Battello — Restaurant in Jersey City

Review of Battello – A Stunning Waterfront Fine Dining Experience in Jersey City

Battello is an exceptional fine dining restaurant located right on the Hudson River in Jersey City, offering breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. Nestled within the Newport Yacht Club, this upscale Italian eatery delivers a perfect blend of contemporary cuisine, elegant ambiance, and top-notch service, making it a standout destination for a special night out.

Ambiance & Atmosphere

The moment you step into Battello, you're greeted with a stylish yet inviting atmosphere. The restaurant boasts high ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the mesmerizing waterfront views. The decor is a harmonious mix of industrial chic and rustic elegance, with warm lighting and well-spaced seating that creates an intimate yet lively setting. During the warmer months, the outdoor patio enhances the experience, offering a serene dining spot to enjoy the sunset over the Manhattan skyline.

Food & Drinks

Battello's menu, curated by Executive Chef Ryan DePersio, is a seafood-forward Italian masterpiece. Every dish showcases fresh ingredients, artful presentation, and bold flavors.

Appetizers: The Spanish octopus is perfectly tender with a smoky char, while the yellowfin tuna tartare bursts with fresh, vibrant flavors.

Pasta: The house-made ricotta gnocchi is pillowy soft and complemented by a delicate truffle butter sauce, while the squid ink campanelle is a must-try for seafood lovers.

Mains: The spiced black sea bass, drizzled with a carrot and saffron glaze, is a highlight, with perfectly crispy skin and a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The filet mignon is another standout, cooked to perfection and paired with a rich, flavorful sauce.

The beverage program is equally impressive, with a curated selection of wines, craft cocktails, and beers. Their signature cocktails, like the smoked old fashioned, add a unique touch to the dining experience.

Service & Overall Experience

Service at Battello is polished yet approachable. The staff is knowledgeable about the menu, offering excellent recommendations and ensuring a seamless dining experience. Whether you're there for a romantic dinner, a celebratory gathering, or even a wedding (they host stunning events!), the team makes every occasion feel special.

Final Verdict

Battello is more than just a restaurant—it’s a destination. With its unbeatable waterfront views, innovative Italian cuisine, and sophisticated yet relaxed ambiance, it’s one of the best dining experiences in Jersey City. Whether you're a local or visiting from across the river, Battello is well worth the trip.

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5

Pros: Stunning views, exceptional food, great service, lively atmosphere. Cons: Can get crowded—reservations are highly...

I’m surprised there aren’t worse reviews because the food here was mediocre at best. The only redeeming quality was the views of downtown Manhattan. But why look at Manhattan when you can be in Manhattan? The service here though was the main reason for my rating of 2 stars.

We were a party of 8 for dinner and 3 additional people joined us later for drinks, we spent about $1.7k not including tip and the servers were not attentive at all.

We started off with ordering 6 apps (some were repeatable the same), 4 entree sized pastas, 6 entrees, and the seafood tower. We asked the waitress if it was too much food and she acted as if it actually wasn’t enough so we added a couple of apps and an entree. It was obviously way too much food.

As the meal progressed, we had to flag people down to order drinks. People who weren’t our server would look our way avoid eye contact and speed by. When we finally got someone to stop, we asked for our server and she said “I’ll let him know”. At that point, I knew we would never see our server because our server was a woman.

We soon learned though, that our server was actually a man - our server switched because we had moved to a different table before starting our meal, yet no one thought to inform any of us.

This server was visibly annoyed at every time we asked for him to add additional items to the tab. We also had to ask for the dessert menu which is another cue that this restaurant is not in the business of making more money.

In terms of the food, honestly nothing was memorable but the hazelnut dessert. Certain random things were overly salted like the hen of the woods mushrooms in the chicken entree or the tuna tartare in the seafood tower. Also, if you want a vegetable with your meal, don’t come here. There is literally not a single salad or side of vegetable on the menu (the closest thing resembling a salad is the tricolore insalata). We ordered an off menu broccolini which again was overly salty - almost as salty as I feel right now. There’s a king oyster mushroom main but it’s tiny and they overcooked the mushroom and made it taste overly tough and shriveled. I’m usually a big fan of sea bass but they somehow managed to mess that one up.

My drink was also the weakest thing I’ve ever tasted. Stick to the wine and dessert if you come here. In fact, don’t come here at all - what we spent here is close to what we would’ve spent at a restaurant in New York with way better food, drinks,...

The best way I can describe Battello is "PERFECT". From the moment my husband and I met with Dominique at Battello we knew we had found the place we would want to celebrate our marriage. We loved the idea that our wedding would feel like a big party yet also an intimate dinner party. The venue design, backdrop and natural lighting of the venue were definitely an added bonus. Being an Event designer and planner, I wanted to make sure our venue aligned with what I strive to get for my clients... Impeccable service, delicious food, stunning location and I can honestly say that Battello was all of that and more. Before the wedding we came into Battello for dinner with friends, family and even a few date nights and every time we felt so welcomed by the entire team. Tammy specifically came out of her way to say hi every single time. Dominique, the event coordinator is an angel! She was so helpful and open from the start. It was so important to me to have a great relationship with our coordinator as I know how important her role plays in the overall event. We could not have imagined how seamless the experience would be with Dominique. No matter the question, she always replied quickly and with helpful information. I will miss working with her! Tammy, our bridal attendant was amazing and the most helpful! I have personally worked at so many venues and I have never seen a more accommodating bridal attendant. Every time I turned; she was there with a smile on her face happy to help with whatever we needed. She bustled my dress in minutes and help me remove my vail without misplacing a single hair. We got married this past August and we have not stopped hearing how “this was the best wedding we have every been to”. Guests of all ages have been raving about how insane the cocktail hour was, how amazing the service was and how beautiful the location is. The attention to detail from the entire Battello team is something you will not find anywhere else. There was not an ounce of stress on us knowing that we had Battello’s team handling our wedding day. I will be telling everyone I know to get married at Battello, just so we can celebrate there again. We are looking forward to going back to Battello with our family, friend and future family.

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