Bello's Pub and Grill, Newark's First Gastropub

Friendly sports bar a short walk from Penn Station in the Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey. Service is friendly, and the menu offers sandwiches and appetizers. I received free refills on my ice tea, which was welcome. Clean and unpretentious place.

Another great find. The term Gastropub often puts me off as it normally means pretentious and overpriced these days. This was neither. A fairly small pub with a good genuine atmosphere. The Guinness was good, the food was decent in quality and amount and the service from both the barman and the servers was friendly. Price of drink and food was far more reasonable than Manhattan prices. We stopped here on the way to the Prudential Centre to watch the NJ Devils. The football (proper football ie soccer) memorabilia littering the place was great for a footie fan.

The drinks are worth it at this location! Price are reasonable and so is the food. Also, the people are very welcoming. I've tried a few dishes here and I was pleased with what I ordered. I ordered the Crab club with old bay fries and it was AMAZING! My partner had the pasta and shrimp with vodka sauce. Now, this did not taste well. It was missing flavor and the shrimp were over cooked. The shrooms as an appetizer blew our minds! I'd definitely purchase that again. I will tell you to try this location out for yourself and you will not be disappointed in the drinks. Strong if you like whiskey and great prices for beers. Also heard if you purchase 400 beers at this location in a year, you get your own VIP seat at the bar.

Fantastic spot to hang out with the locals or pre-game for a Devils game. Food is fantastic. Burgers, steak, nachos did not disappoint. And the service is just awesome. Some of the best bartenders in town.

Bello's is an easy 5 stars. It's also a place near and dear to me. I've been to Bello's many many many times and can't say enough good things about the place. The team of bartenders is as good as it gets as they're always attentive to make sure you get the drink you want, don't have an empty, and can order what you want from their great menu. Bello's menu is really solid. They knock it out of the park with traditional bar food but also have some unique menu items for what might otherwise be considered a typical bar menu and sometimes they'll surprise you with some off menu specials. If you're in the North Jersey area, check out Bello's. If you don't like it, that's a You problem, not a Bello's problem. Cheers!

Down the street a walk away from Penn station. Food was lovely, local atmosphere. What brought me here was it's close by to the area I'm staying and it's open to midnight when other places are closed by 9pm and there's nothing to do. Our bartender was cool she was Brazilian Italian fun spirited. There were other customers who were nice and friendly and some were ready to give recommendations to what to see and check out. When staying in Newark, it's one of the places to check and hang out.

Food & service was good. Price was reasonable & drinks were strong. Will definitely go back.

Went in for some food and drinks before a NJ Devils game. Staff great. Beer great and food did the job perfectly. Being from London, don’t know how soon I’ll be back to new jerseys but if I am, I would return in a heart beat.

Great spot, close to the train station if you want to grab a quick drink due to possible delays or if you arrived early. As always, one of the cons is there isn't any parking but seems like a local sports bar where people may come to pregame before a Devils game or even some soccer matches at Redbull Stadium. Friendly staff too, it is pretty cozy though but still a good time!

Wonderful experience! Bello's Pub and Grill is like walking into a friend's home. A friend that serves delicious food and has other amazing friends. Bello's offers top notch, personable service. Thank you Andrew and John. Special thanks for putting the Kraken game on for us! The locals at this tavern are warm and welcoming. We really felt as if we were hanging out with friends. Food - we started with the grilled zucchini with feta and mint, delicious! I had the Gnocchi (special) and it was outstanding! There might just be a magician in their kitchen! Mr. Wonderful enjoyed the Cajun burger. Everything was served at the proper temperature and cooked to perfection.

Stuck at Newark Penn Station for 2 hours. Very little choices to eat, no where to sit and no heat! Walked across the street to Bellos for lunch. Need, clean friendly, lots to choose from and reasonably priced. Great experience! 1/6/25

Tucked behind the Amtrak station in Newark, NJ, this city pub immediately transports you into the feeling that you are one of the neighbors in a neighborhood pub. I stumbled on late one night looking to eat a late dinner and the staff made me feel right at home, without being overt or bothersome. There was friendly, low key banter between the patrons and staff and it felt just right. Very good for pub food, reasonably manly priced and exceptional, albeit low key, service. Highly recommend and I don't drink!

Grabbed food before heading out of town of flight next morning. The shrimp tacos were simply outstanding. I was shocked how tasty they were. The cabbage was shredded so finely. Loved how the shrimp were not fried. Definitely a must eat asap scenario. I would avoid take out or ordering these tacos to go, as it needs to be eaten asap so it does not fall apart. I would order this again & again. Fast service in a near capacity crowd on a Thursday night. A+

Good late night spot! Stayed busy all night. Food was good and service was really nice. The French onion soup was very good!

A small pub that was walking distance from our hotel and very welcoming for a couple visitors from the Pacific Northwest. We like trying new beers and the waiter was very helpful in recommending local drafts. We wanted some food after our cross country flight and headed over for some dinner. A burger for myself, gnocchi and grilled veggies (shared) for my wife fit the bill. Met some very nice people and were able to have a pleasant conversation despite the TV's and a pretty full bar. Bello's is definitely a stop for us the next time we're in town.

Small place with good service and good food. I was in the area for work and had to find a late night meal. I got this salad pictured below. It was very tasty.

We stopped by here for a quickie before a concert at The Prudential Center and it was better then I had anticipated. This place reminded me of a neighborhood type place like Cheers for those of you that remember the show. The waitress was excellent and the food was great. I love the wings and the salad I had. Can't wait to try this place again when in the area.

We stopped in for dinner before a show at the NJPAC, the reviews were great and the food and service were just average. The service was slow tbh and they forgot the bacon I ordered in my burger. Overall an underwhelming experience. We came back after the show because our cars were park there and we wanted one drink before heading home, and the peach sangria was it! That was my favorite item I got from there.

This was a small bar with an upstairs for private events it seemed like. There were a few tables next to the bar with soccer memorabilia throughout the entire 1stfloor. I sat at the bar where the service was extremely friendly and accommodating. The menu had lots of interesting options ranging from traditional pub food to Portuguese dishes. I opted to share the Picadinho ($20) which was a special being offered. It was made up of clams, shrimp, pork cubes, potatoes, jalapenos, peppers, and onions in a white wine cilantro sauce. This was great value as there was plenty of food for the both of us. The sauce was tasty, but there was a ton of Worcestershire sauce present, which was different and odd. Nevertheless, the pork was very tender and had plenty of flavor. All of the toppings combined with the sauce made for a very satisfying dish. For dessert, the spumoni tartufo ($10) was ordered. It was more like a traditional vanilla and chocolate tartufo rather than spumoni. My thought was the presence of the cherry made it "spumoni." Regardless of that, it was a refreshing end to a great meal. Will I go back? Yes.

Great food and friendly service! I went this evening and had only 28 minutes before my train departed. Both staff members behind the bar were super hospital and got me my food in time to scarf it down and rush to the train station to catch the train. Although it took me 6 minutes to scarf it down, I can say the portobello mushroom burger was delicious and even cooked to perfection! Thank you to both of the bartenders!

Stopped by for some food before going to a concert in the area. We managed to grab a table when we got there. It was busy and loud. Our sever was super busy throughout the whole time we were there. She was nice and would check in on us which I appreciated. We started off with the nachos and they were great. I got the chicken tenders with fries. The fries were a little greasy but overall I enjoyed my meal. I ordered a jack and coke and both times my drink was a little on the weaker side. Overall, we had a good experience.

Outstanding spot to grab a beer and good food. Try the shrimp tacos! Really cool spot for locals or tourists. They have a 100 beer club if you're here often enough to get on the board

I found Bello's on a visit into Newark for work. It has a wonderful neighborhood vibe and my girl Raquel runs a great bar. They have a wide array of drinks but it's the friendly conversations I've had with the locals that makes me go back. Bellos is now my first place I go for dinner on every visit for the Picadinho and I've even gone multiple times in a week. Treat yourself to the lost art of pub!

Arrived at 1PM to get a seat to watch the Iowa SC game today. Not open. Poor ownership Says noon on the website

First and foremost this was a random find. I wasn't interested in having to go too far from my hotel to enjoy some great beer, and atmosphere. Thank God for Bello's. It was a great hole in the wall type Pub with a very expansive list of pub/bar food items. The chili was phenomenal so I highly recommend it, and definitely take advantage of the specials. Great portions for the price which I would deem as fair. Got extremely crowded so the lack of space was my only issue otherwise it was fantastic and really enjoyed the time spent drinking, laughing and listening to all the Jersey accents. I'm a Florida native and this was a great experience.

Great place for food and drinks. Located right outside of Penn Station in Newark. The bartenders are all friendly and remember your name if you go there a few times and make convo with them. Happy hour is amazing. They have hundreds of beers and if you drink them all you can get your own chair at the bar with a plaque of your name on the back. Pretty awesome place that gives a Cheers vibe.

Visiting from WA state. Was hooked when I read, "first gastro pub in Newark, NJ". Had some Hazy IPA that was really good. Highly recommend the nachos. They use the right kind of chips that don't get soggy quickly and load them up! Loved it. I loved the virtual jukebox. I downloaded an app and got to play some music they recognized on my iPhone. Fun time, good food, drinks and jukebox!

Had to stay in Jersey because of a long layover. We almost missed last call on food and the bartender on the phone let us order food so we could sit down and dine when we got there. Loved the atmosphere in there. Everyone seemed to know each other which I thought was nice. The burgers were good. They had a good variety of drinks. Not sure if this is a well known place but I would totally recommend .

We stopped at Bello's before a concert. Service was great, friendly, informative. We had simple dinners-burger/fries, portabello,/roastedredpepper/mozzarella wrap/fries-and they were delicious. The drinks were also yummy and boozy. Would go again and again.

Stopped in for a drink to watch the NFL TNF game while our kids were at a concert at the Pru Center. Cool soccer/sports vibe with enough TVs for any game you're looking for. The bartenders were friendly, and welcoming, and took the time to talk to you. Many beers on tap, some local. Full bar and serves food. The guy next to us had wings that looked delish! If I lived in the area, this would be my go-to!

We were staying in the area and just searched for restaurants near Penn Station. We were a little unsure at first because the area did not seem to be the nicest...however, no issues. As soon as we walked in, Andrew greeted us right away. He was a great server/bartender and was very personable. The food was great...all very fresh. Cool atmosphere...more appropriate for older kids if you are planning on bringing kids. Would definitely visit again.

The wings were terrible! That's #1. The service and hospitality were subpar at best. The lamb sliders were delicious tho. I'm not sure if I'd come back, I'd probably just order the sliders on DoorDash.

BLUF: Newark's First Bistro Pub is a convenient stop for the train commuters. If you have an hour to kill don't spend it sitting in the station's waiting area! Go to Bello's, Newark's First Bistro Pub, and grab a beer or a cocktail! This unassuming, cozy pub just outside Newark Penn Station serves up giant plates of nachos. Fully loaded with plenty of their fresh daily chili. The thick tortilla chips help keep the soggification at bay.

Great food and amazing service. Lively atmosphere, definitely coming back. Many beers on tap, some local. Full bar, kitchen did a great job on the meals.

Good food nice staff nice bar near Penn station Nice sport bar nice to eat watch game and listen music on jukebox

Love love Bello's. Great place to eat and watch sports. Many peaceful people. Food is great

Absolutley love this place, the food for a bar is definitely top tier! I loved the atmosphere and my favorite bartender Maxine always makes it extra fun to be there. She is Courteous and seems to really enjoy taking care of you. 10 out of 10 will come always come again. this is my chill spot

Great place. I go after work or just because sometimes. Very mellow spot and great service.

Google review has something about a racist remark, probably by the same bartender. A place where the bartenders get verbally abused , threatened , touched and the customers are still allowed to come back. Only when you see the bartender doing something she's not supposed to do , do you get banned. They overserve someone with a walking problem. He usually ends up passing out in the bathroom and the customers have to clean up after him. The last times I went there they had to pour multiple beers due to cracked glasses. Mind you I was sitting at the bar, still waited over 15 minutes to be served. This is the environment and atmosphere they create, problems happen here between the bums outside and the patrons in

Local Newark pub with great vibes John the bartender was genuinely friendly and inviting The crowd is definitely diverse in so many ways Came here for a quick drink after leaving the hellhole @ little Tijuana a few blocks up

The rating is strictly on the bartenders behavior and not the food or the establishment. I came in there for the first time Ever last week in over 8 years with my friend who is a regular and frequents the place . My friend and I were sitting at the bar having a good time when a guy offered to buy a us a round of drinks . He claimed that he owed my friend some drinks from before . This was my first time there in 8 years so I was totally clueless of all the change . After a few rounds after drinks and natural conversation the guy came over and started talking to me , flirting a little . I guess this made the bartender mad because she kept walking on the outside of the bar saying stupid a** b***h. Then she would go back behind the bar take a bunch of shots herself , then come back in the outside of the bar and basically degrade me and my friend. So my friend finally asked her what the issue was and she said she was talking to us she was talking to him. My friend said , " whatever y'all have going on leave it outside " we are customers . I'm a regular and this is crazy your disrespectful to me and my friend . By this time I wanted to cancel my food order because the bartender was clearly upset over this guy who kept saying he was just a customer too. She tried to apologize by ordering us shots but I still didn't feel comfortable. We leave. My friend assures me that the girl was having a bad day and is really nice . I ask my friend what the bartenders name was , and she would not tell me. Fast forward to today I go back to try this place one more time and the same bartender is behind the bar. My friend walks in , and sits down ( same friend ) . The girl walks to the end of the bar and starts talking about my friend to another customer saying she is going to beat her a** she's not serving her . She's laughing and slapping high fives with the customer a guy at the end of the bar . A older guy comes out of the kitchen greets my friend and serves her. I'm standing talking to someone I know watching it all . I can't believe this girl has stoped serving guest to go around the bar to pop shit about my friend . As a business owner how important is my friend for... A you didn't server her( money loss) B. You stop serving other guests to talk about her ( money loss ). What our we in highSchool? I told her let's go because I can't believe whoever runs this establishment allows the bartenders to act like this. It took me a few days to get this girls name , but her name is Evie or Evelyn something of that nature. Here is my thing I'm in real estate 10 years now . You don't conduct business like that . I planned on doing some business in that area and taking co - workers out for drinks but not there . I asked my friend who is a bartender in the area as well does she act like that with her regulars when she makes drinks . She said no she just takes their money serve them , and ignore them. Work is work , and outside of work is different I guess it's a bartender thing . This was my second time there , and I will never step back in there ever. I never seen something so rude in my life . I felt like I was at Walmart when clearly I should have went to target ! I know my friend and she doesn't like to be disrespected, so why keeps going there is crazy to me . But I'm not !

What a great bunch of people!!! Great beer, good burgers, great service! A lively place!

Bellos is one of my favorite places to go for great food and drinks. The service is always friendly and quick, and everyone that works there is super nice! Bartender Max stood out significantly. She has great energy, knows how to handle a busy bar, and doesn't miss a beat! She's one of the reasons I come to bellos!!

Hidden gem in Newark! The wings and the pork sliders are both very tasty!!! The service the best.. the only bad thing is everything closes at 8pm in Newark, because honestly we were ready to continue drinking and eating.. will be back soon again.! Great service and food. Great beer selection. The only thing I did not like was that they ran out of Jameson. Like how does that happen at a bar lol... See you soon!

Best bar. So much local loyalty, great energy, solid food, solid beer program. Working toward my 300 beers!!!

Cute little bar it was next to my airbnb. We went to have a beer and was a great hangout. The servers are very friendly I recommend this place.

The food is amazing with a great price. Service was great as well alway there and attentive and just a fun all around atmosphere. Only reason it not a 5 is the space just wish it had more room to sit or just more room in general it gets pretty crowded before the game.

Penne vodka with grilled chicken is amazing from here. Served with couple pieces of garlic bread as well. 5/5

Omg service was perfect. They were too fast at everything. They were very accommodating since we had a train to catch. Sweet Potatoes fries were perfectly fried. The Loaded potatoes were surprisingly great. The chili sauce was definitely a new one for me. Beers were nice and cold. Would cause me back if I'm ever in town. Atmosphere was great. A bit loud if you like quiet but I was happy.

Widest beer selection - craft, domestic, international - in Newark. Plus great pub food. You'll always make some new friends at the bar at Bellos.

It's a vibe! Good eats. Good drinks. Good people all around. After work crowd. Prudential Center sports & events crowds. A+

Excellent service from Peggy. Food was on point and tasty. Never thought our favorite dish would be seafood at a sports bar. The little neck clams were not little, more like cherry stone but maybe just its bigger in the east coast. Spicy tomato broth was perfect dipping with buttered bread. Good deals on beer. Not sure if it was happy hour price, but the price made us happy. Would come again for the food, beer and sports in tv.

Excellent burger at this pub! Bartender was extremely nice even as he was covered up with folks screaming for drinks! Kept his cool. Food was served fast, piping hot, and very good for a pub burger. Portions were large. Beer was cold. I'll be going back!

I came here to grab a bite before hopping on the train back to DC. Super convenient location by Amtrak which then made me dubious whether the food was going to be ok. The service was friendly and welcoming and the food was pretty good. I got their pesto crusted salmon special with spinach and it was nice (a touch to oily but otherwise good). Cost $19. They have a huge selection of bottled beers and other drinks so although I wasn't drinking it does seem like a great place to grab a drink before your train.

Still my favorite bar. 1/2 off for life. Thanks law school! Fantastic selection of beer. John is the man behind the bar. All the food is delicious from the lamb sliders to the wings , shrimp tacos (spicy) and picadino

We had a long wait at the airport so decided to Uber to Newark for one last adventure for lunch. Glad we did... we ordered simple chicken tenders, buffalo chicken sandwich, the spicy fries, and regular fries, Caesar salad. First of all ... the portions were plentiful and better yet all the food was yummy! Best however was the service we had by Peggy... she was humorous, and never forgot about us... you should go there for both the food and the service... you won't be disappointed.

Great vibe and good food. We were staying overnight for a flight out of. Newark. I read about it online and it lived up to its reviews. Great small pub restaurant!