Bella's Brings Burgers to Basking Ridge

Two months in, the partners at Bella's Burger Shack see it already exceeding their expectations.

"It's meeting expectations of what we hoped for," said General Manager Jonathan Erdelyi. "There's a learning curve, but it definitely is what we thought it was going to be, and then some."

Bella's, which opened Friday, Nov. 13, is run by the owners of the Bernards Inn and the Station Pub and Grub. Named for owner John Durso's daughter, the restaurant came out of the partners' feeling that a burger place would be a good fit for the area. And Erdelyi is satisfied with the result.

"This is the feel we were going for, low key, get away from everything, have a place to go eat, hang out for a little bit and enjoy your food while you're doing so," he said.

Bella's is unique for its atmosphere, clientele and the quality of its food compared to other fast food joints, according to Erdelyi. All food is fresh and made to order, down to the homemade sauces.

"Everything here, someone in this restaurant has made it or done it," he said.

Erdelyi said the partners chose the location on S. Finley Ave. in Basking Ridge because they felt the area could use a high-quality fast food restaurant.

"We basically had this space available to us and we said the town is in need of a restaurant with high quality food and at a pretty reasonable price," he said.

The menu features sliders, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches, as well as salads for the more healthfully-minded. Most items run $4-$7, and customers have the option of several sides and desserts as well for a few more dollars.

So far, Erdelyi believes the restaurant has been well-received by the community. Several groups make up the regular clientele at Bella's, including high school kids, families, and even corporate business-people.

"We have repeat customers pretty much every day," Erdelyi said. "The town seems to really enjoy it."

This Saturday, Jan. 23, Bella's hosts its First Annual "Hunger Management" Eat Off. Winners of the old-fashioned eat off will receive a $100 gift certificate to Bella's and a T-shirt proclaiming their accomplishment. Erdelyi said the contest is for kids and any parents who think they can eat more than their children, as well as anyone else in the community.

"[The idea] came from people saying they can eat 20 mini burgers," Erdelyi said. "We said, OK, let's put it to the test."

Those interested can go the restaurant to enter, and a portion of the proceeds from entry fees will go to the Somerset County Food Bank. Bella's plans to make the eat off an annual affair, according to Erdelyi.

"We plan on doing it as long as we're here in business," Erdelyi said.

Bella's is also hosting a Super Bowl XLIV party on Feb. 7, allowing people to book tables or countertop space ahead of time to go watch the game.