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20 Restaurants That Define New Jersey Dining

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by OpenTable
Updated 12 May 2021

From rolling farms to quaint seaside towns to dense suburbs, New Jersey is as varied geographically as it is demographically. As you’d expect from the “Garden State,” chefs here have a lot to work with, sourcing pristine vegetables from nearby farms and fresh fish from the state’s 130 miles of coastline. It all makes for a rich restaurant scene that rivals NJ's neighboring giant cities. These are the restaurants that define what it means to dine in New Jersey right now.

A photo of The Saddle River Inn restaurant
The Saddle River Inn
4.8
4.8 (3089)
$31 to $50
French
Saddle River
About the restaurant
Since its opening in 1981, The Saddle River Inn has always been a fine dining destination. Housed in a restored 18th century barn, chef and owner Jamie Knott ensures that the menu nods to the classic, pastoral setting while still feeling fresh. American fare regularly sees international influences, such as the maple-chipotle glaze on the precisely roasted chicken, or the addition of mint chimichurri to a plate of Colorado lamb chops. The restaurant is BYOB, so pick out a special bottle to bring with you to round out the meal.
Top review
Diane
Dined 3 days ago
The Saddle River Inn is by far the best restaurant in Bergen county. My guests traveled all the way from Brooklyn, NY, and were absolutely in awe of the entire experience. The Christmas holiday decorations adding an extra layer of magic and charm to the already stunning ambiance. The food was perfection—every dish bursting with flavor and plated beautifully. The entire menu was a hit! Even my foodie guests, who are used to Brooklyn’s top dining spots, couldn’t stop raving about it. With the festive decor, cozy-yet-elegant vibe, and next-level cuisine, the Saddle River Inn made our holiday gathering truly unforgettable.
A photo of Felina - Ridgewood restaurant
Felina - Ridgewood
4.6
4.6 (844)
$50 and over
Contemporary Italian
Ridgewood, New Jersey
About the restaurant
Located in a former bank, Felina’s space is as rich in detail as the Italian dishes on the restaurant’s menu. The owners decided to use the bank’s soaring lobby as an event space, locating the restaurant where the offices used to be, in a cozy back area they warmed with clusters of globe lights and reclaimed wood. The menu changes with the seasons, with a few anchors like the rotating “pizzette,” a mini pizza that was recently topped with Brussels sprouts, provolone, crème fraîche, and Meyer lemon. Pair it with one of the restaurant’s five negroni variations, such as the cold brew negroni, where a splash of coffee liqueur is added to the typical triad of Italian liqueur, vermouth, and gin.
Top review
Sam
Dined on 13 Dec 2024
As always service ambience, everything is just outstanding love it . One of my favorite restaurants .
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A photo of Pan Seared Scallops of a restaurant
Popular dish
Pan Seared Scallops
A photo of Margherita Pizza of a restaurant
Popular dish
Margherita Pizza
A photo of Fornos of Spain restaurant
Fornos of Spain
4.7
4.7 (1889)
$31 to $50
Spanish
Newark
About the restaurant
Starting in the 1960s, Spanish and Portuguese immigrants began flocking to Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood for jobs at the neighborhood’s various factories. Several decades later, the neighborhood offers a portal where diners can access the cuisines of these countries without ever setting foot in Newark Airport. The neighborhood is full of bakeries, cafes, butchers, and barbecue spots making treats from the Iberian Peninsula, but for finer dining, locals head to Fornos of Spain. This longtime spot excels at seafood dishes, such as the wide variety of paellas and Spanish classics such as simply grilled octopus doused with olive oil and paprika, all served in an old-school dining room against a backdrop of white table cloths.
Top review
Richard
Dined 1 day ago
Sumptuous feast and consistent attention to its reputation makes you yearn to return
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A photo of Paella Marinera of a restaurant
Popular dish
Paella Marinera
A photo of Paella de Pollo of a restaurant
Popular dish
Paella de Pollo
A photo of Paella Diablo of a restaurant
Popular dish
Paella Diablo
A photo of The Frog and the Peach restaurant
The Frog and the Peach
4.5
4.5 (3187)
$31 to $50
American
New Brunswick
About the restaurant
The Frog & The Peach has been operating continuously since 1983, a legacy that the restaurant’s most recent owner, chef Bruce Lefebvre, takes very seriously: His first job out of culinary school was with the restaurant, and in 2012, he had the chance to buy it. He’s since doubled down on ingredient-driven American cuisine, with a penchant for wild game evident in dishes such as elk carpaccio, served with a preserved egg yolk and a dressing of cassis, juniper, and maple topped with pickled shallots. The restaurant also puts on special dinners and experiences, such as a recent five-course Portuguese tasting menu and wine pairing meal, designed by the restaurant’s Portuguese sous chef.
Top review
EricVIP
Dined 5 days ago
So great food, wine and cocktails. One of the best location at New Brunswick for a dinner.
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A photo of Half Dozen Oysters of a restaurant
Popular dish
Half Dozen Oysters
A photo of Eggs Benedict of a restaurant
Popular dish
Eggs Benedict
A photo of Delta's restaurant
Delta's
4.5
4.5 (2259)
$31 to $50
Contemporary Southern
New Brunswick
About the restaurant
For a taste of the South in Central New Jersey, head to Delta’s in New Brunswick. During the weekdays, locals congregate in the dining room for comfort food classics such as smothered pork chops and baked macaroni and cheese. But the weekends are the time to visit, when the restaurant’s popular brunch is accompanied by live music featuring a rotating cast of DJs and jazz bands. Skip the standard mimosa and wash down your fried fish and grits with one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails, such as the Bubblin’ Brown Shuga, where Hennessy Black is topped off with Champagne and a brown sugar cube.
Top review
Sharon
Dined on 12 Dec 2024
Thank you for making reservations at ease. I enjoy using the app less complicated!
A photo of Mistral restaurant
Mistral
4.6
4.6 (3133)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Princeton
About the restaurant
Taking inspiration from all of the world, Mistral’s menu is hard to categorize — and it’s that variety that keeps diners coming back to the restaurant’s bright, wood-filled dining room. In fact, the restaurant has appeared on New Jersey Monthly’s annual best restaurant list every year since it opened in 2013. Mistral’s small plates give tables the opportunity to try a large selection of dishes before digging into the mains, and since the menu changes all the time, there’s always an excuse for return visits. Recently, appetizers included dishes such as smoked cod beignets with a side of horseradish crème fraîche, and mains such as crispy whole black bass smothered in mapo mushroom sauce.
Top review
Lisa
Dined on 13 Dec 2024
Great meal, lovely ambiance and fantastic service.
A photo of Semolina Restaurant restaurant
Semolina Restaurant
4.8
4.8 (3165)
$31 to $50
Farm-to-table
Red Bank
About the restaurant
Don’t let the casual vibe of this BYO-spot in downtown Red Bank fool you — brothers Chuck and Tylar Lesbirel are churning out very serious food. Leaning heavily on New Jersey’s farms and fisheries, the menu at Semolina has a distinct sense of place. And while vegetable dishes and proteins all come with creative flourishes, the stars of the menu are the perfectly al dente handmade pastas, appearing in dishes such as the chitarra “carbonara,” a riff on the classic Italian preparation that adds a touch of heavy cream in the sauce, and comes topped with crumbled applewood bacon, a duck yolk, and a shower of cracked pepper.
Top review
JoAnnVIP
Dined 1 day ago
As always, the food was absolutely spectacular and so is the service. I wish they would open up a restaurant in the Manasquan area.
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A photo of Pennsy Raised Pork Chop of a restaurant
Popular dish
Pennsy Raised Pork Chop
A photo of Bucatini of a restaurant
Popular dish
Bucatini
A photo of Agnolotti of a restaurant
Popular dish
Agnolotti
A photo of The Grand Tavern restaurant
The Grand Tavern
4.9
4.9 (1130)
$31 to $50
American
Neptune
About the restaurant
Grand Tavern’s slogan says it all: “Beef, fat, butter and cream. Isn’t life grand?” In other words, come hungry. It’s the quintessential neighborhood American restaurant — the menu is succinct, but it changes frequently and offers enough variety to please most. Always ask about the daily specials, which have recently included fried artichokes served in a pool of briny bottarga cream, or a grilled pork chop on top of a stew of escarole and beans that’s packed with garlic and preserved lemon. A favorite hangout among local bartenders and sommeliers, the restaurant also runs a top-notch drink program, cranking out original cocktails such as the Flip Your Lid with bourbon, grapefruit, lemon, cinnamon, and bitters.
Top review
Ryan
Dined 3 days ago
Great spot never disappoints. Great food and drinks. Expensive but worth the price
A photo of La Cita restaurant
La Cita
4.8
4.8 (529)
$30 and under
Mexican
Cherry Hill
About the restaurant
Owners Olivia and Regulo Reyes set La Cita apart from other area Mexican spots through the restaurant’s diverse menu of regional specialties. Diners can sample cochinita pibil, a spicy pork dish from the Yucatan, or Veracruz-style red snapper cooked with onions, tomatoes, capers, olives, and chiles. Kick off your meal with an order of queso fundido, a satisfying cheese dip packed with poblano peppers and chorizo that begs to be scooped up by warm flour tortillas and paired with your favorite beverage — this is another BYOB spot.
Top review
DianaVIP
Dined on 13 Dec 2024
Very tasty food at a reasonable price. Service is warm and efficient.
A photo of Peter Shields Inn restaurant
Peter Shields Inn
4.7
4.7 (6996)
$31 to $50
American
Cape May
About the restaurant
Located in a Georgian mansion overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Peter Shields Inn is a favorite among South Jersey residents and visitors alike for the atmosphere, attentive service, and seasonal American fare. The sprawling house has five different dining rooms where diners can enjoy oysters topped with Champagne ice and caviar, Hudson Valley foie gras, or the restaurant’s large selection of dry-aged beef. In warmer weather, be sure to snag one of the front porch tables to pair your meal with ocean breezes and a great view — and bring your favorite seaside beverage, as the restaurant is BYOB.
Top review
Chris
Dined 7 days ago
Absolutely amazing, from the minute you walk in the door till you leave, the service, the food, and the staff all are wonderful.
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A photo of Pear Salad of a restaurant
Popular dish
Pear Salad
A photo of Death by Chocolate of a restaurant
Popular dish
Death by Chocolate
A photo of Lobster "Thermidor" of a restaurant
Popular dish
Lobster "Thermidor"
A photo of Capriccio at Resorts Atlantic City restaurant
Capriccio at Resorts Atlantic City
4.6
4.6 (2598)
$31 to $50
Italian
Atlantic City
About the restaurant
Winner of the 2020 USA Today 10Best Readers Poll for best casino restaurant, Capriccio has long been an elegant place for Resorts casino-goers to fuel up on red-sauce favorites on a trip to Atlantic City. Choice reigns supreme here; diners can begin a meal by building their own antipasti platter, and the entrées start with a protein (chicken or veal, for instance) with a choice of preparation: parmigiana, francese, picatta, marsala, or milanese. The luxe dining room is full of frescos and chandeliers, while the patio offers sweeping views of Atlantic City.
Top review
Edward
Dined on 12 Dec 2024
First time my wife and I dined here. The reviews were excellent. Our overall experience was beyond our expectations.
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A photo of Insalata Capriccio of a restaurant
Popular dish
Insalata Capriccio
A photo of Seafood Zuppetta of a restaurant
Popular dish
Seafood Zuppetta
A photo of Veal Romero of a restaurant
Popular dish
Veal Romero
A photo of Tre Famiglia restaurant
Tre Famiglia
4.8
4.8 (4272)
$30 and under
Italian
Haddonfield
About the restaurant
The Cipollone family is no stranger to the restaurant world — before opening Tre Famiglia in Haddonfield, they had operated a restaurant in Philadelphia’s Italian Market since 1903. Now located just over the border, Jersey and Pennsylvania residents alike flock to this family-owned BYOB spot for the super fresh calamari, handmade pasta, and slow-simmered “gravy;” many of which are cooked directly from long-standing family recipes.
Top review
Steve
Dined 5 days ago
Food and service fantastic as always! Specials are fantastic!
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A photo of Linguine Aurora of a restaurant
Popular dish
Linguine Aurora
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