Dining at Homestead Restaurant in Trenton, NJ feels like stepping into a living piece of the city's history. This isn't just a place to eat, it's the kind of old-school establishment that's been around long enough to have stories. You can feel the past in the wood-paneled atmosphere, the classic bar, and the sense that generations of locals have gathered here over good food and long conversations. There's a subtle throwback vibe that hints at Trenton's more colorful eras, the kind of place where, decades ago, important conversations might've happened over steaks and drinks rather than phone calls and emails. It has that timeless, no-frills charm: confident, comfortable, and unapologetically traditional. The food is solid, hearty, and satisfying, classic dishes done right, with portions that don't mess around. Service is professional and respectful, like they've learned over the years that consistency and discretion matter. You're treated well, but without any forced friendliness, just genuine hospitality the old way. If you appreciate historic spots with character, where the walls could probably talk and the traditions still matter, Homestead Restaurant is a must-visit. Five stars for keeping that classic Trenton legacy alive. read more

This is THE definition of no frills Italian cooking. Everything was seasoned perfectly. Salads were amazing, bread was perfect, entrees were extremely flavorful. Servers were extremely aware of the tables' needs and I never felt like I was looking for the servers. Highly recommend coming here read more

In a world full of Olive Gardens and Macaroni Grills, it's refreshing to see a thriving locally owned and operated old world Italian restaurant. This area has coined the phrase Trenton-style Italian , but the cuisine, ambiance, and family style approach is familiar to all us Italians from the tri-state area. This evening was sort of a small family reunion for our group so we got to try several things. Most notably the chicken parm, eggplant parm, pasta marinara, pasta prima, meatloaf (tonight's special), and a cauliflower salad with provolone and anchovy (you can customize this) and tomato salad. Everything was excellent and I especially appreciate that all the tomato sauce was low acidity made from local Jersey tomatoes. They have a full bar with very competent bar tenders. They executed my standard Titos martini, extra dry, up with a twist to perfection at least 3 times. There's a menu, but you're best off just listening to what the waiter tells you is on for tonight, then customize from there. Or try and go with a local who's been. The servers are excellent and a riot to chat with. They're very attentive. I just mentioned how I might be craving another cocktail and boom, it just arrives and I don't even recall having to ask. Highly recommend. read more

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Food was very meh. Service was excellent. Ambience was good to excellent . Clearly, you have a very wide selection of many choices; but tonight it did not turn out very well. We had the veal dish and it was unimpressive. read more

I thought I wrote a review just a few days ago but if you didn't see it, this place is special. I've been going there since I was probably 12 years old and it hasn't changed too much over those years. I'm now 79 you know it must be good consistencies the magic word here if you get a chance to try it do it you won't be disappointed it's unique. read more

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Great food and multiple bars and great bartenders It is a tremendous venue for musical groups also read more

Small but cozy. The food is very good and appears to rely heavily on repeat business. I look forward to trying it again now that I have a idea what to expect read more

Homestead Inn - Italian Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

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Just a follow up to my previous review ten years ago. The Homestead Inn continues to hold the tradition of old school Italian American dining that grew from the fantastic dining experiences that were offered in the Chambersburg area of Trenton....back before many of us were alive in the hey day. The Homestead Inn is probably the last survivor and deserves recognition. The service continues to be unsurpassed by any dining establishment. The entire staff is accommodating and friendly. Not at all stuffy and always willing to share a laugh and have some fun, yet still remain professional. The food remains the same over all these years with no deviation. This is old school Trenton/Hamilton style Italian American and they do it well. Do not go in expecting some new imaginative special. Go in expecting traditional meals that are consistent and great. Get a reservation. The room is small and it's the best way I've found to grab a table. read more

I've known about the Homestead for decades, why it took so long to finally visit is party due to procrastination and also to a perceived veil of secrecy. I just couldn't get any first hand info on the joint, and the little I did have came many years ago when I was a teen and a friend's father would bring him here. Fast forward to the info age and even Yelp was not a great source of details. The reviews I read a few years back intrigued me, but none were by avid Yelpers or Elites, and ranged from 1 to 5 stars. No great consensus of opinions. Finally Brad M added his review and it was back on my list of places to try. The first thing I noticed on driving up and parking in a spot near the door is that this place could really use a fresh coat of exterior paint. This sentiment followed me inside where decoration is almost nonexistent. The shades and blinds here may very well predate my own outdated ones. White tablecloths were the only nod to fine dining I noticed. Our waiter assumed we were familiar with the menu( I was a bit but my aunt was not) and seemed put off when she asked to look at it. I had it in mind to try the Primo pasta and something with veal. The crusty bread was a positive omen of things to come, but beware of the very spicy long hots. She selected veal parm and I had a special of the day, veal tips and mushrooms in a garlic and wine jus. We split a full order of penne Primo too. The pasta arrived first and was nothing to look at, to me it appeared to be a thin and oily red sauce( it is in fact an oil and garlic sauce mixed with the house meat ragu) but to both of our taste buds it was excellent. Slowly cooked garlic in oil melded perfectly with their gravy to create one of the best pasta sauces I've had recently. I will be experimenting in my kitchen to try to reproduce this. As others have pointed out, the starch component is truly al dente, almost teetering on undercooked. If you like yours softer( I for one do not) you may want to ask your waiter if they can boil for a little longer. My aunt's veal parm was at least 3 slices of thinly pounded meat, perfectly breaded and fried and topped with very little cheese, but plenty of marinara. She loved it and my bite confirmed that it is very good. My special may have been even better. It was easily 8-12 ounces of the tenderest veal I've ever had that was likely gently braised in a white wine and garlic jus, quartered Cremini mushrooms were added and these may have had a turn over the charcoal grill. The plating was as basic as it gets, but the flavor was on point. This low key and somewhat off the beaten path place had a nice crowd for a midweek lunch( not sure if the impending holidays contributed to this) except for us it seemed to be mainly financial professionals and similar occupations. And my inquiring eyes noticed that most if not all were really enjoying the meals. It seemed a bit ironic to me that one of the few decorations hanging was a menu from many many years ago with mostly the same options as today, but a few decimal places cheaper than today. And if I have one negative to point out, it is in the prices. A dinner portion of veal parm is listed at $23 I believe, my aunt's lunch portion came in at $18( as did my veal tips) but it does not come with anything, our full order of penne was another $18, and was not even homemade pasta. That being said I think some of the cost is justified on final tasting. I plan on returning for dinner with my mostly Italian GF, Primo sauce will definitely be reordered as well as the stuffed clams that were almost ordered. 4 throwback Thursday Yelps read more

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I tried this place again, I was desperate for a wasteful and luxurious dinner with strong drinks and they didn't disappoint. This is Fox News territory: Fox News in the TV, absolutely NO ONE masked, and they looked at me funny when I walked in with a mask. Service only slightly warmer than when I first ate here and feared the waiter would "wack" me. Nothing is special or memorable. That said, everything is good quality. My steak was lovingly cooked. The "menu" is the waiter's recitation and he had no problem delivering me precisely what I ordered. Drinks were strong, "for real men". The decor is non-existent, linoleum and hard furniture. Clientele's average age was over 70. I rated this three stars before, but the quality of the food and the excellent service really deserve an additional star. read more

Wonderful traditional Italian fare. Warm and inviting setting with gracious hosts. The dishes are amazing, great choices of salads.

Been a regular for close to 40 years a one of a kind experience love everything about Chicks

Not sure who wrote these reviews, but our experience was disappointing. The food was horrible. Food presentation was an embarrassment. A single meatball on a plate, stringy chewy asparagus and A chunk of fish in tomato sauce is disgusting and over priced. Nothing fresh about this place and would never recommend it! Absolute disappointment! read more

This is one of those unique restaurants that makes you wonder how franchises like Olive Garden can stay in business in this area. The historical Homestead Inn is basically an old house. The food was excellent and apparently they have only started having menus very recently. The waiter used to just tell you what the dinner choices were. You should probably make a reservation since they fill up quickly. read more

Do not rate the Homestead Inn by the interior. I don't think they have spent a dime on the place in 30 years. Go for the food knowing this might be the last old Trenton place left. Hot peppers and great bread and butter were on the white table clothed table when we were seated. Be sure to make a reservation because every table is filled. No menu or prices, so the waiter recites all the options. Out the window we saw the cooking staff picking fresh tomatoes..real beauties and herbs. You get to select exactly what you want in your salad; I had baby arugala, red onion, tomatoes & sharp provolone. We ordered a string bean salad to add to our salads. Delicious! The salad was perfection! My friend had 2 perfect martinis, and I had a very good glass of merlot. We had orders of pencil points with meat gravy..perfection again. The entree I had was a perfectly charcoal grilled veal chop with a side of garlic sauteed spinach. My companion had tender delicious chicken and peas. Desserts were classic Artic peanut butter ice cream & a tartuffo. Only imperfection was my cold coffee. When I told the waiter he said they only have an urn & removed my coffee. No matter...perfect perfect meal. Fabulous! read more

Been passing this place almost my whole life! It looks like a big old farmhouse - you might barely know it's a restaurant. Classic, Trenton Italian. What you read in the other reviews is true - it's a bit dated and there's lots of senior citizens. In my opinion, that creates an amazing atmosphere. Truly classic. The Trenton/Hamilton area simply doesn't have very many of these types of places left! We really enjoyed our meals - served family style. Start with a nice crusty bread and some long hots. We each ordered our own salad. I order the wide noodles with Alfredo and broccoli. My boyfriend ordered the veal tips with mushrooms. We both loved it. The Alfredo was just cream and butter - no cheese. I had never had it that basic before. Looking forward to coming back and trying some other things! read more

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Best restaurant and EXPERIENCE in the area! This is not your typical Italian restaurant, this is a one of a kind joint that holds true to its history. The signature pasta is nothing you can get anywhere else and the bartender is the KING of the old school cocktail. Be prepared for an experience! read more

The food is still really top notch, the service nearly ruins it (if you go, just be prepared). We came in most recently for my son's birthday and the waiter was clearly either stoned, drunk, or both. Not sure that I minded that we had to ask for drinks twice, bread three times (it never came), our salad four times (we finally received after the meal) and that our table was barely bused. It was slightly understaffed but the place only fits 25 people so, .. But my son's friend has a nasty peanut allergy which I made a point of corse to inform the waiter prior to dessert being served. You guessed it, one of the desserts had nuts which I luckily found out by trying first ... Nearly catastrophic and basically inexcusable. Again, if you go prepare for terrific food, throwback mob-style vibe, and service which could kill you.. read more

A wonderful restaurant where it feels like going home. The staff is warm and welcoming, the food is exceptional. I had the arugula salad with blue cheese and a lamb chop, just outstanding. Definitely added to my list of favorites. read more

We celebrated our 50 years of marriage last nite with a great meal. My beautiful wife and I have been eating at "the place" from day one of our marriage! It's not often you can say either arrangements last that long and yes both have had their ups and downs. Chicks is better than ever, a true accomplishment for Jack& Peter bravo. We had tomatoes all the way only place I know that pays attention to ripeness and quality of these jersey gems. Pasta w clams a work of art, perfect grilled ribeye over real charcoal. My BW had veal parm and we shared fresh cut fries perfect. Add expertly made cocktails by Bill and great service by all,which has always been a hallmark look for a picture of Jose by the kitchen. It's a great feat that we both lasted all these years, bellisimo. read more

World class service and food. It's a place you want to go with family for a celebration. The atmosphere is like having dinner at your grandmother's house with everyone you love. read more

A Trenton establishment. Looking around the dining room is like a who's who of the capital city. This is easily My favorite restaurant for the last 30 years. Fresh food, great service. Great for business lunches and dinners, casual dinners, date nights, and groups. Make sure to make reservations or you can't get in-- the restaurant probably only seats 50. My favorite things on the menu: tomato salad with any cheese-- they manage to get jersey tomatoes year round!!! Green beans salad Broccoli salad Primo pasta Roast chicken Ribeye steak Chicken parm read more

Phenomenal food, service and ambiance. Definitely try the chicken cacciatore and meat balls with lima beans.

Like a trip in time. I went for lunch with my husband and I was probably the only female in the place. That's fine, but it felt old school. The food was phenomenal. They verbalize their menu. I got a tomato salad, angel hair aoili and chicken parm. Everything was mouth watering good. Also had a delicious espresso afterwards served the traditional way with a little lemon. I look forward to going back for some more amazing authentic Italian! read more

One of my favorite places for many years. Classic Italian dishes that are not very complex. The ambiance is more like your grandmothers kitchen than a high end dinning establishment. And yes, you can request to eat at the large table in the kitchen if you make your reservation days in advance. There is no menu and your not told the prices upfront unless you ask. Again, it's more like your grandma's house - but she doesn't charge $$$. A few of my fav's are the Bacalla salad, Lima Beans & Meatball's and Roasted Chicken. For sure don't miss the pasta with 'special sauce' either for your second course. This place isn't for everyone but it's unique enough to try once. read more

Had a great meal with Italian roast chicken and veal chop everything was perfect from the arugula salad to the tiramisu The vibe of old Italian haunt and the yesteryears of Chambersburg make this one of favorite places read more

Very good meal and the wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Had the lamb chop, cauliflower and pasta. Would recommend anyone!

Very disappointed because I heard such great things. My husband did enjoy his ribeye but my shrimp scampi was awful. I asked for linguini and got spaghetti. The shrimps were mealy and rubbery with no flavor. For the price I expected much more. I will say the service was great. The waiter took his time with us and made suggestions. It's also too bad that almost every special was served in marinara sauce. Even the fish. Not everything needs to be in tomato sauce. read more

First time at homestead tonight , for a small restaurant I think the service was just ok , the pasta appetizer was very good , the chicken parm was recommended by our waiter and was very disappointing the cutlet was thick and veiny. I would think chicken parmigiana is a fairly easy dish to get right? I would think the waiter would have asked if there was something wrong when he came to clean off the table and saw the uneaten meals on the plate?? Everything is ala cart, the presentation is none. The restaurant is an old farmhouse that needs a major makeover ! Each time someone comes in the floor shakes. I will not be returning read more

Went here for Father's Day. The staff was incredibly friendly and nice. They asked how we had heard of the place, and I told them I heard about it from work - they immediately asked after the guys by name. I get a feeling they remember you, even if you've only been there once. I made reservations on Tuesday for Sunday, Father's Day. We walked in a few minutes late, a waiter passing by asked if we needed help, and I said we had reservations. He knew exactly who we were, without my uttering a single identifier, and showed us to our seats. Bread and a plate of peppers were already on the table waiting. Service was great there, very attentive. The place was full, every seat was taken, but the tables weren't right on top of each other, so you didn't feel like it was crowded. The decor wasn't fancy, it was a little dark, and the floors were linoleum. Husband started with a glass of chianti. I had a sip, twas quite tasty. No menu, no prices, and the list wasn't as long as I feared it would be. If you're looking for huge variety, this isn't the place. The kids ordered linguine with meat sauce, hubby ordered a ribeye, and I ordered the chicken cacciatore and a Primo Pencil Points to share. The teenager LOVED his simple linguine with meat sauce. And he has no problem complaining about the slightest thing, and I didn't hear a single negative peep. The baby was even feeding herself her little portion of linguine absconded from the adolescent's plate. Husband rated the ribeye up there with Ruth's Chris, high praise indeed. It was cooked perfectly to his request, and nicely seasoned, and juicy. The house sauce, Primo, on my penne, was divine. And I don't usually care to order pasta out since we can make it at home so easily, but it was really good. Not too acidic-tomato, not too thick and cloying or pasty, (I don't usually like tomato sauces for that reason) - a little on the oily side, but the whole premise of the sauce is that it's a combination of meat sauce and garlic & oil. Now, the chicken cacciatore...I don't usually order chicken when I go out, because I make it inexpensively at home, and I've never had chicken cacciatore before, so perhaps this is how the dish is supposed to be,.. but I found it a little dry with a little too much tang from the wine sauce. We ordered desserts and coffee - the peanut butter ice cream had these little pieces of peanut butter in it - almost toffee like - the tiramisu, while not house made, looked and tasted terrific - perfectly creamy, nice espresso aromatic. Prices were typical Italian restaurant - $15/pasta, $17/chicken cacciatore, $32/ribeye - I put them here, because they don't give prices with the menu, and it's helpful to have a gauge. Overall, I'd go again for a special occasion - the Primo pasta is totally worth it, and the waitstaff are great. read more

Locally, Homestead Inn is better known as Chick and Nello's. The "menu" is heavy on North Italian meat dishes and Southern pastas. I put menu in quotation marks because they actually don't have print menus; despite the large variety of options, the servers deliver the menu in its entirety orally. Preparations are simple, fresh, and made-to-order. So, why the low-ish rating? For one, prices are very high for the location and the type of food. Entrees run $30-40 for things like roast chicken. Two, the whole no-menu thing irritates me; this is kind of a cute practice until you realize that it's going to take five minutes of the server speed-reading and that you won't possibly be able to pick and choose what you really want. Lastly, the food was decent, but nothing memorable. Dessert was particularly sub-par; we ordered the peanut butter ice cream and observed it being scooped out of a Breyer's ice cream carton in the kitchen. I will freely admit that I tend to review places like this a little harsher than most because I don't like to pay premium prices for "home-style cooking" that I can easily make myself. If you don't cook, or you are just craving some simple, clean food, you might really enjoy a meal here. I know several people who claim this is their favorite restaurant in central NJ. read more

Love this place - can't beat the quality and freshness of the food. The steaks are amazing, sauce is amazing, sauteed broccoli rabe is awesome. It does take a minute to get used to no menu but the effort pays off. read more

My wife and I live in Myrtle Beach, SC however I grew up in Allentown, NJ. Chick & Nello's is a hidden gem located in Hamilton, NJ. Ted Dolci, my mother's boyfriend, has been eating here for almost sixty years and has seen Pete, the third generation owner, grow up and take the reins. The quality of the food and service is unparalleled and has stayed true to its roots for as long as Ted has been a guest. As an executive chef in the Myrtle Beach area I will say that the quality, and most importantly, the consistency, is unmatched. Expect a loving family atmosphere, which of course includes the teasing of known individuals, in a local community driven restaurant. For my wife and I, it's a must have every time we visit the area, and if you can not decide on a sauce, get the Amatriciana for the win! The locals have always stood behind Chick & Nello's and that will always continue as they truly deliver quality food and service in an atmosphere their grandparents would be proud of. read more

Since last we dined here, they now have a written menu with prices! The same folks have worked there since the beginning of time. That's a good thing! The evening started out with Martinis ice cold and devoid of any vermouth whatsoever. Long hots and fresh crusty bread followed. They were hot for sure! We split a heirloom tomato salad with blue cheese and Italian dressing. Great stuff! The Bacala salad was amazing. Just decided to sit at the bar and pick a little bit. Company was great and service as outstanding as ever! read more

Ordered chicken cacciatore and salad. For dinner. White tables clothes on tables in small dining room - almost no room between small tables. Waiters in white shirts. Main course didn't include pasta. Excellent sauce and fresh Italian bread for dipping. But chicken was over cooked and exceedingly dry. They give you a hot pepper with the bread. Very dated but friendly. Seems like many age 70 and over retirees. Could look into kitchen from my table. Didn't look clean and kitchen staff didn't wear sanitary gloves! On large piece of property. Too bad owners haven't modernized and upgraded building because it has the charm to be something special. read more

Loved the primo sauce! Really well prepared, fresh food. Next time I'm back, I would love to hear more of the chef's specials and see some of his creativity on the menu! Also, the white table clothes intimidated me a bit when I walked in, but it was a relaxed environment with attentive service. Keep doing your thing guys see you all soon! read more

It had been many years since I'd dined at the Homestead, I always loved the intimate feeling as if you're dining in a family dining room w/that special Trenton feeling of being fussed over by your Italian family & the delicious Italian Sunday dinner (I miss this dearly from my late ex MIL). Knowing another visit was very overdue, I made reservations for my Hubby, my stepdaughter & I for Fathers Day, sadly I couldn't go being ill, so off I sent them. Well, they have my undying gratitude for giving my hubby & SD a most wonderful welcome & dinner. The server (who was probably there when I went years ago) very kindly & enthusiastically went over the menu w/my husband even though it was busy & proceeded to treat them both like family for the whole dinner. They loved the food & brought me home Lasagna, which remains some of the best I've ever eaten. This was over a year ago (sorry for the late review!!) , as soon as I'm physically able, I can't wait to go back. read more

Good food and relaxed atmosphere. Definitely old school, and very reasonable. Homestead was a nice date night choice.

The worse Italian food I ever had. I ordered chicken and peas and it was literally one piece of chicken for dinner. The meat tasted old as if it was reheated several times. The clams casino were 3 clams on a plate that were frozen and had no clams in them and only stuffing. The veal was tough and taste like vegetable oil and was thrown in a dish with no garnish. It was one piece of veal. Needless to say, three of us were up all night sick with acid reflux. Also, the sauce had no taste. The waiters were super nice is probably the only thing good I can say about this restaurants. What a waste of money!!! read more

Should I describe this place as having a weird set-up or strangely homey? Ordinarily I like places with a more "updated" ambiance but this place has some appeal and novelty. I loved all the "menu" selections- a veggie lovers dream as the salads and veggie sides provide a better selection than most any restaurant. Italian is never my first choice for a dinner out but I found this place to be just the kind of place I'd come back to again and again. If you are travelling on business a lot and sick of always feeling like you are eating "restaurant food" you will be delighted that you can have a home cooked meal in a "home". read more