a Diet Coke and it did not taste good, it tasted very syrupy? I'm not sure if it was actually Diet Coke because on the menu I believe it says Diet Cola so this could 100% be on me for not seeing that but I would have liked to be notified if it wasn't actually Diet Coke. The service was very good and I won't complain too much since our group took up a table for a decent amount of time, however I never got a refill so not sure if they have free refills or if our server just did not notice. Overall, this is a decent place, it's nothing spectacular but is definitely a place where everyone has something to eat that is enjoyable and a fun environment. I would go back perhaps to bring my parents. Good place for picky eaters.

This has been a regular visit the past couple days due to it being a convenient place to meet up…read morewith friend while in town. Everything in my previous review still stands - it's still an interesting hybrid of family restaurant, sport bar and lounge. Since my previous review I've had some of the food and it's as expected - average to a bit below average fitting for how I viewed the place before having food. I've managed to try a burger here and was disappointed. I asked for medium-well, it was beyond well done. Dry and not very well seasoned at that. The fries were unacceptable. Plentiful but I'm almost positive these are Ore-Ida frozen fries. The bar pie was also pretty sad. It's about 4 medium slices of thin crust pizza with average sauce flavor. It seemed a bit burnt. I also got a plate of buffalo wings to share with my buddies. Again average. It wouldn't be so bad but the prices are pretty high. All of the things I've tried were $15+ and they ranged from not good to average. The bartenders do put a lot of effort in interacting with you and do well keeping drinks going but the food and the experience is a bit dicey. The locals that frequent here are friendly and have resulted in conversations which help the experience here.

My husband and I would return to this location specifically for Anna! She is friendly and provided…read moregreat service. We enjoyed our meals (the Philly cheesesteak and salmon). Also, the Paloma's she made were wonderful. I will say we were not too fond of the gentleman that was sitting by the door with the blue shirt. I'm not sure if he's the owner or what role he plays here, but he was not friendly at all - seems he was friendly to everyone else...said hello and good night, but not to us!

Came here yesterday for brunch with my friend. First time here. First, I want to commend the…read morewaitstaff Catherine. She is an absolute gem! Very, very helpful and my friend and I were kind of a pain as we were asking a lot of questions and I could not decided on what I wanted. The brunch menu is extensive and I wanted everything. I left her a 25% tip, but after I left I felt she deserved more. Speaking of tips, their suggested tip at bottom of receipt is based the check price after taxes. This is stated on the check... The drinks: We decided to start with drinks. My friend had the Moscow mule and I had the Bloody Mary. My bloody Mary was very good and strong and came with 3 huge olives. The olives tasted fresh. I've had weird tasting olives in other places. I liked it so much, I had another. Big mistake... My friend liked her Moscow Mule. The food: I had the turkey burger with bacon and avocado and truffle fries. The burger was cooked to perfection. It was not dry, but juicy without being under cooked. The bacon was perfect and the slices of avocado were fresh. My friend ordered the Ham Benedict. I didn't taste it but she said it was very good. The eggs looked perfectly done. That came with a side of potatoes. I think this will be my new brunch spot when I come to visit North Jersey. I recommend them.

Came there last night for the first time. Met some friends at the bar. The lady bartenders were…read moresurly, inattentive, and just plain mean. Not sure what's up, but these girls are clearly not happy to be there. Hospitality is not their specialty. In contrast, the guys offered kindness, smiles, and friendly banter. Same night, same time, same bar. When I inquired with the host staff, they exchanged knowing glances, smiled, and said, "We hear you." I'm going to guess I'm not the first person to render this opinion. It's a nice place, with a pleasant ambiance, but I don't know how long people will overlook this problem before deciding to stop coming.

I came up from Florida for a business/ pleasure trip in Elizabeth and this restaurant was…read morerecommended. Very small and unassuming from the outside.I thought that parking would be an issue, however there was ample parking permitted across the street. As soon as I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised. I had a reservation, so was seated right away. The hostess and wait staff we very friendly, well trained and accommodating. My waiter took her time and described a little of everything interesting on the menu. The whole snapper and oxtails were cooked to perfection. Unique cocktails. Moody vibe music played, but low enough where you could hold a conversation without talking loud at all. The DJ arrived towards the conclusion of dinner and wasted no time in taking the beat to the next level. House 157 rivals any upscale urban restaurant in the Metro.

Chandler was great!! I listened to all his recommendations and he didn't disappoint at all.read more

Great experience at Ava's!!! Went in on a Friday night for girls night, made a reservation and was…read moreseated promptly. Drinks were great and we ordered the Brussels and the whipped ricotta which were fantastic. Ordered several bar pies and the cavatelli which was next level. 10/10 can't wait to go back!

Pizza is good. Don't ask for any food accommodations or extras as they won't entertain it. Not even…read morea side of extra sauce. Flat out no. Not family friendly at all contrary to previous reviews. Won't likely ever go back for the rudeness alone.

Visited for the first time today on Valentine's Day. Beautiful place and atmosphere. Server…read moreMishelle and Victor the manager were amazing and attentive. Food was great . They provided a special for Valentine's Day will definitely be coming back. Great service and awesome food! Please visit!

Slow service for Mothers day.Food fair.People were leaving after eating 45 minutes.Will not go back.read more

Good food, excellent service, ambiance is on point! I'm here at least twice out of the month and I…read moretravel to get here. Definitely a go-to spot. Don't let the negative reviews influence your decision to come here. Employees are attentive, even on busy nights. This is definitely a working class establishment! Black owned and serving all!

The service did not meet expectations due to inadequate customer support and subpar cleanliness and…read morepresentation. Food-wise, despite the 3pm serving time, the limited options of wing dings and fries did not meet our expectations. The wing dings which were not served as whole wings lacked the necessary seasoning and flavor profile resulting in a mediocre dining experience. There is room for improvement and we will reassess our decision to return.

This is my second time here but first review. We went to…read morecelebrate my daughter getting into the nursing program. We were seated quickly. I had the chicken enchiladas. They were wonderful and tasteful. I haven't enchiladas like that in a long time. I had churros for dessert. Loved that they gave a bowl of chocolate with them as an option to dip. The decor is spectacular. From pictures of musicians on the wall and the waiting area has two benches one with musician mug shot and the other with the last supper with musicians who passed on.

Amazing spot! The margaritas are on point , the tacos are flavorful, and the vibe is so fun and…read morelively. The menu is playful and creative, making it a joy to explore every option. Perfect place to hang out with friends, enjoy great drinks, and just have a fantastic time. Highly recommend!