Barge Inn

So cozy, reasonably priced but more importantly the food is superb. We got the homemade ravioli with vodka sauce and chicken parm. Delicious and one of the best old school Italian places I’ve ever been to.

Just had the most wonderful meal with excellent service! Abundance of food for the price! Great atmosphere, great location! This place is a must go to! We will be back!

Might be a little too cozy but I don’t care. Great atmosphere. Food was good: apps tasted good and the main meal was a huge plate. Service was great. Server made sure everything was going well and everyone was satisfied with what they ordered. Will be back.

This place is a gem! A great bar atmosphere & delicious Italian food! Highly recommend after a show or if you’re looking for a “homey” date night

Awesome, awesome spot. Food from apps to entrees (I had chicken parm) are generous portions and VERY good. We went here with a group of 12 for my birthday and not only was service good, the staff were so nice & fun. We kept adding music to the jukebox and when it was clear the rest of the restaurant patrons were also enjoying it, they turned it up a bit we all sang and the staff were soaking it up. We loved them (even the cooks were enjoying it!). All in all, quaint spot, but if you go with friends and want to shut the place down on a weekend night, they're happy to give you an unforgettable night. Highly recommended and we will be back!!

10 Stars overall! Such a bonafide and beyond delicious and fresh community, food gem. The most amazing chicken parmigiana I or my wonderful husband ever had in Jersey City. And their BREAD PUDDING! Holy moly! It’s immaculate. Frank is a rare chef with a true passion for savory and sweet dishes! I feel so beyond lucky to alive during Beyoncé & Barge Inn. 😋💚♾

What a great place. The food was fantastic though certainly not perfect. I had the basa oreganata and stuffed rigatoni. I also tasted the broccoli rabe, special chicken (which was like a marsala), fried calamari, and the arugula salad. The basa was sublime: juicy and delicious sauce. Also excellent was the calamari, rigatoni, and arugula salad. The chicken was delicious and rich though too salty (and I LOVE salt). Also the portions were huge. The atmosphere is really cozy though the place got a bit noisy. And the prices were extremely reasonable.

I had Dinner at the Barge for my Anniversary the food was delicious and extremely fresh, I had the veal chop , cooked to perfection my lovely wife had Veal topped with a fresh green salad. I will definitely be back.The bottle of Ruffino Chianti was refreshing and the owner made you feel like you where Family. Debbie the waitress was on point. Thank you for making our day special.

Great food, really enjoyed the homey atmosphere, it's like you're in someone's actual space. You could tell there was a community of regulars here.

A different type of shrimp pasta I have never experienced. I love the Shrimp Pasta meal I ordered was delicious. I love the wine here too. We found a nice place to dine and have a good meal . Nice waiters and waitresses. What more could I ask for.

Great little spot in JC. The food and service were terrific. Definitely recommend for some great Italian-American dining.

I made the reservation and went for my birthday. I was excited before going because I wanted to try it for a long time and heard some good things about it. When we entered this restaurant, everything looks cute and cozy. The bartender/waitress was very welcoming and their drink prices e were very reasonable. The bread came warm and tasty so we held our expectation high for the food. I originally ordered osso bucco from the special menus but they went out so I had their staple dish pork chop instead. The pork chop was a bit over cooked and salty. We also ordered veal Milanese and linguine with garlic & olive oil. The garlic in the linguine was totally burnt and this dish was bland. We couldn't taste anything but the burnt garlic. The veal Milanese was way too salty and the veal was too tough to chew. We ended up taking out the burnt garlic from the linguine and mix it with the pasta from the veal dish. It turned out to be better. I really had high expectation of this place but am not sure if I would come back again.

Amazing service, delicious food, great drinks! The stuffed rig was so good and an absolute must have. The veal franchise was one of the best I've had - amazing flavor! The pasta fagioli soup was soooo good. No drink menu, but they have a full bar and make great cocktails. I had a very good espresso martini! I'd absolutely go back!

Really indulgent food. Overly fried and heavy on the butter and oil. Staff is straight up rude. I have a huge tolerance if your having a bad day but this was vindictive. It was like they were determined to have outsides experience a bad time. Do not go here if you aren't a "friend of the family".

Very small place, with outdated decor. Food was mediocre . Calamari was greasy and overcooked. Entrees were nothing to write home about. Service was extremely slow. Took over an hour to get appetizers out and another 45 minutes for entrees. Servers were overwhelmed, rude, and inattentive. For a place described and cozy I did not feel warm or welcomed.

Ok, 4th trip here. Food fine but the crew at the bar, extremely loud. Questionable if there will be a 5th trip here. They need to tame the guests at the bar. My last review was similar but tonight they are wildly off the chain.

This is a hidden gem. The name doesn't reveal that it's an amazing Italian restaurant with neighborhood charm and customers. You have to go when you have some time because it's a small kitchen and each course takes a bit of time. The food was fantastic and the special bottles of wine were wonderful and reasonably priced.

God I love this place. I'll add it as a tip but you MUST order the chicken parm and substitute vodka sauce. It is incredible (see photo below). It came with ziti pasta and a salad. We also ordered the fried artichoke hearts special. Good GOD that shit is amazing. It comes in a Française sauce. The place is small and gives serious Sopranos vibes. I love it. There's a few round tables (maybe 10-12?) and a small bar with some stools. The place itself is on a corner and looks like a tiny brick house. Service is great. Everyone is kind. We came for dinner for a friends birthday and everything went smooth. It was honestly a really nice dinner and the food was incredible. I ordered a to go a few months ago and had the same experience - very positive, nice service, great food. Definitely a spot I'd bring my parents if they ever decided to visit.

Love this neighborhood gem. The service can be hit or miss, but everyone is always friendly and the food is excellent if you order right-- go for the pork chop bitsy and anything a la barge (I'm partial to the veal). Don't forget to bring cash!

If you're looking for a place that has an authentic Italian homecooked feel, Barge Inn certainly fits the bill. Are there better Italian restaurants in the area? Probably, but the coziness of a small, family-owned business is tough to manufacture. We ordered the sautéed broccoli rabe and eggplant rollatini (a special) for the table, and while the broccoli rabe was flavorful, the eggplant was somewhat disappointing. It took a fairly long time to arrive, and normally I don't mind waiting if it means the food is fresh out of the oven, but the dish was cold and barely contained any eggplant. Fortunately, the sauce on the linguini marinara was great. It was slightly sweet and the tomato flavor was prominent. It was enough to convince me that we likely just picked the wrong appetizer, and Barge Inn's strengths lie elsewhere. With that in mind, I'd recommend coming here for the pasta and the homey atmosphere.

Great food great service great ambience. Found this wonderful old traditional Italian restaurant in Jersey City on yelp and it was exactly as it was portrayed - amazing

Authentic Italian food. Clams oreganata, artichoke francaise, any of the pastas, Chicken parm, sole francaise. It's excellent food. Home style vibe very neighborhood friendly. When you walk into the restaurant you don't feel like you're in the gentrified part of Jersey City. Kind of feels like you go back in time. If you drink wine bring a healthy appetite because they have heavy pours. I don't drink anymore so next time I go I'll skip the wine and just enjoy their cozy and delicious food options. Service is impeccable and friendly.

I'm never disappointed coming to Barge Inn for dinner. My boyfriend and I have come on multiple occasions and I'm always satisfied with the service and food. My favorite dish, which I always tend to get, is the Veal Milanese! It's such a nice intimate spot perfect for dates or small gatherings. It feels like dining in someone's home with delicious food and the price is right too!

I can't believe that I waited so long to try Barge Inn. This has got to be the best Italian meal that I've had in Jersey City / Hoboken, and is possibly some of the best Italian food that I've had ever. Whenever I'm craving a classic red sauce meal in downtown JC it's hard to figure out where to go. Barge Inn is small and sort of flies under the radar, so I usually don't think to come here. Now they will definitely be at the tippy top of the list. The space is small and cozy - probably around 10 tables. There is also a long bar area where you can sit and order food. Just be sure to call ahead - especially if you plan to visit on a weekend! The meal kicked off with a hot loaf of bread and butter and some vino. The Barge Inn has a full bar and bottles of wine are fairly priced, around 30 dollars. I wanted to try everything on the menu, and there were also a ton of specials. We ended up sharing chicken parm, stuffed rigatoni vodka and a side order of meatballs. Everything was perfection - the parm was perfectly crispy and smothered in cheese. Up until now I haven't found quality chicken parm in downtown JC and I'm happy to report that it exists here. The order is a little pricey at $22 but it comes with two large pieces, pasta and a house salad. The meatballs were so juicy and smothered in the most delicious red sauce. But the star of the show was the rigatoni - pillowy goodness stuffed with ricotta and pancetta and topped in some of the most delicious vodka sauce that I've ever tasted. We were completely stuffed by the end of the meal. This was alot of food for two people but is completely worth it. Because the space is small I'm assuming the kitchen is pretty small too. It did take quite a bit of time for our entrees to come out, but it's completely worth the wait. Just don't come here if you are in a rush. I had no problem waiting in the cozy space with a glass of red wine. I'm looking forward to returning again and again. Especially on a Thursday night when they have their endless pasta special. This is the perfect place for a hearty and classic Italian meal. I'm just mad that it took me 5+ years of JC restaurant hopping to discover it.

Good drinks and the food is so good I would most definitely recommend this place to everyone it's a must . The waiter is very nice and attentive to our big group.

Great food! Love the Bitsy Porkchops, Chicken Murphy, long hots with potatoes, broccoli rabe, pasta dishes! Everything

This was an unexpected experience in the best way possible. Nestled in the heart of the Grove Street / Downtown neighborhood this hole in a wall provides great service, great food, and great vibes. We got the Calamari to start and Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Penne a la Vodka and everything was super tasty. The only downside is that you should come here expecting to spend some time. The food is made to order and so our dinner from start to finish was about 2.5 hours but still a great place for a night out with a significant other or with a group of friends looking for somewhere to catch up. And make sure to have the award winning Limoncello. I will definitely be back!

-Food was terrific -Quiet, quaint, and cozy -Menu was terrific, various classic options -Chicken Parm with Vodka Sauce was phenomenal -Highly recommend the Stuffed Rigatoni Vodka -Artichoke Française was my favorite favorite -Good wine selection

Terrific old school Italian restaurant that I highly recommend to anyone the remotely lives in the area. The menu is simple and straight to the point but everything we ordered was top notch. The special board was very diverse and I can't wait to explore it on my next visit. Most tender chicken parm I've ever had and they have an elite level chicken savoy. The staff is super friendly, knowledgeable, and makes you feel like you're part of the family. It's hard to get this level of service at restaurants today. Some people have complained about the timing of the service but I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary from a multi-course old school, made to order Italian eatery. I can't wait to come back because this absolutely satisfies every Italian craving you have.

I've lived in JC for two years now and have walked past this spot too often. The tiny handwritten sign on the window about pasta night always caught my attention, but it wasn't until I had a guest in town that mentioned pasta that I thought to return. Although I knew what I was there for, I looked at the reviews in advance and made a reservation due to the size and seeking a prime dinner time table. It was raining that night, but there were plenty of open seats. Based on the reviews I also had some hesitation about the service. They couldn't have been more correct - you might as well serve yourself. There were two servers on that night. One dark haired server that was hustling to try her best to get to everybody and one blonde server who's entitlement may suggest that she's the owner. The blonde was more interested in striking up a conversation with a couple of people she knew than actually serving the tables. After placing our initial order the blinders went up for the staff. Nobody to check back on the table and oddly wouldn't even look in our direction to be able to get their attention. Quite the accomplishment for a venue of this size. Interested in parmesan and chili flakes, we ended up taking them from another table that had just left. A refill of water, out of the question. Finished your pasta and wanted another, good luck. After I'd say 5-7 minutes of looking around for help we raised our hand and the blonde server was not having it. She said, "What can I do for you. This is pasta night. Everybody just relaxes and has a good time." A great motto if you felt like they were ever going to return to the table and you wanted to settle in for 4 hours. After that she took note of our requests and disappeared. The other server came over a few minutes later to ask what we needed since it was apparently too much for the blonde to pass along an order. The real highlight was actually the gentleman that brings out the food, I believe he's one of the chefs. He was charismatic and in the few moments he was at the table brought a welcoming local family business vibe. Overall the pasta was pretty good. I highly recommend adding on the sausage or meatballs. You get a good portion or protein for just $5 and it adds a lot to the meal. Certainly a good spot if you can put away a lot of pasta and want some quality. I rarely say this, but I can with quite some confidence in this case, that I will NEVER return. The pasta night looks to be a foot in the door for a larger menu where the prices are much higher than I expected considering the all you can eat pasta price. Initially I was intrigued at some of the items on the larger menu, but for the costs and nearby restaurants, I certainly would expect to be treated better.

Old school, big portions, and straight up Italian all the way. The Barge Inn is the kind of place where your nonna and nonno would hang at the bar before or after going out for the night. And that is saying a lot! Bare Inn is unassuming on the corner of Monmouth and 3rd St in downtown Jersey City. It's not fancy like its counterparts along Newark and Washington Ave, but that's what I love about it. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! A couple of things to note: Don't expect any type of all star service. In fact, it's best that you come here when you're not in a rush, as we were here for over 2 hours due to there only being one waitress for the whole restaurant. Make a reservation in advance. My family and I walked in on a Saturday night and we got a bit of a 'look' because it is a small restaurant. Come hungry. Leave happy. Salute!

Food was absolutely amazing. Dining area is pretty small, holds about 8 tables and a bar. Staff was tentative and friendly. Bread is served before the meal, it was toasted on the outside soft in the middle.. and warm. If I lived in the state I'd definitely come back.

Highly recommend the clams oreganato and the chicken parm. Many people seem to like the veal a la Barge, which was good but nothing to write home about. This place is pretty quirky. You would never notice it if you walked by, and the inside is a ecclectic mix of Italian murals, white table cloths, and a fake fireplace. There are very few people working here, and it feels a little like a one woman show as the waitress is also the busboy is also the bartender. Also the food takes prettttyyy long to come out, so I suspect there's only one person working the back too. The menu is not large (which I appreciate) and is comprised of only Italian American classics. Entrees are served with a salad (very minimal, kind of wilty) and pasta. We had no trouble sitting on a Friday night even though some reviews reference the need for a reservation. The bar had a couple of regulars chatting the night away.

I've been coming here for years. Great food. You must try the scungilli salad and the pork chop bitsy. Both dishes were prepared well and delicious. The pork chops were very thick and had an excellent sauce. It absolutely had peppers, onions, mushrooms and potatoes. The portion was huge. It's definitely a dish to share. I can't wait to dine here again. They do a great job.

It's like walking into a scene from 1994 when you get through the door (I don't actually know how long it's been around). Small establishment, with just a few tables and a small bar to the right. This all provides the nostalgia of a family owned Italian restaurant that has made it through the years not because of its looks but because of the great food. I went with a few buddies so we were able to order a few items family style and really get a taste of the menu. For apps we started with the artichoke, long hots and fried calamari. The artichoke was easily the best part of the meal IMO, delicious. But all apps were good. Next was the pasta course, we had the shrimp fra diavolo, stuffed rigatoni and ravioli. No complaints here either. I probably could have done without the raviolis but that's how I feel about all raviolis in general. We next had a salad course to clear the pallet and then the entrees. Entrees were chicken a la barge (best one) and chicken parms. The prosciutto and the mozz on the chicken barge were delicious with the sauce. What I liked best was the give you time between courses so you can digest each round a little bit and enjoy a drink. You may or may not like that but for us it lets you reset before eating again. I'd definitely would come back, service was great as well which is equally important.

This is a tiny spot with BIG food The ambiance and decor are not earth shattering, but your meal will be. I have dined here many times and only once did I have a bad experience ( I'm letting it slide because this last visit made up for it). We went for Restaurant week and got the very well priced $38 menu. That included appetizers, entree and dessert. They also served a house salad that was delicious and fresh. We shared appetizers the artichoke and fried calamari. They were both delicious and the marinara for the calamari was spicy and tasty. For an entree I ordered the pork chop with sweet and hot peppers. The double cut pork chop was good sized and the peppers were really complimentary. My friend had the flounder macchiare and actually joined the clean plate club. She said the Sunday gravy is the best in town. For dessert I had the bread pudding in a warm caramel sauce. It was really good! It was so big I took b.c it home! The service was great and the sangria special hit the spot! I'll be back and you should go too!

This place is awesome! Not only was the music great but the lobster Fra Diavolo was out of this world! Best Italian in Jersey City!

Had such a great date night here. The staff was so friendly and boisterous which is exactly what we were looking for, and the food was incredible as well.

Watch out for extra charges on your bill. I think they charge a gratuity amount without telling you. Second time that our check was inflated. The food was mediocre. Food delivery was slow, but the server was friendly. There is an old time feel to the place, but it also feels too run down. There are much better places to eat in jersey city.

Amazing that in times like this where restaurants are struggling to get customers owners like the one from this place are rude and will definitely never see me as a client ever . But I'm extremely thankful because I found an amazing place just a few blocks away . Is sunny and nice out I'm disabled and have my service dog with me I politely ask if I can sit down in this nice table outside, she replies that they are not open that they open at noon. I check my watch and is 15 min till noon, so I asked if I could have a drink while waiting to kitchen open , now this woman turns to me with a nasty tone and she tells me I just got here I haven't even set up the bar. Well good luck. Your foo may be good but I won't taste it ever because I choose to stay away from negative places . But look at this amazing Rib Eye that I got At Healy's Tavern . Where I got great service and great food

I visited Barge Inn this past weekend for a friend's birthday dinner. She told me in advance that the restaurant was a 'divey' Italian place and that's exactly what it felt like. We had 7 pm reservation and place was relatively quiet most of the time we were there. No one really appeared to be dining inside but there were people hanging out inside that maybe we're just having drinks and/or were owners or friends of the owners. The inside of the restaurant is carpeted and dated looking, so I'm glad we ate outside. The menu is pretty traditional and they have a small wine list. We shared the stuffed rigatoni in vodka sauce as an appetizer to start. For our mains, we tried the chicken parm w/ vodka sauce, the chicken francaise, and the shrimp oreganato. The food was good and the chicken dishes were large portions, but nothing that blew your socks off. The service is good & friendly but on the slower side so your meal is definitely not rushed. The one thing that we were a little upset about was that the staff seemed pretty relaxed on the mask requirement. The one server had her mask pulled down some of the times she came by our table, and we did see people coming in & out from the inside without masks on.

Restaraunt made delicious classic Italian food and the staff was friendly/funny/helpful.

Authentic Italian family owned restaurant! Literally EVERYTHING is delicious. My personal fav? The veal parm w/ rigatoni!

Jersey City classic. Typical Italian that i grew up with. Veal parm is very good. Nothing fancy, just solid food.

Was looking for an Italian restaurant and decided to give Barge Inn a try as it had good reviews. We weren't quite impressed with the outdoor area as it seemed a bit dark and empty. We grabbed a table and ordered some wine with shrimp scampi and eggplant rollatini. Neither of those dishes incited our palates. The shrimp scampi had too strong a garlic flavor, which kind of subdued the rest of flavors of the dish. We weren't very happy with the food so we decided not to stay for dinner. Might come back some day, hoping the food would taste better.

The food was the star! Chicken parm was on point. Clams oreganto Tried the pork chops. All great. But..... parking is difficult. And the food comes out very slowly. The waitress did warn us. With that being said. It is worth a try and I will return Also prices are reasonable

Do not expect fast food here Go for the old world experience Food, service and atmosphere are amazing The shrimp scampi was delicious! The meatballs were definitely homemade and the pasta with vodka sauce-wow Old school at its best Stephanie on the bar is the absolute best Trust me- Go And save room for the homemade ricotta cheesecake

I really can't tell you how the food tasted as I had to gobble it up at the bar, and ask for most of it in a to-go doggie bag to take home, because a 'VIP' Party was supposedly coming in at 7pm... A friend told me how great this place was. She's a 'regular'. She had called, and they told her we could arrive at 5, but had to eat at the bar and be out by 7 for this supposed 'VIP group' that was supposed to arrive. Took at least 45 minutes to get my app, and dinner arrived semi cold just before 7pm. At least 4 seats still left at the bar, and only one table occupied (not by the supposed VIPs). I asked if we could possibly have another drink, we'd be happy to scoot when the 'Crowd' arrived. I got the look of death from the bartender. I guess we left, my tail between my legs, with my doggie bag and horrid indigestion from eating too fast at 7:15? The place was still practically empty of diners. Just about THE WORST SERVICE I have ever experienced, anywhere. And I've literally been around The World a time or two...working in The Service Industry. Wanna be humiliated for asking for a second drink? Go! Enjoy yourself! But 'The VIPs' may be coming in any minute, so you may be kicked out. Side note: Seems their 'trick' is to get the phone numbers of the neighborhood regulars, owner and staff pretend that they are real 'friends', and text the regulars "I haven't seen you in awhile! Why don't you come on in and say "Hi?" I miss you!". Another regular we met (lovely woman) told us she was 'Best Friends' with the owner, who had texted her that night to come over. Yet NOTHING is comped for these 'friends'? EVER? And kicked out at 7pm? I told my friend and this other woman they were being scammed. Cool marketing tactic! (NOT). We left and went to Hudson Hound. Beautiful, doesn't look like a 'dive bar', greeted with smiles by the WELCOMING, CHEERY staff, and I was introduced to the lovely Scottish owner, who gave me a big hug. Our GREAT experience at Hudson Hound salvaged our AWFUL NIGHT!

We tried Barge Inn last night and had an overall great experience. There was actually an enormous table of 20 (rude) guys, and only 2 people working, but they both were amazing and made sure they looked after every table and not just the huge one. I don't know how they were able to handle that table (all ordering cocktails nonetheless) and all the other tables in the restaurant, but they did it and kept their attitudes positive. As a Brooklyn Italian this restaurant is exactly what I've been looking for in Jersey City, just old school no frills good Italian food. The fried calamari was perfect, stuffed rigatoni with vodka was delicious. My only constructive feedback is on the baked clams, they weren't the best but also could have been a result of the big table there that night. Will definitely be back to try more! Again shout out to the 2 women working that night, they are gems.

This place screamed old school Italian as I walked through the door, and I loved it. It appeared cozy, and very welcoming. I decided to pop in for dinner on a Friday evening, and it wasn't overly packed. We were seated promptly, and there were probably 3-4 other tables being occupied, and it appeared everyone were regulars. We were greeted by our waitress, who was super friendly and informative of the specials and recommendations. I went with the shrimp parm, and my SO went with the oil & garlic pasta with chicken added. We also decided to share the chicken florentine soup. The soup was different than I expected, it was more broth vs. creamy, and overall it was delicious, and went well with the warm bread that was served. My shrimp parm was actually magical, the shrimp was so crispy, and tender, perfectly cooked. And the marinara sauce was phenomenal. However, onto my SO's other's dish, I feel that you honestly can't go wrong with oil & garlic, but my only issue was that we were charged 9$ for adding chicken, which I felt was a bit of a rip off for 5-6 strips of chicken. When we received the bill, I was a bit taken back by it. We skipped out on dessert as we were too stuff, however we were given homemade lemon chello liquour, which was ok, it was quite bitter though. These are the times I wish we had half star reviews, I felt this place honestly deserved 3.5 stars due to the pricey nature. They run a special on Thursday for 9$ unlimited pasta, which I would love to try, so I will be back for that, but will 100$ skip out on the 9$ chicken. Happy eatings!

Amazing experience at this old school Italian spot. Very homey feel. The staff makes you feel like family and they provide excellent food and service. Came late on a Saturday with a big party and they easily accommodated us. Got a mix of appetizers which were all delicious. Shrimp Scampi and Fried Calamari were superb. For meals we got Chicken Savoy on the bone (unbelievable), chicken parm with vodka sauce, two of the specials and Chicken Francese. Come hungry because the portions are insanely huge. Everybody either finished their dish or took home for leftovers. We will be back and hopefully become regulars.

Last night, I had dinner before a comedy show, and I am very conflicted as I write this review. The owners and waitress were super friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately, we were stuck in traffic, and they let us change our reservation to make it later. When we arrived, we were escorted to our seats. The restaurant is unique as it looks like a whole in-the-wall dive place but charming at the same time. We ordered off the 32.00 menu, which gets you an entree, appetizer, salad, and dessert. Additionally, they had glasses of sangria for six dollars. Keep in mind that the appetizer portions are much smaller because they are geared towards one individual. The Calamari and eggplant rollatini were both very good. The entrees of Chicken and Veal al la Barge were both delicious, although the pasta was overcooked. I should also add that the bread was freshly baked from the oven. The desserts of Italian cheesecake and bread pudding were average. The problem with this place is the service. Our waitress was super friendly but completely overworked. The kitchen was so slow, and we waited a ridiculous amount of time to get our food. Unfortunately, the service and wait were so poor that it took away from the overall experience. The Barge Inn has that charming dive, local appeal, and I hoped that I would fall in love with this place. However, unless they get more help staff, I think many people will be disappointed.

Came in Friday night for an early dinner.Its my 2nd time here.I sat at the bar and ordered a glass of Chianti to start.For my main course I had chicken cacciatore on the bone.The portion was gigantic.Delicious.Also comes with fresh garden salad and warm bread.Debbie,the waitress is a sweetheart.Great old school restaurant.Also they give you a complimentary limoncello after dinner.

For when you absolutely, positively NEED that 70's NJ Italian restaurant experience, accept no substitutes. The Barge has occupied the corner of Monmouth and 3rd for decades and the dining room shows it (though the TVs and jukeboxes have been updated through the times). Expect the usual red sauce classics from a fairly small menu, but the real draw for many locals might just be Pasta Night (every Thursday). For just $8.95, you can tuck into as many heaping plates of pasta (choose from penne, linguini, angel hair) in either Sunday Sauce or a meatless marinara, matched with a glass of either Pinot Gris or Merlot and bread fresh from the oven. Maximize your meal by tossing in an order of meatballs for $5. The pasta is just a bit softer than al dente and the Sunday Sauce is a bit thin, but the meatballs were pleasantly herbal and spicy (and huge!). The portions are massive, so even if you stop at one dish, you've got a good, satisfying meal at a great price.

The shrimp scampi is a must!!! The veal parmigiana a must!!! The Fra Diávolo a must!!!!....one of the best no nonsense family owned Italian eateries hands down.

Came here on a Saturday night, food and service were perfect. Priced fairly and everything was fresh and homemade. Everything I ate was great. Will come back again! Try the bread pudding it was excellent!

Delicious food, warm and welcoming staff. Definitely a local spot and with good reason. Worth a stop!