Looking for restaurant in Elizabeth, Newark area

[AfghanFoodie]

Friends are visiting the area and staying at a hotel near Newark Airport. They will have already spent 3 days in NYC. I'm looking for a nice restaurant where we can have a relaxed dinner this Friday night. Rutt's Hut is very NJ but probably a little too casual. Any cuisine except Chinese or Thai would be appreciated.

The restaurant doesn't have to be right in Newark. I'm willling to drive w/in 10-15 miles of the airport. It can't be too far because my friends need to leave Sat. morning for Chicago.

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Rutt's Hut
417 River Rd, Clifton, NJ 07014

[fourunder]

For Portuguese and Spanish...

http://www.adegagrill.com/

http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2006/09/22/nj-dining-seabras-marisqueira/

For old school rustic Italian....

Laico's or Rita &Joe's in Jersey City

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laicos/160564531635

http://www.rita-joes.com/

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Laico's
67 Terhune Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07305

[diva360]

I like Seabra's Marisqueira in Newark for Portuguese seafood. For a party of four, I'd sit in the bar area at one of the tables up front--you might call ahead to reserve one. Everything I've had there is very good, from the cockles to the sole with lemon, potatoes, and vegetables.

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Seabra's Marisqueira
87 Madison St, Newark, NJ 07105

[Curlz]

+1 for Marisqueira!!!

[OGguy]

Close to the airport in Elizabeth is Valenca, 665 Monroe Avenue, 908 354 2525. Excellent Portugese food. It too has 2 sides, a more formal restauarant and a bar with tables.

[coldbeer]

This was to be my enthusiastic recommendation as well...a little bit down the road in Elizabeth is the City Tavern...get the blue sangria, some tableside guacamole, and the entrana con cinco estrellos, it is fab-diculous.