happytypinggirl
06-29-2008, 10:23 PM
So i was yelping today, and wrote a review for one of my 'undiscovered' favorite places, and i was curious if any of you jerseyites have been here, cause its soooo good, and I want to share. Its in bloomfield, right near Newark. Here's my Yelp review.
Belmont Tavern also known as Stretch's is a local favorite. If you like classic home cooked (grandma cooked) italian food, and you dont mind waiting for a table, and dont mind if the waitstaff is a little short with you, you will LOVE Belmont Tavern.
Where do I begin....well your table will be served a simple but delicious bottomless salad, and some great crusty italian bread to start. They also have a 'special salad' that some people ask for, but I like to stick with the simple stuff.
Everything is big enough to share, (although usually we dont, in fact, we fight the waitresses to take back the piles of share plates they insist on bringing). First, for your pasta course (yes, they will serve you a pasta course first, and then your entrees, so if you want them at the same time speak up), you can go simple with one of their perfectly cooked pastas with meat sauce (and omg is that a delicious meat sauce) or you can go for the unbeatable cavatelli with pot cheese. I swear, this stuff is like crack. No matter how full i get, i just keep shoveling it in. RESTRAIN yourself, cuz its even better as leftovers. In fact its the greatest 3am after drinking food ever created.
For your second course, share the Mad Chicken (omfg, on the bone, with the most delicious seasonings ever!!) or the Chicken Savoy (kind of a balsamic reduction). Oh and I almost forgot the best thing on the menu....and possibly the best reason to go there......(drumroll)....
SHRIMP OREGANATO!!!! After trying it here, you'll try to reproduce the experience by ordering it everywhere else you go, and you will then have let down after let down after let down. Nobody can come close to their shrimp oreganato. We order one for the table (sometimes two or three) as an appetizer, and one of my friends usually gets two orders-- one to start, one for dinner. There aren't words for how good this shit is!!!! I like to pile it high on the bread, and then load the extra breadcrumbs and more oil on top. I know i'll regret it an hour later, but i do it anyway, every time.
Personally, i like having the pastas served with the other stuff, but it isnt always easy to get what you want there. hehe. you kind of have to accept that the waitresses are the equivalent of eating at your aunts house, they'll hear you when they want to, and they'll yell at you if they have to, but they mean well, and in the end you're going to love every bit of it. The only problem is, i cant go here often because i feel like a fat pig the next day.
My menu recommendation?
-- start with the salad
-- shrimp oreganato appetizer
-- cavatelli and pot cheese for pasta course
-- mad chicken dinner
And share, or have the best leftovers ever.
Full bar available.
Belmont Tavern also known as Stretch's is a local favorite. If you like classic home cooked (grandma cooked) italian food, and you dont mind waiting for a table, and dont mind if the waitstaff is a little short with you, you will LOVE Belmont Tavern.
Where do I begin....well your table will be served a simple but delicious bottomless salad, and some great crusty italian bread to start. They also have a 'special salad' that some people ask for, but I like to stick with the simple stuff.
Everything is big enough to share, (although usually we dont, in fact, we fight the waitresses to take back the piles of share plates they insist on bringing). First, for your pasta course (yes, they will serve you a pasta course first, and then your entrees, so if you want them at the same time speak up), you can go simple with one of their perfectly cooked pastas with meat sauce (and omg is that a delicious meat sauce) or you can go for the unbeatable cavatelli with pot cheese. I swear, this stuff is like crack. No matter how full i get, i just keep shoveling it in. RESTRAIN yourself, cuz its even better as leftovers. In fact its the greatest 3am after drinking food ever created.
For your second course, share the Mad Chicken (omfg, on the bone, with the most delicious seasonings ever!!) or the Chicken Savoy (kind of a balsamic reduction). Oh and I almost forgot the best thing on the menu....and possibly the best reason to go there......(drumroll)....
SHRIMP OREGANATO!!!! After trying it here, you'll try to reproduce the experience by ordering it everywhere else you go, and you will then have let down after let down after let down. Nobody can come close to their shrimp oreganato. We order one for the table (sometimes two or three) as an appetizer, and one of my friends usually gets two orders-- one to start, one for dinner. There aren't words for how good this shit is!!!! I like to pile it high on the bread, and then load the extra breadcrumbs and more oil on top. I know i'll regret it an hour later, but i do it anyway, every time.
Personally, i like having the pastas served with the other stuff, but it isnt always easy to get what you want there. hehe. you kind of have to accept that the waitresses are the equivalent of eating at your aunts house, they'll hear you when they want to, and they'll yell at you if they have to, but they mean well, and in the end you're going to love every bit of it. The only problem is, i cant go here often because i feel like a fat pig the next day.
My menu recommendation?
-- start with the salad
-- shrimp oreganato appetizer
-- cavatelli and pot cheese for pasta course
-- mad chicken dinner
And share, or have the best leftovers ever.
Full bar available.