Great experience at Bar Cilento today. The food was excellent and plenty of TVs to watch some March Madness. What really elevated it from 4 stars to 5 was the service. Multiple different staff members were super friendly to me and my two sons. read more

Bar Cilento - Bayou Chicken Sandwich - American Near Me - Stirling, New Jersey

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I must have driven past this place dozens of times thinking it was either someone's home or an out-of-business restaurant but it's not! The food here is fantastic... al dente ravioli that hits the spot every time. The outdoor area is gorgeous, with beautiful flowers and interesting plants like a purple beautyberry. Huge parking makes it super convenient and the live music adds a charming touch. You really feel like you've stepped into a hidden spot in New Jersey. I've never eaten indoors because the outside is just perfect. My only wish? Some patrons could save the political bloviating for another time. Can we just enjoy dinner? This is hands down my favorite spot in the area. Don't miss their cucumber mint drink, so refreshing! read more

The ambiance is lovely. The staff is friendly. This is a great hang. I wouldn't say that this is the place for a 4 star meal but the food is good for a bar vibe. Plenty of parking. The wings were delicious. read more

Amazing authentic Italian food! My husband even got emotional that their meatballs tasted like his grandmas. The owners are charming and friendly. Can't wait to go back read more

What a hidden gem. We enjoyed our first visit. Vincent was an amazing server. Attentive but not rushing us. Food was great at a reasonable price point. We will be back! read more

Food and service excellent and pleasant surroundings. Location is excellent and personell helpful and happy

Dive bar with good food. Their wings are awesome. I have not had the thin crust pizza yet, it looks good and I have heard good things about it. I would recommend that people at least try this place. read more

Local bar/restaurant that feels like home. Food is delicious and the owners and staff are friendly and welcoming.

I've been to this place a few times now and I'm convinced it's an underrated gem. Friendly, attentive staff, pleasant tavern decor, and great food - I had the French Onion soup and the crab cake entree and both were excellent. I was with some friends to celebrate my birthday and the wait staff even gave me a free bottle of prosecco as a gift which I very much appreciated. My only minor complaints are that the food took a bit to come out and the prices aren't cheap but they're not ridiculous either. Definitely one of my favorite sports bars in the area and worth checking out. read more

Casual restaurant with a full bar and some TVs. There's 3 seating areas, main dining room, bar and high top tables. They are always busy even on weekdays. The food was amazing! I had Gigi's parpadelle and it came with a pesto cream sauce and large shrimp. I also tried their chicken parm which was such a large portion. The fried calamari appetizer was really small though I wish they gave more on the plate. Did not come with bread but you can ask for it. read more

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Great little neighborhood joint with good food and live music. We were allowed my small well behaved dog in the outside corner by the music. It was a great night. Will come again. read more

Been here 5 times and food is always very good. The service is never good and 2 nights ago it was non-existent. Ordered an appetizer special, octopus salad, and we asked for it with no onions. It came out 45 minutes later with onions so we asked for it to have no onions. Now 10-15 minutes later our entrees come out but still no sign of the appetizer. Finally the reworked apple comes back but we're already eating our entrees so we said we don't want it. Waitress was invisible the entire time we were there and couldn't really have cared less. It's too bad because the kitchen is usually quicker and the food quality/menu options always good. Usually it's the other way around where the kitchen is the problem, They also have a guy bartending during football Sundays who's always very rude and disrespectful to guests. Doesn't like putting suffer games on and just a poor overall attitude. If ownership reads these reviews, you may want to address your poor front of the house service. It'll be a long time, if ever, before we give this place another try. read more

Good food ,fairly priced restaurant. Service was good and while a large bar is in the middle of restaurant the noise level was manageable even on a Friday .A good restaurant to put in your to go list! read more

Went on a Saturday night with 7 pm reservations and were seated promptly. Out server was decent but would disappear for long stretches of time and didn't know the menu when we asked questions. Food was some hits and misses. Calamari was ok at best. Short rib and cheese curd was good. Meatballs were also just ok. We got the pizza which was a miss and the shrimp with pasta. Which was decent. The place is a mix of Italian and local pub. Not sure I would return but it was fine. read more

The outdoor patio in a lovely fall day was ideal for a later afternoon lunch They have a pizza oven outside that made the best pizza. Their tomato sauce was fresh - seemed homemade like your momma would make. The cost was really the best part !! Good food and I did not break my pocket ! read more

Been here twice. The food is just okay. The service is awful, both inside and out. This place is probably best for the bar seats, as they have a few TVs but as for dinner, I would skip read more

Really great dinner here yesterday. Our waitress was very nice. Food was delicious. The salmon and steak were amazing. The grilled pork chop is HUGE! And super delicious. rack of lamb was great too. Good apps! I recommend the rice balls! read more

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A local suburb dive west of the normal Central Jersey hangs. As local as local gets, surprisingly large given the unassuming location. They have a wide array of local music, which can get pretty packed given any large parties (friends, families, or fans) involved. Share some garlic shrimp at the bar, and drown down some IPAs with the boys. read more

Love this place! Food is great, service is nice, and it's a local's hangout. Been there 3x and booked a party for next week.

I recently came here to meet friends for a mini class reunion. I wound up staying and ordering dinner. I was pleasantly surprised, the service was very good. I ordered a couple of Cucumber Moscow Mules and the drinks were really good. For appetizers I ordered Fried Calamari with a balsamic Demi- glaze and Chipotle marinara sauce to start. It was very good.The two sauces were a nice compliment and change from basic marinara sauce. For my entree I ordered based on a friend's recommendation their Grilled Hanger Steak. It was served with grilled asparagus and yukon gold mashed potatoes. My steak was cooked exactly how I like it med-rare.It was very tender and had great flavor. My bf ordered their Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon with roasted brussels sprouts, and garlic mashed potatoes. He too enjoyed his steak and it was cooked perfectly. He really enjoyed it. My other friend ordered their chicken Parmesan and it came with spaghetti. He ate every bit of it. My other friend she ordered their Pierogies with bacon and a side salad. Again, everyone enjoyed their meal and had a good time. There is parking in the back. Weather permitting you can sit outside on their patio and listen to live music. Inside there's a really nice large bar. They do have private rooms if you want to host a party, or have an event. The owner Sam walks around and checks in on everyone. This place has really improved over the years. My friends and I will definitely be returning. read more

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Food was fine, but the constant F word from the male bartender a few weeks ago was inappropriate. I have a potty mouth, but there is a time and place for this, like at home with my friends. read more

Totally disappointed. Lasagna was $36. I expected something great since the other local restaurants are about $15. No bread or small side salad for that price! It was mushy. just warm and not cheesy at all. Cheese on top was not motz. I was a regular but never again. Owner did not suggest anything to help me be a satisfied customer. read more

Very friendly and knowledgeable wait staff. The interior had a large bar area and a few tables. I was not expecting the food to be so delicious and the drinks reasonably priced! We will be back! read more

Great place for a drink. Fun regulars. Understaffed. Burger was great, tomatoes on top were mealy, should've been thrown out. Roll not toasted, came back burned from grill. Pasta special was way below al dente, and greasy. Meatballs were smaller than usual, swimming in sauce, no cheese on top, served with plain bread - not toasted. Btw, put out some pretzels or peanuts or popcorn. People are here for the drinks. The salt wets their appetite. They stay for dinner. read more

I ordered the chicken wings and Philly Cheese Steak Rolls for a party. Not one bit was leftover and I've been requested to bring both for the next gathering. Everything was packed up nicely and neatly. Since the party was a 40-minute drive, I heated them up in the oven with no problems. The wings remained moist and tender and the Philly Cheese Steak Rolls crisped up perfectly. Sauces were excellent. read more

I had the tuna fish sandwich with onion rings. The rings were not oily so I enjoyed it. It was good but not a lot of flavor. The pork belly was 3 x 3 inch small pieces & overpriced. The onion soup was ok. I didn't like the meatballs but others say they would come back and reorder. It was "fluffy". All the food was kind of bland. Probably should keep salt and pepper on the table. Inside ambiance was a little dull comparison to outside dining. The friendly service was nice. If I return, I would eat outside. read more

Three of us went for a late lunch. the food was so fresh and tasty. The staff were attentive and happy. It hard to find a restaurant that serves food so fresh Owner Sam was attentive and helpful. It is handicap accessible . We sat outside and it was lovely. AAA+++ read more

Food is very good and some nights they have live music. I particularly enjoyed Michael Andrews one evening. Singer/guitarist. He played outside on a beautiful night. read more

Best pasta. Friendly service. Casual, fun atmosphere. The lamb fusili is delicious.

A big thank you to Sam and Gigi for making my luncheon such a hit! My husband and I hosted a bridal shower party for 40 guests on 'the patio' last Saturday afternoon, and it was picture perfect. Once everyone arrived, appetizers were served family style, with generous platters of Gigi's meatballs (so good, iykyk), calamari, and burrata crostini set down at each table. Next came the house salad, then guests had a choice of 3 entrees. Our menu had a selection of homemade ravioli, salmon with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes, or chicken piccata in a lemon-caper sauce with a potato cake: delicious. The menu included soft drinks, cafe Americano, tea, and we opted to offer guests wine or beer if they wished. It was just a lovely day, sunny and 70s, and the lush patio with its array of potted plants and trees and blooms was the perfect summery setting. Sam and Gigi provided beautiful table-cloths and napkins, a long table for gifts and raffles, and an outstanding menu. Menu cards were very pretty, designed by Sam and Gigi's daughter, and there was one at each place. Every guest who had never been to Bar Cilento is planning on coming back. My girlfriends want to meet there for lunch regularly. The food is excellent, and my 100% Italian aunt complimented Gigi on everything! As a Cilento regular, I have my super fave servers, and we were well taken care of by Kevin, Tanya, and a shout-out to Sean who was on his third day working there and was a terrific understudy to his awesome senior staffers. All I had to do was show up, put flowers on the table, and have the sheet cake refrigerated. It was hassle-free, and my daughter-in-law loved it as much as the guests. It is a warm and welcoming place to have a family party. Thank you everyone at Bar Cilento. -- Anne W read more

Well I must of passed this spot a million times tonight , we finally got to try it out . From the road it looks like a big home or dive bar . There a large parking lot in rare of the building . There a large out door seating for nice weather also in the rear of the building . When we enter it was very updated and super spacious for a home converted into a restaurant and bar . We were greeted by a older gentleman who seat and fellowed up with us threw the night . They had large TVs around the bar area and large bar withe seating . Also dinning room area that was apart from the bar area . Our waited was very good and staff was easy to deal with . Food came out at a good pace and our 1 st course was the 4 large shrimp a (little tough to chew )in garlic sauce was ok , lacking garlic and oil for 14 dollars I wouldn't recommend them or would ordered them again . For dinner my wife had the creamy mushroom soup she said it was excellent and price well think 7 or 8 dollars. I had the hanger steak was about 8 ounce from what the menu said was cooked spot on ! Had spinach and onion rings at a cost of 24 dollars which I thought was over priced for the size but Iam not sure if it was prime meat vs lower quality. They had a kids menu and my daughter also got the steak with friends for a 11 dollars which was priced perfect! My wife thought both steaks looked about the same size mine was slightly bigger . Well would have it five stars if I felt the price fit the meals served otherwise will be back to try out other items and more reviews to fellow . read more

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Four stars for the great food. Two stars for the erratic slow service. You will enjoy the food but go when you have nowhere else to be because you will wait and wait..... read more

The food just had no taste. maybe because they were "packed" thats why the service wasn't good either. One of the wings my mom was about to eat still had a feather poking out of the wing. read more

Great family owned bar restaurant! Great food great environment. I would recommend almost anything on the menu and their staff is always friendly and provide great service. read more

We love this place. The food is always delicious weather it's on the specials or the regular menu. The bar is great, always a good selection of beers on tap. Love the single serve espresso pots!! read more

This restaurant has really grown on me and never disappoints. Their salmon dish is huge and well worth the cost! Their steak dish, even using doordash, was juicy and hot. And the apple/buratta salad is a perfect start. Take out or dine in, you can't go wrong here. read more

What an amazing surprise. Last time I was here it was Barton's Pub. A steady stream of superlatives prompted my son and me to stop in for dinner the other night. The interior is a little weird-hard to explain. Like a residential eating area in a bar. Anyway, for starters, we ordered fried calamari and bbq wings. The calamari was outstanding. Very crispy, not chewy with a fine chipotle marinara sauce. The wings were crisp, meaty and flavorful with a terrific bbq sauce. A cold Stella really hit the spot. For mains, my son ordered the hanger steak and fries. I ordered the slow cooked short rib which came with mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. My son's steak was terrific, prepared medium rare as ordered. He really enjoyed his fries. My short rib was outstanding. I have had a few short ribs in my day that have been flavorless, tasting like boiled soup meat. This rib had none of those characteristics. Very tasty and the mashed potatoes were a fine accompaniment. An autumnal dish to be sure but who cares. It was delicious. Only the spinach disappointed me. While it was sautéed the way I like it, the spinach was so heavily salted that it burned my mouth. Tone down the salt, man. My wife asked me to pick her up something-she was flying home from a business trip. She loved her steak salad with more of that delicious hanger steak and apples. Another winning dish. We'll be back sooner rather than later. read more

Let me take you through the wonderful experience we had here. It all started when my parents, my girlfriend and myself walked into the restaurant last sunday afternoon. After a warm welcome from Sam and Gigi we took our seats and tried to decide what we would order since there was no way we could eat everything on the menu. Here's how it went: Appetizers: All of these are big enough to be shared. Garlic Shrimp: A little more than a half dozen large shrimp bathing in a garlic sauce that you might as well just stick a straw in and drink. My tip flip the fresh bread you get right into the sauce and come back to it after you are done with the shrimp. I promise you wont be disappointed. Drunken Clams & Mussels: Fresh seafood in a fra diovolo sauce with a nice spicy kick to it. Another dish that you can order and get a whole loaf of bread to dip in the sauce and be completely happy with eating nothing else. Loaded Pierogi: How can you beat potato, cheese, caramelized onions, bacon and gravy? You cant. I'm not a huge pierogi fan but these were awesome. I gave the sweet bartender the freedom to make me a drink of her choice. She went with the Gin Wonderland. Great choice. The fresh sprig of rosemary compliments the elder flower in the St Germain and the juniper of the gin. All around refreshing. Now for dinner: Boston steak salad: A regular salad only 100000 times better. Perfectly cooked hanger steak draped over a fresh bed of lettuce with goat cheese, pecans and apples. A nice sweet touch to compliment the dressing. BBQ Spare Ribs: You can literally pull the bones out of these things one by one and watch the meat just slide off. They must be slow cooked for roughly 1 week. incredible. The Blues Burger: Mom got this one unfortunately my pants no longer fit at this point so I had a small bite. Prime meat, caramelized onions, mushroom and creamy gorgonzola. Gigi's Raviolis: Not because she is the owner but because she is in the ktichen making these herself. The only dish I didnt get a piece of. I'll just have to come back for this one. Needless to say I will be returning in the near future. The only thing I may wait for is the snow to clear so I can take full advantage of the patio Sam and Gigi are putting in the back. I'll gladly get comfortable back there with another Gin Wonderland. read more

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Went here during a break in our daughters dance competition. Hidden gem. The food was excellent. Home made pappardelle with shrimp pesto was fresh and excellent. Mixed seafood with homemade fusilli was also excellent. Our daughter had the seafood fra diavalo appetizer instead of a kids menu option and loved it. The torta di grano dessert was outstanding- homemade and served warm. Service was great. read more

Food was terrific . .service ruined what would have been a very pleasant dining experience.