Espo's Italian Restaurant: A True Gem in Raritan, NJ

Espo’s is a neighborhood staple, and there’s a reason why. After a recent fire, the inside is more elevated, while keeping its deep rooted Italian charm. The wait staff is quick and kind, just as you’d want and expect. Now the good part - the food! We started off with a house and Caesar salad. Tad over dressed but great croutons. We also had the escarole soup with charred bread, chunks of sausage, and amazing flavor. HIGHLY recommend. For entrees, we got the chicken parmigiana and the shrimp vodka rigatoni (bucatini is my favorite so they swapped out the noodle for me which was amazing). Both fantastic, delicious, and elevated flavors…and more than enough for two meals. Great spot. Great food. Great staff. Will definitely be back.

We drove by this place a few times and finally decided to try it out. This hidden gem was a great find. The service was very friendly and quick. They have ample covered outdoor seating for when the weather is warmer. The food tasted fresh and came in large portions. The ravioli was great, as well as the eggplant parm and the fries. Overall, we had a great time.

First time coming to Espo’s after hearing about it for years. I always heard the good and service was good but my expectations were surpassed. One of the not so hidden gems of Somerset county. We had the calamari 10/10 cooked to literal perfection I would come back just for this. I had the Chicken parm in vodka sauce as the recommendation of our server Mark and I’ve never had a better tasting vodka sauce. Unbelievable 18/10 And finally we had some lasagna great as well. 8/10.

First time visiting this hidden gem. Tucked away on a residential street this restaurant is cozy and comfortable with friendly service and excellent food. Stopped in for a drink and tried their clams which were fresh and absolutely delicious. We also tried the long hots and potatoes as an appetizer which was very good. Very nice menu and they also have a Sunday brunch with a good selection of delicious choices. Nice tables with comfortable seating in a lovely classic decor setting. They have a nice bar with seating as well as drink specials. Food was wonderful and everything was made fresh with quality ingredients. We will be back to try their wonderful pasta dishes. Loved it.

I can't believe I only recently went for the first time! We have been twice in the last few weeks. EVERYTHING was delicious!! The calamari was perfect and the meatballs were excellent. We had the chicken parm in vodka sauce and also an eggplant parm which were delicious. The next time we had the shrimp app followed by chicken parm and a special french onion steak which was fantastic!! Service is excellent. We sat at the bar both times. The place is small so can be crowded and a little on the loud side but it has a great atmosphere and great food. Recommend trying it.

45 min wait. Was worth it. Chicken parm was awesome and so were scallops. Great time. Be back

Really nice local spot. Super casual inside but very high end food with well trained staff and bartenders. Great place to watch sports or just hangout at a table. Nice spot with dim lighting and great Italian food. Sunday gravy is the best special I’ve ever had.

I can’t say enough wonderful things about Espo’s! From coming here as a child with my family to having my own wedding here, this place is truly special to me. The food is incredible, but that’s just the start. We had our ceremony in the beautiful olive and lemon decorated outdoor patio, and it was absolutely perfect. A wonderful backdrop for all the photos as well. And once we got inside, we saw they carried out our every wish for the event- it was exactly how I imagined it. I can’t tell you how may guests still talk about how wonderful everything was- especially the food! Vodka Hotsy totsy shrimp, chicken savoy, eggplant parm, homemade ricotta with crostini, and classic chicken parm are all favorites. Nick, Lisa, and the whole team at Espo’s were so wonderful to work with, and I can’t wait for the next time we get to have dinner there. I highly recommend hosting an event here, or just coming for dinner. If there’s ever a wait, trust me when I say it’s worth it!