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A community guide to Passaic County, town by town.

This is the friendly, hand-kept guide to the towns around 113 Marshall St, organized the way a neighbor would organize it: one town at a time. We start in Clifton, where our office sits, then work through Paterson, Passaic, Totowa, Woodland Park, Haledon, and Garfield. Every place below is a real, operating business or site, and the list is kept by hand.

Hours and menus change, so check a spot before you head out. Most of these are a short drive from the apartment, and the whole county is easy to reach from the Route 80, Route 46, Route 19, and Garden State Parkway corridors.

Clifton is home base, and honestly it's one of the easiest places in North Jersey to live well.

Clifton is one of New Jersey's biggest cities, with roughly 90,000 residents, but it feels like a collection of neighborhoods rather than one downtown. It's about 12 miles from midtown Manhattan, with Routes 3, 46, and 21 plus the Garden State Parkway running through it, and it packs an international dining scene that punches far above its size. Our office is at 600 Getty Avenue here, so this is the part of the county we know best.

Where to eat

  • Rutt's Hut

    a Jersey institution since 1928, famous for deep-fried "Rippers" hot dogs with spicy relish.

    417 River Rd
  • Con Sabor a Peru

    Peruvian cooking with the classics done right, from lomo saltado to ceviche.

    109 Lakeview Ave
  • Jaimito's Chinese & Peruvian Restaurant

    the friendly mashup you didn't know you needed, chaufa and Chinese-Peruvian plates.

    389 Lexington Ave
  • Matthew's

    a beloved Italian spot on Bloomfield Avenue with a loyal regular crowd.

    1131 Bloomfield Ave
  • Noches De Colombia Clifton

    Colombian plates, bakery cases, and a lively bar all under one roof.

    1 Village Square E
  • Rumba Cubana

    a lively Cuban spot with ropa vieja, mojitos, and a big open patio.

    2 South Pkwy
  • The Allwood Diner

    the classic all-day diner, coffee and pancakes whenever you need them.

    913 Allwood Rd
  • Taste of Tuscany

    Italian cooking in the Styertowne Shopping Center, a solid pick for a proper dinner.

    1051 Bloomfield Ave
  • Lexington Diner

    a friendly neighborhood diner, open late and dependable.

    351 Lexington Ave
  • Cafe Bubamara

    a cozy cafe with strong coffee and a neighborhood feel.

    263 Parker Ave

Drinks & nightlife

Get outside

The city next door, where the food and the history both run deep.

Paterson is where 113 Marshall St lives, and Main Street is one of the great food corridors in North Jersey. The same blocks that serve Turkish kebabs and Peruvian ceviche sit minutes from a national park, a restored Negro Leagues ballpark, and a museum that tells the whole story.

Main Street dining

  • Al-Basha Take-Out

    a Main Street fixture since 1998, shawarma, grilled platters, and hummus done fast and friendly.

    1076 Main St
  • Toros Restaurant

    a lively Turkish grill house on the main drag, big kebabs, pide, and fresh bread.

    1083 Main St
  • Seagull Mediterranean Seafood

    the quiet gem of the corridor, fresh fish and Mediterranean plates worth slowing down for.

    864 Main St
  • Abu Rass Restaurant

    Lebanese and Middle Eastern cooking with generous mezze and charcoal-grilled meats.

    1057 Main St
  • Darna Lebanese-Mediterranean

    fresh Mediterranean plates downstairs and a hookah lounge upstairs, one stop for both.

    1090 Main St
  • The Cathedral Restaurant

    a downtown institution with an old-school, sit-down menu and a loyal regular crowd.

    378 Main St
  • Taqueria Los Güeros

    handmade tacos and burritos, a favorite quick stop on the south end of Main.

    325 Main St
  • Istanbul Grill House

    Turkish grill favorites in a relaxed room, generous plates and warm bread.

    978 Main St
  • Tadim Restaurant

    Turkish home-style cooking, the kind of kebabs and pide you order again.

    959 Main St
  • Lomo Saltado Peruvian Cuisine

    Peruvian comfort food with the namesake lomo saltado done right.

    249 Union Ave
  • Sabores Peruanos Restaurant

    Peruvian plates and ceviche, a neighborhood favorite for a full meal.

    261 Union Ave

Cafes, bakeries & sweets

  • Nablus Sweets

    Palestinian sweets, baklava and knafeh fresh and warm, a Main Street ritual.

    1050 Main St
  • Taskin Bakery

    a Turkish bakery with warm bread, borek, and pastries by the tray.

    103 Hazel St
  • Grini's Bakery

    the neighborhood bakery for cakes, cookies, and everyday staples.

    48 Cianci St
  • Salhas Sweets Bakery & Café

    sweets and coffee right on Main, a sweet stop between errands.

    1053 Main St
  • San Pedro's Bakery & Cafe

    pastries and strong coffee downtown, a friendly corner to sit a while.

    9 Smith St
  • Sultan Artisan Bakery

    artisan flatbreads and Middle Eastern pastries baked in-house.

    1010 Main St
  • PJ's Courthouse Cafe

    a friendly counter cafe near the courthouse for coffee and lunch.

    71 Hamilton St
  • Chantilly

    a bakery with cakes and sweets that earns its regulars.

    281 Union Ave
  • Cositas Ricas De Paterson

    Latin pastries and desserts, a small shop with big sweet tooths covered.

    535 21st Ave

Nightlife, bars & lounges

Things to do & attractions

  • Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

    a 77-foot waterfall in the middle of the city, the birthplace of American industry.

    72 McBride Ave Ext
  • Hinchliffe Stadium

    a restored Art Deco ballpark that hosted Negro Leagues baseball, now home to the New Jersey Jackals.

    off Maple St
  • Paterson Museum

    the story of the Silk City told through local history and industry, right downtown.

    2 Market St
  • Lambert Castle

    a hilltop castle with city views and a museum of regional history.

    3 Valley Rd
  • Eastside Park

    Paterson's grand 19th-century park, made for long walks and lazy afternoons.

    800 Broadway
  • Lou Costello Park

    a little green space named for the comedian who was born in Paterson.

    downtown
  • Goffle Brook Park

    a county park with trails and ballfields a short drive from the city.

    788 Lafayette Ave, Hawthorne
  • Overlook Park

    city green space with views near the falls, an easy spot to catch your breath.

    72 McBride Ave

Local venues, hours, and opening details change; check each business before you visit.

The other river city, with a dining scene worth the trip.

Passaic sits right across the Passaic River from Paterson, and its food scene leans hard into Peruvian and Mexican cooking done really well. It's a five-minute drive from the apartment, which makes it dangerously easy to go out for dinner.

  • El Gordo Peruvian Eatery

    Peruvian plates with big energy, a local favorite for a full meal.

    295 Monroe St
  • Noches De Colombia

    Colombian classics and a warm, busy room.

    210 Madison St
  • Mexico Restaurant

    straightforward Mexican cooking at honest prices.

    141 Market St
  • Sabor Latino

    Latin flavors and a friendly counter on Monroe Street.

    265 Monroe St
  • 809 Restaurant

    a local spot on Market Street with a loyal crowd.

    61 Market St
  • Angies Deli & Restaurant

    a deli and kitchen that does breakfast and lunch the old way.

    125 Market St
  • Venus Bar and Restaurant

    a neighborhood bar and restaurant with a steady regular crowd.

    68 Central Ave
  • Fiesta Night Club & Restaurant

    dining and dancing in one lively room.

    115 President St
  • Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel

    a striking downtown landmark worth a look.

    downtown
  • Armory Park

    green space along the Passaic River with historic mill-era buildings.

    riverside

A small borough with handy stops right off Route 46.

Totowa is the quiet borough just up Route 46 from Paterson, mostly residential with a useful strip of restaurants and shops along the highway. It's where you go when you want dinner without leaving the neighborhood.

  • Barnyard & Carriage House

    a long-standing American restaurant and banquet venue, a local landmark.

    754 Totowa Rd
  • 46 Lounge

    a slick lounge just up the highway when you want a change of scene.

    300 US-46
  • LUV BITES Restaurant

    a halal kitchen with big flavors and a friendly counter.

    357 Union Blvd
  • Nonna Marie's Pizza Restaurant

    a neighborhood pizza spot on Union Boulevard.

    560 Union Blvd
  • 46 Farmer's Market Co

    a farmers and specialty market that is a fun stop for groceries and gifts.

    46 Riverview Dr

The green borough up against Garret Mountain.

Woodland Park, formerly West Paterson, is tucked against Garret Mountain with easy access to the park's trails and views. It's quiet, green, and close to everything, which is why it keeps showing up on our rental rounds.

A small borough with a big piece of labor history.

Haledon is a compact borough up the hill from Paterson, and it holds one of the most important labor-history sites in the country: the Botto House, where silk workers gathered during the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike. It's a quiet, family-friendly town a few minutes from the apartment.

Just across the river, with a Main Avenue worth walking.

Garfield sits right across the river from Passaic. It's technically Bergen County, but it's five minutes from the apartment and a regular part of our rounds, with a lively dining strip and riverfront parks.

Live in the middle of all of it.

113 Marshall St is a renovated 3-bed, 2-bath near Main Street, minutes from the food, the nightlife, and the falls, with Clifton and the whole county a short drive away. Come see the neighborhood for yourself.

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