Favorite restaurants (from 4/2/18 Ledger)

Many of my favorite restaurants are mentioned here, and some of yours, too, no doubt!

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Under-the-radar eats

No big names here, just 15 great N.J. food towns to explore

Peter Genovese For The Star-Ledger

We all know the heavy hitters when it comes to N.J. dining destinations: Montclair, Newark, Red Bank, Jersey City, Morristown, Cape May, Ridgewood, Asbury Park, Hoboken, Princeton, Atlantic City, Collingswood, New Brunswick. Did we miss any? But what about the cities and towns that never get mentioned in restaurant destination roundups? That’s what this list is for: the 15 best under-the-radar dining destinations in New Jersey— places that deserve to be on the state’s culinary map, where you can eat as well as, and often cheaper than, the big-name cities. These towns are scattered across New Jersey and I’ve include recommended restaurants in each one.

BLOOMFIELD

Essex County has two of! the state’s major food destinations — Newark and Montclair. Here comes Bloomfield, between both. Dessert usually comes last, but I’m going to start with Anthony’s Cheesecake, where you can find some of the state’s best cheesecakes. Across and down the street is Aki Asian House, the Tilted Kilt Pub and Essex Junction Craft Kitchen & Bar. On Bloomfield Avenue, Dev’s Jamaican Cuisine and Tropics Jamaican Restaurant. Further up, sub legend Lenny & John’s (the tuna sub is a must); Grill Master, one of my favorite Portuguese barbecue joints; and Taqueria Los Gueros. For Thai, the charming Spice Thai Cuisine. Pure Love Pies is the new pie guy in town. Of course, any mention of Bloom field must include legendary ice cream parlor/luncheonette Holsten’s, where the last scene in "The Sopranos" was filmed. Right down the street: Stamna, an excellent Greek restaurant.

BRADLEY BEACH

Bradley Beach may forever rema! in in the shadow of Asbury Park, but this town of 4,200 residents is a laid-back alternative to its hipsterish next-door neighbor. Start with Del Ponte’s Bakery, tiny but teeming with cakes, doughnuts, pastries and, maybe, the state’s biggest biscotti selection. Vic’s Italian Restaurant is a thin-crust legend. For breakfast, The Buttered Biscuit can’t be beat. Citrico’s gets raves for its seafood and pasta dishes. For Thai, try Bamboo Leaf. All these restaurants are on Main Street, which makes for easy navigation.

CRANFORD

When you say "Union County food destination," most people would reply Elizabeth or West field, maybe Kenilworth. Time to add Cranford to the list. The Cranford Hotel is a local landmark, with its upstairs and downstairs bars and good food. For burgers, head to Ye Olde Rathskeller. Hot dogs? Little Buffalo’sZweigle hot dogs have gotten t! he attention of HotDog Nation. Hankering for shepherd’s pie and aperfectly-poured Guinness? There’s only one place— Kilkenny House. Authentic Greek fare can be found at Ambeli Greek Taverna. Sushi? I recommend Mizu. For more upscale fare, try 100 Steps (love the raw bar) and A Toute Heure. I’ll save the funkiest spot for last— the Riverside Inn; locals call it the Dive. The kitchen’s the size of a closet and chef John McCarthy works wonders. His prime rib is wonderful.

DENVILLE

The neon lights are bright and the food choices many o n Broadway, Denville’s main drag. Sergio & Co. is a great Italian deli/food store. Denville Dairy is one of the state’s classic ice cream shops. All the delicious-looking treats at Mo’Pweeze Bakery avoid major food allergens. Visit Beignets for doughnuts and you-know-what. Hunan Taste (not on Broadway) is one of the! state’s most highly regarded Chinese restaurants. Throw in Denville ! Seafood, Tuscan Table, Veggie Heaven, Anthony& Sons Bakery and Mara’s Cafe, among others, and you have a food lover’s paradise.

SEE FOOD, 20

   

At top, the Copenhagen— caper cream cheese, baby spinach, poached eggs, smoked salmon and red onion — served at the Buttered Biscuit Cafe in Bradley Beach. Above, at left, caramel- topped cheesecake at Anthony’sCheesecake in Bloomfield; center, the brisket sandwich at More Than Q BBQ in Lambertville; right, the basic burger, with bacon and portabello mushroom, at Blue Monkey Tavern in Merchantville. Star-Ledger file photos

 

FOOD

FROM 15

HACKETTSTOWN

Hackettstown is more than the M& M company Mars. The Warren County town is home to a tasty range of restaurants. For higher-end fare, the choice is James on Main. For breakfast (stuffed French toast!) and lunch, there’s Stella G.’s. Marley’s Gotham Grill boasts the biggest selection of wings in the state (150 kinds and counting). Pandan Room is known for excellent Thai and Indonesian food, while TOPO, housed in the old post office, gets raves for its Vietnamese food. And there are no less than three craft breweries in the area — Jersey Girl, Man Skirt and Czig Meister.

HADDONFIELD

Collingswood is the undisputed dining champion of South Jersey, but don’t sleep on Haddon field, which is N! o. 2 on my list of N.J.’s best small towns for dining. Take afternoon tea at the charming Picket Fence, order authentic fish-and-chips at the British Chip Shop, or pick up a dozen excellent cupcakes from Indulgence Cupcakery. The eclectic mix of restaurants includes The Little Tuna, Zaffron (Mediterranean) and Apron.

HAMMONTON

Everyone knows Hammonton as the blueberry capital of the world, but there are plenty of good eats in this Atlantic County town. Start with Annata Wine Bar, housed in a former car repair garage, with its excellent wine selection and food. Check out such Mexican favorites as Las Lomas and El Mariachi Loco. Bruni’s and Ricca Brothers are the best-known pizzerias in town, but my favorite is Brother’s Pizza, with its standout Old Fashioned Tomato Pie. There’s Marcello’s for Italian. Penza’s for pies. And Mary’s Cafe for creative bre! akfast and lunch dishes.

KEYPORT

Keyport calls itself the "pearl of the Bayshore." You can now call it the dining capital of the Bayshore. The Broad Street Diner, winner of our N.J.’s best diner showdown, is here. Across the street is Old Glory Kitchen& Spirits, a former church converted into a restaurant/bar (it formerly housed a restaurant called Trinity). Drew’s Bayshore Bistro is renowned for its Cajun-influenced American fare, Keyport Fishery is a town landmark and Mike’s Giant Sized Submarine Subs lives up to its name.

LAMBERTVILLE

Lambertville tops my list of N.J.’s best small towns for dining — and it deserves to be on any list of best dining towns in the state. Let’s start at the north end of town, with Liberty Hall Pizza (excellent Neapolitan- style pizzas in a conviv! ial atmosphere) and OWowCow Creamery, winner of our N.J.’s best ice cream showdown. In town, you’ll find a cornucopia of cuisines — Lambertville Station, Anton’s at the Swan, Hamilton’s Grill Room and Inn of the Hawke are among the best-known restaurants. Visit the small, funky Tacos Cancun for Mexican and El Tule for Mexican/Peruvian. Manon is a charming French country restaurant, and Marhaba is the town’s only Middle Eastern restaurant. I named More Than Q BBQ as my barbecue newcomer of 2017; the brisket sandwich, with house pickles and sweet peppers, was probably the best sandwich I had all year.

MEDFORD

Medford is a charming small town in which a Friends Quaker Meeting comfortably commingles with two craft breweries and a kitschy soda fountain. The prime dining spot is ITA101, with its ever-changing, inventive Italian fare; it was one of 10 fina! lists in our N.J.’s best Italian restaurant showdown. The Pop Shop, h! oused in the former Burlington County National Bank, time-trips with its ’50s-style leather booths and ’60s-style tables and chairs; the grilled cheese sandwiches are a must-order. Braddock’s Tavern offers American fare in casually elegant colonial surroundings. Start your day at Harvest Coffee Roastery. End it at one of the town’s craft breweries — Nale House or Lower Forge.

MERCHANTVILLE

Never heard of Merchantville? The small town — surrounded by Camden, Pennsauken and Cherry Hill — packs plenty of good eats in six-tenths of a square mile. Begin your food journey at the Blue Monkey Tavern, one of 10 finalists in our N.J.’s best burger showdown (awesome beer selection, too). Park Place Cafe is getting raves for its creative lunch, brunch and dinner dishes. For Indian, visit Aroma Indian Bistro; for Japanese, Sakura. For ! a sweet treat, there’s legendary Aunt Charlotte’s Candies, in business since 1920. Soul food lovers should head to Ms. Nancy’s Place.

PERTH AMBOY

Is there a livelier downtown than in Perth Amboy? What the city lacks in high-end restaurants, it more than makes up in inexpensive Central and South American restaurants, cafes and markets, many on or just off Smith Street downtown. Two of the state’s best-known Spanish/Portuguese restaurants are here — the Portuguese Manor and the Armory. Across the street from the Armory is The Barge, a steak/seafood restaurant. For Portuguese barbecue in homey surroundings, head to Bar-B-Q Luso. Taqueria Los Gueros is one of my favorite spots for tacos. The Coney Island Restaurant is one of the state’s funkier— and better— hot dog joints. Jamaican is one of the state’s more unheralded cuis! ines; Mobay, on Smith Street, is recommended! .

WEST NEWYORK

Hudson County was my selection as best county for food in New Jersey, and diversity was a big key in that decision. West New York boasts a United Nations of food choices — Cuban, Colombian, Argentinian, Mexican, Italian and more in one compact package. A personal favorite, Louie’s BBQ Pit, recently closed its storefront, although it still does catering. Dulce de Leche Bakery is one of the state’s 10 best bakeries (the double mousse cake is to die for). Noches de Colombia, with two locations in West New York, serves up tasty empanadas. Lusso is a classy casual restaurant along the Riverwalk. Food Network personality Carl Ruiz says the Cuban sandwich at La Pola is the best he’s had anywhere.

WESTWOOD

Westwood, wedged between Washington Tow! nship and River Vale, is just starting to carve out its dining identity in restaurant- rich Bergen County. The Iron Horse, alongside the railroad tracks, is renowned for its stuffed cheeseburgers. Kimchi Smoke is a Korean BBQ restaurant, but owner Rob Cho makes a mean, melt-in-your-mouth Southern brisket; his Korean Redneck Tacos, with pulled pork, bourbon chipotle sauce and Korean slaw, are highly recommended. For Mediterranean, there’s Mezza; for Chinese, Hanami; for Japanese, Tokyo Cafe; for Italian, Caffe Anello and Baci Italian Grill. There’s a lot going on in this small town.

WOOD-RIDGE

That’s little Wood-Ridge, in Bergen County. This borough features a lively, eclectic dining scene. The plain wings at Buffalo’s Chicken might be the best I’ve had in years. Jersey Pizza Co. not only makes quality pizza, but killer fat sandwiches. Justin’s Ristor! ante is acknowledged as one of the county’s top Italian restaurants. ! For Thai, Chok-Dee and the brand-new Thai Corner. And you don’t have to be mobbed up to enjoy Mob Burger.

Peter Genovese: pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com

Find inventive Italian fare at ITA101 in Medford. Star-Ledger file photo



I'm told a Maplewood person puts this together:

http://ethnicnj.com/

Best Regards,

Ron Carter



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