The Most Delectable Venues & Event Spaces in Newark

Cafe Pro Bono

★★★★☆ 3.9 (873) • $$$

"Café Pro Bono - A Classic Italian Spot with a Loyal FollowingCafé Pro Bono is an older, classic Italian restaurant with a clear sense of community. The clientele seems well-established--by the time we were leaving, regulars were chatting with the owner, asking about his family as if it were a weekly tradition. It's the kind of place where everyone knows each other, which gives it a warm, familiar charm.When we asked for recommendations, we got the classic "it's all good" response. And while everything was good, nothing stood out as great.We tried Susan's Downfall, a delicious ravioli dish topped with a rich Gorgonzola-based cream sauce--easily the highlight of the meal. The Tagliatelle with Smoked Chicken was also excellent, with perfectly cooked pasta and well-balanced flavors. For dessert, we had Bertucci's Favorite, a simple but satisfying vanilla gelato with a boozy berry compote that was just the right way to end the meal. Although- we were brought a delicious port after dessert. What a kind classic touch!Overall, Café Pro Bono is a solid, classic Italian joint that delivers good food in a welcoming setting. However, to stay relevant long-term, I'd love to see them modernize the experience a bit or develop a signature dish that truly sets them apart. Every great restaurant should have at least one thing it's famous for--right now, they do a lot of things well, but nothing exceptionally."

Chaplin’s Sports Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.1 (688) • $$

"I can't believe I've never written a review for Chaplin's before. I went on a Friday night just to grab some drinks with friends. They had a DJ to my surprise and really gave the place a good vibe. We got lucky and were seated in a booth right as we walked in. They have ample parking, but also have street parking available. I got a Moscow mule which was good and some Cajun fries. The Cajun fries had a kick to them if dipped in the chipotle mayo. The service was great with the team checking in every 10 mins to see if we need another drink or food item. I would highly recommend you check it out.Just wanted to add that I went and they had the Formula 1 Australian GP Practice 2 playing so I think they play the Formula 1 GP's here. Great to know I found a spot where I can go watch and have a drink!"

Pomella

★★★★☆ 4.2 (558) • $$

"I'm going to be thinking about those Brussel sprouts and cauliflower for years to come.... And maybe that pistachio baklava too. I came here for a work event and so everything was buffet style and I got to try it all! The hummus was a hit, the service was top notch, and the drinks were unique and delicious."

The Mexican Restaurant and Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (784) • $$

"If you want deliciously satisfying and authentic Mexican food then The Mexican is where you want to be. My family has been coming here for years and no matter what you order from the menu the food is beyond expectation. This time I even ordered the grilled chicken taco salad and loved it! I had some concern before getting my dish bc I didn't know if it would be bland or boring (side note: I typically I don't order a salad at a Mexican restaurant (like come on) but I wanted something light bc my stomach wasn't feeling great the night before). The salad was so filling and so colorful -- I was impressed. My belly thanked me for choosing the safer choice. The service was great and our group was consistently checked on. Not to mention the amount of space we had to catch up and share stories was perfect (we were not competing against loud noise). Anytime I'm in the east bay and crave Mexican food, I'll be here. What's not to love?"

Sakoon Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3 (582) • $$

"Best experience ever !!! Sakoon was absolutely amazing, servers were great, and food as usual was fantastic. Diya helped us organizer the quote and event and she is an absolute asset thanks Diya for everything !!!"

Fitoor

★★★★☆ 3.7 (281)

"Bf and I came here for lunch during an afternoon in Santana Row. The ambiance was upscale and calm, the service was quick, and it was easy to get a reservationHere's what we ordered:- chicken kulcha -- this kinda reminded me of the really good puffy bread from Elephante with some seasoned, ground chicken added in. It was delicious - paratha quesadillas -- this was a super creative concept and my favorite thing we ordered! - paneer / spinach ravioli with saag -- my bf loves saag so we ordered this but we didn't enjoy it too much. It felt like something was missing from the saag and the ravioli was alright, but still a cool concept I've never seen on a menu- butter chicken -- delicious, the chicken was so tender and flavorful, it was cooked well- raita -- good as well, was on the sweeter side - masala chaa -- delicious We're happy to have discovered an Indian restaurant with a great ambiance and food, and we will be back for sure!"

Willows & Pine

★★★★★ 4.6 (118) • $$

"We hit the jackpot when we landed seats at Willows & Pine! We had a bit of a wait (what great restaurant doesn't have one?) but we were also met with a warm greeting. The chowder was some of the best we've ever had. Hot, well-seasoned, creamy deliciousness with tender potatoes and perfect shrimp. A tastebuds' treat all by itself! But no, we didn't stop there. I had the jambalaya - filled with tender chicken, shrimp and sausage. It has a bit if a kick to it but the seasonings were all perfectly appointed. My husband ordered the pork chop dinner with mashed potatoes and braised Brussels sprouts. He fully enjoyed his meal - well not fully, I kept also dipping in his plate. Food - hot, fresh, amazing!I love, loved how that many customers that came in seemed to be family or at least repeat customers, and staff gave attention and time to everyone to ensure a pleasant dining experience. We were too full to attempt desserts but you can bet when we are back in the Bay, we will drop in on Willow & Pine. In the meantime, if you are anywhere close, go check them out. You will not be disappointed! Bravo Chef & Family!"

Fairchilds Public House

★★★★☆ 3.6 (107) • $$

"Date: Friday, May 26th, 2023Time: around 6:15pmParty of: 6-7 I believeWhat: Happy Hour / Before Dinner Drinks*Moffett Mule ($15)*Whiskey & Ginger Smash ($14)*Gilroy Garlic Fries ($9)*Cabernet Canyon ($10 happy hour) x2*Bulleit Bourbon Rye Manhattan ($15)*Smoked Maple Old Fashioned ($16) x2My group was meeting up for dinner but wanted to grab some drinks beforehand. A few in our party showed up first and grabbed a table outside on the patio. I joined with another friend a little later.One of my gfs is a wine drinker, so she grabbed a few HH cabs. I believe they were canyon road. Not a bad deal. I got a Manhattan. If memory serves, it was fine. Nicely balanced and not too sweet since I requested rye.I'm not sure if they were understaffed, but it was hard flagging down a server. They didn't really check up on us, so we had to keep following up on orders and such. And even the bill. We had a dinner rez, so we were trying to close. I believe I went inside to get the cc processed.I like sitting outside and enjoying a drink or two. But if you're coming here, make sure you're not in a hurry. It may take a while.REVIEW #3534"

The Fremont Clubhouse

★★★★★ 4.5 (61)

"Nice, friendly service. We had the chicken strips and fries. Good environment and plenty of seating."

Mission Hills Bar & Grill

★★★★★ 4.7 (33)

"Love love love their BLT here the ladies at the restaurant are soooo nice also, i love coming here"

Level 13

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (67) • $$

"This review is solely based on the beef patties. They're so good I dream about them. I don't know what their secret is but their dough is super flaky. The filling is generous and really good! I actually ordered one to split with my boyfriend and that was a huge mistake. We ended up ordering several more. I've been here before, but whoever was working behind the bar today had exceptional customer service. I asked for a side of their orange pepper sauce which is amazing on the beef patties. I came back a second time and she remembered I like the orange sauce with it and packed it with my Togo order."

W XYZ Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (33) • $$

"Sorry to say, this place had gone way downhill on my last visit. Since Marriott took over, the W XYZ branding is gone and it's just "Aloft." The soggy fries were more like any other restaurant, and the soda was noticeably watered down. The steak cut has been downgraded to ribeye.I'm glad I was able to enjoy it when Starwood was striving to bring a premium experience to budget-conscious consumers. Now the budget part is more painfully obvious, and where I had gone out of my way to visit before, it now feels like an overpriced Denny's. Bye, Felicia."

Sundance The Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"Came here for NYE dinner with a friend. We both ordered the prime rib. I let the waitress know that I also wanted to order something to-go, but that I would tell her later in the evening. She insisted I tell her now and she'd take care of it, and so I did. We were quickly served bread, and our food followed shortly after. The bread comes with a side of butter and balsamic+oil. The prime rib and the accompanying side dishes were perfectly cooked. The prime rib paired with the au jus was *chef's kiss*. For dessert, I ordered the famous mud pie, while my friend ordered the crème brûlée. The mud pie was okay. I was disappointed there wasn't a thicker crust. It was essentially a large plate of ice cream with whipped cream and fudge. The creme brûlée was also okay. It was made with white chocolate and would've been more well-balanced if it came with more fruit.Now here is the kicker. We get the bill and notice the to-go order was not on it. I tell our waitress and she goes to get it fixed. Well, it turns out she completely forgot to place the order and by then, the kitchen had already closed down. This is why I initially said i would personally let her know about my to-go item later, but she insisted I tell her at the beginning. Aside from a simple apology, there was no other attempt at service recovery. That food was meant to be a NYE meal for someone who now had to ring in the new year on an empty stomach. Not to mention, by that hour, it was impossible for me to find an appropriate alternative elsewhere.The food is good, but the service leaves a lot to be desired. I will not be coming back a second time."

Kalesa

★★★★☆ 3.6 • $$

"Service was excellent. Gigi was very personable and attentive to our needs making sure our drinks were always toped off!! Ambiance was nice. Tables were not too close to each other and noise level was tolerable.Food:1) Crispy Dinuguan - very tasty and pork was not fatty. 5 of 52) Pancit Miki Bihon - flavor was slightly bland 3 of 5. Seemed like it was missing something but could not figure it out3) Pinakbet - kind of soupy and we liked as it was not too salty. 4 of 54) Chicken Inasal - flavor was spot on so 5 of 55) Crispy pata - excellent 5 of 56) lumpia shanghai was slightly over cooked 3 of 57) calamari was also spot on so 5 of 5We know what to order at the next visit and we look forward to having Gigi service us. She is great and we really enjoyed interacting with her!!"

Buon Appetito Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$

"Dined in for dinner, party of 4 on a Sunday night. The two locals in our party are regulars for lunch, and they chose the place for us try before heading back home. Parking wasn't too challenging, and seated indoors (but near the patio door). Our main server was Marco, and some dishes/drinks were brought out by Alfredo. Excellent! The complimentary bread and garlic butter was yummy. Half of the party got mojitos, and sodas get 1 free refill as well. We started with two orders of the calamari fritti, which were lightly battered and the best eaten when hot and fresh. Not chewy or tough at all. The Linguine ai Frutti di Mare is basically like a cioppino with pasta. The Lasagne Ferrarese was a decent portion, very flavorful. The Fettuccine al Pesto with shrimp and mushrooms was also great, homemade pasta and pesto was also light. For dessert, also tried the tiramisu which was also good.Their specials menu did intrigue me (the mezzalune and the risotto) for next time.Got a calzone and a Pizza Buon Appetito to go, which were also delish!"

The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$$$

"Service was attentive and top notched. Our waters were always full. When my pregnancy was made known, I was greatly impressed by the thoughtfulness of our servers. While my table were toasting with their wines, it wasn't left out and given a glass of some sparkling pineapple juice. Our server was patient and explained the menu and made wonderful recommendations.Food was phenomenal and presentation was stunning. My table had ordered one of each of their desserts and no crumbs were left behind"