Best Restaurants in and Around Belleville, New Jersey: A Culinary Journey

Belleville is an Essex County township with a Newark Light Rail stop at Silver Lake, Hendricks Field Golf Course, Clara Maass Medical Center, and part of Branch Brook Park, which Belleville shares with Newark and which is known for its cherry blossoms. Its dining runs from a longtime Italian-American tavern to Thai, Cuban and Peruvian kitchens. I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, and when I help buyers look at a town, where they will eat on a weeknight matters as much as the kitchen in the house. Here is a look at places in Belleville that were open when this guide was updated in September 2026.

Exploring the Culinary Delights

Much of Belleville's dining sits along Washington Avenue and Franklin Avenue, with more on Franklin Street, Bloomfield Avenue and the side streets. Some of the places below are BYOB and at least one is cash only, so it is worth checking before you go. Hours change, and small restaurants open and close, so call ahead before you make a special trip.

Mouthwatering Recommendations

• Belmont Tavern, 12 Bloomfield Avenue: A longtime Belleville tavern. NJ Monthly reports that Chicken Savoy was created here in 1967, and it is still the dish people come for, along with Shrimp Beeps, fried shrimp in a spicy sauce. Hot pepper ravioli and Chicken Murphy are also on the list of favorites. The setting is no-frills.

• Topaz Thai, 137 Washington Avenue: A family-run Thai restaurant. Pad thai, drunken noodles, curries, fried rice and Thai iced tea are the dishes diners mention. It is BYOB.

Casual Dining and Social Hotspots

• Michael's Roscommon House, 531 Joralemon Street: An Irish pub and sports bar open since 1982, with plenty of TVs for game day. The menu runs to wings (the house Jersey wing), burgers, shepherd's pie, fish and chips, baby back ribs and Portuguese garlic shrimp.

• Gino's Pizza & Ristorante, 545 Washington Avenue: A pizzeria and Italian kitchen. The Grandma pizza is a thin Sicilian crust with fresh mozzarella and San Marzano sauce, and the menu also includes arugula pizza, chicken francese and spaghetti and meatballs.

Romantic Dinners and Special Occasions

Belleville's two best-known special-occasion spots are event halls rather than walk-in restaurants. They are where people hold weddings, showers and milestone parties:

• Nanina's In The Park, 540 Mill Street: A wedding and event venue on the grounds of Branch Brook Park, with Tuscan-villa style architecture. It has been hosting weddings for more than 65 years and holds up to 400 guests.

• The Chandelier, 340 Franklin Avenue: A banquet hall and caterer owned by the Apicella family since 1975, for parties of about 50 to 300 guests.

Starting the Day Right

• Bagels Plus, 178 Franklin Street: A bagel shop open from 6 a.m. The Taylor ham (pork roll), egg and cheese is the order, including a version on French toast, along with bacon, egg and cheese and scallion cream cheese.

• Montuno, 138 Washington Avenue: A Cuban restaurant that opened in 2024 and opens at 7 a.m.. Cuban sandwiches, pernil, yuca con mojo, tostones and carne con papas are on the menu.

Global Flavors, Local Charm

• Warique, 165 Garden Avenue: A Peruvian restaurant and cafe. Andean ceviche, lomo, chaufa and short rib seco are on the menu, with chicha morada cheesecake and tres leches for dessert. It is closed Mondays.

• Topaz Thai and Montuno, above, round out a short walk of international cooking on Washington Avenue.

Belleville puts a lot of choice within a few miles, and many of these restaurants are a short drive or walk from the neighborhoods around Washington and Franklin Avenues. If you are thinking about buying or selling in Belleville, I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato, and I'm glad to talk through the township with you, from Silver Lake to the blocks around Branch Brook Park.