Bareli's in Secaucus makes a fantastic first impression. The restaurant sits on a busy route with easy access in and out, and the parking lot is large enough to accommodate many vehicles. The interior is visually impressive: elegant table linens, comfortable leather chairs, and a dining room that looks polished and upscale. When we arrived, what appeared to be the owner was greeting guests at the entrance. Since he was welcoming everyone and dressed differently from the rest of the staff, we assumed he was the owner. It was a great touch and immediately raised our expectations. Unfortunately, the experience did not fully match that first impression. We started with drinks: a glass of wine for me and an Old Fashioned for my wife. As happens too often in restaurants, the stronger drink was automatically assumed to be mine, and the drinks were delivered incorrectly. It's a small detail, but one that reflects attention--or lack of it. Bread arrived quickly, followed soon after by the food. I ordered the gnocchi with meat sauce. The dish was acceptable, but nothing extraordinary. My wife ordered the house seafood salad, which was very good--fresh, flavorful, and easily the best dish we had that night. Our waiter spoke limited English. Once he realized we also spoke his language, the service became noticeably more relaxed and somewhat overly familiar. He immediately tried to guide us toward the most expensive items on the menu. When I declined coffee after dinner, he responded by saying something along the lines of: "Well, that's your choice, but the coffee here is very good," which felt unnecessary. We also had a small issue with the Old Fashioned garnish. The orange peel looked unusual, so we asked for the drink to be replaced. The waiter did replace it, though he first tried to explain that what we thought were worms were simply marks on the fruit peel. For dessert we ordered the tiramisu, which the waiter promoted heavily as the best dessert to try. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver. Instead of the classic layered presentation, it arrived more like a cup full of cream with a few pieces of soaked bread and very little coffee flavor. The issue was not just the dessert itself, but the expectations created when it was described. Bareli's is a beautiful restaurant with a great location and atmosphere, but the service details and execution didn't quite match the level suggested by the setting. read more

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This should have been a 5 star review and I wish it was. Next time, I'll be updating to a 5, I'm sure of it. We walked in to a beautifully decorated waiting area and were seating quickly. You could hear the live music playing and it was perfect. Our waiter Nathan R., was welcoming and attentive. The dirty martini was made perfectly and the hand stuffed blue cheese olives were a nice touch over the pre stuffed jar ones. To start we ordered the Burrata Salad. It was delicious. All the ingredients worked well together. For the second course we were floating between the Black Spaghetti and the Lobster Ravioli Special. We wound up going with the special and it was the move. The black inked ravioli, had chunks of lobster inside and hit nicely with the "angry sauce" on top. That bread helped clean that plate up nice. For the mains: 20oz Bone In NY Strip with sautéed spinach. Perfectly cooked to my liking and I loved that it was pre sliced for me. Spinach was lightly oiled and a perfect amount of garlic. Salmon Special - Pumpkin seed crusted with butternut squash. The plate was beautifully decorated and looked fantastic, but as soon as we cut into the salmon it was raw. It was a huge piece of salmon. So I'm sure that's what happened. Picture shown is the under cooked one that was taken back. I did not get a picture of the next. The manager saw immediately as my wife cut into it and we didn't have to say anything. He took the plate back and began making another. The dish came out and it was definitely well done this time. The piece of salmon was a lot smaller than the first. I'm sure it was to cut the cooking time down and get it out asap. The meal was fantastic. Just wish we were able to eat together. It happens. For dessert: Espresso Martini - Perfect. No baileys, 3 beans. Pistachio gelato - fantastic Zeppole - There were 3 different sauces for each one. It was amazing. Our waiter Nathan and the manager were extremely apologetic. They even came out with a complimentary limoncello spirit as we were settling up. I can't wait to dine here again to give Bareli's the 5 star it deserves. read more

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Always a pleasure to dine at Bareli's. We were four for dinner recently. The pork chop was amazing as always. There was a seafood special with squid ink pasta that everyone tried at the table and raved about it. Staff and cocktails were on "point" as usual!! read more

Needed a place for our office Xmas party . Called them and the reservation was made without a problem even tho it was a large group . As we arrived we sat at the bar to wait for everyone else to arrive , the experience was pleasant from beginning to end . The staff is absolutely the best , waiters are extremely attentive and helpful . The food selection is great and very well seasoned . Appetizers were amazing . We had clams oreganato, calamari ,burratta cheese and prosciutto. Some of the main dishes included salmon and filet mignon . Desserts such as crème brulle was one of the best . Thank you to the entire staff at Bareli's for the amazing service . Would definitely go back read more

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Have been going for quite some time. Food is always on point. Wait staff is awesome.Lovely interior. And they make a delish Cosmopolitan.Lynn Capone read more

Veal parm is tasty and reasonably priced drinks. Really love going here to see Lonnie for live music! He always does an excellent job.

Good service nice people. But I ordered the Boccherini where I imagined it would've been ground sausage that would in bed into the pasta however, they provided sliced sausage that probably wasn't homemade and that was a disappointment. The the Italian donuts were wonderful. read more

This was my second time here. I went on a date we had the kale pear salad and the eggplant parmigiana as appetizer both delicious we both had the special of the day which was ravioli stuff with eggplant I had the chicken and mashed potatoes my date was not too pleased with the ravioli and my dish lacked flavor so I sprinkle some salt and pepper we ended it with a tiramisu and a cappuccino. I also had the Limoncello Lemon Drop Martini was delicious. The staff are super professional and friendly and the ambiance is very classy and cozy. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner Vincent super nice and sweet person. We will be returning read more

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Excellent food, service and comfortable atmosphere. A go-to destination for dinner or any special occasion.

Ooooweee! Every time we go to Bareli's we have an amazing time with our bellies happy! There is plenty of parking available and the restaurant itself is cozy, warm and inviting. The service here is top notch as we have never had a waiter who was not attentive, kind and proactive! Even the owner came by to greet us and wish me a happy birthday! The food is stellar and we have yet to have anything we did not LOVE! The true star is certainly the tiramisu... I would marry it if I could! Get it and thank me later. Needless to say, we will be back! read more

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Always a local go-ton. My favorite Sunday night dinner. Kind staff and such a consistent staple

Absolutely a must try when in Secaucus Meadowlands area! The staff are welcoming and friendly! This restaurant is spotless! Perfectly clean at all times! Food and drinks were spot on! Thank you all for an amazing dining experience 2 nights in a row.. signed, Your newest friend Nashville read more

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The food and service at Barelis is always spectacular. This is the perfect place for a romantic evening or special celebration. The staff is wonderful and really takes pride in providing excellent service. Every dish is delish but my personal favorite is the pork chop. I promise you won't be disappointed. read more

What a gem! When driving on the New Jersey Turnpike--we decided we wanted the best Italian food we could find. We used Yelp and identified that Bareli's in Secaucus had highly rated Italian food. What a great stop for us! Everything at this classy, stylish restaurant was delicious. From the garlic bread in the bread basket to the entrees--everything was fantastic. I had the Black Spaghetti and my husband had the lasagna. The food, service and ambiance couldn't have been better! read more

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outstanding food and service never fails to please Lonnie is a great entertainer too

I had an amazing time and an amazing meal at this location. We ordered the meatballs Parmesan as an appetizer and they were some of the best meatballs I've ever had. For the main course, my friend and I both had the special. Her special was the homemade ravioli With tomato sauce and I had the baby lobster tails over orzo with scampi sauce. These dishes sound so simple but that was far from the case. There was an amazing complex of flavors in each of the sauces on this dish and I truly enjoyed it. My friend ordered a vodka with tonic and I ordered Jack Daniels with Coke and our drinks were made perfectly! For dessert we all! My friend ordered the Zeppoles that came withcaramel, white chocolate, and Nutella sauce, and, it was to die for. I ordered the tiramisu and also ordered an additional biscotti on theside. The biscotti was definitely made in house. I also ordered a decaf cappuccino. All of the food was next level and I will certainly be back.! There was also live music with a saxophone player. The music definitely created an ambience that was enjoyable for our dinner. Also, definitely worth noting, the staff were extremely friendly, helpful, and well informed on the menu. I will definitely be back soon! read more

Only came here for drinks at the bar but inside has a beautiful ambiance ! :) Good service at the bar as well. read more

Bareli's Restaurant & Bar - a drink on a table - Italian Near Me - Secaucus, New Jersey

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Loved the service. Our waiter was amazing and so sweet. Also for being on low sodium (low salt) diets - this place is amazing. They do not have a lot of salt and it was perfect for us. Can't wait to come back at night to listen to the music. read more

Great experience. Bareli's was our couple's first 'Italian' Italian restaurant so I was little bit akward when I came inside. So I was little bit clumpsy but Marisol treated us very kindly to have a nice dinner. My gf had the black sphagetti and I had the grilled salmon, the tiramisù. The combination of declious food, romantic ambiance, kind service made a dinner into great experience of our vacation. read more

Bareli's Restaurant & Bar - Tiramisù - Italian Near Me - Secaucus, New Jersey

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This place is phenomenal! I had a Chilean sea bass crusted with pistachios and broccolini - it was a special. My husband had a surf & turf with a Cajun cream sauce that was out of this world. Both were specials. We cannot wait to go back! read more

Fantastic local old style Italian restaurant! Small, and very inviting. Can't recommend this place enough. Will be back again for sure! read more

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Food was great, service was great. Noise level was great! Table for two is a bit wide but other than that it's a 10!

Chose Bareli's for a pre-Valentine dinner since it's close and the food has always been good. This time around there were a few "underwhelms. " Service was good but not as good as previous visits. This was the same opinion my sister had for her dinner 2 weeks prior. I know we are in the middle of a pandemic but I did notice the difference. The restaurant was not full and therefore plate removal, bottled wine service and follow-ups could have been more frequent. Asparagus, hearts of palm, crab salad- tasty but lots of hearts of palm, asparagus ends, and very little crab Eggplant parm- very good Shrimp spring roll- meh- disappointing Dover Sole- We have had it here a few times and this time it wasn't as good as previous visits. Disappointing considering the price. Ricotta cheesecake- very good Bareli's has been around for as long as I can remember. It was always a perfect choice for solid Italian cuisine with an elegant atmosphere, great wines, and service. I hope they can address some of the details that are slipping through the cracks and continue to remain the Bareli's that was. read more

I've been coming to Barelis for over 20 years and I cannot believe I have never reviewed them on yelp. It is clearly one of the finest Italian restaurants in New Jersey. The restaurant has ample parking and the inside decor is very elegant and inviting. You comfortably sink into these oversized comfortable leather chairs. The tables are donned with a beautiful tablecloth, silverware and glassware. The staff are very friendly and attentive. WNile some items on the menu can be quite pricey, you do get what you pay for because the food is so fresh, high-quality and house made. If you are cost conscious, they do have lower priced glasses and bottles of wine, appetizers and entrées. I had the buffalo mozzarella appetizer, my fiancé had a salad with radicchio and fennel, both were exceptional. My fiancé always loves to get the Dover Sole which is expertly deboned tableside and is the best she's ever had. I had the homemade gnocchi with fresh Pomodoro sauce, basil and mozzarella cheese, it was delicious. We shared the Valentine's Day chocolate cheesecake shaped in a heart. My only criticism is we paid $27 each for two old fashions made with Woodford and a maraschino cherry, not the best we have had, which is a lot. I had two glasses of the Borolo, it was excellent. Our server Nelson, was exceptional! read more

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Christmas Eve Dinner!! Couldn't of asked for a better place to spend it. Food was phenomenal. Let me start with the staff.. excellent service from the minute you walk in. Appetizers; Angry Shrimp spring rolls.. delicious and perfectly crispy. Buffalo Mozzarella was awesome. Dinners!!! OMG!! Black spaghetti with lobster was phenomenal. Black pepper fettuccine with short rib ragu was the bomb...., meat literally melted in your mouth. Pounded down pork chop was fall off the bone tender and filet mignon was cooked perfectly. Linguini with garlic and oil Desserts: Flourless chocolate cake Creme Brûlée Panna cotta All 3 were delicious. One of my favorite restaurants for over 23 years!! Merry Christmas!!! read more

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This was my very first time coming to Borelli's and I'm so glad I did, it features a wonderful staff, wonderful food and a warm & friendly owner who has 6 grandchildren! My lovely date and I sat at the bar and got the last two available stools; it's a cool, small U-shaped bar with a lot of friendly people that are regulars there and they helped us make wise menu selections as did the owner. We started out with Bluepoint oysters that were just splendid and progressed to Bareli's meatball dish, which is definitely a must if you go, a few lovely Chianti Classicos for me and Pinot Grigio for my date, we were happy as a lark, we'll back tonight to see Lonnie Youngblood perform which I couldn't believe, he's 87 years old and still gigging. Somebody buy this man a gold watch! We were also told that the Italian pork chop here is not mind blowing superb. Two. Thumbs up kiddos. read more

I always sit at the bar. I love the service. The atmosphere is local and the Italian food is excellent. If you need a good cocktail and an excellent meal, this the place. The live music is always great. read more

They accommodated my family without a reservation. Everything was great from beginning to end. I had the pork chop which was amazing! My wife had the black spaghetti which she thoroughly enjoyed. My son had filet which was cooked perfectly. Our server was very polite and engaging. read more

This little gem is squeezed between a highway, a gas station and an athletic field. Worth the u-turn if you fly past the entrance, which is easy to do. How very....Jersey! Step inside....to a warm, inviting room. Superior service and excellent Northern Italian food at a somewhat elevated but not unreasonable price point. Full bar....a nice departure from the BYO deal. Recommended.... read more

Amazing food ! Such knowledgeable staff ! Chef! We'll 5 star The service is impeccable! Love love love this place ! Highly recommended it read more

The waitstaff was amazing and really made my proposal experience grand. The past and cheesecake was delicious. The ambiance was so romantic and just perfect for our quiet romantic dinner. read more

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Nice dinner to catch up with my ladies, we had an 8pm reservation ambiance is beautiful and they had a live band. Complimentary valet. Julio our waiter was very knowledgeable about the specials and helped with some of our drink orders. Now let's talk food! The salmon and chicken dish came with a very nice portion, as for the scallops you would want an appetizer. I was happy with my salad and oysters. read more

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Swift service & delicious food. Nothing too original that stood out but everything was cooked to my taste. read more

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food is very good and ample. Atmosphere is so-so. pretty dated. expensive, but worth it for a special event. parking is free plus valet section. very good service from nice and polite waiters. read more

Very nice restaurant! The staff is so friendly. From the servers, to the managers, even the entertainment! The decor is lovely. I like to find restaurants where my friends and I can dress up and Bareli's was the perfect atmosphere for that. The food was good too. I started with the beet salad which was yummy. I had the lasagna which was tender and savory. I may come back for my birthday next year! read more

I have been hearing about this place for a while so I had to stop by. The positive news is the gnocchi tasted homemade but unfortunately they overcooked them since they were not al dente. The bolognese needed a little more seasoning. It wasn't a bad dish but needed a little more execution. Cavatelli was good and also tasted homemade. They also had a horseradish salmon that I would get next time. Prices aren't cheap but its standard for the area. The vibe in here is old school italian so I like that aspect of it. The bar in the front is a fun place to have a drink. It is located on Route 3 but it doesn't feel like it. I would come back. read more

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Had an amazing night Sat at the bar with a girlfriend and had great people watching Bernice our bartender had great suggestions and made amazing cocktails She was willing to make any changes without any type of attitude and happy to do it What an amazing night Thank you Bernice read more

Bareli's Restaurant & Bar - Italian Near Me - Secaucus, New Jersey

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We have lived in the Secaucus area for about a year. We have driven by Bareli many times. It has the deceiving look of a catering hall and it's closed on Sunday and Monday, but don't let that deter you. One day on Yelp it popped up as a suggestion for a neighborhood restaurant. We finally have it a try. It is nicely decorated inside. Has a nice ambiance. Some items we had: The calamari was fresh, was cooked to perfection. The Zeppoles were delicious with the three different sauces. The portions were just right. The bar area was happening, it has a good happy hour vibe. Marisol and our waiter Nelson were very inviting, welcoming and attentive. They have been working their a long time, a good indication of a successful restaurant. There's also live music, in which we will try to catch the next night we go! read more

I've got to write this review the minute I arrived home from a very nice dinner at Bareli's on Mother's Day with my wife. The dinner went well and my surf and turf ( fillet Mignon and lobster tail) was well worth the $$$. After finishing we went to our car in the lot and once in the car I tried to get my iPhone from the pocket. That' was when I found I lost it. After a hasty search in the car I went inside the restaurant to look for it. The lady manager and the head waiter were very patient and tried everything they could to help me. They left no stones unturned, so to speak. After being convinced that I couldn't have left the phone in the restaurant, I went back to my car to search again. I was almost certain I wouldn't find it again. But then I found it squeezed beside the driver's seat. I really apologize for this mistake and for nearly blaming the restaurant. The management was nice supportive and patient throughout the whole process. A big THANK YOU to Bareli's! I will surely come back for more dinners and hopefully I won't make the same mistake read more

Our first time here and we have thoroughly enjoyed our time. This is an old style Italian restaurant with good drink and very good food. It's a rare gem where the ambiance is relaxed and there is no stuffiness. The drinks are good, and the food is better. We started with oysters, extremely delicious. Had the special Lobster ravioli and the veal picatta. BTW the veal and chicken can be prepared anyway the customer wants, a nice touch. The ravioli dough was a bit thick, which took something away from the Lobster filling. The veal was great, and a side if penne with grappa sauce was fantastic. Extra bread please. The staff is informative and friendly, we will be back. read more