Dingbatz Introduce
Introduction / Overview
For New Jersey residents passionate about rock and heavy music, Dingbatz in Clifton is more than just a bar—it is an institution and a crucial pillar of the local underground music scene. Located at 620 Van Houten Ave, this establishment proudly operates as a dedicated Live music bar, Live music venue, and a specialized Rock music club. Since its inception, Dingbatz has cultivated a reputation as a home base for both up-and-coming local acts and national touring bands within the rock, metal, punk, and hard rock genres.
The atmosphere is intentionally Casual and Trendy, fostering a vibrant, high-energy environment ideal for Groups looking for a memorable night out. Patrons can expect a full bar service featuring a Great beer selection and Great cocktails, ensuring drinks are flowing fast—a highlighted feature of its Fast service. Beyond the stage and the bar, Dingbatz addresses the need for late-night fuel with a unique menu that includes signature Specialty Pizzas and other bar food favorites. The venue’s intimate setting is frequently praised by concert-goers for providing a close, raw connection between the audience and the performers, making every show a truly immersive experience right here in North Jersey.
Location and Accessibility
Dingbatz is conveniently located at 620 Van Houten Ave, Clifton, NJ 07013, USA. This address places it within a dynamic and easily accessible area of Clifton, a central hub in Passaic County. The venue’s proximity to major North Jersey roadways, such as Route 3 and Route 46, makes it a manageable drive for music lovers coming from across the state and the wider tri-state area. Customers often note that the venue is "easy to get to by car."
Understanding the importance of convenience for nightlife patrons, Dingbatz provides practical parking solutions. While the immediate area offers Free street parking, local knowledge suggests getting there early to take advantage of nearby municipal parking options. Crucially, the venue prioritizes accessibility for all guests, a necessary feature that modern New Jersey venues must provide. The premises include a Wheelchair accessible entrance and a Wheelchair accessible parking lot, ensuring that the live music experience is open to everyone in the community.
Services Offered
As a full-service Bar and Live music venue, Dingbatz provides a comprehensive entertainment and hospitality package, focused squarely on the high-energy live music experience:
- Dedicated Live Entertainment: Hosting consistent Live music and Live performances, with a strong focus on rock, metal, and heavy music genres, featuring both local and national touring artists on its dedicated stage.
- Full Bar Service: A complete selection of alcoholic beverages including a Great beer selection (often mentioned for its variety), expertly crafted Cocktails, a range of Hard liquor, and Wine to cater to all preferences.
- In-House Dining: Serving Food and Food at bar options, allowing guests to grab a bite without leaving the show. The menu includes fan-favorite bar snacks and signature dishes.
- Signature Pizza Menu: Offering a unique selection of Specialty Pizzas like the popular Dingo Pie, Piggy Pie, Buffalo Chicken, and the locally-themed Dirty Jersey, alongside other items such as the Sample Platter and Deep Fried Thummans.
- Late-Night Atmosphere: Providing an environment conducive to extended stays and high-energy enjoyment, with facilities and space dedicated to Dancing during and between sets.
- Payment Convenience: Accepting all major modern payment methods, including Credit cards, Debit cards, and NFC mobile payments, ensuring quick, hassle-free transactions at the bar.
- Onsite Services: Strictly Dine-in service is offered, focusing the experience on the venue itself and the live show.
Features / Highlights
Dingbatz’s reputation in the New Jersey music scene is solidified by several unique features that appeal directly to its core audience:
- North Jersey’s Rock Hub: The venue is highly regarded as one of the best spots in North Jersey for experiencing Rock music, Metal bands, and Hardcore lineups in an intimate setting, often noted for having "TONS of incredible metal acts."
- Intimate Performance Space: Patrons value the intimate setting of the venue, which features a proper stage and professional sound system. This setup creates a raw, energetic connection between the bands and the crowd, allowing fans to get right up front to watch the show.
- Highly Efficient Bar Service: Despite the venue getting "crowded" during sold-out shows, the bar service is frequently highlighted for being "extremely fast and efficient," minimizing wait times and ensuring the flow of service.
- Value and Accessibility: Both ticket prices and alcohol prices are extremely reasonable, making high-quality live music accessible to more people in the New Jersey area, and encouraging a loyal, regular crowd.
- Unique Bar Food: The offering of Specialty Pizzas sets the food menu apart from typical bar fare, giving patrons a memorable and substantial meal option that complements the intense energy of the rock club.
- Authentic Dive Bar Vibe: The space maintains a distinctly Casual and authentic "rock 'n' roll-themed dive bar" aesthetic, which contributes to its unique, underground feel that is attractive to both veterans and newcomers to the scene.
Contact Information
For inquiries about show schedules, tickets, or general information about the Clifton venue, please use the following contact details:
Address: 620 Van Houten Ave, Clifton, NJ 07013, USA
Phone: (973) 471-1145
What is Worth Choosing
For the New Jersey music enthusiast, Dingbatz is unequivocally the right choice for an authentic, high-impact rock and metal experience. What makes it truly stand out is its commitment to its niche; it’s not a generic bar that sometimes has music—it is a Rock music club dedicated to the genre. Patrons choose Dingbatz because it offers a truly intimate live show, where, as one reviewer noted, the sound is good and the energy is palpable, whether you're moshing up front or hanging back by the bar.
The combination of a professional stage and sound system with the compact, Trendy venue space creates a unique environment often described as "very cool little bar club" with a distinctly "underground" feel. The practical advantages—like Free street parking and the Fast service at the bar—make the entire evening run smoothly. When factoring in the full slate of offerings, from the diverse selection of Beer and Cocktails to the satisfying Specialty Pizzas, Dingbatz provides a complete entertainment package. It is the perfect destination for Groups looking to enjoy live music, grab a drink, and be part of the vibrant, thriving hard rock scene in the Garden State.
Dingbatz Menu
Specialty Pizzas
- Dingo Pie
- Piggy Pie
- Blue Piggy
- Carnivore
- Albino
- Buffalo Chicken
- Dirty Jersey
- Dingo Love Pie
Others
- Sample Platter $14.00
- Dirty Water Sabrett
- Deep Fried Thummans
Dingbatz Details
Service options
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Live music
- Live performances
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Dancing
- Food
- Food at bar
- Hard liquor
- Wine
Dining options
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
Crowd
- Groups
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Parking
- Free street parking
Dingbatz Photos










Dingbatz Location
Dingbatz Reviews
bandssoundvenuerockshowsparkingstagedingosclubmetal
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Overall, the place is not bad for a show. The place could use some updating. It gets crowded and hot when there are shows. The set up by the bar, to get to the stage doesn't flow and causes a back up to get to the bar, bathroom, or stage.But the sound is good when there s band up.
September 09 · david timpanaroGreat venue, easy to get to by car, get there early & Park (free) on municipal parking lot at the side.Friendly staff, area felt safe.Didn't eat therefore can't judge food.Would definitely come here again.
September 03 · J-Rocks!I have been there 5 or 6 times. The last four times I went by myself. This year I was there twice. First time I went this year, it was tricky finding parking. I wound up parking about two blocks away. The last time I went there I found parking around the corner. There are also lots for parking off Van Houten Avenue but I don't seem to find them or they are full.The club has a nice large bar and they usually have two attendants. One bartender's name is Donna and she has been there for 20 years! She will give you great service. The stage is okay! They renovated the men's bathroom and it is nice now. Comfortable bathroom. There's plenty of room for a crowd in front of the stage. Some people hang back at the bar during the shows. It is a cool NJ spot to see a show. Last time I was there the last band went on at 11:30 and played until after 1:00 AM. There's a cool bar across the street to have a drink after the show - Dingo's Den.
June 16 · Tom DiNardoI had a great time last year seeing a friend's band Edge of Paradise there in the small venue.My only complaint would be lack of parking,but I was lucky enough to find a spot behind the bar.Now considering the D.R.I. show on Sat. night 9/6/25.
September 05 · Dave LappSaw Green Jelly on Sat the 10th. First time there, staff was great and the concert was insane. Great small venue and will definitely return. Plenty of street parking, so that was a plus. Update: went my 2nd time on Oct 10th and have to say, I love this venue. Killer bands performing almost daily.Update: just warxhed Ghoul/ and No/Mas...Wow!!!
September 01 · Mark CanevaroI've always loved Dingbatz as a patron. My experiences there have always always been positive ones. The food (across the street at Dingos) is top notch and fairly priced and I've never had poor service at the bar. It ONLY loses one star because I have had many friends (and bands) who have Not had good experiences there, and sometimes that varies greatly depending on who is working the shift and what kind of mood they are in at the time. But I always try to encourage bands to play here - the stage is SMALL and there's no green room but unless you're a bunch of pretentious jerks, the staff WILL take care of you, and your fans will be grateful for the up close and more personal experience that you simply cannot get at big venues.
September 14 · Rachel Malice
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