francesco_m

Hello everybody! I'm flying to Newark friday April 13th, and staying at the Marriott that night. Does anybody know of some nice restaurant in that area that I can drive to easily???

hamlet

There is an area of Newark known as the "Ironbound" which is full of Portuguese restaurants. I have been there, but not recently, and cannot recommend any in particular.

By the way, Newark is NOT a city where you want to get lost or go for a random drive. It's not all bad, but make sure you have a destination and good directions to get there and back. However, you are right near major highways and can easily access nicer and safer towns in the Newark area.

justme22

you definately want to go to the ironbound for portuguese. I haven't been in a while, but one of the restaurant's name was Iberia. there are others and your hotel might be able to give you better info. you might even be able to google search on the ironbound ( by the way it's called that because of the rail road tracks surrounding the neighborhood)

Elainee

Eat at the hotel. Newark is not a good place to wander about. During the day there are business restaurants but by night it is not an "upscale" place.

bill_boy

I agree with the previous posters, not with the one about staying in your hotel, but with those suggesting that you should have a destination, should know where to go and not randomly drive around.

We live in New York City and every once in a while we make a trek to Newark to satisfy our cravings for Spanish and/or Portuguese foods, home cooking style. The Ironbound district is a lively place, one of the biggest (if not the biggest) Portuguese/Spanish community in the USA and is a relatively safe neighborhood to go for dinner. There are plenty of restaurants, delis and stores, especially along Ferry Street.

Here are some of our current favorites:

Don Pepe along McCarter Highway is a large restaurant with it’s own private parking. Very good gambas ajillos and decent roast meat/steak dishes.
http://www.donpeperestaurant.com/


Casa Vasca is the current locals favorite in Newark. This one is a little harder to find as it is on a very residential street that is, I believe, parallel to Ferry Street. Their Portuguese home cooking are lauded by local foodies.
http://www.10best.com/Newark,NJ/Rest...sinessID=12638

Forno’s Of Spain is a very popular one along Ferry Street. We used to frequent this and loved their Pollo con ajillo as well as mariscada, but have recently opted for the easier availability of parking at Don Pepe’s.
http://www.fornosrestaurant.com/

We also used to go to The Spanish Sangria restaurant. This is frequented by locals for their good lunch deals and live European football on TV.
http://chefmoz.org/United_States/NJ/...954304252.html

A friend had recently told us about and recommended Iberia Peninsula restaurant, also along Ferry Street. We’ve never been. But here’s their website,anyway:
http://www.iberiarestaurants.com/home_IP/homepg.htm

Budman

Are you staying at the Marriott at Penn Station? Casa Vasca on Elm Street is an excellent, excellent Portuguese restaurant, and just a short taxi ride from the Penn Station Marriott.

Ruff

...and don't eat at that Marriott at the train station. I did last fall and it wasn't very good. The restaurants on Ferry Street are really a very short cab ride. Another option to go to a show at NJPAC and eat at their cafe, which has excellent food. I walked to and from NJPAC at night from the Marriott and wasn't worried. And I am a woman. But I also live in DC so am used to walking around a city at night.