Another local Livingston restaurant that has a local/clubby feel to it The food is unimpressive except for the excellent burgers. Salads are light on protein and big on cheap lettuces Pass fir me read more

The food at Nero's is consistently good. What hold it back from a higher rating is the service. When I order a $29 plate of pasta I expect high quality service. We dined as a family here tonight and we suffered from disappearing waiter syndrome. Service is slow and inconsistent. Food comes and I get no entree. How hard is it to deliver a dish on time? Second round of drinks took forever. Were they distilling the gin? The service will likely cause us to eat elsewhere. Prices have increased and the service has not. Our food was excellent but tarnished by the less than stellar service we received. Took quite a while to get the check as well. My delayed gin gimlet was excellent kudos to the bartender. The clientele is old as in liver spots and depends old. Not a place got the young. I Might try again but not if he service continues to be subpar. read more

The best way I can describe this place is Cheers (where everybody knows your name) meets a tired looking old school Italian/Steakhouse. And yet it still remains quite popular amongst the suburbanites of the surrounding area. Until recently I could not understand the appeal of this place. The wine list is mediocre at best, the decor in need of a facelift and the food consistently inconsistent. Sometimes my grilled shrimp over greens or lamb chops are quite good and other times I cannot believe I pay the bill for what is really very overpriced cafeteria-esque food. Most recently though a friend and I sat at the bar on a Thursday night and ordered soft shell crabs. They allowed us to customize the preparation and so we had them sautéed and served over a giant mound of broccoli rabe. The crabs were simply delicious and the portion enough for two dinners. I had a glass of rose which was certainly adequate but nothing spectacular. With Nero's being one of just a few bar/restaurants in town, I now get it. When you don't want to travel far, don't mind running into everyone you know in town (or maybe you're seeking that vibe for the evening) and you don't quite know what you're in the mood for, Nero's will hit the spot. Admittedly I live less than a mile from the restaurant so I, like many Livingston loyalists, find myself drawn to Nero's. Now if only they redid the decor inside and could amp up the consistency of the food... read more

We had my granddaughter's Baptism dinner at Nero's on Sunday, February 3, 2019. Not only was the food more than delicious ... the service was outstanding. Everyone at the party ... family and friends ... all called to tell me how much they thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant atmosphere, food, service -- the whole nine yards!!! If I could give more than a FIVE STAR I would. Rose Marie Gartland Bloomfield, NJ read more

Way beyond my wildest expectations is how I would describe this venerable Livingston institution. I was vacillating between 4 and 5 stars, but the welcome feeling I get every time I come here definitely puts this place over the top. Jeanine (please forgive the spelling if it's incorrect) is the hostess with the mostest. This woman knows most if not all of the patrons, and can really work a room like a modern day Perle Mesta. The wait staff is knowledgeable and welcoming as well. Now, on to the food. Solid is the best description I can give, albeit there are a few standouts. The Firecracker Shrimp is a must to kick off any meal. If you have a seafood allergy, take a pill. If you're kosher, take a chance. It's well worth it. After much consideration, since I've had more than my fair share of mediocre to downright miserable crab cakes that were 80% breading, our wonderful waiter and the woman at the next table convinced me to go for it, and I'm so glad I did. These two luscious crab cakes consisted of at least 90% jumbo lump crabmeat, and may well have been the best I've ever had. Unlike many of their ancestors before them, these crustaceans gave their lives for a worthy cause. I generally don't have room for dessert, but on the rare occasions that I do, my biggest criticism is that Nero's desserts are way too big. The carrot cake is basically a carrot cake as opposed to a slice of carrot cake. If you haven't tried Nero's, give it a shot. If you have, but haven't been there in a while, try it again. They'll be sure to greet you with open arms and a wide selection of welcoming food. I've already booked my table for next Saturday. read more

What a great restaurant! Great outdoor space with plants and flowers! The food and service were outstanding!!! Looking forward to going back soon. Loved the crab cakes! read more

I love me some pork chops. The 20 oz Double Cut Pork Chop was easily as good as any other pork chop I've ever had in my life. So friggin juicy -- perfectly salted -- outside was crispy -- went extremely well with the Malbec and Creamed spinach. Worth the trip for that pork chop any day of the week. read more

We had a group of 3 for Dinner. The service and food was above and beyond all the expectations of upscale and great food . Our Reservations was about 1/2 hr late getting seated.. But the owner ( I think ) was the best host , and bought us drinks during the wait. Super Friendly and nice.As was our waiter too. We had Crab cakes appetizers, Pork chops, Spinach Salad, and Spaghetti and meatballs . all was excellent! I will definitely go many more times! read more

I've been eating and drinking at Nero's for 35 years. The food and drinks were always good. Last night I ordered White Clam Pizza and Veal Parm. Easy enough. Bar none, it was the worst garbage ever put on a plate. The food was burned, soggy and was so oversalted it was inedible. When I called to tell them, I spoke to Jeanine who treated me like dirt. Her exact answer was an uncaring "come on in and I'll take care of you". The Response was identical to the food - a sack of BS. Why would I want to go back and get more inedible food from people who took joy in taking my money in exchange for low quality slop. Do yourself a favor, go somewhere else. read more

Ordered delivery for my daughter and son in law anniversary. Order was Complete and everything cooked just right, steak, burgers, chicken. Etc. Wonderful dinner. Thank you! read more

Prices are extraordinarily high for what you are getting. Salads are simply awful - the Caeser salad we had was filled with gloppy unappealing dressing and tasted terrible. Other salads that we've tried are simply piles of lettuce and essentially nothing more. Burgers/meats have been fine, but nothing remarkable. read more

Neros never disappoints. Our local very favorite. Food and service always spot on!! Love celebrating special occasions. Always know our guests will appreciate both food and service. Excellent read more

Enjoyed my meal and overall experience at Nero's Grille. Cozy restaurant with a busy bar, delicious food and great service. Wanted to try their ribeye steak but went for the cod special over mashed potatoes in red tomato sauce. The dish was well prepared with fresh ingredients and tasted great. Tried the skirt steak over chimichurri which also was well prepared and tasty. Has an extensive wine list with a lot of selections and price points. Overall my experience at Nero's was great and I will be visiting again. read more

Ordered veal parmigiana with pasta for takeout but they put the veal over the pasta in a small container. The veal was so overcooked and tough I had a hard time to cut it with a knife. I would not go back there even if the food was free. read more

We have never had a bad meal at Nero's. The colossal cocktail shrimp are always steamed just right and the cocktail sauce is perfection. The jumbo lump crab cocktail is also delish. We often get the stack, a layered salad of arugula, tomato, and mozzarella drizzled with balsamic and it is plentiful so two can share it. This time around, we had veal milanese and the ahi tuna special, which were both prepared quite well. We dined on the earlier side and there were numerous families and older couples there as well. As we were leaving, the bar was filling up as it typically is a hopping scene on any given night.The only item that was underwhelming was the cup of chicken noodle soup. Skip it and have anything else on the menu. read more

I was there this past Friday night with my grandparents, and young children. I was a little taken back by what the hostess was wearing. Her shirt was cut very low and when she bent over we could see down her shirt. Just a little too much exposed for me and my family, especially with kids around. It's a great family place to eat, just didn't expect to see so much of the hostess, maybe next time we will see less of her?? On the other hand, dinner was great! read more

Wide selection of food, like a diner. More like a diner than an upscale Italian place. Italian gravy is just fair. You need to act like a regular to get seated in the main dining room. I have been going quite often recently, but because I don't go through the hand shake routine, I get shoved in the misfit room off the bar. I can never bring clients here or have parties since I won't know which room I will get. It is ridding on its reputation of yesteryear. read more

When my parents took me out for a birthday as a teenager, I remembered a crowded and stuffy seating area with a lot of a la carte yet uninspired food selections. In a nutshell, the food was mediocre in taste for an upscale restaurant, which appears to have higher standards, at a desirable location off of JFK Parkway. Overall, I don't feel motivated to come back. read more

The service is slow. Food quality does not match the pricy cost. Wait for over 40 min to get my 1st appetizer while the table coming after us already go to their dishes. read more

Nero's is a Livingston staple with local "regulars"; think of it as an upscale, "Cheers". For the most part the staff are nice, responsive and management almost always pops in to see if you're enjoying the meal. Décor is emblematic of a traditional steakhouse and I'm not mad at it, love it. Price is on par with a moderately high end restaurant; price to meal size is proportional. So why only three stars? Simple, Nero's is like an old pair of jeans. They fit, they're comfortable...they get the job done. But, let's be honest, neither you nor those jeans is cool enough to pull off that vintage chic look. The difference between Nero's and that swag you rock in your, "like a glove", jeans is that Nero's didn't get the memo and neither did the Livingston elite that prop them up year after year. A steak samitch and burger have so much snooty fluff attached to it that while delicious sounding is priced to the point where I'd rather order a legit steak and call it a day ('Murica). The Jew/Anti-Commie in me is annoyed by the comically small individual glass bottles of soda. All that said...I don't hate Nero's. In all fairness I have enjoyed myself for the most part; sans a couple entitled passive aggressive waiter (only once). I just wish they went balls in and either raise their price/menu or learn to laugh at them selves enough to see that a steak samtich shouldn't cost as much as it does to fill up my car's gas tank across the street. By the way, you want a a good samitch with some matzo ball soup and as many refills as your; bacon eating, stretchy pant wearing (fuck faux vintage) freedom loving ass can handle? Go to the Ritz, fill up your tank and call it a day...or don't, 'murica! read more

Ordered delivery on a cold rainy night with my man. Let's start with the bad: Caesar salad came undressed. It would have been helpful to have the salad tossed with the dressing prior to receiving. Chicken parm and rigatoni vodka were stock at best. The good news: the homemade cavatelli and short rib was a stand out. I've never had this flavor combination before, with a balsamic sauce complimenting a dollop of herbed ricotta and truffle. Overall, not worth the $100 price tag, but pleasantly surprised by the cavatelli dish. read more

Bobbi is the best she is all ways on point and so sweet and always asks for my mom she is the best funny and will put a smile on your face

Kudos to Nero's. They have done an amazing job thru the pandemic proving excellent food, fine service and a safe place to dine. Heat lamps in the winter, umbrellas in the summer and well spaced tables inside. The menu is varied and there are always specials as well as old favorites. The place to go for any meal or occasion. read more

Only ate there once..... not impressed at all, especially given the Manhattan prices. I have no plans to return. read more

I was looking for Nero's Grille but I guess it's the same. I took my parents here for a Valentines dinner. The food was excellent and the service was okay. They forgot to serve bread right away, we have to ask for it. They serve American-Italian food which was delizioso! I also had red wine for my steak. I'm not sure though if she gave me the right Carbanet Souvignon 2005, which was recommended by my French patient. I saw a different red wine when I got the check. We didn't have appetIzer but the waitress offered us salad, in the house, which I greatly appreciate. They even gave my mom the balloon she wanted! I payed about $130 which is kinda pricey. The first plan was to go to a Diner, but on a special occasion like this, it should be alright. 5 stars! Wish I knew about this place before, when I screwed up a date, and the parking lot of that restaurant was in the woods. read more

I get dragged here every now and then, but not anymore. Nero's is basically diner quality food. Portions are also small and expensive. My nephew ordered the fish special at lunch and they gave him the smallest piece of fish. Literally the size of two fish sticks. It's really is amazing this place is still in business. But I guess not considering the other options in the area. read more

Like everyone else mentioned the quality of this long time local establishment has gone downhill in a severe way. The decor is really old time, the food takes a while to make, and there's just no excitement or wow factor. We had the calamari (soggy) and oysters Rockefeller (took forever to make and just didn't taste right, also ivercooked). It's hard to mess up these dishes and makes me think there are some inexperienced cooks in the kitchen. Oh well. read more

First off I'd like to mention that I read all the negatives reviews before going here. The positive ones is what made us decide to give it a try. And we are glad we did. This was our first time visiting this establishment. We were a party of six and arrive pretty late about 9:45. It wasn't busy at all and they put us in that "back room" all the other negative reviews mentions. We are in our 40's and I agree the decor is a little dated in the room but it was clean and friendly. We were the only people in the room so we didn't have to deal with children running around in the other negative review I read, but hey, that's not a restaurant problem that's a parenting problem, so Not relevant to the place. We were greeted with a friendly hello an to give them a minute to setup a table for 6. The waiter was very attentive and we didn't have to wait for any significant time to get his attention. (the place was empty tho because it was only an hour before closing.) We order drinks and got them quickly. They gave use a huge loaf of bread with butter to munch on while waiting. My wife loves breads they give your as a snack, so she was sold. For our apps we ordered: 3 shrimps with cocktail sauce. (Huge shrimp cooked perfect) priced per shrimp Crab meat cocktail (Delicious and fresh) 9 oysters on half shell (Delicious and fresh) Mediterranean grilled octopus ( people who have eaten it often liked it, those that don't did not.) 2 French onions soups (broth was very good, one of the best I've had in jersey) As for entrees we had: 1 10oz filet mignon (cooked perfect) (rare as allowed by law) 2 5 oz flite mingon (cooked perfect) one well done, one medium rare. Waiter kept asking if the well done was ok. (Our well done friend now knows what a good steak is without being well done. However those who do like well done, the meat was still moist) 1 lobster risotto (loved it) Only issues was the green sauce they put over the top was a little licorices flavor which my pallet doesn't like. However mixed together it wasn't significantly noticeable, I will however ask for no Aioli sauce the next time I order it. It was very good tho. 1 Grilled Swordfish Puttanesca (delicious, very meaty like chicken, filling) 1 mac and cheese (so good, homemade goodness) 1 mashed potatoes (rich and creamy) Everyone enjoyed the entrees. There was no complaints from our group. Everyone really enjoyed the food. We finished up with some espresso and the girls were looking for a desert, which they had many good options but decided maybe they shouldn't. So the waiter brought out the espressos then a minute later bough out biscotti dipped in bitter chocolate and another dessert split into 6 pieces on the house! I am very glad I decided the positive reviews out weight the bad so tried this place. We will be going there again for sure. Staff was assertive and friendly and food was delicious. From a price standpoint I enjoyed what I paid for and feel it was priced accordingly. Again the place was empty because we got their late, so attentiveness may vary on a busy night, but the food was on point and that's the most important ingredient! We will be back their soon! read more

Most racist place I have ever experienced! What a shame in today's world. Call with an accent and they pretend you can't hear. Walk in anything outside of being white and you are either not seated or told likely full when bunch of empty tables. Call for veg options or ask for veg options and you get an attitude. read more

This really is and always has been a great neighborhood restaurant. The chicken aglio olio is amazing.

I have been living in this community for the past 42 years, have driven past this restaurant, but had never been inside. Yesterday, after shopping with a friend from out of town, we decided to go to Neros for dinner. What a disappointment. Everything was overpriced, and the food that we had was as some reviewers stated, diner quality. We started out with a watermelon and tomato salad which was to be shared. It was barely enough for 2 people.. $18. My friend had the salmon, which was dry, and I had the steak sandwich, also $18. It was so salty I could only eat half. My friend ordered 2 take out dinners consisting of another kind of fish. She was also disappointed with that. As African Americans we did not experience any indifference from the staff. The maitre D was very charming and came over to our table to check on us. The service was fair. read more

I've been eating here since the day I was born and yes, the decor is still the same (has not changed one bit). people think it is "old and drab" but for me, it reminds me of happy times with the family, coming here for dinner all the time. price is an issue, as well as portions of food sometimes. I always wondered why they dont give side-dishes but instead do them ala carte. the clams posilippo though is the best, and basically one of their best dishes! they also have the lobster tank so you can choose which guy you get (i used to love doing that as a kid). the breadsticks as well are the best around, and the service is always terrific! honestly, i hope this place stays open for as long as can be. many great times ive had here growing up, and many more as well! read more

I have been to Nero's many times over the years since I have family that lives not too far away. Their food is great but the service is sub par. This used to be one of my dad's go to places because he loved the food so much. However he probably hasn't been in years now. You can only go to a place so many times and get horrible service until you give up on it. I don't expect him to go back any time soon after probably being a once a month customer for a long time. read more

I have friends that love this place. I have eaten here at least 5 times. Of all the times I have eaten here, only 1 time did I actually enjoy my food (and that was this recent trip). This time, I ordered Chicken Nero. It was good. The service is excellent. It is fun to watch the singles at the bar. If you are not in the area, do not go out of your way to eat at Nero's. Also, we never use the valet. I have heard of people using the valet and their cars get stolen. read more

Appy of calamari was delish. Cheesecake dessert was out of this world. Both get 5 stars, but my bf and I each had the 10 oz filet mignon. Really bland. Not juicy. Cooked medium. I was hoping to like it much more. Waiter service was good. Owner was very gracious. Might try pasta or fish instead. If you want an amazing filet go to Meal in Nutley. Ahmaz! read more

Nero's Grille - Seafood Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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Big disappointment, the menu has changed. That makes the special dishes that they used to serve, not so special anymore. It's a shame it was a good old stand bye. read more

Absolute horrible spot have been waiting for my food for over 1.5 hours on a take out order and it's not even ready!! Never go here

I really like neighborhood eateries. There is something comforting about them. Nero's is a neighborhood steakhouse in Livingston, NJ. I have been here several times but this they were work related events I have yet to pick up the check. Nero's is not fancy but the food is good and the atmosphere is homey. The first time I went I ordered the coffee ground ribeye because I really wanted to see what it was like (did I mention I am kind of an adventurous eater). They rub coffee grounds on the ribeye. It is actually very good and Nero's is now the place I go when I crave a coffee ground ribeye. This is what I have ordered everytime I have been there. read more

I pass this restaurant all the time, and finally decided to try it out last weekend... After reading the reviews, i was not expecting very much. Well, I'll say, this place exceeded our expectations. The food was great, the service was great, we mentioned it was our first time, and the manager came to check on us twice! (that's how you get customers to come back). After we placed our orders, i saw a few plates being delivered that looked amazing. The server assured me it was ok to change my order, and I'm so happy i did. the Chicken Milanese not only looked fantastic, it tasted fantastic! The Shrimp cocktail were huge, just like a NYC Steakhouse.... and the the cheesecake might have been the best I've had! (they comp'd our dessert being it was our first time). Great Service, Great food, You will definitely see us again! read more

I couldn't have been more wrong in my last post. Nero's is a local treasure. I deeply regret my last review. I now eat at Nero's for every meal. read more