Another amazing meal at Perla last night! We couldn't stop talking about how lucky we are to have…read morethis amazing restaurant just 10 mins down the road from us. The food is so creative, fresh, and delicious, the service is attentive and knowledgeable and consistent (not the norm in the suburbs), and we love the ambiance. It was a gorgeous night to sit outside, but we opted for our favorite - bar seats to watch the action. It's hard to find this level of consistency and creativity even in NYC, but to have it right here in Maplewood is so wonderful. So many restaurants in the suburbs rely on frozen, pre-made items from large restaurant supply chains that finding innovative cooking completely from scratch is a real challenge. In a sea of mediocre restaurants, Perla lives up to its name: a true gem! We have been so impressed by the daily specials this summer. We started out with a scallop crudo with yuzu, jalapeno, and shallots that is my favorite crudo right now. We followed that with the new shrimp tostada and I'm only sorry we didn't order two. Later in our meal, I spied a couple at the other end of the bar who did it right: the wife took one bite and immediately ordered a second one so that she wouldn't have to share. This is the second time we've had the tomato salad with olives, shiso, and white balsamic and I can't get over the flavor combination - it's so unexpected and addictive. We can't pass up the broiled oysters with garlic butter, Calabrian chili, and crispy shallots - a dish I was obsessed with the moment I tried it at a pop-up event before the restaurant even existed. Then we had the broiled branzino with lemon, capers, and a watercress salad - again, the only mistake was not ordering two! We were actually down the shore yesterday, but came home because we were craving this dish. We finished off our meal with anchovy toast, which our favorite dessert paired with a crisp Txakolina. It's four pieces of toasted baguette with a generous spread of really good butter topped with one piece of salt-cured anchovy and one boqueron (a pickled anchovy). I can't recommend this dish highly enough, it is perfectly balanced! We love a BYOB, but it is such a luxury that we can order right from our phones at the restaurant from a local wine shop (Lum's Cellars). It's a curated list that has some really fantastic options that all go so well with the cuisine. We started with an Alberiño and then ordered the Txakolina. No notes! We can't wait for our next meal at Perla.

Perla is a small corner venue on a Main Street in Maplewood. The parking situation is crappy, but…read moreit is free when you find it. They are BYOB with high top seating, "bar area" seating, & some regular tables in the back. Service was friendly & knowledgeable. A great experience all around. We had the Oysters Kilpatrick (a current special), Oysters on the 1/2 shell which we upgraded to one of the seasonal specials, the Broiled, & Shrimp Cocktail. Grades: Oysters Kilpatrick: A+ Oysters on the 1/2 shell (Brined & Shine): A Broiled: A+ Shrimp Cocktail: A

Second time ordering from this spot & I am not disappointed…read more Today, I had the Mac & Cheese, yams, catfish & it came with yellow rice. Very filling & I could not eat it all in one setting, nice sized portions. I follow the chef on Instagram & he is hardworking. May God continue to guide his footsteps.

I really wanted to love this place because my first experience was amazing. My first order was the…read morefried catfish dinner with mac and cheese and yams. The catfish was fried to perfection, the mac and cheese was delicious, and the yams had just the right amount of sweetness. The second time, I ordered the same meal and added a side of fried shrimp. The shrimp was delicious, but it was obvious there was a different cook in the kitchen. The mac and cheese and yams were just mid, and the rice that came with the catfish had way to much garlic. Tonight (6/22), I decided to give them one more try. Unfortunately, it was my worst experience yet. I ordered the same meal, and the mac and cheese had chunks of chicken or some other meat mixed in it....totally unexpected YUCK. The yams were not good, the rice was mediocre, and the catfish was just okay. The biggest issue is consistency. The catfish seems to follow the same recipe every time, but the sides are all over the place from visit to visit. Management really needs standardized recipes so the food tastes the same no matter who's cooking. Consistency is what keeps customers coming back. Based on my last two experiences, I won't be eating here again. The first visit showed me how good the food can be, but unfortunately the quality hasn't been consistent enough to earn my business

this place has a been staple forever they never disappoint if your in the area it's a mustread more

Don't waste your time or your money dried out crab piss taste like they were frozen then unfrozen…read morethen steamed then fried because they were so dry. It was gross really truly a waste of my money. I'm highly disappointed.

My cousin ordered a fried turkey for our family thanksgiving dinner. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!!! NEVER…read moreAGAIN!! The TURKEY was fried in OLD OIL and it was BURNED. She paid $75.00 for a badly burned turkey. WHAT A WASTED.... We will never give them anymore business!

Just Fish? Needs a name change. They do so much more than "just" fish. They should call it "Fish 'N…read moreE'ything". [insert "Black Pride fist Emoji" here] Just Fish is a really wonderful SOUL food spot. They are SOULED out, without having SOLD OUT. They really connect with the community of Newark, and neighboring inner-city communities. First off? EVERY SINGLE TIME I go in, the owner is in there and working. I've been visiting this joint since 2009, when I was a bartender at Mangos Lounge around the corner. I would always go in for a pre-work meal, but one that wouldn't make me feel entirely lethargic when serving drinks to people. Anywho... The owner is ALWAYS at the front greeting people, taking orders, preparing beverages, collecting monies, etc. Many restaurant owners posture as being customer-oriented by simply peeking their heads out to say "hi" to customers and be a mystical figure. This gentleman (forgive me for not remembering his name) is always there to ensure that every customer is properly taken care of! Now, on to the food.... This is as close as you'll come to Big Mama's food down home somewhere in North Carolina, Atlanta, Mississippi, etc... They make REAL DEAL soul food that is well-seasoned, well-cooked, & high quality! My goodness, the portions are huge also. Lawd, have mercy. I'm always a stickler for quantity-quality-pricing ratios. Just Fish Cafe gives great combination deals & bargains, where you get a GRIP of food, for a wonderful price. I always get the Big Mega Meal Classic. Dope selection of either fried fish or wings, with an assortment of sides. Great greens (I LOVE greens, and I'm very picky about them), awesome mac and cheese, MAGNIFICENT cornbread, and dope yams! I mean, there's so much more, but I haven't been on to the whole menu because the Big Mega is my go-to. So delish, bruh! You can get your food with some awesome lemonade, Southern sweet tea, or mix them up for a wonderful concoction called (BTW "suburban" folk, this has already existed for years so don't try to act like you discovered it like you do ALL of our creations and inventions) an "Uptown"... Just Fish Cafe gets my endorsement every time. I'm always PROUD to point to Black-owned businesses, and I will always point to Just Fish as a testament to what we can do when we provide quality, quantity, AND great pricing.

La Famiglia served me up a hearty, saucy and meaty lasagna. It was one of the best restaurant-made…read morelasagnas I've had in a while! Of course I had to add a side of wings .. got the hot honey wings and requested them well done and they arrived as such. The wings were crispy, flavorful AND juicy! The entire meal was a hit!! Customer service via phone is also friendly. I called to ask a question about my order and the young lady was very friendly and informative. I can't wait to try their chicken marsala and chicken piccata! :-)

A good option for pizza and yummy garlic knots in the city. Pizza is a must for me once per trip it…read moreseems. The service was friendly and it wasn't too hot inside tho the temp outside and ovens didn't help.

Their food was fresh and good quality. Great service. We liked everything we ordered. We will…read moredefinitely go back.

We ordered delivery and it arrived quickly and hot. The chicken Tom Yum soup was delicious and the…read morebeef pad Thai noodles were savory. Will definitely order again.

I Was In Maplewood, I Seen It In Passing! As A…read morePescatarian! You Always Get Excited When Passing A Fish Market! "That's Our Spot" I Did Have To Wait Outside A Bit. There Is A Two Customer Limit Inside. "Which Is Fine" You Wanna Make Sure The Food, YOUR Getting Anywhere Especially Now! Is Following COVID-19 Guidelines! I Waited Outside For What I Believed Was 3-5 Minutes When I Arrived Inside! I Was Greeted By The Cashier & She Did Say "Sorry For The Wait Outside" "That Was Heart Warming" It Didn't Have The Horrid Fishy Smell You Normally Get At A Fish Market! They Had Lots Of Fish To Choose From. Even Some Items In Front Like Onions, Peppers, Shallots, Lemons, & Potatoes! Also Different Sauces To Choose From To Jazz Up That Seafood Meal! Thanks For The Halibut!

We went to Freeman's yesterday for the first time after getting our car serviced on Rt 10 in…read moreWhippany. Had a delicious lunch at Coda Kitchen and bought a dozen clams and a 1lb piece of swordfish from Freeman's later. Had the clams on the half last night and split the swordfish in two, freezing one and blackening the other tonight. All delicious. We appreciate the thickness of the cut as thinner swordfish fillets dry out quickly. Yes if in the area definitely recommended.

Love the seafood here. Ordered some snow crab and some jumbo shrimps. Got them steam and seasoned…read morefor Mother's Day. The service was very good, they keep the lines moving. One line to place your order and another to pay. Both moved quickly. The only wait was the time it took to steam the food which wasn't long either. To be a seafood place, the wasn't a strong or bad smell, you mostly smelled the seafood seasoning on the steamed items. The keep the place pretty neat and clean as can be for a seafood spot. Always my go-to for snow crabs!!

We have been coming here for 6-7 years. It is such a gem! The owner is super friendly and helpful…read more Service is efficient and fast, you are usually in and out within 10 minutes. I love how fresh the crabs are. I always get the largest size available, trust me, it's worth it. The prices are very reasonable. I like the seasoning on the side and get the butter dipping sauce. Highly recommend!!