Pop Empanada — Restaurant in Park Ridge

I’ve previously mentioned Pop Empanada in Park Ridge, which on Thursday and Saturday night transforms into the Pasta Supper Club. It’s one of the most unique $75 a person, prefix dinner experiences in Bergen County. One seating @7:30pm (8:00pm on Saturday), 6 courses, 24 people maximum.

From last night’s extravaganza, the butternut squash arancini (rice ball) was fantastic, the polpette (kind of a sophisticated tortellini sausage) could’ve been a meal in of itself, and the spinach lumache with this spicy vodka sauce cut through the multi-course haze of carbohydrates.

The duck empanadas were baked, and I would’ve preferred the flakiness of a fried exterior to the bagel-ish baked exterior. The raviolo with sage brown butter sauce outside and egg yolk inside was ok, but, for someone who’s had this dish a number of times at Maialino in NYC, I felt the pasta was a bit too al dente, and the brown butter sage could’ve been further reduced to thicken it and intensify the flavor (IMHO).

The atmosphere was as if you were in someone’s dining room, and the host and hostess wait on you with slavish dedication. I love restaurants that strive for greatness, and the Pasta Supper Club goes for it every time out. I encourage my foodie friends to...

Finally stopped in after constantly passing by and saying, “I need to try that place.” I love this spot because it offers a type of food not otherwise found in Park Ridge and it’s a family-owned small business. I was told the family is Chilean and makes the fillings each day. Personally tried the spinach and cheese and caprese empanadas, purchasing 4 in total. The empanadas are deep fried, so the dough is very crispy. The filling is homemade and I found the spinach and cheese particularly yummy. Prices for empanadas ranged from about 4-6$ and I spent 20$ on four. The flavors are modernized and adjusted to local tastes (Buffalo chicken, pizza, etc). The woman at the register, Natalie, was really friendly and welcoming.

Thanks for the great vegetarian options! One of my favorite parts of the meal was the included pico de gallo type salsa— POP might consider selling that as it’s own item with chips etc.

Ultimately, a fun little treat, but probably too expensive for me to have empanadas as a meal regularly. Looking forward to trying other menu items like the...

Tonight, I had the pleasure of dining at the Pop Pasta Supper Club (in Pop Empanada) and it exceeded all expectations. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the welcoming and easy-going atmosphere. I appreciated the art featuring Marty Mcfly, Madonna, and Prada in Marfa, TX. Prince is also featured!

The night's highlight was undoubtedly the lobster cappelletti, which I am now utterly obsessed with. Each bite was accompanied by a disbelieving shake of the head —perfectly cooked pasta enveloping succulent lobster with a sweet corn emulsion sauce and umi foam… It was rich and delicate, and I wanted six more servings!

The entire experience was infused with thoughtful and inventive flavors, and the dining experience was attentive and unpretentious. Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or just someone who loves a great meal in a comfortable setting, this is...