Patsy’s Tavern & Restaurant

Been coming here since I was a child! Local family owned Italian restaurant. There is a very tavern feel with the bar in the front and wood paneling everywhere. The waitresses have all been there over 20 years and know all of the regular patrons.
I always order the muscles and cheese garlic bread. The sauce is perfection and I love to dip my bread in to get every last bit! They have small portions of pasta and regular size — I usually skip the dinner selections and order pizza. The pizza has a thin crust but is cooked to perfection. I love getting pepperoni and extra cheese. The pepperoni is small and crispy which is delicious. Be aware when you order the extra cheese it can be a bit oily — but nothing a little blotting couldn’t fix.
There isn’t much parking in the area, but this place is a true gem and I will be back! Love a taste of home :)

Really? Best pizza in Jersey??? Decided to come here on a Friday night after hearing good reviews but came home disappointed. We ordered the rice ball special and a pizza with sausage & broccoli rabe. The pizza is not traditional «pizza dough»…it’s hard and crunchy the flavor was mediocre at best. Service was nice and friendly. Will not return.

Low Quality, processed cheese and sugar in cracker crust… Need I say more.
Pizza was terrible.

Step back to the 50’s/60’s from the moment you enter the door. The tables, the booths, the atmosphere… feels historic. I have been visiting Patsy’s since I was in high school. In my mind, the pizza here is the best in North Jersey and all my friends agree. My family has been getting it the same way for the past 15 years… with fresh garlic. I can never eat enough of it. If old enough, be sure to wash the pizza down with a glass of wine or a beer from the bar.
If you aren’t in the mood for pizza, there broccoli rabe is out of this world. Whether you want it with pasta, or as a side dish, I highly recommend it. The mussels are also a favorite in my family, and something else I would highly recommend as an appetizer. Whether you are eating at the restaurant or taking out, the food is ALWAYS delicious.

great place, love the old time bars, the pizza here is delicious, cool place and will be back again.

My review may be a bit swayed by the fact that Patsy’s has been one of my favorite family traditions for the past 15 years.
That being said — I LOVE this place! While it isn’t in the nicest of neighborhoods, it is totally worth it. The place hasn’t changed since the 50s or 60s (I’m pretty sure some of the waitstaff has been there since then, too), which is definitely part of the charm.
My family goes in a group of 10 – 15 each summer. We always get mussels & pizza with quite a few pitchers. They never disappoint! The pizza is really something special — the crust is cooked to crispy perfection & the sauce, cheese & toppings are fresh and tasty.
Overall — if you like a retro vibe & aren’t turned off by a less-​than-​picturesque neighborhood — hit this place up!

It’s like entering a time machine and going 50 years into the past. Excellent Italian peasant food and excellent pizza here.

I don’t know who gave them 4.5 stars, but wtf! This place was like steping into the twilight zone. The lighting was that of a muggy basement. The only thing good was the rice ball and even that was sketchy. I grew up 6 block from the place and never ate there til now, I wasn’t missing anything. The seating was that of a finger painting class for 2year olds. All we wanted was pizza and that was the most greeses slop I’ve ever had. Cheese was salty, pepperoni was small and look like oil cups the way it was shaped. the crust was so dry it could of been a cracker. The lady that took the order was brain washed, on how to make pizza, Over prizzed slop for a pizzareia in paterson. 3 block away is real Italian pizza.

Very nice cold antipasto and fabulous garlic bread. Pizza is different and a must try!

Really good pizza.
Patsy’s is out of the way in a semi-​industrial area of Paterson, in a building that looks like a good wind will knock down. The restaurant seating is old school, as is everything in this place. They offer a pretty full menu but we don’t make it very much past the pizza (which is really good).

unassuming on the outside. amazing on the inside. Real old school vibe. Beer in frosted mugs and perfect pizza. One of the best in NJ.

I’m originally from the Bronx, so I know good pizza when I taste it! OMG this pizza is great. Thin crust, delicious pizza sauce, cheese, pepperoni, the works. Have been here 3 times in the last month in a half ever since one of our bowling buddies told us his uncle is a co-​owner and that they had the best pizza in town. He was not kidding! The ambience is a throw back to the 60’s/70’s dark with lots of wood and booths, fairly quiet, street parking, the waitresses are really nice. Overall they have our pizza business hands down. Keep in mind this place is reasonably priced but only takes cash, so have enough on hand as the bar tap does add up! The non-​pizza food fare is palatable, Brunos in Clifton route 46 still has my top marks on delicious italian dishes and sicilian slices, although their pizza is so so… Ironic huh? :)

Hands down the best Pizza in NJ.
The booths are small (they were built when this whole country wasn’t fat and were shorter.) The location is Paterson, not the nicest area but w/​e. Don’t expect some beautiful brand new fancy pizza place… this place is dated but I love it that way.
This pizza is so good. They make every bit of it there fresh, no canned tomatoes or cheese. The crust is so thin. The rest of the menu is amazing too. I always get pizza + broccoli rabe + chicken parm + pitcher of birch beer. The wait staff is so nice, they are older (no dumb kids) and have been working there forever. The guys in the back are so nice and the bartender is great too.
My grandfather used to take my dad here way back when my dad was a kid (I’m 23, hes 59 now.) I’m glad I still get to go here for lunch.

Ok for those that said its the best pizza ever … Really? Or the best pizza in jersey? Really? Is it better than grimaldis in Hoboken? No. Not even close. Is it better than mancinis in Montclair? No. Not even close. Is it better than Arturo’s in maplewood? No. Not even close. Shall I continue? I have another at least 5 places that are wayyyyyy better than here.
The dinners like eggplant parm etc are vey good but not even close to spiritos in Elizabeth (which is pretty much same concept, super old place original everything etc. .Even the pizza at spiritos is better than here. Sorry.

To round out a day of excellent eating in NJ, we came here for dinner. Dark wood and dim lighting, upholstery and décor that hasn’t’ been updated in decades and pizza that makes you shut up. It looks like nothing from the outside, a bit sketchy even, but dude, walk through that door and throw yourself into some excellent thin crust. I don’t even much like pepperoni pizza, but i couldnt’ stop eating it here. It was just so good and cooked so it was curled up and slightly crispy on the edges. Just, yes.

I have been going to Patsy’s literally my entire life. Reason is because my father has been going there since my grandparents first took him when he was 7 in 1942. Little has changed since then, décor wise. They never bothered to renovate anything at all. Same dingy old tiny booths, same cheap beer signs and grungy curtains. And while some may take exception with this, it provides with a degree of comfort that no other restaurant seems to have. The pizza and all of their food is consistently excellent, service attentive and birch beer, rich and creamy. I remember playing basketball in the back with Steve and Gary when we were kids while Ralph and Marilyn manned the kitchen. Now it’s the sons’ turn and it’s always great to see them. Patsy’s is home for me. I remember being 9 or 10 years old in the back seat of my father’s Oldsmobile arguing with my sister about where to go. I always wanted Patsy’s, she preferred Chinese and I usually won. Ha, ha Jennifer. The fortunate thing for anyone reading this its that it’s never too late to start a tradition, especially where family is concerned. Sure, the neighborhood is questionable, but you’ll be fine and go enjoy what my family and I have for many, many years. Love, love love Patsy’s.

Went with a group of 15… It was ok… I ordered the chicken parm sandwich and although I ate half of it, I kept getting a strange after taste. Not sure if it was the chicken or sauce, a friend (who’s a chef) seemed to think it was the breading on the chicken… whatever. It turned me off.
The pizza was very good… and the rice ball was excellent.
At the end of the meal, one of the ladies ordered coffee and the cream was bad, she almost puked…
ambiance is old-tavern-like…place is about 1000 years old and looks it… my favorite thing was the wedding picture of ‘Patsy’ at the bar as soon as you walk in.
I wouldn’t go back… especially when I have the Lido in Hackensack much closer… and the food is SLAMMIN!

Shut yo mouth. The negative reviews of Patsy’s on this board are shocking to me. Patsy’s is nothing short of a Paterson institution, a restaurant that hasn’t changed in fifty years. The sketchy back entrance by the kitchen, the wood booths, literally nothing has changed. However, they cook up a pizza pie that will knock you out of your seat.
Their pizza epitomizes the thin crust style of the New York metro area. The pepperoni are cooked to such perfection that they begin to curve up. They never have that cold, slimey feeling you sometimes find at take out joints. They are so crisp and tender that they almost remind of bacon. The sausage is also perfectly cooked, and is a delicious addition to the great pizza.
Patsy’s is almost like a secret restaurant, only frequented by locals and those in the know. While I may not be a New Jersey pizza aficionado, I know a good slice. And Patsy’s is a damn good slice, no matter the toppings. Here’s to hoping some things never change.

It doesn’t give me any pleasure writing this review. Patsy’s (no relation to the NY one FYI) has to be one of my favorite pizza PLACES I’ve been to. The part of Paterson it is in doesn’t look very inviting but frankly a lot of you are acting like wimps; the area isn’t THAT bad. The inside is dark and everything looks ancient. It’s almost like entering a tomb from the change in air as you step in and the old chandeliers and hand-​carved wooden signs. Unlike many other New Jersey Pizzerias where the staff like to bust balls or are assholes for the sake of being assholes, the staff here cannot be nicer. Just about everyone who goes here is a regular or has ties to the area, so it is literally a neighborhood watering hole and an extremely rare and interestingly sociological find.
But – and this is a big but – the pizza I got here wasn’t any good. Not at all. It was of the «bar» genus, with the added twist of the crisp crust being turned upward on the outer rim to form something that resembles a pastry crust. This crust was dense, lacked a flavor other than grease, and was like a stale cracker. The sauce had just a slight hint of tomato flavor with the rest coming from an unbalancing dose of oregano. The cheese was good, but it was either very oily or oil had been added to the pizza. The sum total was a oily, cheesy cracker which I couldn’t find anything to like about. I had been chatting up the bartender and other regulars so I didn’t want to be a dick, so I got it to go and subconciously left it behind. Of course every regular in the damn place point this out to me before I was out the door and I went back to grab it. Quietly I wished that they hadn’t.
Nice people, bad pizza. I’ve had this style of bar pie elsewhere since and it was much better, so this style can work. Maybe this was an off night for them, but others seem to be describing something similar so that may not be the case. Patsy’s is such a great place that it hurts me to seemingly «out» it, and that has never happened before. If this isn’t an instance of people loving a restaurant’s other so much that they ignore the slippage of the food, I don’t know what is. I’m happy that Patsy’s still exists and that so many people love it, but I can’t eat that stuff again.
Note: Extra star for for all-​of-​the-​above. Pizza itself is 1 star only

– Northern NJ Pizza Tour: Stop 5 –
Located in a rather rough neighborhood, I literally ducked for my life when I tried to take a photo of the restaurant’s sign outside before entering. Fortunately, what sounded like gun shots at the precise moment that I pulled out my camera, was actually only firecrackers. Whew! Timing is everything as they say. Needless to say, this is not the sort of place you discover and happen by as you would likely have turned around long before arriving here.
Inside, there is a grim bar where you can stoically drink spirits and cuss in Spanish. Beyond the bar, there is a simply appointed dining room where you can quietly await some Italian food or pizza, as is your want. We went with a plain pie. Talk about a rough looking pizza. Seriously, take a look at the photo attached to this review. The crust was sloppily finished, tearing apart at places, and sticking well up into the air towering over the pie beneath. Said crust was akin to a pastry shell used for pies. It was very heavy and not particularly tasty. Apparently they prepare their crust in an unusual way whereby they cook it in a pan first before placing it in the oven. The unorthodox procedure really is a disservice. I mean, my slice was barely edible. It was so heavy, I had difficulty finishing my single slice; this is something that happens with Sicilian slices, not normal slices. The sauce and cheese was okay though. Switching over to a normal crust, their pie would be considerably better in my opinion. They are definitely unique in what they offer, but that is not necessarily a good thing.
My opinions aside, the place is a clear hit with the locals who will swear by their crust. Generations of town folk have eaten here, and the place is rather special to them. Our waitress was very helpful in explaining the history of the restaurant to us, and giving us a romantic slant on the place. For this I will give them a second star. It might not be special to me, but it certainly is special to some, and that counts for something.