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Welcome to Matthew's Italian Restaurant

"Matthew's Italian Restaurant in Clifton, NJ, is a hidden gem serving up delectable seafood, Italian, and vegetarian dishes. With a cozy and inviting atmosphere, this restaurant offers a diverse menu with options for everyone, including vegan and limited vegetarian choices. They take pride in their homemade rigatoni and exceptional customer service, making each dining experience memorable. Whether you're looking for a romantic date night or a family-friendly meal, Matthew's is the perfect spot. From the fried mozzarella to the scallops with risotto, each dish is crafted with care and flavor. A must-visit for anyone craving authentic Italian cuisine."

LOCATIONS
  • Matthew's Italian Restaurant
    1131 Bloomfield Ave Clifton, NJ 07012
    1131 Bloomfield Ave Clifton, NJ 07012 Hotline: (973) 928-4300

Welcome to Matthew's Italian Restaurant, a hidden gem located at 1131 Bloomfield Ave in Clifton, NJ. This restaurant offers a unique dining experience with a blend of seafood, Italian, and vegetarian cuisine. Whether you're craving a classic Italian dish or looking for a fresh seafood option, Matthew's has something for everyone.

What sets Matthew's apart is their commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices. From compostable containers to plastic-free packaging, they go above and beyond to reduce their environmental impact. They even provide reusable tableware for dine-in guests.

Not only is the food at Matthew's delicious, but the atmosphere is also inviting and classy. With options for outdoor seating, a full bar, and happy hour specials, it's the perfect spot for a casual dinner or a special occasion.

With a variety of vegan and vegetarian options, Matthew's caters to all dietary preferences. Whether you're looking for a quick bite to eat or planning a group gathering, this restaurant has you covered. And don't forget about their dog-friendly policy, so feel free to bring your furry friend along for the meal.

Overall, Matthew's Italian Restaurant offers a unique dining experience that combines delicious food with a commitment to sustainability. From their diverse menu options to their eco-friendly practices, it's clear that Matthew's is more than just a restaurant - it's a dining destination with a purpose.

START YOUR REVIEW OF Matthew's Italian Restaurant
Marc M.
Marc M.

We came here based off a friend recommendation, and we were certainly not disappointed. We started with the fried mozz and the tortellini en brodo. Both were very good. My fiancée went and got the scallops with risotto and I ordered a chicken parm with vodka sauce and fresh rigatoni. They make their rigatoni in house which is a great touch. Both were very good. I was super happy with the chicken parm. Service was awesome, we had an amazing waitress that was friendly and attentive. We will 100 percent be back to experience more of their menu!

Rachel R.
Rachel R.

Just left there. The food service was great I don't get out alot because of my cancer. I enjoyed it so much.

JoAnn F.
JoAnn F.

Best food. Best people. Best service. Did I say best food! Matthew and his staff are amazing. It is my family's go to place. Never disappoints. Matthew's persona is warm and genuine.

Mony K.
Mony K.

If you're a fan for large portions and excellent customer service, you should definitely check them out. We were greeted and promptly seated and service was prompt throughout the entire meal. We didn't have to ask for anything they were able to read between the lines on what we needed. Bread was warm. The caprese salad was fresh was the perfect dressing to match. Had a nice tang while not being sour. The clams with the white sauce had a nice thickening sauce but in two of the clams, I got bit on some hard particles and left some dirt. Both pasta entree were large portion. The rigatoni was in various degrees of done-ness, some soft some el dente and the braciole was kind of chewy. Spicy sausage and meatballs was excellent. It took a little of time between apps and entree. We finally finished with the homemade Tiramasu and it did not disappoint. Yum! Overall, really impressed with the top notch service and would be interested in trying out some of their other pasta/meat dishes next time.

Emma G.
Emma G.

***4 1/2 stars*** Matthew's has been on my list for literally years; it has consistently high ratings in an area of North Jersey teeming with Italians who presumably know what they're talking about when it comes to food. I don't really have an excuse for waiting this long for my debut other than that it's in one of my least favorite areas of the state - the always-congested stretch of Route 3 near Clifton Commons. This is actually located one exit away from the Commons, which helps, but be prepared for some traffic no matter what. The Millennial Chum and I stopped by for lunch yesterday a little after noon, having built up an appetite from the nearby Little Falls townwide yard sale (huge recommend - lot of high quality stuff including furniture, and the town site has a cool link where the participating yard sales show up as waypoints on Google Maps.). I was legitimately taken aback by how tiny this place is. It's not QUITE claustrophobic, but they have to get creative with their spacing for sure, including with the bathroom area, which is kind of randomly off to the side of the entryway. This is also one of the smallest bars I've ever seen (I think the only one I've encountered that's smaller is the Baldanza at the Schoolhouse in Wilton, CT, which seats one or two people); there were maybe four stools available over there. Interesting. In terms of seating/availability, this was the right time to go. There were only two other tables occupied and it was incredibly quiet (too quiet in my opinion) throughout our meal, save the obligatory low-volume Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra ditties in the background. I kept it enormously basic and went with the Penne w/ Tomato Sauce ($18). The Millennial Chum and I narrowed our eyes suspiciously at the VERY orange sauce, but it was the absolute star of the show, one of the best sauces I've encountered. It hugged the texture balance of being thick without crunchy, and tasted great - just the right amount of sweetness. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the meatball I sampled from the Millennial's Chum was delicious as well. Super juicy and flavorful with the aforementioned sauce accompanying it. We also had a few fresh, warm rolls with butter; crispy on the outside, soft on the inside as it should be. The only downside there was we didn't get enough butter to deal with the third roll, but that's a very minor quibble (and I'm sure could have been easily rectified if we cared enough). The service was good but honestly not great. We didn't have egregious waits, but it WAS a bit on the slow side. Our waitress was pleasant/professional, but should have stopped by one or two additional times - other than grabbing the check, she never came by after the food was served to see how it was. And given that there were only two other occupied tables, there just wasn't an excuse for that. Very solid establishment overall though; I'm always into a place with white tablecloths that doesn't bat an eye when you show up in beach shorts. That's the dream. Come for the open-mindedness, stay for the tomato sauce.

Paul B.
Paul B.

Food was good. Veal parmigiana was on spot! It was the good veal. Not the stuff you get at sandwich shops. Sauce was good. Portions were excellent. The staff was attentive. The manager or owner stopped by quick to say Hi which I thought was nice. Small place. Not too loud or crowded. The right amount of tables. We would recommend and hopefully get to go again!

Jordan C.
Jordan C.

Wow, a true hidden gem in the heart of Clifton, I've been at hundreds of Italian spots in Jersey and this one is absolutely magic! The rigatoni is homemade in the house, and it definitely shows, I got mine with Cajun chicken and vodka sauce. Melt in your mouth. Delicious! My day got the shrimp Parm, with the homemade rigatoni as well, and he was in love! A full bar I will definitely be back! And a full bar !

Hayre D.
Hayre D.

Always a great time. Nicole and Stephanie always have a smile on their faces. It's warm and welcoming. I also love that Matthew is visible and personable. Now, for the cavatelli and lobster special, ahhh-mazing flavor. The pasta was perfect, vegetables cooked to perfection and the sauce felt like a warm hug after a long day at the office. Treat yourself and enjoy the menu and the ambiance. Up next, the chocolate lava cake ;0) and cappuccino.