Espo's Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Raritan

To the lady that provided a one star review below for not having vegan options and disgruntled about Veal being on the menu in the year 2024 made the top of my list for the year as the most entitled, inconsiderate and oblivious patron.

Let me start off by saying I’ve never defended a bad review for someone else’s business in my life but my great experiences at Espo’s over the years that Nick and his crew consistently deliver gave me no other option. J Being disappointed to see veal on the menu in 2024? Interesting, but if you’re going to an Italian restaurant that’s been serving its community for over 50 years, expecting a completely modernized menu may be a bit off-base. Were you blindfolded when you walked in, or did you think an old-school spot like Espo’s was going to have a section dedicated to coconut burgers, low-sodium vegan delights, and maybe a tofu parm special?

Sure, it’s great to be health-conscious and considerate of modern dietary preferences, but instead of spending time critiquing a restaurant’s authentic menu, why not check it beforehand? If you’re hoping for a gluten-free, no-vegan-vegan-burger experience, maybe Espo’s isn’t the place for that. It’s like walking into a Volkswagen dealership and being upset they don’t sell pogo sticks.

Glad to hear the eggplant was great, the service was top-notch, and the atmosphere hit the mark, though! Seems like Espo’s did what they’ve always done—deliver a classic, quality Italian experience, which is exactly why people keep coming back after all these years.

I truly hope this self proclaimed food critic gets to read this but I’m sure shes busy blasting a day care for not having Axe throwing in place of story time once in a while. Mindfulness is at an all-time low!

If you haven’t been to Espo’s, you should make it a priority.

Dinner (Steak Parm - pork chops with Vinegar peppers - Chicken Savoy - Hotsy Totsy Shrimp)

Friday Lunch (Espo’s Classic CheeseSteak with Cherry pepper relish and shaved ribeye is the best I’ve ever had and ranked top 5 in the state.

Sunday Brunch (Eggs in Purgatory- Long Hots and Potatoes - Bloody Mary)

Catering [Stuffed Peppers - Shrimp oreganatta - Rigatoni - Garlic Shrimp...

Great place but don't bother if you're a party larger than 4. I'm disappointed to even write this review but my family and I have now had the same poor service there 3 times. We have been going to Espo's several times per year for over 30 years. Every birthday, life milestone, etc we have celebrated there. We were thrilled when it reopened under new management and embraced the updates and changes. We are well aware of the small dining room, lack of reservations, and the frequent need to wait for a table - we've been doing that for years. We usually choose to go earlier in the week and soon after they open for dinner. However, the last 3 times that we've gone (as a group of 6), the hostess has told us a wait time, usually 30 minutes, and then we end up waiting at least twice that while other people get seated ahead of us. Last night we actually left after waiting over an hour with still no table in sight. While you're waiting, you are usually outside with no staff around- no drinks offered, no hostess checking in with you, really not a care whether you get seated or not. After checking once or twice on your table and wait time, eventually the hostess starts to avoid you. We watched another 2 parties leave last night before being seated after experiencing the same treatment. The food and wait staff at Espo's are fantastic, and clearly it's a popular place. But in order to keep people coming back, some major improvements need to be made on their...

Espo's is the absolute definition of a local best kept secret. I almost hesitate to write this review, because I'm not sure I want other people who aren't already in the know to find out about it!

Tucked away on an unassuming residental street in Raritan, Espo's is the ultimate local Italian restaurant. Maybe 15 tables in the whole place, things are dark, warm, and it feels like you're visiting an old friend every time you stop in. If you're even a semi-regular the staff will quickly begin to recognize you and treat you like a family member.

The food is absolutely out of this world. I've tried probably about half of the dinner menu at this point and I have never once been disappointed. Most recently I had the Chicken Parm with Vodka sauce, a house specialty. I'm normally a left overs guy but I cleared my plate that night, no problem. On Sunday, they make a special batch of their "Sunday Gravy/Sauce" and only have so much for the day. It is absolutely worth the trip for this rich, aromatic, decadent experience, served over pasta with a meatball, sausage, and braciole, it is probably my favorite dish.

I can't speak to their brunch, as I have not yet had the pleasure of trying it, but given the superiority of the dinner menu, I am sure it is also out of this world. As I mentioned up top, Espo's is the best kept local secret I can think of. It is absolutely worth the trip, everytime, hands down. 5/5...