Belmont Tavern & Restaurant

The Appetizers were good. When it came to our dinners they were not good. The Chicken Savoy was not boneless chicken. Also it had so much vinegar it made me cough. It had no taste. All that you could taste was vinegar. Way to much.

First thing she said to me was «you guys wanna sit here or there and do you need a menu or no?» LOL. This place hasn’t seen renovation in 100 years. Chairs and table cloths are pretty scary.
Being cash and order what everybody tells you gotta order. It’s definitely a local flavor.
As for someone who likes food cooked to perfection, I thought the shrimp beeps were way over cooked. But hey, nobody that eats here even know what perfectly cooked shrimp tastes like so it don’t matter. I admired the level of spiciness of the marinara though. And so was the chicken savoy. It was put under the broiler for so long, no wonder it was so dry. But like I said, people around here like hockey pucks. And it comes drenched in vinegar sauce, I almost choked inhaling the smell. The entire time, you’re just soaking your dry chicken in the vinegar sauce and that’s pretty much your flavor right there. Escarole salad was vinegary too but well seasoned. It seemed like people who grew up around here loves frickin vinegar. Hey, if you’ve never been here and you love vinegar, you should give it a try and judge for yourself. Would I come back? Probably not.

This place is great. I felt like I was in a scene from Goodfellas walking into it. It’s family style but the portions aren’t huge. 2 couples shared everything we ordered. We started with 2 orders of shrimp beeps. They were awesome. The shrimp were cooked wonderfully and the sauce had just enough red pepper but not too much. Also the escarole salad came out and was really good but don’t fill up on it. We ordered Chicken savoy, pork francaise (not on the menu but a Unilocal recommendation) eggplant parm, and cavatelli with pot cheese. The chicken savoy was ridiculously good. No wonder they are known for it. The pork was also very very good. Eggplant and cavatelli were great as well, just like your nana would make for you. The chicken and pork really stood out for me because I’m a pasta guy and would never order a non-​pasta dish at an Italian restaurant but I would literally come back just for them.
My only critique was the price. All told we were in for $ 147 including a $ 50 bar bill for 2 carafes of chilled red table wine which was different. Not all bad, just different. Just a bit pricey for a small, hole in the wall tavern. The food was absolutely delicious so I guess it is what it is.
I really loved this place and will definitely be back.

Please don’t go here.
I’m tired of waiting forever for a table because the food is so damn good!!!
So everyone stop coming!!! so my fat ass doesn’t have to wait anymore!!!

Clam appetizer was excellent as was the Pork cutlet that the patrons at the table beside me insisted that I try. The Shrimp Scampi was OK at best. Chicken Savoy was dry. the experience was disappointing considering I’ve heard a lot of good things about this establishment.

Omg how can I devour in my local town #gravy to die for yes gravy not sauce I’m from North Jawesee. Newark school of hard knocks for food;)

The best dining experience I’ve had in Newark so far.
I ordered the chicken Savoy which was their star place. It was out of this world, extremely moist yet still crisp and tangy. The vinegar sauce was so delish I cleaned the plate up while dipping the bread in. Everyone on the table was very satisfied with their dishes (Pork Fancese and a shrimp plate).
Atmosphere is very casual, with most people in in their 30s-​40s. Service is very tentative and food came out hot. The owner is a sweetheart and came to ask us twice about how we were doing. When she knew it was our first time here, she asked about our profession and introduced to others in the resto which were regulars. You really feel at home and welcomed here. It is a family-​owned place and it shows.
It is cash only but there’s a bank nearby if you came unprepared.

My family is originally from this area. When I walked in the door I hear Loui Prima blasting through the restaurant which is filled with 20 guys that could be my uncle. The grappa was flowing and everything was right with the world. I went up to the bar tender to get a drink. He said, «What do you want?» with local, Belleville distain. I ordered the only bourbon on the shelf, an Old Grand Dad on the rocks. I was home.
Within minutes I was in a conversation with a nice retired couple from the area, now living at the shore. Within another 15 minutes the woman in the couple is on my phone with my mother because they have the same friends from the neighborhood from 50 years ago!
When our table was ready we said goodbye to our new friends with kisses on the cheek and big deep hugs, then walk to our table. I don’t want to get into what to order and what not to. Let’s just say the food is all very traditional to the area. It is Italian food the way people cook it who are from Newark, Bellville, Bloomfield, Verona etc. If your family is from these areas it will bring you back to when you were a kid. This was one of the better low cost, casual meals I have ever had. The ambiance hints to a much simpler time. I feel this is a must stop for anyone in the area.
A few hints for you. Cash only, bring a bunch because you will not stop eating and drinking. Be prepared to wait. It took us a good hour to get a table. Be prepared to move your table if you want to sit and chat after you meal. It is a very small place and they move people around to keep the food moving.

I just can’t say enough about the food here. So let me start by saying if I’m on death row and they ask me what I want for my last meal I will have to say «special salad, shrimp beeps over spaghetti, and a loaf of bread» I don’t care who you think you are you will not be treated with warm open arms. But I don’t need fluff. Just feed me… Prrrrrrr

The worst service ever. The staff is very rude. Every time we have been here the staff has been not been welcoming. We enjoy the food but this will be my last time

We ordered the chicken Murphy and chicken savoy. Both were done very well and full of flavor. Not the best we’ve ever had, but far from the worst.

Holy Cannoli! Man, was this joint good. Too bad it’s in the middle of Nowheresville, or I’d be back.
We had the escarole salad, with fresh greens and a sharp, tangy dressing. Scungili was nice, too. Chicken Savoy was absolutely out of this world, tangy and crisp. Pork francese was delicious.
Service was friendly (if a bit brisk), as were our fellow diners.
A huge, huge GO, if you can.

When you think of the best authentic NY/​NJ Italian cuisine that you would get as a recommendation on the set of Sopranos/​Goodfellas/​etc. this is one of those places.
Ignore the comments about the waitstaff being curt. They’ve got some of the best Italian food in the metro area (at totally reasonable prices) and they know it.
Chicken Savoy: legendary. There’s nothing quite like it and if you ask how they make it you might not make it out alive.
Shrimp beeps. Shrimp are tender and cooked perfectly but it’s that special red sauce that makes it go. I could pour that stuff on shoe leather and come back for seconds. If not a seafood person get it on just pasta.
Cavatelli with pot cheese. Phenomenal. The cavatelli is nice and tender and the ricotta is the perfect fit. Can’t wait until next time.

Got seated right away. Great service and the best Chicken Savoy in NJ– hands down. Eggplant Parmesan is bangin as well. Must try…
The area is a little rough around the edges but when u get inside– it’s all family…
No desert though but barely had room for it anyway. And make sure you hit the ATM cause it’s cash only.

Delicious Food.
Reasonable Prices.
Old World Charm.
Yes, it’s an old school New Jersey Dive that feels as if you’ve stepped back in time. The joint is adorned with old school photos of celebrities of yesteryear with just a smattering of the new to keep it relevant.
You won’t find any frills here. No beers on tap. Your usual selection of bottles along with inexpensive red and white wines and a selection of more or less basic liquors. If you’re looking for a froofy exciting cocktail, move along.
It’s interesting in that they don’t take credit cards or reservations and the wait for a table could be anywhere from 5 minutes to over an hour any night of the week. Sure it’s likely that your wait will be longer on the weekend during prime time, but you’d best not be surprised to find yourself waiting on a Monday night.
Highlight Aps:
Clams Oreganata
Shrimp Beeps
Highlight Mains
Chicken Savoy – often imitated, never duplicated! This dish is the main reason for the joint’s success!
Chicken Murphy
Cavatelli with Pot Cheese
Undercover Delicious Main:
Pork Franchese – You’re welcome!
Parking nearby can be tough sometimes, but circle around and you’ll find a spot.

The belmont. An old school, no frills, classic NJ experience. This place has not been renovated in years, which is part of the charm. You walk in (through the absurd spring door) and to your right is a juke box blasting some kind of oldies music, usually guarded by a cute little old man who probably is there 3 – 4 days a week as a regular.
The bar itself is super old too. No beers on tap, just Heineken, Budweiser, coors light and maybe one other domestic beer. Old school pictures are everywhere and the red and white plastic table cloths on each of the tables are also a nice touch.
Don’t try making a reservation unless you want the bartender answering the phone to laugh at you (literally. I’ve witnessed it). You put your name in with the little old man with the glasses. Somehow he manages to keep track of everyone. Once you’re seated, do not piss the waitresses off. Know what you want to eat. quickly. These ladies are busy buzzing around the place, as it’s always packed.
Do as everyone else advises, get the shrimp beeps, cavatelli and pot cheese, hot peppers (if you can handle true heat), chicken savoy and chicken Murphy. The hot peppers are the best I’ve ever had but they are HOT as hell. I get them every time. I love the burn.
A word to the wise, bring cash, as this place doesn’t take cards of any kind. Otherwise, have fun walking down the sketchy streets of the surrounding neighborhood to the nearest ATM. If you’ve never been to the belmont, you have to go at least once. It’s a true classic.

This place is indeed a dive … the place has not been remodeled in decades and it definitely shows. The dining area is very small, which means that you might end up sharing a table with someone else. There is an old-​time bar when you first walk in — nothing on tap. Of course, were any of these things to suddenly change, it wouldn’t be the Belmont.
My parents have been coming here for years, this unfortunately was only my second visit, though I have long been sharing in leftovers that they bring back home. I promise that it will not be long until my next visit. The food is really that good.
For starters, this is old fashioned family style. By that I mean this is not your typical Carmine’s family style which is typically an abundance of dumbed down gluttony which has no reason to exist other than to attract tourists and frankly does not taste good. I promise you, this isn’t that type of a family style. At the Belmont, you get something special. Nothing fancy — just old time joint New Jersey Italian cuisine. The many photographs which accompany the review of the Belmont will give you an example of exactly what to expect when you order.
Everyone on here has mentioned that Chicken Savoy, and there is a reason for that. If you come to the Belmont and do not try the Chicken Savoy, then you are missing something truly special. Beyond that however, I cannot heap enough praise upon their hot peppers. I have no idea what they do with these peppers, but they definitely are not intended for the light hearted. They are H-​O-​T. I highly suggest you initially try them in small doses just to test your own tastebuds. Many people can’t handle the hotness, so this dish might not be for them. If you are lucky enough however, can handle the heat, then you will find yourself popping these in your mouth.
Pick a pasta dish — people love the Shrimp Beeps. I suggest the spaghetti beeps which combines the shrimp with spaghetti. The red sauce here is really good. I can promise you that from me that is saying quite a bit because I never like to eat red sauce out. This Belmont is a definite exception to that rule.
Next time I go to the Belmont I intend to give the cavatelli and pot cheese a chance. I can’t wait!
Finally — I definitely agree with the other reviewers who have recommended coming early. We arrived at 5 pm, and had no problem getting a table. By 6 pm, there was literally a line out the door. And — as also noted by others BRING CASH, they don’t accept credit cards.
If all dive restaurants could be like the Belmont — what a happier place the world would be. I can’t wait for my return.

Okay, so I walked in, and felt like I was in a time warp… I felt like I walked into an Italian restaurant in the late 60’s or early 70’s… Glass Mirror wall behind the bar with weird design on it, wood paneling on the walls, dated ceiling, plastic table clothes, etc. Juke box playing older «NJ Italian» tunes. I felt like Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta from Good Fella’s were going to bust through the door any minute. It was my first time here, and I was skeptical… My buddy insisted we go.
From the moment we sat down we had excellent service. Don’t ask for any particular type of wine, though. You get your choice of Red, White, chilled, or not. We went with a couple carafe’s of chilled red. It was fine. I’m not a wine snob, so I could care less about the type. As mentioned, the service was good, not overly intrusive, the server (waitress) was very pleasant and accommodating.
Now for the food. Shrimp «Beeps,» Cavatelli, their staple chicken dish, dinner salad, bread, all served family style. The only thing I can say that kept it from getting five stars are the Clams Casino. They were just okay. But everything else was off the hook.
I’m glad we got there at 7:00 because by 7:30 you couldn’t get a table, and had to wait. If you decide to go, bring cash. It’s old school. No credit cards. My buddy and I are hell bent on going back.
How come I didn’t know this place existed when I lived in Bloomfield? It’s right there.

Without question a staple to New Jersey and the history of the early days of Belleville and Newark. The décor is still from the 70’s so if you want something else go somewhere that’s French. Old school Italian family style, we haven’t had a menu at our table in 20 years and you don’t need one. Shrimp beebs, mostly imitated never duplicated a must. Chicken Murphy always get extra potatoes they are unmatched. Long hots, for those who think they come burnt, you wouldn’t understand old school Italian food anyway. They are hot so be ready and make sure you dunk your bread in the oil before they take the plate. Chicken Savoy, what can one say, come hungry leave full and always take some home because it’s all just as great next day. This is a old school dining experience, be ready for that otherwise you probably wouldn’t have made it in the neighborhood back in the day, enjoy!

It’s small. It’s an institution. Get there right at 5pm or plan on having to wait a while to get a seat. (And that inside spring door that opens into the bar is just plain ridiculous.)
As soon as we walked in it smelled amazing and brought me back to my youth (growing up in Iron Bound when it was still Italian and everyone and their mother were bookmakers). The waitresses are busy, flustered and you better not do or say something stupid to upset the rhythm of the dining service (like ask for a menu — everyone’s a local and already knows what they want!). The waitress also had an uncanny ability to ‘fix’ what you were thinking of getting (whether food or drinks) and she was right each time (my kids were definitely happy with what she suggested all around).
Can I make a dig that the shrimp were tough and overcooked in their ‘Shrimp Beeps’ dish? You can overlook it when the sauce is so damn tasty. Chicken Savoy, Chicken Murphy, Cavatelli and Pot Cheese, Pork Francese and a chilled wine carafe of red… everything was excellent.
Officially I’m giving it 4.5 stars. I would love to give 5 stars just for the overall enjoyment of the night but my Clams Oreganata app never came out (but was on the bill at the end — but the waitress was cool and took it off) and of the 6 salad bowls we received at the start — two were dirty containing salad from a prior table (sorry but that’s yucky).
Bonus: me sitting across from a picture of Uncle Floyd. I grew up loving that guy (and seeing him tape his show at a studio in Newark!) — so that was cool for me.