MEAL — Restaurant in Nutley

MEAL is the perfect spot for a special occasion. We went for a friend’s birthday dinner and were not disappointed. Decor was modern and lighting was low, giving the restaurant a cozy, relaxed vibe. The bar is long and staffed properly with multiple bartenders, so even with a packed bar you can obtain a drink fairly quickly. For the ladies, we ordered rounds of the Miss Nutley cocktail, which was a nice balance of sweet and tart. For the men, extra dirty Tito’s martinis were expertly crafted. Tito’s on the rocks pours were stingy, but ordering a double helped with that.

On to the meal. Appetizers included the short rib tacos, Mac and cheese, and bacon. The short rib tacos were stock and did not stand out; they would have benefitted from a bit more brightness and acidity. The Mac and cheese was on point. I’d call it cheesy, salty goodness. I didn’t personally try the bacon, but all reviews at the table were positive. For mains, I shared the porterhouse medium rare with my fiancé. While it’s not dry aged, it’s a steal at $99 with two sauces and two sides. The steak was properly cooked and presented nicely. The exterior had a bit more of a char on it that my fiancé typically likes, and he felt that gave the steak an unpleasant bitter taste. I enjoyed the char and wouldn’t change a thing. We did the wine sauce and the peppercorn sauce, and it was difficult to differentiate between the two. Brussels were crunchy and delicious. Creamed spinach was on point. Friends ordered the filet and the cowboy steak, and both cleaned their plates. Overall, great...

Bring cash, credit card fee is 3.99%.

We went for a Saturday lunch at Meal. There were street parkings in front of the restaurant but all taken, so we parked on the next street and walked across a pavement to the restaurant. Upon entering saw their huge bar, gorgeous dining space and beautiful interior. Felt like a nice upscale spot. There were no other customers other than us at that time, which was surprising.

We started with mussels and drunken garlic bread. Mussels were decent. The drunken garlic bread had loads of cheese but the dish disappointed me. I got the Mac burger, which I realized was named after Big Mac from McDonalds after the dish was served. I’d prefer knowing it beforehand as I was not looking to eat McD like burger at upscale restaurant. Nevertheless it was two big burgers alongside fries. The burger did taste almost like Big Mac, but way too many lettuce all over it. The short rib tacos were good. But the kid’s plain pizza was underwhelming, crust was too thick.

Over server was a pro. He was polite and friendly, but despite only two tables occupied by guests, it took him forever to bring us our check, about 20 minutes. Then he needed another 5 minutes to bring us the take out box. Not sure if he had other duties but I wasn’t expecting such slow service.

Until I got the check, I didn’t know they charge 3.99% for credit card fee. It was not mentioned at the entrance or the menu, neither the server said anything. I expected more transparency from the restaurant where items were already priced on...

Steak lovers know there are few pleasures in life greater than cutting into a perfectly seared, juicy piece of meat prepared exactly to one’s preferences.

Nestled in the heart of Nutley, this modern American establishment offers patrons good food, generous portions, and, for the most part, attentive service. A reservation was easily made by calling the restaurant for a party of 5 Saturday night.

Located on Franklin Avenue with a perfect acronym (MEAL: Meet, Eat, and Lounge), my partner, our friends, and I were greeted by the staff upon entering as first-timers. Our table was ready by the window inside a relaxing yet chic vibe dining room and a separate bar.

The varied menu features aged steaks, lamb chops, and pork chops, as well as a number of seafood, fish, and other options.

We started out with appetizers: the Mac and Cheese, Fried Calamari, and Tuna Tartare “Nachos.” Our main meal consisted of Gnocchi, Forever Braised Beef Short Rib (signature dish), Steak Frites, Tuna, and Steakhouse Burger.

The food tasted delicious. The meat was prepared well, packed with so much flavor, and was very tender and juicy. Unfortunately, the tuna was a bit bland. The presentation was amazing and used only fresh ingredients, and it showed. The portions were a good size.

The price was comparable to the area. Our server, Zack, was great as he was attentive, clear speaking, and constantly checking on us. On Fridays, they offer DJ night.

What a fantastic addition to the local dining scene in Nutley, which we...