Food enthusiasts, rejoice! The highly anticipated results of the 42nd annual “Jersey Choice” Restaurant Poll are officially in, and they paint a delicious picture of New Jersey’s vibrant dining scene. Curated by the discerning palates of New Jersey Monthly readers and critically assessed by their expert editors, this comprehensive guide is your definitive resource for exploring the state’s absolute best places to eat, categorized by cuisine and region.
Every February, countless passionate diners from across the Garden State cast their votes online, meticulously selecting their favorite eateries. The winning restaurants in each category earned their esteemed title by garnering the most votes within their specific region: North (Ⓝ), Central (Ⓒ), or South (Ⓢ) Jersey. To ensure the integrity of the poll, duplicate entries were carefully disqualified, and editorial judgment was thoughtfully applied to ensure each restaurant was correctly placed within its appropriate category.
Beyond the popular vote, our seasoned critics and editors at New Jersey Monthly also weighed in with their prestigious “critics’ picks” (★). These selections highlight establishments that consistently deliver outstanding quality, innovation, and an unforgettable dining experience, offering an additional layer of curated excellence.
Whether you’re planning a special celebration, seeking a new go-to spot for a specific craving, or simply looking to embark on a culinary adventure, this extensive list has something for every taste and occasion. Get ready to explore the phenomenal talent and diverse flavors that make New Jersey a true foodie destination!
The 42nd Annual Jersey Choice Restaurant Poll Winners:
Best of the Best
- Ⓝ Shumi, Leonia, Ridgewood
- Ⓒ Strickland’s Steakhouse, Woodbridge
- Ⓢ 410 Bank Street, Cape May
Best New Restaurant
- Ⓝ Maize Cocina, Westfield
- Ⓒ River Pointe Inn, Rumson
- Ⓢ Angeloni’s Club Madrid, Atlantic City
- ★ The Feathered Fox, Jersey City
- ★ Mabel, Holmdel
- ★ Judy & Harry’s, Asbury Park
American | New American
- Ⓝ 1776 Morristown, Morristown
- Ⓒ Washington House, Basking Ridge
- ⒸⓈ B2 Bistro + Bar, multiple locations
- ★ Turtle + the Wolf, Upper Montclair
- ★ Northridge, Stockton
- ★ Primal, Cape May
Asian Fusion
- ⓃⒸ Roosterspin, Westfield, New Brunswick
- Ⓒ Teak, Red Bank
- Ⓢ Xina, Toms River
- ★ Shanghai Jazz, Madison
- ★ Ossu Asian Tavern, Atlantic City
Bagels
- Ⓝ Hot Bagels Abroad, Bloomfield
- ⓃⒸ O’Bagel, multiple locations
- Ⓢ Baron’s Bagels, Brick, Point Pleasant
- ★ Bagels By Jarrett, West Orange
- ★ Bagels 4-U, multiple locations
- ★ K & A Bagel Café, Cherry Hill
Bakery
- Ⓝ Calandra’s Bakery, Caldwell, Fairfield, Newark
- Ⓒ The Baker’s Grove, Shrewsbury
- Ⓢ Mueller’s Bakery, Bay Head
- ★ Chocolatine, Denville, Morris Plains
- ★ The Gingered Peach, Lawrenceville
- ★ Aversa’s, Brigantine, Margate, Turnersville
Bang for the Buck
- Ⓝ Anthony’s Cheesecake, Bloomfield
- Ⓒ Old Man Rafferty’s, Hillsborough Township, New Brunswick
- Ⓢ Surf Taco, multiple locations
- ★ Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge, Union
- ★ Fins, Bradley Beach, Point Pleasant, Sea Girt
- ★ Kitchen 519, Glendora
Bar Scene
- Ⓝ Egan & Sons, Montclair
- Ⓒ Verve Restaurant, Somerville
- Ⓢ Boatyard 401, Point Pleasant Beach
- ★ Rooftop at Exchange Place, Jersey City
- ★ Orchard Park by David Burke, East Brunswick
- ★ AP Rooftop, Asbury Park
Barbecue
- Ⓝ Brothers Smokehouse BBQ & Soul, Ramsey
- Ⓒ Red White & Que Smokehouse, Green Brook
- Ⓢ Hickory Hog, Point Pleasant
- ★ Hamilton Pork, Jersey City
- ★ Henri’s Hotts Barbecue, Folsom
- ★ Wildwoods BBQ, North Wildwood
Beer Selection
- Ⓝ Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell
- Ⓒ Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
- Ⓢ Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette
- ★ Four City Brewing Co., Orange
- ★ Capital Craft, Green Brook
- ★ Cape May Brewery, Rio Grande
Breakfast
- ⓃⒸⓈ Turning Point, multiple locations
- ⓃⒸ Toast City Diner, multiple locations
- Ⓢ Mad Batter, Cape May
- ★ Red Barn Restaurant, Towaco
- ★ Hash House, Lambertville
- ★ The Chicken or the Egg, Beach Haven, Marlton
Brew Pub
- Ⓝ Trap Rock Restaurant & Brewery, Berkeley Heights
- Ⓒ Triumph Brewing Company, Princeton, Red Bank
- Ⓢ MudHen Brewing Co., Wildwood
- ★ Long Valley Pub & Brewery, Long Valley
- ★ Alternate Ending Beer Co., Aberdeen
- ★ Keg & Kitchen, Haddon Township
Brunch
- Ⓝ Willow & Whisk, Wyckoff, Millburn
- ⓃⒸ Toast City Diner, multiple locations
- Ⓢ Mad Batter, Cape May
- ★ Sorriso Kitchen, Chatham
- ★ The Buttered Biscuit, Bradley Beach
- ★ Council Oak Steaks and Seafood, Atlantic City
Burger
- Ⓝ Arthur’s Tavern, Morris Plains
- Ⓒ Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
- Ⓢ Burger 25, Brick, Ship Bottom, Toms River
- ★ The Black Horse Tavern & Pub, Mendham
- ★ Al’s Airport Inn, Ewing
- ★ Exit Zero Filling Station, Cape May
Caterer
- Ⓝ Tia’s Food of Love, Verona
- ⓃⒸ A&G Italian Fine Foods, multiple locations
- ⒸⓈ Joe Leone’s, Manasquan, Point Pleasant Beach
- ★ Burrini’s Olde World Market, Randolph
- ★ Shore Catering, Brick
Chain Restaurant
- ⓃⒸⓈ The Capital Grille, multiple locations
- ⓃⒸⓈ Cheesecake Factory, multiple locations
- ⓃⒸⓈ Jersey Mike’s Subs, multiple locations
Cheese Steak
- Ⓝ Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell
- Ⓒ Hoagie Haven, Princeton
- Ⓢ White House Subs, Atlantic City
- ★ Piccolo’s, Hoboken
- ★ St. James’s Gate Publick House, Maplewood
- ★ Donkey’s Place, Camden
Chinese
- Ⓝ Hunan Taste, Denville, Montclair
- Ⓒ Peking Pavilion, Manalapan
- Ⓢ Silver Lake Kitchen, Point Pleasant
- ★ Double Ai, Wayne
Coffee | Tea Bar (non-chain)
- Ⓝ Paper Plane Coffee Co., Montclair
- ⒸⓈ Rook, multiple locations
- Ⓢ Lava Java, Lavallette
- ★ Rey Sol Coffee, Morristown, Ridgewood
- ★ Small World Coffee, Princeton
- ★ Ostara’s Coffee House, West Cape May
Deli (Italian-Style)
- Ⓝ Calandra’s Market & Deli, Caldwell
- Ⓒ Taliercio’s Ultimate Gourmet, Red Bank
- ⒸⓈ Joe Leone’s, Manasquan, Point Pleasant Beach
- ★ Fiore’s House of Quality, Hoboken
- ★ A&A Fine Foods, Lincoln Park
- ★ Livoti’s Old World Market, multiple locations
Deli (Kosher-Style)
- Ⓝ Eppes Essen Deli & Restaurant, Livingston
- Ⓒ Harold’s New York Deli, Edison
- Ⓢ Irv and Karen’s Hot Pastrami, Brick
- ★ Pastrami House, Morristown, New Providence
- ★ The Pickled Herring, Englishtown
- ★ Radin’s Delicatessen, Cherry Hill
Desserts
- Ⓝ Anthony’s Cheesecake, Bloomfield
- Ⓒ Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
- Ⓢ Washington Inn, Cape May
- ★ Osteria Crescendo, Westwood
- ★ Red Horse by David Burke, Bernardsville, Rumson
- ★ Bar 32, Atlantic City
Diner
- Ⓝ Prestige Diner, New Providence
- Ⓒ Bridgewater Diner, Bridgewater
- Ⓢ Rainbow Diner, Brick
- ★ Tops Diner, Newark
- ★ Broad Street Diner, Keyport
- ★ Olga’s Diner, Marlton
French
- Ⓝ Bistro D’Azur, South Orange
- Ⓒ Verve Restaurant, Somerville
- Ⓢ 410 Bank Street, Cape May
- ★ Faubourg, Montclair, Weehawken
- ★ Pascal & Sabine, Asbury Park
- ★ The Little Hen, Haddonfield
German | Austro-Hungarian
- Ⓝ Black Forest Inn, Stanhope
- Ⓒ Blue Danube, Trenton
- Ⓢ Sebastian’s Schnitzelhaus, Wrightstown
- ★ Redd’s Biergarten, Carlstadt, Newark
Greek
- Ⓝ Stamna Greek Taverna, Bloomfield
- Ⓒ Kyma Greek Cuisine, Somerville
- Ⓢ George’s Place, Cape May
- ★ Lefkes Estiatorio, Englewood Cliffs
- ★ The Greek Spot, Manalapan, Ocean Township, Red Bank
- ★ Black Olive Greek Cuisine, Voorhees
Hot Dog
- Ⓝ Rutt’s Hut, Clifton
- Ⓒ Destination Dogs, New Brunswick
- Ⓢ Hot Dog Tommy’s, Cape May
- ★ Jimmy Buff’s, West Orange, Kenilworth
- ★ Captain Paul’s Firehouse Dogs, Lawrence
Ice Cream
- Ⓝ Applegate Farm, Montclair
- Ⓒ Bent Spoon, Princeton
- ⒸⓈ Hoffman’s Ice Cream & Yogurt, Point Pleasant Beach, Spring Lake
- ★ Tranquility Farms, Andover
- ★ Halo Pub, Princeton
- ★ Beach Plum, Bradley Beach
Indian
- Ⓝ Amiya Restaurant, Jersey City
- Ⓒ Aarzu, Freehold
- Ⓢ Aamantran Indian Cuisine, Toms River
- ★ Korai Kitchen, Jersey City
- ★ Moghul Restaurant, Edison
- ★ IndeBlue, Cherry Hill
Italian
- Ⓝ Cucina Calandra, Fairfield
- Ⓒ Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
- Ⓢ Spano’s Ristorante Italiano, Point Pleasant Beach
- ★ Sola Osteria, Ridgewood
- ★ Vidalia, Lawrenceville
- ★ Chef Vola’s, Atlantic City
Japanese
- Ⓝ Shumi, Leonia, Ridgewood
- Ⓒ Taka, Asbury Park
- Ⓢ Ikko, Brick
- ★ Minoru, Montclair
- ★ Butterfish, Rutherford
Latin American | Caribbean
- Ⓝ Cuban Pete’s, Montclair
- Ⓒ Barrio Costero, Asbury Park
- Ⓢ 410 Bank Street, Cape May
- ★ Bacchanal Junction, Bloomfield
- ★ Division Café, Somerville
Lunch
- Ⓝ The Committed Pig, Summit, Morristown, Manasquan
- Ⓒ Blue Café, Basking Ridge
- Ⓢ Blue Pig Tavern, Cape May
- ★ Honey Day, Glen Rock
- ★ Marina Grille, Belmar
- ★ Lucky Bones, Cape May
Mexican
- Ⓝ Maize Cocina, Westfield
- ⓃⒸ Meximodo, Jersey City, Metuchen
- Ⓢ La Casa De La Tia, Jackson, Lakewood
- ★ Nómada, Verona
- ★ Toca Vez, Basking Ridge
- ★ La Esperanza, Lindenwold
Middle Eastern | Turkish
- Ⓝ Zeugma Mediterranean Grill, Montclair
- Ⓒ Reyla, Asbury Park
- Ⓢ Li Beirut, Collingswood
- ★ Mezza Mediterranean, Livingston
- ★ Jersey Kebab, Haddon Township
Pizza
- Ⓝ Star Tavern, Orange
- Ⓒ Pete & Elda’s, Neptune City
- ⒸⓈ Brooklyn Square Pizza, multiple locations
- ★ Ralph’s Pizzeria, Nutley
- ★ Bucky’s Pizza, Chatham
- ★ Brooklyn Original Pizzeria, Haddon Heights
Romantic
- Ⓝ Bistro D’Azur, South Orange
- Ⓒ Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
- Ⓢ Ebbitt Room, Cape May
- ★ Drift, Weehawken
- ★ Ninety Acres, Peapack-Gladstone
- ★ Maison Bleue, Cape May
Seafood
- Ⓝ Haven, Edgewater
- Ⓒ Bahrs Landing, Highlands
- Ⓢ Dock’s Oyster House, Atlantic City
- ★ Perla Oyster Bar, Maplewood
- ★ Cuzin’s, New Brunswick, Marlboro
- ★ Sweet Amalia Market & Kitchen, Newfield
Soup | Salad | Sandwich
- ⓃⒸ Millburn Deli, multiple locations
- Ⓒ Frank’s Deli & Restaurant, Asbury Park
- Ⓢ Blueplate, Mullica Hill
- ★ Bill’s Luncheonette, Maplewood
- ★ Gladstone Market, Gladstone
- ★ Princeton Soup & Sandwich Company, Cranbury, Princeton
Southeast Asian | Thai
- Ⓝ SLA Thai, Montclair
- Ⓒ Origin French Thai, Somerville
- Ⓢ Chang Thai, Toms River
- ★ Sukhumvit Thai, Montclair
- ★ Pru Thai, Lambertville
- ★ Bamboo Leaf Thai Eatery, Bradley Beach
Southern | Soul Food
- Ⓝ Sweet T’s, Montclair
- Ⓒ Delta’s Restaurant, New Brunswick
- Ⓢ Kelsey’s, Atlantic City
- ★ Vonda’s Kitchen, Newark
- ★ Palmetto, Asbury Park
- ★ Corrine’s Place, Camden
Spanish | Portuguese
- Ⓝ Fornos of Spain, Newark
- Ⓒ Lita, Aberdeen
- Ⓢ Spanish Potato Grill, Brick
- ★ Assado Portuguese Steakhouse, Livingston
- ★ Serrano Bar and Restaurant, Riverside
Steak
- Ⓝ Roots Steakhouse, multiple locations
- Ⓒ Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
- Ⓢ Prime 13, Point Pleasant Beach
- ★ RP Prime, Fair Lawn, Mahwah
- ★ Butcher’s Block, Long Branch
- ★ Ocean Steak, Atlantic City
Vegetarian | Vegan
- Ⓝ Veggie Heaven, multiple locations
- Ⓒ Good Karma Café, Red Bank
- Ⓢ Wildflower Vegan Cafe, Millville
- ★ Brick City Vegan, Montclair and Newark
- ★ Goodbeet, Haddon Township
- ★ How Delish, West Orange
Wine List
- Ⓝ Restaurant Latour, Hamburg
- Ⓒ Nicholas Barrel & Roost, Red Bank
- Ⓢ Ebbitt Room, Cape May
- ★ Pluckemin Inn, Bedminster
This incredible roster of winning restaurants is a testament to the passion, innovation, and diverse culinary talent found across the entire state. From the bustling dining scenes of North Jersey to the charming eateries of Central Jersey and the coastal delights of South Jersey, there’s a perfect meal waiting for everyone.
So, don’t just read about it – it’s time to get out there and start eating your way through these incredible “Jersey Choice” winners! For even more delicious discoveries and comprehensive guides to dining in the Garden State, be sure to visit Explore New Jersey Restaurants.
