If you’re hungry and searching for a hometown restaurant with inviting décor, excellent service, and delicious food, KP Sarelli’s may be just the place for you.
Located at 241 Broadway in Bayonne, the restaurant is accessible not only by car, but also by the Broadway bus line and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s 8th Street Station.
When owner Sal Martinez opened the place in 2007, he knew he had a perfect moniker; a combination of his daughters’ names, Sarah and Ellie, “Sarelli’s.” In 2013, when Ken Poesl of Ken’s Marine Services joined as a full partner, the name was changed to “KP” Sarelli’s.
The dinner begins with a warm greeting by hostess and manager Kim Martinez, who shows you to your table. As you settle in, you take in artwork from several genres—country to contemporary.
“We want to appeal to everyone, and not leave anyone out,” Martinez said.
The color scheme features soft tones, with mauve tablecloths and deep cream walls, with brown accents. An electronic fireplace in the rear adds warmth to the room.
The wait staff is courteous and attentive, asking right away if you have food allergies.
Be prepared for a feast of chicken, fish, meat, pastas, and salads.
While the cuisine is billed as northern Italian, there are dishes for all tastes.
“We do mix it up quite a bit, especially with specials,” Martinez said.
Specialties include margherita pizza and salad, seafood risotto, tortellini quattro formaggi, bistecca al ferri, stuffed eggplant appetizer, Fantasia Susanna Salad, and tilapia gorgonzola,
affordably priced from $11.95 to $26.95.
Karen and Edward Tylutki of Bayonne rated the food from very good to great, to delightful.
Upon being seated, diners receive a fresh and gratis bruschetta, artfully designed with four toast pieces, two with shaved cheese and two with diced tomatoes. A tomato cut like a flower and four leaves of spinach adorn the plate.
The cheese is not too sharp, and the bread, a nice balance between moist and crispy.
A light and fruity cabernet went well with the cuisine.
“We want to appeal to everyone.” – Kim Martinez
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The Fantasia Susanna salad at $9.95 combined arugula, mango, apples, strawberries, cranberries, dry ricotta, sweet walnuts, and raspberry dressing. The vongole oreganata is an appetizer of seven little neck clams stuffed with oregano, garlic, paprika, and extra virgin olive oil, also for $9.95. The seasonings enhanced the flavor of the clams, which were served with lemon.
One entrée, Pollo al Ken, is named for one of the two owners. At a reasonable $15.95, it’s made with grilled chicken breasts, Portobello mushrooms, eggplant, roasted garlic, peas, smoked mozzarella, and asparagus, topped with a porcini sauce.
The other entrée, tilapia alla gorgonzola ($19.95), was topped with mango, apple, dried cranberries, and almonds in a light cream sauce. The sweet croquets, though presented as a side dish, could easily have been a dessert, with their custard-like centers and confectionary sugar toppings. The dish came with sautéed spinach and garlic. Dessert offerings included homemade Italian cheesecake, with ricotta cheese, and strawberry zabaglione. The hand-whipped custard included banana and mango slices and a splash of Gran Marnier.
The meal was topped off with a dessert-like Cappuccino
Lunch, liquor, parties, and catering
KP Sarelli’s is also open for lunch, with nearly 40 items to choose from—everything from a healthy and reasonable $3.50 cup of soup to an $18.95 steak with sautéed onions and roast potatoes. Four salads, six sandwiches, and a half dozen burgers and wraps are also on the menu, as are many of the dinner offerings.
The facility is perfect for parties, showers, and other events, with 20 tables and seating for up to 90 people. It also has an extensive menu for offsite parties and catering, featuring 16 dishes.
The L-shaped, 16-foot bar, which seats eight, offers beer, wine, cocktails, red or white Sangria, and seasonal drinks, such as pumpkin martinis.
More information
KP Sarelli’s is located at 241 Broadway, between 9th and 10th streets, in Bayonne. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
For more information, call (201) 858-0865, visit kpsarellisrestaurant.com or check in at www.facebook.com/SarellisRestaurant.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.