Tapas Restaurants near Cliffside Park, NJ

“Great place to eat Turkish food. Service is excellent & atmosphere is very nice: casual & friendly. Lots of tapas to choose from. Lamb dish is tender & baklava is superb. There’s live entertainment on the weekends. Sometimes one of the guests will be playing a clarinet or a guitar while eating. Lol. Lots of local Turkish people eat in this place. They started as a tiny restaurant & they have expanded to the one next door.“

“Great mimosas and food . Good atmosphere.“

“Here's the review Spencer wrote for you: My family and I just visited to celebrate my grandsons birthday- we like to get a bunch of plates and share family style and this menu was perfect for that. You have to get mezze and extra bread (must try the kubane). We also ended up getting three orders of the shishbarak for the six of us, it is way too good! I got the salmon for my entree which was cooked to perfection and beautifully seasoned. Spencer our server recommended the silan and the cheesecake for dessert so we shared those and boy were they something special- I can’t pick a favorite! He brought us a candle and we got some great pictures. I can’t recommend this restaurant enough.“

“Delicious food!! The best place I've been to in the east village in a very long time. I highly recommend it 😋“

“I’m visiting my mom from Los Angeles, and as we planned a night out together, I wanted to support a local spot. There’s always something new whenever I return home, and this time it was Chez Messy, just around the corner from the 157th Street train station. Perched up upon a small staircase, this two-floor restaurant is intimate, cozy, and deeply sultry.

Nestled in the heart of Uptown New York City, a neighborhood known for its Dominican roots and growing diversity, Chez Messy shines as a Spanish Caribbean infused gem that took my breath away. The space feels both refined and familiar, elegant yet soulful. As I sat waiting for my mother, I opened the menu, and immediately everything called my name.

Our server Joshua was an absolute delight, attentive, kind, and confident in every recommendation. Antonio, the owner and floor manager, greeted us with charm and poise. Dressed in a sharp suit, he exuded pride and grace, the embodiment of someone who deeply loves what he has created. What touched me most was realizing that this Spanish Caribbean dream of a restaurant is owned and operated by Dominicans. As someone who has traveled the world and eaten in countless hidden gems tucked along cobblestone streets, I can say this place holds its own among the best.

We started with a crisp glass of Albariño and dove into the pulpo and mofonguitos filled with ropa vieja. Let me start by saying I’m not typically a red meat superfan, but that evening I was completely transformed. The ropa vieja was tender, savory, juicy, and full of flavor. The plantain cups that held it were subtly sweet, creating a beautiful harmony between bold and delicate notes.

The pulpo was perfection, tender octopus paired with a light touch of vinegar and oil, thinly sliced onions, capers, and cherry tomatoes that burst like little jewels of freshness. It was bright, balanced, and refreshing, a perfect prelude to what would become an unforgettable meal.

Then came a surprise from Antonio, the avocado salad and batatas bravas, further inviting us into the full Chez Messy experience. I’ve had batatas bravas in Spain and beyond, but these were divine. Perfectly crisp on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside, with seasoning that danced on the palate. The avocado salad was heaven itself, silky avocado paired with slivers of almonds and a hint of citrus, perhaps grapefruit, creating a beautifully layered bite that was both rich and refreshing.

By the time our entrée arrived, filet mignon and shrimp in cream sauce, medium rare, we were already swept away. The filet was tender and bursting with flavor, the shrimp perfectly cooked, and the cream sauce was so delicious that I found myself tempted to lick the plate.

Everything about our experience at Chez Messy was divine, from the impeccable service to the romantic, dark, and dreamy ambiance, the vibrant music that moved through the air, and the drinks that sparkled as much as the conversation.

Chez Messy is where you go when you want great food in a wonderful location, when you want to feel inspired, seen, and transported. It is a love letter to Spanish Caribbean flavor and Dominican pride, wrapped in elegance and joy.

This place deserves to be full every night, though a part of me secretly wants to keep it all to myself.“

“This is a wonderful tapas bar! Easy to get to. We stopped at Bonsaii for lunch. The menu is delightful, our server, Laura, was very attentive and knowledgeable. We ordered items based on her recommendations, I'm glad we did! Delicious choices!! Beef empanadas, a flatbread, and a shrimp dish with toast points. We will definitely return! Quaint spot.“

“I was so impressed by ARIARI! Every dish was full of fresh, vibrant flavors and beautifully plated. The seafood and grilled items really stood out — everything was cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. The staff were super friendly and attentive, and the vibe of the place is modern yet comfortable. Such a great spot for dinner with friends or a nice date night! 🍶🍤✨“

“Your bill will be higher here but the experience makes it fair. The menu won't break the bank and tastes good. The kitchen maintains high standards. Service quality equals their excellent menu offerings. This spot warrants your immediate attention.“

“Delightful and cozy. Not only is the ambiance very nice but the food os a total delight 😋“

“I got takeout the other night—braised beef & noods, eastern cukes, congee and the cabbage special. I have no words. Well, I guess I do—happy dance mouth explosions. The cukes even got better as a pickled snack the next day. The staff was kind and fun, and I had the pleasure of meeting the chef, who deserves 5 stars as a human. Anyone who skips this place while in Dumbo should reconsider their life choices.“

“If you appreciate fusion sushi, I highly recommend giving this establishment a try. Their all-you-can-eat sushi on Mondays is an excellent option for a refined dining experience. The ambiance was truly wonderful. I visited on a Monday evening with my family, including children, and everything was impeccable. Our server, Patria, provided exceptional service. I requested the Knicks game to be displayed on the television, and she promptly accommodated my request. My personal favorites among the sushi selections were the Volcano roll and the Mar Y Tierra.“

“I went to Plado for the first time last night with a couple of friends who had already been there several times and raved about it. They were not wrong to rave! The food was simply superb. Every dish was an experience to savor. It actually made me stop and slow down so I could enjoy what was happening in my mouth. Everything had various levels of flavor that made the experience worthwhile. I can’t wait to go back and try more. Standouts for me were hard to choose but if I had to, the taro gnocchi, duck confit, and roasted carrots were my favorite. Desserts were out of this world delicious and unique so I encourage everyone to save room. The ambiance is lovely and the chef and his wife are warm and welcoming. I wish them a long and successful stay in Glen Cove!“

“Food was great/interesting. Pretty overpriced but I guess it is NYC. Sat at the table for 30mins before we could get a glass of wine. That's the fire thing I want when I sit down. They did apologize and try to make it right tho. Not sure I'd go back to be honest.“

“Best Persian food in Brooklyn. Perhaps the best Persian food in all of New York or beyond. Thanks — we will be back!
——————
You know a restaurant is excellent when all you’ve had is their artisanal bread served with homemade butter, homemade yogurt turned into a dip, and homemade mortadella—yes, mortadella— and you’re thinking, “wow, I could eat just this, served with a bottle of wine…. I’d be more than satisfied.” And, also at this point thinking “when am I going to come back?”

Not your typical kebab affair. It’s better. I promise. I was introduced to a world of Persian food I’ve never had at a restaurant before at a level of quality that is reserved for fine dining establishments.

This is an elevated dining experience that is meant to be shared. And yes, there is a vibe too. Attention to detail with every dish that the chef explained to me is painstakingly made from scratch —yogurts, marinades, preparation taking days, with ingredients sourced locally. Warm, knowledgeable staff to boot, too.

The drink menu is legit. Think Persian twists on classic drinks—-but executed well, where other twists often fail. The best espresso martini in Williamsburg. Perhaps the city. My wife said the best she’s ever had.“

“We came here for Tapas Tuesday and it was delicious!! The staff was amazing and there was even an artist painting a mural on the wall during dinner which was such a cool experience. All the tapas we tried were incredible but I highly recommend the croquettes! The orange wine they had was very good. Can’t recommend this place enough! They also do paella on weekends which I will definitely be going back for to try.“

“great happy hour and nice patio setup. owned by the same people as bar belly so you know it’s good. we walked in at 6:30 on a friday with no wait. wine was great and cocktails were good. would return for drinks and snacks before a night out.“

“My taste buds were surprised in the best possible way. The restaurant is small with busy lunches, yet delivers on taste and customer care. The kitchen delivers surprising quality. These workers deliver great service because they trust their product. Amazingly tasty!!!“

“We came to 87 Ludlow as a group of three and had such a great experience. The food was amazing, and we were lucky to catch their happy hour — the tapas were incredible! The Panang Curry with mussels was our favorite dish. Great vibe, great food, definitely coming back!“

“I found none of the problems mentioned by other reviewers. Their cooking approach demonstrates originality and every option has distinctive tastes. Workers exhibit outstanding friendliness and gladly provide recommendations if you seem undecided. This place maintains its standards. So happy with this place. I can't wait to go back and get everything single thing on their menu.“

“Accueil est cordial, le personnel professionnel , la nourriture est très bonne. Un petit coin de Provence à New York. Ambiance sympa 👍🏻“

“This is a bit of an upscale tapas bar, knowledge staff, not obtrusive. It did remind me of some upscale places in Spain. Go eat tapas the Manhattans with chocolate rim omg! Food was good too!“

“Endroit magnifique, décoré avec beaucoup de goût ! Les plats sont aussi beaux que bons, une cuisine travaillée et raffinée.. Le personnel accueillant et très professionnel ! Nous recommandons largement ! Allez-y les yeux fermés et les papilles ouvertes! 🌺“

“delicious food and drinks menu. service was attentive too.“

“What a wonderful restaurant great mix of foods and service was so friendly. Highly recommend butternut fries to start!“

“Superb experience , great food, prompt service, moderate prices...very enjoyable and well worth the money“

“We were incredibly impressed at C as in Charlie. Every single dish we had was very good - 3 of them were exceptional. The mozzarella/green pepper with soy balsamic was insanely good, the ribs were melt in your mouth and the prawn roll delicious too. Service was excellent and the restaurant had a real buzz/warmth to it. Absolutely shouldn’t be missed. Surprisingly reasonably priced too.“

“Nice place food uffff recomendado“

“The food is delicious and the service remarkably and memorably friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We started with the brussels, which have a sweet vinaigrette dressing and are cooked perfectly. The ribs were meaty, not fatty, with flavorful spicing. The corn and cheese is a surprise --- on the cob, but with chili powder. But the highlight was the kimchi fried rice, a uniquely delicious and satisfying dish topped by a perfectly poached egg. We closed the main courses with seafood kalguksu, a slightly spicy noodle soup with all kinds of seafood. Best seafood broth ever. Period Every other table had the black sesame bread pudding, so we decided to try it. They were right. Don't think about the huge volume of butter involved. All in all, small plates with huge flavors served by a wonderful wait team. Thanks Gurumé.“

“really good for quick-service style tapas. i’ve gotten crackers and canned food here before but never tried the tapas so it was a new experience. all of the croquettes were great with the ham being my favorite (not sure if they gave us iberico or serrano). tortilla was ok but a little bland. octopus was great!“

“Come visit you won't be sorry ☺️“

“Excellent service and food“

“Great food and very friendly staff!“

“We dined in. Three people. Ordered two main items, soda, and a cocktail. $100+tip. Food took one hour to arrive.Food was OK. There was only one server, very friendly but it was very hard to get their attention before or after food arrived.
I love neighborhood places and would support them fully but I am not sure how pricey they should be and how much service should I expect, with or without this pricetag.“

“To Dylen James and the Traif Team,
Warm greetings from the couple visiting from Florida! We just wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dylen for the amazing recommendations—we made it a point to visit every place you suggested, and each one was absolutely spot on.
Our experience at Traif was nothing short of phenomenal. From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable, and the food… wow. Truly top-tier. Hats off to the chef and the entire team—you all delivered a 6-star experience (yes, we’re going beyond 5!).
We’ll definitely be back soon, and next time, we just might call ahead to see if Dylen is working 😊
With appreciation,
Your Florida Fans“

“Delicious! Friendly service.“

“Cozy atmosphere and fine dining“

“Fabulous dinner we sat outside in the beautiful outdoor seating, Great service delicious food“

“The care and creative that’s put into each dish is superb. The pre-fix is an excellent deal. And it’s fam friendly even though the food is avant-garde in style. Nice service.“

“A charming gem in the West Village with that quintessential neighborhood feel. The team here was warm and engaging, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. The intimate setup makes it great for a date or catching up with friends, and both the cocktails and wine list were excellent. What stood out most, though, was the creativity in the dishes, each one felt thoughtfully put together and seasonal. Recommend the black sea bass ceviche.“

“I loved this spot from the moment I walked in! Very intimate and beautiful space. Food was delicious and the drinks were fantastic. They played Mariah Carey for us the entire time and gave us complimentary shots. Very friendly staff and everyone there you could tell enjoyed their job. Cannot wait to come back!

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes with designated seats for those in wheelchairs.“

“Caught up with a dear friend, wanted to find some place not too loud that we could talk and catch up. We picked the right place, not too loud, the food was great, my friend really liked the drinks. We had a great time. Thank you and we'll ba back again.“

“Quaint, charming cafe on the top floor of the Nordstrom NYC flagship store. Across the street from Carnegie Hall it's perfect for a before concert dinner ; not fussy or pretentious just good food presented by a caring, professional staff.“

“Amazing service, amazing food. Everyone was extremely friendly and attentive. Beautiful venue. Came here for our anniversary and will absolutely be returning! Michele provided excellent service and provided a wonderful experience. The tuna soja was delicious“

“Great food. Good service.“

“I had the chance to check out Seoul bap in the city and glad i did. We ordered a few different items and a couple drinks so we could taste a variety of things. We started off with drinks, mine was pretty strong they do not skimp on the alcohol.
For appetizers we had the korean fried chicken and corn cheese. The kfc was nice and crispy with a nice kick to it. The corn cheese was delicious and even had a spicy cauliflower in it that gave it some flare.
For main courses we did the famous galbi jjim - this is a must! It is tender fall of the bone perfection, the sauce is divine and the parsnip puree completes it. The spicy pork wasn't that spicy which I preferred and was good on its own. And then the burrata tteokbokki, what a combo! The burrata really added a nice cooling touch to the spicy sauce, really great pairing.
We ended dinner with black Sesame ice cream which was very velvety.
The restaurant is very nicely lit, great atmosphere and the staff was so sweet and welcoming!“

“We couldn’t visit NYC without stopping by to see our favorite bartender, Karen (not Karen) at the Shoe Bar in Nordstrom. She’s an absolute gem—lovely, friendly, and a true ambassador for Nordstrom. And on top of all that, she mixes a hell of a drink! It's been such a pleasure knowing her for over 4 years.“

“Excellent Thanksgiving Dinner! Excellent Serice by Issac. Terrific Food. Highly Recommend“

“The pork chop was succulent and had the most amazing spice combination. The barbacoa was the best I have ever had. Not a fan of the mezcal, but I gave it a try. Other more common drinks looked great with a good pour. Good vibe and open late with a super friendly staff!“

“You get what you pay for in the best possible way. The meal quality was high and priced fairly for the serving size. Their cooking reflected true expertise. The meal and staff exceeded expectations. We plan to come back at our first opportunity!“

“Great times and great ambience!“