Rudy's

What a great little family restaurant that’s been around for ages!! Cozy, warm, friendly and familiar!! Great specials , crispy calamari, try the hot sauce, shrimp salad with beans, Spaghetti and meatballs, shrimp Francese, Cajun scallops and an amazing scampi sauce over angel hair, total comfort food, and everything is delicious!!! Wonderful service from Michelle and the crew!! Love going back there over and over again!!

This place is a hidden gem! First time there and everyone makes you feel so welcome, like you’ve known them for years! The food is fantastic , especially the fried calamari and the eggplant rollatini was to die for! Strong drinks and very affordable , definitely will be back soon !!

Been coming here 40 years. Always great food. Always great service. The hot red gravy always delivers with the fried calamari.

I have been going there for over 30 years. It's been always consistent. Best fried calamari and hot sauce. Sometimes I crave the hot sauce. The atmosphere is great and the people and bar tenders are friendly. Tommy is the best. He makes you feel welcome .

It was our first time eating here and I called ahead for a reservation. It was very busy, definitely a locals spot. I’ve been wanting to try it after hearing rave reviews about the calamari. The food was excellent, although it did take a long time to come out. The service was great and they were apologetic about the wait time. Worth the wait for the quality of the food.

Stopped by for dinner tonight with a big group. It wasn’t busy in the back room so once they got our table ready we got seated. Our server was very sweet and friendly. We started off with the calamari (one full portion and one half), pasta fagioli, spicy thai coconut wings, and thai tarragon wings. All the apps were very good but my favorites were the wings! Sooo sooo yummy. They also gave us some bread; weird but they don’t serve butter…. For our mains we got the chicken francese, chicken marsala, linguine with clams, shrimp francese and penne vodka with grilled chicken. The chicken francese was served over linguine, it was okay, needed some work and some salt; same thing with the penne vodka. My sister and boyfriend got the linguine with clams and they both loved theirs. I also tasted it and next time I come I would probably order that. For dessert we ordered the tiramisu, cannoli, and cheesecake. The tiramisu was by far one of the best ones I’ve ever had (I got it without chocolate sauce). The cannoli and cheesecake were good too but the best dessert option everyone should be getting is the tiramisu!!

I get why this place has such high ratings. Great local neighborhood spot for Italian food. The bartender was super friendly and my food was great and prices were very reasonable. Nothing fancy but that's part of the allure.

This place is a gem. Makes THE best fried calamari and clams in white sauce, it is so good. Love all the pasta dishes here.

Traveling to Jersey on a business trip. My boss found Rudy's Italian seafood restaurant and thought we'd give it a try. Everything was amazing. Don't judge a book by its cover, it's a small place on the corner, come in through the bar and step over into a very small dining room with about 10 tables. It all started with our wonderful server named Amir. The service was excellent. Started with appetizer of calamari, probably some of the best I've ever had. Then went on to penne pasta with sausage, spinach, and white beans. A simple dish, but absolutely wonderful. Everything tasted fresh, Just a fantastic place and I highly recommend it.

There are so many people I know who have RAVED about Rudy's for as long as I can remember and for some reason I never had any desire to go there until a friend of mine wanted his 70th birthday dinner there. Well a few weeks ago I went and finally understand what the hype was about and I am disappointed in myself I never tried it sooner. We had a group of 6 and we were able to snag an early reservation. They have a nice bar you can eat at on one side, a sidewalk patio to eat on and a pretty small indoor dining room. For apps we wound up ordering the calamari and the seafood salad. The calamari was great but the Seafood Salad was outstandingly phenomenal! I easily could have had that as a main meal to myself, the seafood was so fresh and tasty. For dinner I opted for the Octopus and was also blown away with how good it was! It was just perfectly cooked and a great portion size. Everyone else also loved the dinners they were having as well. The server seemed to be a little annoyed and could have been nicer whenever we asked for something like a drink or more marinara sauce but the delicious food truly made me not care.

The most amazing red hot sauce on earth! They should bottle it! I will buy jars of the addictive sauce perfect with zuppe di pesce. I love the seafood with hot sauce so much that I order it every time I go there. Even though this is a small place next to a bar, it is my favorite restaurant in all of NJ!

I don't often give 5-star ratings, but Rudy's Italian Seafood Restaurant deserves at least that many, and probably a whole lot more. This place is a hole in the wall, no doubt about it. You wouldn't even know they had a dining room unless I told you...and I just did. They have a small dining room with about 10 tables. If you have more than a party of four, tell the rest in your party to come back later. Because none of the tables fit more than four. The food is OUT OF YOUR *%#+ MIND INCREDIBLE. I had the seafood pasta supreme; with clams, scallops and crab meat in a light cream sauce. I told the others at my table that it was "just OK" because I didn't want to share it. I know, I'm sorry (not sorry)! My wife got sausage and broccoli rabe, and it too was incredible. She offered to share...but I didn't want to take anything away from my already incredible dinner. Anyway, enough reading and writing! Get off your butt and go to this place, AGAIN and AGAIN! BTW, this place is small but it is as authentic as anything you will find anyway. GO HERE.

Food was good. Ambiance was average. Service was ok. I would recommend it. Quality of food was good

Some of the best seafood you can get. The food is fresh, homemade, and delicious. The service is immaculate. The restaurant is family-owned and -run, and they will literally sit down with you when they take your order. It's very much a family environment, where the family invites you into their home. There aren't many restaurants like this anymore, unfortunately. Rudy's is a true gem. If you're in the area, go there. My girlfriend and I went because people recommended it to her, and it was a delightful experience. I recommend the baked ziti and the fillet of sale francese.

Food is very good, but unfortunately, there was a rude bartender that we heard on a Saturday evening who was kicking out people because she wanted to have seats for new customers even though the people sitting there were drinking and eating as well. I think her name was Sandra. We felt bad for the people she threw out. It's not right, management should have a conversation with her about etiquette in regards to customers.

The food is mediocre, however, it is beloved by locals and that is fantastic. Service is very friendly. They support local teams and the like. Don't go there with great expectations regarding the food and will enjoy your meal.

We stopped by chance we was looking for something else for lunch the calamari was great the rest of the dishes they was okay nothing special

Tonight we went out to Rudy's because we were told there was some great Italian food we should try. When you walk in, it appears you've entered a bar. Once you go through the door to the dining room, you've entered an intimate space filled with pictures from the past to present. There are lights decorated along the walls too. My husband wanted to try the appetizer with the Calamari. We were given two sauces - a hot sauce and a sweet sauce. The calamari was made so well. Lightly battered, less oil, the Calamari didn't taste oily and served with the right amount of crisp with the sauxe. We ordered the Chicken parmigiana. One with pasta, selected angel hair. It was fresh from the kitchen, hot temperature, angel hair pasta was done well. The cheese on the chicken and sauce were done great and the overall dish was delicious. The other dish with no pasta and a salad was given. Our waitess was helpful, friendly, checked on us periodically, and made an effort to give us an extra salad when an order was done incorrectly. The entire atmosphere was quaint and comfortable. I loved looking at the pictures filled on the walls. You can tell history was made there and it draws you in to notice the pictures. Parking is available outside, we will be back soo n!

Great location just off Old Compton Streer (Road?). Serves a variety if Neopolitan style pizzas as well as Italian plates/appetizers/salads. Well prepared, delicious, and good service

I saw this restaurant a few years ago while in the area and recalled yelper Christian L talking about it. At that time it was way to early for lunch so I had to pass. But Saturday I was in the area with Mrs E., and was not going to pass it up. Parking was metered street parking unless I missed something. So we walk in and we're standing in the bar. Am I in the right place. Then we're directly through a door into a dining area. Small but quaint. If you're Italian, and I am, you are now home. Italian music playing, family pictures on the walls, wedding pictures, and I'm pretty sure a saw a picture of Christian L. It's was like being at grandma's house for Sunday dinner. The dining room is pretty small, about 10 tables and at least 3 were two person tables. Our waiter was a nice young man with an Italian accent. Well what would you expect? We start with an app of baked clams, chopped clams, the only was to have them. Order is for 6 clams but they give you 7. And they were excellent. Next our entrees. Mrs E. you guessed it chicken parm. Please forgive her. I has their chicken scaloppini. Both meals came with a side of pasta. BTW, bread came out first. Mrs. E asks for butter. I have to ask for forgiveness for her again. Butter, this isn't Olive Garden, you get EVO with your bread. Overall a great meal and when I get home sick for Sunday supper at Grandma's, I know where to go. Thanks again Christian L.

Old school Italian family restaurant. Delicious food. Wonderful service. Martini was perfect.

Stopped by for dinner tonight with a big group. It wasn't busy in the back room so once they got our table ready we got seated. Our server was very sweet and friendly. We started off with the calamari (one full portion and one half), pasta fagioli, spicy thai coconut wings, and thai tarragon wings. All the apps were very good but my favorites were the wings! Sooo sooo yummy. They also gave us some bread; weird but they don't serve butter.... For our mains we got the chicken francese, chicken marsala, linguine with clams, shrimp francese and penne vodka with grilled chicken. The chicken francese was served over linguine, it was okay, needed some work and some salt; same thing with the penne vodka. My sister and boyfriend got the linguine with clams and they both loved theirs. I also tasted it and next time I come I would probably order that. For dessert we ordered the tiramisu, cannoli, and cheesecake. The tiramisu was by far one of the best ones I've ever had (I got it without chocolate sauce). The cannoli and cheesecake were good too but the best dessert option everyone should be getting is the tiramisu!!

People are friendly at Rudy's, I ordered for a pick up and it was ready on time as expected. Soft crabs are good while they last; also enjoyed chicken Marsala, juicy chicken, a little creamy, and hint of mushroom flavor.

Everything is perfect! Food, service, and overall experience are all wonderful. This is not a fancy high end restaurant but a lovely little dining room behind the boisterous and busy bar! The fried calamari eggplant Parmesan and daily fish specials are amazing!

I went there for dinner with friends and we sat at the bar. We ordered Broil Scallops over Broccoli Rabe, Fried Calamari, and Penne Vodka. I told Bartender to please tell chef to add PEAS to the Penne Vodka. Our food came out and everything was good except for the Penne Vodka!!!!! They added CAPERS instead of PEAS!!! It tasted it horrible!!!! We told the bartender and she laughed, didn't do anything and did not even offer to take it back and make it the way we requested. AND..She didn't even take it off our bill. Really CAPERS IN PENNE VODKA??? Disgusting never going there again!!!

I finish my plate every single time. Small dining room in the back of bar. Their food is delicious. Portions are fair for their prices. I love their shrimp scampi. Friendly service that is quick and accurate.

Local italian restaurant in Cliffside park NJ. Food and service was good. Ambiance of the place was ok. We ordered chicken marsala, grilled scallops and a pot of clams. Every dish was satisfactory.

Came from out of town, was not welcoming at all. The food tasted like reheated pasta and chicken. Maybe they just treat ya differently if you're local vs out of town.

Great food! We had seafood salad for an appetizer - fresh salad base with lots of shrimp and calamari. Then I had scallops and broccoli rob and that too was delicious! Only issue was they sat us in a bad spot- right by the bathroom in a drafty corner while there were several other tables that remained empty that we would have been much more comfortable in- made no sense!

Delicious food and friendly service. The Italian dressing on the salad was outstanding. Nice quiet dining room.

My husband was recently diagnosed with many food allergies that are fatal to him..when you are faced with this, going to a restaurant can be frightening because your life depends on them accurately accommodating you to ensure your safety...we always loved Rudy's and my husband wanted to take me to a birthday luncheon..we decided to go to Rudy's. Our server was Amir..I can't thank you enough Amir for your understanding and kind way of accommodating his needs. Amir took my husband's allergy list and spoke with him to work out what he loves and how he could make the necessary changes to make him a wonderful meal that was safe for him..of course, they never disappoint and both of our meals were excellent as usual. We will continue to eat at Rudy's as our go to restaurant due to their wonderful service, accommodations and the best Italian food around..Thank you sincerely for being so kind.

**During covid review** Walk-in and you're instantly greeted by the staff behind the bar. You definitely get a "locals vibe" here but welcoming. You need to go into another room for the dining area. Both bar and dining area are small. Came here on a Wednesday with a friend. Made reservations for 7pm and there were already 3 other parties present in the dining area. If you're coming in a big group (more than 4), I recommend calling to make reservations. I think there were around 3 tables for 2 and 3 more for parties of 4 (but I'm sure they can rearrange them around for larger parties). One hostess/waitress took care of all tables. She was super sweet and friendly. Made you feel comfortable and checked up on us frequently. As apps we got the fried calamari (half order) and the pot of mussels in white wine and garlic. The rumors are true. The fried calamari was sooo delicious! Nice and crispy. The red sauce that came with it (we got spicy) was super flavorful as well. Not spicy though but it's okay because you can tell it's homemade and it was yum. The mussels didn't hit the spot for me. The mussels themselves were tiny. The sauce was okay. I still dipped the bread init though. Lol. As my main dish, I got the chicken Marsala with a side salad. The dish was good. Nothing out of this world, I'll have to admit, but gave me such a home cooked vibe and I cannot complain. The flavor was delicious. It was the right amount too. As for the salad, I never got it. I could have asked for it but it was fine. My friend got the shrimp francaise with pasta. She gave me one shrimp and it was nice and juicy! Yummy. And the shrimp was layer on top of the pasta, which was generously portioned. We also ended up getting the pumpkin cheese cake (not on the main menu) which was delicious as well. Overall, I loved the friendliness of the location and I would come back for that. Food was good and I'm interested in trying their other dishes as well. Maybe next time (once covid restrictions are done) I'll plop myself at the bar.

Rudy's rocks. 0 complaints. Foods great. Staff is great. Owner is a gem. Even the crowd is cool. Went with a bunch of friends so we had a lot of food. It all hit. Better food than fancy restaurants. Looking forward to going back and conquering more of the menu.

Rudy's is a classic establishment been around longer than me and you could always get it a home cooked meal That taste just like it was made by mama's gravy . Some of the best fried calamari and I don't say that loose late it is one of the best the side of the Hudson River, Great scampi, soups are fantastic and specials are always great. I have a lamb chop last time that was fantastic, in fact, I tried ordering the same dish at Pomodoro wish I always like and also I like the people but forgot about that it was dog food compared to Rudy's. Owner operator, family run you can always count on good food and I especially enjoy their Sunday NFL specials, which include gravy, fries and all sorts of unhealthy. Delicious things for very low price. One of the best bloody Mary's around.

If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would. Inside is a small room that's cozy and has family portraits all around. GET THE CLAMS IN WHITE SAUCE! You'll thank me later. It is one of the best things I've ever had in my life. The sauce is so good I had to order cooked spaghetti on the side so I can add it into the sauce. Calamari is also delicious, everything on the menu is delicious.

I consider myself an eggplant Parmesan connoisseur as well as a tiramisu expert taste tester. On business I happen to cross this place Rudy's. Turns out it's been here for over 40 years family started. It's a small bar on one side and a little restaurant on the other. Coming from California I eat a lot of good food. Having traveled all over the US I've had a lot of eggplant Parmesan and tiramisu. Hands down best real Italian made eggplant I've had in a long time. Not to mention the service was excellent and hospitable. A very homey neighborhood feel, complete with wedding pictures of real people spanning the decades. Compliments to Chef Milton Gaetana hostess & server extraordinaire. You're in this area and you don't try this place you are seriously missing out.

This is a local restaurant and bar. I've been here a few times and have gotten orders to go. (My husband brought them home for me. After he enjoyed some drinks at the bar.) The food is very good!! I'd definitely recommend trying some of the seafood entrees. The only negative is that there isn't onsite parking. Street parking is not, however, hard to find. I'll be back again in the future. Hopefully I'll get to try even more of the menu items.

I'll make this quick-If they ever close, I'll scream. Enclosed, find a photo of my husband's dinner.

Extremely friendly great service. Sat at the bar awesome experience. Haven't been here in 20 years incredible food

The food is great and served very promptly, the dining area is small, so possibly make reservations... the server is outstanding, very attentive and easy going... the calamari was my favorite, eggplant rollatine was great and the wings are great but a little pricey for 6 wings...

Went here with a group of 5 people. You walk through the bar and enter the somewhat hidden dining room. Well there's a sign that says dining room but you need to walk through it and wait for someone to seat you. The food here is really great. Probably the best Italian seafood place in the area. Calamari soft and tender with a nice crispy seasoned coating on the outside. It comes with a savory marinara sauce that's a bit spicy. Swordfish is really fresh and tender, served wit pasta that's tossed in a light marinara sauce with a hint of sweetness. Haven't had something this good in a neighborhood restaurant for a long time.

I've been past this place many times over the last three years and always laughed to myself when I saw the corner bar with a seafood sign outside. Who would think I could be so wrong for guessing this isn't a place to try it. On a recommendation from a local (who also joined us), we gave it a try yesterday. Fantastic! When you first enter you're dropped into a movie set of the old corner bar, the local hangout. We immediately were greeted by the bartender who asked, "You lookin' for the dinin' room?" We sure were, and at first glance you don't see it. Then he points to a door crammed between the end of the bar and the establishment's front wall that says DINING ROOM. We entered and were in a back room with about 9 tables. Most were empty, which we were thankful for as I had read reviews of how long it can take sometimes to get your order on a busy night. An upbeat, young man brought a loaf of Italian bread, hot, just baked. Two of us ordered the Alla Rudy, a hodge-podge of mussels, clams, and calamari, tossed over penne pasta. A fantastic fish/tomato broth accompanied it and it was tremendous. Pasta cooked perfectly, seafood fresh and flavorful. Our third ordered Scarpariello (chicken, sausage, peppers, onion and mushrooms) over cappelinni (angle hair pasta). That dish was more-filling than ours, a very generous portion, with a olive oil-ish broth. The server indulged us and brought a second loaf of bread after we devoured the first - wow, excellent texture and flavor. The Long Island ice tea was good, not great. I forgot to ask our friend how the red wine was, but since she is a regular I would imagine she already knew she'd enjoy it. The bill (3 entrees, a glass of wine, a Long Island ice tea and one coffee) was $69. Very reasonable price given the flavor, portion size and ambiance of a typical old time neighborhood joint, the likes of which are quickly disappearing. Old World charm with a taste mama would love!

I ordered take out here. The food was average for me. I kinda wanted more spaghetti with the Zupa De Pesce. I also thought it was kinda pricey, but they did jam it up with the seafood. Crazy enough, I thought the soup was the best of what Mike and I ordered from here. We had the Manhattan Clam Chowder. Soup is just darn ol' amazin! I'm going to have to dine in here for a meal. Maybe I didn't get the full experience!

Made a reservation and was promptly greeted and seated. The dining room is just past the bar. Our server was great. She greeted us with bread and then we ordered a half order of calamari w sweet sauce. Yummy! I got chicken Marsala w a side salad and my husband got angel hair pasta w crab meet. Both entrees were delicious. For dessert we each got a cannoli and wow!!! So good... crispy shell with creamy filling!!!

Best Italian fried calamari in the area!!! Small, local hangout but the food is impressively good !

This family owned restaurant may have an underwhelming appearance but the food is wholesome and awesome! We started with wings tossed in an Asian sweet chili sauce and some fried raviolis. The wings were fried well done and perfectly coated. The raviolis were crispy on the outside, cheesy in the inside, but the sauce was what made the cheesy morsel pop! If you order the scungili pasta, which I highly recommend, expect a ton of tender chunks of conch, steaming hot Al dente linguini l, all wrapped in a tangy and sweet tomato sauce. If you're looking for home style Italian cooking, it doesn't get much better than Rudy's.

Rudy's is a local bar\restaurant that has churned out good, inexpensive seafood\pub food for years. 3 Stars at best...it gets the 4th for it's fried calamari (squid) A place where you may still find a few familiar faces of those who still live in town. In a town that has changed nationality drastically over the years, this place is still the same. A safe bet for good drinks, beers, but mainly for some of the best traditional fried calamari in the area. Growing up Italian in these parts of Bergen County, you tried dozens and dozens of this dish from all the local places that used to be "in the neighborhood". The basic style, battered and fried , with your choice of regular or (spicy) hot red tomato sauce. I love how this dish has changed over the years with chefs adding in hot peppers, capers, olives, etc etc Chancing the sauce to an Asian style, lemon cream , etc,............It's all good. BUT. for those purists who grew up like me, there is rarely a place to find a good version of the traditional style. Most pizzerias make it, but they don't MAKE IT, dig? Rudy's is never rubbery, perfect amount of batter, fried perfectly, light as a feather The Regular and Hot sauces are perfect. The Hot only makes the beers or cocktails quench the thirst in a more satisfying way. At least once a year, I head back to get a fix. But I digress...................... Rudy's has a huge menu of great Italian classics : meat or fish Francaise, Marsala,or Parmigiana steaks, chops, scallops, clams, mussels, pastas..............all in good portions at prices that won't break the bank. Try to get a seat at the bar as service for both food\drink are much faster than the separated dining room

Can't get more authentic in this area than Rudy's. Our first time there after living in this area for decades. Mussels were delicious, eggplant rolatine ordinary but salads were very good and broccoli rabe even better. My veal parm was a bit saucy but enjoyable as was my wife's shrimp and white wine and daughters chicken Frances.

Great old school Italian. Attentive service and delicious food. The soup of the day clam chowder was outstanding!! So was the pasta with sausage and spinach. Loved it all!

No frills old style Italian restaurant, and absolutely delicious! The marinara sauce was outstanding, and you could buy it by the quart! We ordered calamari to start and they came out hot and crispy. We went on to order the capellini supreme and the zuppa de pesce. We definitely preferred the capellini for it's richness and flavor, but the zuppa was also very good and the seafood tasted fresh.

The food is great, the food is 5 stars. The seafood and even the wings are great. Prices are great as well. The service is 1 Star. The lady in the front bar is very nice however the young man serving food in the restaurant area is just overwhelmed and can't remember anything. He is the waiter and bus boy. The food is a must try, I suggest eating at bar or getting food to go.

First time here and I knew it would be good when the beer was served ice cold. I ordered the Cappellina Supreme and a half order of Calamari. The half order was huge and the medium spiced marinara was perfect. The Calamari had a light breading that was good. The Cappellina was absolutely delicious. Would definitely eat here again. Not a big dining area so get here early. The wait staff was awesome!

Why, you may ask, does a mediocre Italian restaurant in Cliffside Park, NJ, have such great reviews? Answer: Because the naive customers reviewing it don't know what good Italian food tastes like! I can guarantee you that had these customers gone to even 2d-tier Italian restaurants in Manhattan, or Augustino's in Hoboken, NJ, they would have given Rudy's 2 stars. (Even close by in Edgewater, NJ, there is ROBERTO'S II RISTORANTE - 936 River Rd, which is listed as 1 of the 50 best Italian restaurants in NJ [as is Augustino's], but lowly Rudy's will never make the list. NB: Roberto's has discounted lunch prices, a 1st-class dining room [unlike Rudy's small, claustrophobic "dining room"], and $8 glasses of Chianti.) I've been to this joint 4 times and all the food tastes the same, and I have a distinct feeling the vegetables are FROZEN. BUT what really makes this place weird is the bizarre lead bartender (I believe he may be the son of the owner). On 2 occasions I overheard this guy badmouthing his customers. I mentioned it to the woman sitting next to me at the bar who told me that it's part of his shtick, so be prepared to be similarly trashed. AND the food is WAY OVERPRICED! Bon appetit!

Came here for a pickup order a couple weeks ago after hearing about it on Joey Coco Diaz's podcast .. and it was probably the best seafood I have ever had in North Jersey. The capellini supreme was so good, to die for. The portions are huge. It was so worth the trip from Jersey City and my husband and I can't wait to try Rudy's again!

I came here on a recommendation of a colleague. All I can say is WOW!! The food here is AMAZING! Be prepared to wait a bit for the food to come out but trust me, it's worth the wait. I will defiantly be coming back!

I grew up in Cliffside Park. The area has changed quite a bit since I moved out but, Rudy's still survives. I have not been to Rudy's in quite a few years and I was glad I came back today. The food was great. The wife had the penne vodka with shrimp. The vodka sauce was excellent. I had the scallops over broccoli rabe. Six grilled scallops over nicely sauteed broccoli rabe, a great dish. Everything was great, albeit a little pricey. I find myself saying "pricey" a lot lately. Not sure if it is because my favorite places are so cheap or maybe I just have not adjusted to the dining worlds rate of inflation.

This is one of my local go to spots. I enjoy sitting at the bar and having s few drinks. The atmosphere is great! They have some tasty seafood dishes, I enjoy the crab cakes. The cheeseburgers are also pretty good. I'll definitely be back rather sooner then later.