Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Passaic

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2026

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Passaic? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Sear House Grill

4.9

4.9 (1044)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Little Falls

About the restaurant

Sear House Grill is an Italian restaurant in Little Falls, NJ.

Top review

Lorri

Dined 1 day ago

What a great dining experience. Party of four and we all had steaks and seafood. From our cocktail at the bar to dessert everything was excellent. Service is on point . One of our favorite places for a great meal.

Francesco's

4.9

4.9 (120)

$30 and under

Italian

Totowa

About the restaurant

A neighborhood gem for over 23 years, we serve the finest authentic Northern and Southern Italian cuisine in North Jersey.

Daily specials are inspired by seasonal fresh local produce, meats, and fish.

Including a staff that makes you feel special in a cozy Tuscan feel, all make this restaurant the Italian tradition of Welcome, which sets it apart from the rest.

Top review

Denise

Dined on Oct 24, 2026

I don’t usually write reviews, however, I felt the food and the atmosphere and the help was exceptional and worth taking my time out to write this. We will be back!

Rumba Cubana - Haledon

4.9

4.9 (52)

$30 and under

Cuban

North Haledon

About the restaurant

Rumba Cubana - Haledon offers a truly elevated Cuban dining experience, where authentic flavors meet modern creativity. Guests enjoy show-stopping cocktails , beautiful food presentations , and a vibrant yet elegant atmosphere you wont find anywhere else. It’s Cuba reimagined : bold , fun and unforgettable .

Top review

ahmed

Dined 1 day ago

This was our 4th time in the past few months coming here. It is always amazing service, food, and ambience!! The music is amazing, and a perfect date night resturant, or even just for family/friends! This place is the best cuban resturant in North Jersey In my opinion!! Will continue coming here, never anything less than perfect!

Bottagra

4.8

4.8 (1505)

$31 to $50

Italian

Hawthorne

About the restaurant

Located in Hawthorne"s historic Degray house, Bottagra Restaurant opened its doors in early 2008. What was once used as an encampment for General Lafayette's troops during the Revolutionary War has been transformed into a modern, elegant restaurant with the feel and charm of a Tuscan villa. Chef-Owners Robert Vicari and Carlo Carbonaro have fused their extensive restaurant experience together to offer a variety of dishes hailing from both the northern and southern regions of Italy. Offering a full bar and extensive wine list, as well as private rooms, Bottagra
is a diners' dream for gatherings both large and small.

Top review

AdrianaGold

Dined 2 days ago

Absolutely magical. Excellent, from beginning to end… from the food, the staff, the ambience, the drinks, etc. just perfect for every occasion!

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Experience

Deck the Halls Holiday Dining

Robert's Scratch Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (1231)

$30 and under

Continental

Totowa

About the restaurant

Welcome to Roberts Scratch Kitchen. We are a fine dining continental cuisine BYOB scratch kitchen restaurant located in Totowa New Jersey. Serving lunch and dinner with daily specials, offering a full Gluten Free Menu. Our modern spacious dining room is finely detailed, cozy, and relaxing, with a trendy classy feel.
At RSK our food is made from scratch. We do not use any ready-made prepared foods. Our kitchen has no freezer. Food is purchased fresh daily. Meals are homemade in the restaurant kitchen just a few feet from where you are dining. We also ask to bare with us as it is hard to find staff and we try to keep the prices as low as possible due to the high food costs these days and also trying to find the product in these strange times. We only use top of the line high quality provisions. On weekends we have a 90 minute table time for 2 tops and 2 hour table time for larger then that on the earlier seatings.

Top review

Allison

Dined 2 days ago

This is a wonderful restaurant! The food is delicious and we just love the seasonal specials. The chef is very creative and crafts unique dishes that you will not find anywhere else. The service is extremely attentive. There is also an extraordinary amount of options for people with allergies. We drive 30 minutes to eat here and will be back very soon.

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4.8

4.8 (588)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Hawthorne

About the restaurant

Executive Chef/Owner Adam Weiss, known for his creative mix of unique flavors and textures artfully presents F1RST, an Eclectic American Fine Dining BYOB Restaurant on the Passaic-Bergen county border. Focusing on seasonal American Cuisine with a twist, Chef Adam Weiss is bringing his distinctive cooking style to Northern New Jersey.
Diners will delight in the two uniquely decorated dining rooms that are upscale and trendy with avant garde artwork, subdued lighting, soothing background music, and an intimate fireplace with professional, friendly service welcoming all customers like members of the family.
F1RST has received 3.5 stars in October 2024 in NJ Monthly as “First Class Dining” as well as awarded Top 50 Best Restaurants 2026 August restaurant edition.
Our mission is to create a memorable dining experience for all who join us. We look forward to serving you!

Top review

Steve

Dined 3 days ago

One of the finest dining experiences I have experienced.

Rare, the Steak House

4.7

4.7 (2061)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Little Falls

About the restaurant

Rated the Best Steakhouse in New Jersey, Rare in Little Falls is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner. Since 2007, Rare has specialized in prime, wet-aged beef cooked to your liking, paired with exceptional sides. Their menu also features classic Italian dishes from their partnership with Il Tulipano, along with expertly prepared lamb, veal, poultry, and fresh seafood entrées.

Wine enthusiasts will appreciate the curated cellar, offering the perfect pairing for any meal. Rare also boasts a spacious bar with specialty cocktails, ideal for unwinding after a long day. For an extraordinary dining experience, reserve your table and enjoy the Rare experience.

Top review

Joni

Dined 3 days ago

Our table really enjoyed dinner. Everything was outstanding.

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Experience

Happy Hour

Spuntino Wine Bar and Italian Tapas

4.7

4.7 (1484)

$31 to $50

Italian

Clifton

About the restaurant

Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas set out with the goal of introducing a wonderful breadth of world-class international wine that is paired with an expansive Italian, small plate menu. Our wine list and food menu are thoughtfully prepared and selected by a team that strives to introduce our guests to new, fresh Italian flavors.

Wine is Spuntino’s second name! With over 50 wines by the glass, over 150 by the bottle, four wines on tap, and three wine flights offered daily, Spuntino really does have something for everyone.

Top review

David

Dined on Oct 19, 2026

It was the first time my girlfriend and I came to Spuntino’s. I have to say the service was exceptional! The food was phenomenal. I love the intimate setting. It’s just perfect for a date night. The seared tuna appetizer was so tasty. It was perfect. Both of our entrées came out better than we expected. The drinks were mixed perfectly and we even had dessert. Thank you so much guys we will be returning.

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Experience

$15 Lunch Pre Fixe

Rumba Cubana - Clifton

4.6

4.6 (40)

$30 and under

Cuban

Clifton

About the restaurant

Rumba Cubana will transport you from New Jersey to Havana without the need of a passport. The experience is sure to feel like a getaway, whether you are on vacation ,or looking for a vacation from your everyday life.
Open for lunch and dinner everyday. Our lunch specials are very well known !!
Rumba Cubana has a unique & casual seating. We are family oriented and romantic. Our menu includes the most delicious and authentic dishes in the Cuban cuisine.

Top review

FrankGold

Dined on Oct 21, 2026

Always a good meal and service at Rumba Cubana. Food is reasonably priced as well.

Dante's - Clifton

4.4

4.4 (55)

$31 to $50

American

Clifton

About the restaurant

Dante’s is bringing new life to a Clifton landmark, taking over the former Alexus Steakhouse with a bold, modern vision. Completely reimagined from the ground up, the restaurant now features a stunning new bar, refreshed interiors, and a sleek atmosphere perfect for any occasion. The menu has been fully reinvented, offering elevated dishes that blend timeless flavors with contemporary flair.

Top review

Michael

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent experience. this was our second time there & we were very happy. I must admit the noise level is just a little high for me, but that's just me, no one else complained. Service is really spot on. Friendly, attentive and quick. The food and drinks were perfect. Highly recommend this spot.

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