Barge Inn
“Expect the usual red sauce classics from a fairly small menu, but the real draw for many locals might just be Pasta Night (every Thursday).”
“Linguine w/ clam sauce was solid but the star was the pasta with sunday sauce and meatballs.”
“Barge Inn is A-W-E-S-O-M-E
A is for All you can eat past on Thursday.”
Barge Inn
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I learned to make sauce (gravy) from my best friend's Nona and I've been making it almost weekly for over 30 yrs which is why I rarely go out for italian.
Few places deliver on flavor and authenticity.
These guys do.
Go on all you can eat night, family style.
Get the order of meatballs.
Wear stretchy pants.
Vibe the decor, its part of the charm.
I want my review to have a lasting impact:
THURSDAY ALL YOU CAN EAT PASTA OF YOUR CHOICE WITH A GLASS OF WINE (RED OR WHITE) FOR $7.95
I could just stop there and finish my review but this place deserves more. First off I am definitely coming back for not just the unlimited pasta but for the other items they have on the menu. I also was very hungry that day and got meatballs on the side and my girlfriend got sausage on the side. Both were very delicious and tender. It's up there on my list with the meatballs and sausages I've tried.
What really made the pasta really delicious was the sauce. They do have a vegetarian option but I got the meat sauce which had great depth of flavor of tomato, herbs, and seasonings. I barely needed any salt and pepper.
I personally had 3 plates of pasta and each time was a different type of pasta noodle. Not saying they skimp on the food because it was the total opposite of that. I just wanted to see how far my body would be able to take.
Oh and they also give fresh toasted bread with butter prior to the meal to let you know your going to eat carbs anyway might as well start off the meal with carbs. I'm Tarantinoing my review but after the pasta we (I don't know how I had room) ordered mini cannoli's which came in 3 pieces. The filling was perfect and it was drizzled with chocolate syrup.
The Barge Inn has character that you rarely see anymore especially with all the other restaurants popping up in DTJC. I hope it stays the same and does not go out of business. According to our waitress the've been in It's been in business in the same location for over 20 years.
I went to eat here recently with my family.
They didn't serve any of the drinks I asked for.
I don't even think they had fresh iced tea, Champagne or Moscow Mules.
I thought the food was mediocre but not bad by any means.
The servers aren't the friendliest.
Good luck trying to find parking.
And I smelled people smoking in this restaurant.
There are way too many Italian restaurants in the area to come here, I say skip this place
Unless you live within 3 blocks
My friend Emma G. told me that this place will cause a revolution and uproar amongst Yelpers once more of them know that it and Jersey City as a whole exists. I work downtown so its not incredibly inconvenient jumping over on that mythical Path train. She only had to whisper $10 all you can eat pasta and I was sold.
You enter this little hole in the wall ramshackle dive looking inn of sorts. Once inside you see everything in life that is adorable and accompanied by 50-year-old folks and couples. Warm candle light, fireplaces, antiquated fake wood paneling you find in your parents' 1970's styled basement, wooden chandeliers, giant old clocks, maybe some elk antlers and a christmas wreath. Fresh parmesan and red pepper flakes on the table are greatly appreciated. The waitress comes by and my old roommate looks up and says "I don't even need to see the menu" with great glee. I look around confused and say "I want the unlimited pasta thing". Which causes both my roommate to spit up laughing and the waitress to correct me that its not "unlimited" but "all you can eat". Isn't that the same thing though?! Right?! Like yeah, I'm probably not going to eat four helpings but if its all you can eat and I can get more and more theoretically they probably aren't going to run out any point soon of noodles to boil. I digress.
She went with penne and I went with linguini. I think you get a choice of marinara sauce or garlic and butter or something and whatever pasta noodle: penne, spaghetti, linguini, fettuccine. You can add on meatballs for an additional $3. A glass of wine is wait for it – COMPLIMENTARY with all of this. When normally its about $7. Pasta isn't fresh but its still pretty good, the sauce is pretty classic. They even give you a fresh loaf of bread that has a hint of buttery garlic parmesan to it. My friend asked for another loaf of bread I think partially out of curiosity if we'd get one. Amazing service. Amazing deal for what it is and so old school. Only complaint is that the bathrooms aren't the best but you can't win them all. This place is a hidden gem and its full of old people. WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE?!
Unsuspecting from the outside, even unsuspecting on the inside… but once you are greeted by the friendly owner and take a look at the menu that all changes!
Everything is made there, and made right- the way my old Italian grandmother would make it (If I had one!)
On Thursdays they have all you can eat pasta with a glass of wine for about $9… can't beat that! My husband and I like to supplement the pasta by splitting a side of meatballs. The meatballs are amazing! Soft, juicy, just the right amount of spices! If you are nice they might give you a free limocello… it is made there and has a good strong kick of alcohol but not too much to knock you out of your seat!
The decor is a bit "retro"… I don't think they have changed much since they opened! But I kinda like it, I feel like I am on set of the Sopranos. The owners know the regulars by name and I love that too!
For when you absolutely, positively NEED that 70's NJ Italian restaurant experience, accept no substitutes.
The Barge has occupied the corner of Monmouth and 3rd for decades and the dining room shows it (though the TVs and jukeboxes have been updated through the times). Expect the usual red sauce classics from a fairly small menu, but the real draw for many locals might just be Pasta Night (every Thursday).
For just $8.95, you can tuck into as many heaping plates of pasta (choose from penne, linguini, angel hair) in either Sunday Sauce or a meatless marinara, matched with a glass of either Pinot Gris or Merlot and bread fresh from the oven. Maximize your meal by tossing in an order of meatballs for $5.
The pasta is just a bit softer than al dente and the Sunday Sauce is a bit thin, but the meatballs were pleasantly herbal and spicy (and huge!). The portions are massive, so even if you stop at one dish, you've got a good, satisfying meal at a great price.
Eating at the Barge Inn reminded me of being served by the Italian mother and aunt I never had. Real old school gravy type of joint. I mean the type of place where you have to use the can in between chicken cutlets and you just keep eating and talking and eating and talking some more. Everything was a tad bit too salty; like they used Morton's instead of Kosher. That being said I'd go back especially for Sunday sauce on a Thursday.
Finally got to come in for the Thursday night unlimited pasta! Yay!
Here's how it works: you get to pick 1 glass of wine, either Pinot or Merlot. Then you pick the type of pasta you want: linguine, penne, rigatoni, and something else probably spaghetti. NOTE- there is only 1 type of sauce, the Sunday sauce (they also have a regular marinara option if you're a vegetarian). I was a little sad they didn't have more sauce options, but for $8.95 you can't really be too demanding.
The wine is good. The bread is crusty and warm and good. The pasta is good. It's not gonna be the most amazing pasta you ever taste, but it's yummy.
Here's the embarrassing part: I can usually put away a ton of food…. and I only got through 1 plate! My bf only got through 1.5 plates (they'll bring you a mini plate for the 2nd helping if you ask, so you don't feel bad about wasting).
All in all, it was a good meal for a good price and I would come back. The outside of the place looks a little rickety, but the inside is really nicely decorated and charming. Go!