Espo`s in Raritan

Always great food. My son had the veal chop special and he really enjoyed it. Glad the are open again!

This place is amazing!!! Service is the best. Sauce to die for. The steak with onions and peppers cooked on an open flame is like.*********** BOOM *************

Great place again. I missed them when they closed down. But when I heard that they were opening under new ownership I worried that it wouldn't be as good. But with joy I can say that Nick has done an excellent job! The food is as good as I remember and the restaurant has had a magic wand pointed at it. The same but polished and it seems bigger and airier. BRAVO!

Not the same atmosphere as before. Food has changed a bit. The tomato sauce and linguine with white clam sauce is just okay. They taste bland compared to the old Espo's. Steak parm tastes just like it did before since the same guy is cooking it from the old Espo's. Overall, it's worth revisiting if you haven't been to the remodeled one, but if you're expecting to be anywhere close to the old Espo's you'll be disappointed. It just felt like a traditional Italian restaurant to me.

The BEST!! I love their Steak Parm. We have been going there since Bob own the it. Best Italian Restaurant in the area.

The best Italian around period. Amazing food and staff, top notch.

My family and I have been loyal customers for countless year and have been very disappointed with the new ownership. Tonight we had family come in from all over the country looking forward to this famous Espo’s meal. Upon our arrival they refused to accommodate our takeout order. For years we have done these takeout orders and were very disappointed that they would not serve us. This is no way to establish a loyal client base especially in light of Espo’s long history of taking care of loyal customers. Sadly, we will not be returning.

When there's no call ahead or phone orders, you know it's the real deal. This place hands-down has the most delicious Italian food in the area. Love how you can customize a chicken /eggplant parm with vodka sauce over marinara. Give the potato and pepper app a try. Always busy, but well worth the wait. We've dined in and also ordered take home at the bar and waited. Friendly owner who hustles.

Can't say enough good things about this place, just oozes character. Went their with my wife for a very rare date night (we have 2 young kids). It was like walking into a scene out of Good Fella's from the moment we walked past the pink caddy parked out front. Super friendly servers and the regulars there treated us like we were family. I can see why few folks mind waiting 40+ minutes for a seat on busy nights, the food is incredible. Incredibly juicy and flavorful steak parm and pork chops are absolute BOMB!!

Fantastic meal wonderful atmosphere and an owner who was there to insure all the details were cared for!! We will definitely be back!!

red sauce is awesome, topped with shrimpover rigatoni! yumm

The food is always delicious. I am not a fan of waiting to be seated, so I already arrive right at open. Within 15 minutes the place is packed. For Valentine's Day they have a rose to each table, so that was a nice and thoughtful touch. It is very cramped though, but I would rather be cramped then have an even longer wait to get seated.

Excellent food, great service and still a landmark. Went for an early dinner and the place filled up quickly. Appetizers dinners even the bread... Everything was excellent. Owner Nick was very nice, waiter and bartender were professional and friendly. Definitely going back. Thanks Nick for keeping Espos a Central Jersey treasure

Food tastes just like the old days! Simply amazing, great job Nick! We will be back. God bless!

Amazing food. And killer old fashions. Gotta try the pork chops, veal parm, and hotsy totsy shrimp.

A great restaurant that looks amazing after the renovation, the service is attentive and very earnestly friendly. We loved it.

This is the best new restaurant in the area. The food is out of the world and with the new and approved menu and decor it's a place I will visit over and over again. Quick hint make sure to order the hotsy totsy shrimp it is amazing.

We have been going to Espo's for 37 years, miss the familure ambiance. The food was good, sauce tastes the same but there are a few dishes missing on the menu. The place looks good inside, nice improvements but the chalkboard menu's are missing. Some familure faces behind the bar. Overall good experience, have to get used to the change.

My wife's family has lived in Raritan for over 4 generations. Espo's is an incredible restaurant and bar just 5 blocks from her family home and a favorite for get togethers and late night fun. The wall-to-wall wood and dark lighting might not be your bag, however if it is, and you feel like revisiting that scene in the Godfather, Espo's is the place.Their modest but fine food menu features traditional Italian dishes and local favorites. This small town has a large Italian population and the fact that Espo's has endured for many decades, operating out of a house in the neighborhood, indicates to me a winner. Have a drink at the bar after your meal and trade stories with the gang.

I tried this spot already with a friend and I am hooked ever since. I liked the fantastic mood and tasty dishes and beverages. Great work.

Steak parm is amazing, the sauce was well flavored and you can definitely tell they put a lot of TLC into the food. Don't expect to have a quiet conversation. Energy here is lively and loud.

Food is fabulous! Portions are large good price point. Pete is the best bartender ever!

We dined there just prior to the recent pandemic restrictions that forced them to temporarily close the dining room. Espo's offers awesome hometown Italian fare at a great price. Newly renovated by the new owners who were careful to maintain the feel and menu that is very reminiscent of the original restaurant. Warm and welcoming with a friendly staff, well stocked bar and amazing specials.Hoping the dining room can open soon but in the mean time take advantage of their complete take out and delivery service. Highly recommended!

We are so happy that Espo’s is back in business and had to make it for the grand reopening weekend! My wife and I have been dining here regularly since we first started dating (early 2000’s) and were devastated to hear that they had to close at the beginning of the year. Nick and his team have done an absolutely stellar job reopening Espo’s while maintaining its small town vibe. The biggest thing is that the food is just a delicious as it was before, the sauce still tastes the same, menu and food pricing are near identical (with a few key additions), the chefs and servers are the same great guys and gals as before, and the new and improved atmosphere is an improvement on the original Espo’s dive but with some modern amenities. I wish Espo’s the best and plan on to return as soon as possible!

Love Espos. We have been going there for years. The previous owner passed away and Nick took it over. While old schoolers miss Bob, Nick has done an amazing job rehabilitating the place and mixing old traditions with new ideas. Thanks to Nick, Espos lives on in Raritan and will be an institution for many years to come. Definitely check it out.

Great neighborhood spot, very tasty!

Our popular menu items are not the only great choices here... Awesome specials to choose from every night!

Delicious food great service wonderful atmosphere!!Best Italian food in the area !!! Our favorite place to eat !

Heard about Espo’s and decided to try it with a group of friends on a Thursday eve. Restaurant was full. Lots on the menu to choose from so we decided to order different dishes to share family style. Each dish was amazing and would highly recommend - starting with Hotsy Totsy shrimp and fried calamari (real calamari, light batter), entrees of eggplant parm, chicken savoy (great sauce), pork chops, and stuffed peppers. Our group is definitely going back and will order different things next time to again share.

I've been here before over the years, so it was interesting to see if under new ownership. The more things change the more they stay the same. Yes, they've replaced the chalk boards with paper menus. But the food is still as tasty and delicious as ever. And they've added a couple more TV so that was handy during the playoffs. But it is still a tight navigation with so many tables on the floor. And, if I wasn't with a party of 6, no restaurant is worth a 2 hour wait. That completely took away any pleasure I had for the meal.The food does not outweigh the wait. Like I said, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

OMG! What a great meal! l have a new favorite Italian restaurant.

Food is delicious, service is great, and it has that small town feel. Drinks were great!

The chicken Murphy and pork chops with vinegar peppers were fabulous! The food was even better than I remembered. I can’t wait til they can really reopen!

Still a great place. Great food, great service and a cozy, neighborhood feel.

Eapo's is still very good. Small place so helps to have a reservation. Tasty Italian and big portions.

Just as good when Bobby had it....but not the same

Well. First time there and it was amazing. The service was very nice.Good there was great. I got the chicken parmesan. I got it with ziti be pasta. It was great. Inside was really nice and cozy on a really frigid night

Every time we go back it gets betterNice job Nick

This spot is one of my favorites! Good rates, considerable dishes and the staff members are always very welcoming.

Great to have Espo's back. So happy to see many of the old menu choices still available along with new items. Had a great meal, the special Grilled Pork Chop Murphy was excellent. You could cut the chop with a butter knife. The shrimp appetizer with marinara sauce was ample to share and tasty.

Was very good food good friendly staff. Will go back again

Great food! Great staff! Nice new atmosphere. Best of luck to the new owner, Nick!

SALLY is a great server. Nick is a great host. Food is woderful!

This place is tiny and packed tight. There are no menu's. You have to read the menu on one of the chalkboards scattered around the room. The food is very simple no frills Italian. The gravy is chunky and garlicy. Well done.

Got the special (ravioli in vodka sauce w/ shrimp and crabmeat), food was incredible, great vibe, and the desert was perfect. Can't wait to go backHighly recommend getting there early

This is an amazing restaurant and an Absolute MUST GO to. I highly recommend this place. The staff is extremely friendly and the food is to die for.

We arrived at this spot for dinner. we heard about this restaurant from a lot of people. Well, it was a winning. we were warmly welcomed by the staff members and we felt excellent. The meal was yummy. We had a great time and we will definitely return to this restaurant. Recommended.

Great food great drinks great service great atmosphere