The current economic situation has forced many restaurants and bars out of business; however, West Carteret's Oliveria's is not one of these businesses. The Newark Star Ledger has reported that the two central New Jersey towns hurt most by the recession, and subsequent levels of unemployment, are Carteret and Bloomfield. Oliveria's opened roughly eight months ago in West Carteret -- the area of Carteret most stricken by the recession and the town's 13% unemployment rate. The area of Carteret that Oliveria's is located in has seen its share of faltering businesses. In fact, the once bustling industrial, water-front, area was home to some of the tri-state's most renowned bars and Portuguese restaurants. However, a majority of these establishments have been closed in the last three years.
Such's Bar and Grill operated for thirty-two years, and was one of central Jersey's most lucrative bars during the 1980s and 1990s. Moreover, Lisbon to Rome -- a Portuguese-Italian fusion restaurant -- was ranked as one of the top 100 restaurants in the Garden State from 2005-2007. However, both of these Carteret establishments, and a few dozen more, have been forced out of business in the last year and a half. Currently, the only businesses that seem to survive in West Carteret are liquor stores, check cashing offices, and bail bonds.
Oliveria's traditional Portuguese restaurant and bar opened mid-March 2010; and the establishment has seen nothing but dollar signs since. The establishment has rejuvenated a section of West Carteret that seemed hopeless -- attracting many tourists, residents of nearby, up-scale, neighborhoods, and even well-known New Jersey politicians. But how did Oliveria's make such a splash? The owner and operant manager of Oliveria's was a long-time employee of Woodbridge's Chateau Madrid, and had never owned or solely operated a restaurant. Furthermore, Oliveria's is not a chain restaurant -- its name had no intrinsic value -- and the brand was literally worthless a year ago.
Oliveria's is conveniently located -- easily accessible via the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 1, and St. Georges Avenue (route 35 or route 27 pending which direction you are traveling in). There is ample parking -- though Oliveria's lot only accommodates roughly thirty cars -- the plethora of bankrupt businesses on Roosevelt Avenue has made available four large parking lots for patrons to use.
Walking through Oliveria's front entrance places patrons in bar area -- which does not disappoint. The bar is extravagant; however, it does not loose touch with the restaurant's traditional European theme. Long wood booths line the left wall and high-top tables fill the center of the room. Roughly a dozen stools pull into the marble and granite bar located on the room's right-hand side, just under the three 52 inch plasma televisions. All of the wood and stone in the bar area is well cut and polished -- the area glistens -- literally. Moreover, the bar is fully stocked -- offering a wide array of domestic and imported beers, wines from around the world, and distilled spirits. I was astonished by the selection of European alcohols -- drinks I've yet to see at other establishments. Oliveria's has everything from Harvey's Twenty-year Port to Lucid Absinthe. Furthermore, the full menu is offered at the bar, for a discounted price.
The bar area alone had sold me on Oliveria's; but I still had to view the menu: and what a menu it was. I have never seen such an extensive selection. There are hundreds of selections -- yes -- hundreds! There are nearly 40 types of steak; and the section containing the meat is larger than the entire menu at most chain restaurants. They have everything from Portuguese delicacies such as frog legs and 18oz. filet mignon served on an Ovar tile to contemporary seafood dishes like shrimp scampi. Though steak on a tile may seem outlandish in America, it is viewed as the capstone item of most high-end restaurants in Portugal and Spain. The menu contains: 44 seafood selections, 38 types of steak, 28 chicken dishes, and nearly 50 appetizers -- not including the dozen daily specials. All eight plates served to my party were fantastic -- my tilapia stuffed with crab meat was cooked perfectly.
The quality and selection of food was superb, same as the prices and portion size. Portions were huge. None of the eight members of my party finished his or her meal. After eight entrees, five pitchers of sangria, three appetizers, and four desserts, our bill was $280. We ate like kings, and I am certain that this meal would have cost nearly $450 at a comparable restaurant.
Finally, the service was excellent. The waiter and bus boys were on-point. Each course and pitcher of sangria was prepared and served in a timely manner. Furthermore, the owner of the restaurant greeted and conversed with each table in the restaurant -- making all customers feel like celebrities. Oliveria's serves great food and satisfaction. It is a true small business. The owner manages the dining area flawlessly, and his 20-year-old son manages the bar just as well. I will definitely return to Oliveria's.
Though Oliveria's is located in an area stricken by the effects of the poor economy, business is superb. Great service, a lively bar, excellent food, cheap prices, and attention to detail make Oliveria's one of the best new restaurants in the county. Moreover, I expect Oliveria's to win multiple awards at next month's Star Ledger's Best Restaurant Award Ceremony. Oliveria's is here to stay, and poses a serious threat to Perth Amboy's Portuguese Manor and Newark's Iberia and Iberian Peninsula (the three best Portuguese or Spanish restaurants in the nation -- according to most newspapers, fine dining magazines, and surveys of restaurateurs).
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