North Jersey Staples: Michael’s Roscommon House (Belleville, NJ)
It was July 22nd, 2020, when I began a frantic online search for a casual, mid-week date spot for my newish girlfriend (now wife) and I. COVID’s outdoor seating restrictions and a the potential of an impending storm severely limited the last-minute reservation options. But alas, I stumbled upon a local pub in her area that had renovated their back parking lot into a fully tented dining area.
Critics will say that opting for a sports bar at a time when no sports were being played is equal parts nonsensical and unromantic. But the daily specials, cocktails, and menu as a whole enticed me into giving Michael’s Roscommon House a shot.
While the headline probably gave away my overall opinion of the Roscommon, it doesn’t tell the full story of this overly verbose introduction.
Before our entrees ever made it to the table, the storm I had previously alluded to blasted the Belleville, NJ locale with some of the strongest winds I’ve ever been outdoors to experience. The tents that once served as a selling point for the establishment were uprooted from their supports as gusts of wind caught the underside of the tarps.
The wait staff frantically grabbed hold of the metal poles, in an effort to re-anchor the structures back into the ground. Before I could even think to act, I noticed that nearly all of the clientele had also jumped in to weigh the structure down without any sort of hesitation.
For the next 10 minutes, we all white knuckled our respective sections as rain and wind pelted our bodies. Seemingly no one ever considered the possibility of being electrocuted, or Mary Poppins’d into the Passaic River. Instead, the instinct was to help out a restaurant that clearly meant so much to so many people, in a time of need.
Despite this being my first time “dining” at Michael’s, the significance of this group act of heroism was not lost on me. As our server handed us our food to go (along with the remainder of my beer in a wonton soup container), I promised we’d be back once they were fully up and running.
I not only kept that promise, but quickly learned that this fucked-up, North Jersey rendition of the “SWIM, TOGETHER” scene from Finding Nemo would be a microcosm of my positive experiences eating, drinking, and watching sports at Michael’s for the past 6 years.
In case the intro didn’t paint a clear enough picture, the staff and service at Michael’s is simply top notch. You’re never a single server’s responsibility. Any and all of the staff (hostesses, bussers, and bartenders included) work in unison to ensure your drink is never empty and you’re never waiting to put in food.
Simply put – everyone has each other’s backs. The synergy and cooperation displayed by the Roscommon Staff during a busy night is truly something that the teams I have the misfortune of rooting for could learn from.
Speaking of sports – is there anything worse than walking into a so-called “sports bar” at 7:00 PM and seeing Big Bang Theory reruns on the TV? Even when I muster up the courage to meekly request to switch on the Yankees, there’s a 50/50 chance the bartender doesn’t know the channel and/or has never operated a remote control before.
This is a problem that does not exist at Michael’s. Simply put, the Roscommon offers the best viewing experience for sports fans; period. Every game is on, at all times. More importantly, the setup of the TV’s allows you a clear view of every game, regardless of where you’re sitting (bar and restaurant seating included).
Opening Night of the NFL Draft at the Roscommon has become an annual tradition for us. Nowhere else has the NBA and NHL Playoffs, both baseball teams, and the draft on clear display for your viewing pleasure. I don’t care how many tablets and laptops you have at home, nothing compares to a loaded sports night at the Roscommon.
Come playoff time the game audio blares through the speakers, creating a stadium like atmosphere for the die-hard fans. The staff understands the gravity of a big game and goes out of their way to make sure they’re doing their part to make these moments as special as possible.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the array of phenomenal food options that the Roscommon has to offer. Your general sports bar staples are all there - the pizza, wings, and sharable appetizers are top tier. You’re not being served the frozen Buffalo Wild Wings nonsense that has become far too common in the small business space.
Early on, I roasted my wife when she opted for the Chicken Francese over more traditional “bar food”. But Michael’s Italian dishes can truly hang with some of North Jersey’s most iconic spots. Quite frankly, I’m not sure how the kitchen handles such a wide variety of food options in addition to a “daily specials” menu that rivals the size of a others’ standard menus.
I’ve ordered everything ranging from Italian Egg Rolls (stuffed with sausage and broccoli rabe) to BBQ Ribs to Shepherd’s Pie. Everything slaps.
When my birthday landed on Game 5 of the ALDS, I dragged my parents to the Roscommon to watch Gleyber rock Josh Naylor and the Guardians to sleep. Complimentary champagne was handed out as “New York, New York” blared throughout the bar.
When the Rangers were on the verge of getting reverse swept by the Canes, our rally Jameson shots served as the catalyst for Kreider’s 3rd period hattrick to send the Rags to the conference finals. A 4th shot was on the house.
A few weeks back, after running the Jersey City (half) Marathon, I desperately needed to refuel and celebrate with friends and family. The Michael’s staff accommodated our group of 14 on just 2-hours’ notice and provided us with excellent service for hours on end.
The list of stories and amazing memories goes on and on. I can’t recommend this place enough and hope that anyone reading this is able to enjoy a beer (or seven) and catch a game at Michael’s this Summer.
If you enjoyed this blog and want more sports, food, and culture posts – please subscribe below and follow along on X/Twitter.