Essex Junction Craft Kitchen & Bar, a 200-seat gastropub, has opened at 90 Washington Street, Bloomfield (973-680-8110), offering breakfast, lunch and dinner daily along with happy hour and weekend brunch. The restaurant is owned by Experience Management Group/Partners: Jeremy Goldberg, CEO, a CIA graduate and 3-star Miami restaurateur and Gordon Pratt, chairman. Consulting chef is Doug Vincent who previously worked at Windows on the World and Brandywine Steakhouse.
House-made signature dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner with quality ingredients at accessible prices will be offered. Some dinner entrees include: beef short rib pappardelle; manchego-crusted cod with oven-roasted tomatoes and panzanella salad; bone-in rib steak with Parmesan fries or side salad; and Southern fried chicken with Grandma’s cornbread and watermelon.
A rotating list of 40 craft beers with 16 on tap, a fun cocktail program revolving around notable New Jersey natives such as The Colbert Bum@StephenAtHome made with Journeyman gin, Cherry Herring, fresh squeezed lemon juice and club soda and The Queens Cocktail@Queenlatifah with Old Forester, Dry Sack, fresh squeezed orange and lemon juice, simple syrup garnished with a lemon peel is offered. Red and white wines and beers are also available.
Essex Junction is open at 6 AM Monday through Friday and has a special breakfast window with pre-order options for area commuters.
OTHER NJ RESTAURANT OPENINGS
An all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant, Arigato, has opened at 1034 River Road, Edgewater (201-886-1233); BYO.
Bici, an Italian restaurant, has opened at 61 East Main Street, Ramsey (201-462-9015); BYO.
Biddy O’Malley’s, an Irish bistro and bar in Northvale, has opened their second location at 6 N Van Brunt Street, Englewood (201-608-5545).
The Recipe, a casual Italian restaurant, has opened at 127 South Washington Avenue, Bergenfield (201-374-2645) BYO.
Café Venezia, offering traditional Italian dishes, has opened at 1938 Washington Valley Road, Martinsville (732-356-3500); BYO.
Mike’s Falafel, 669 Bloomfield Avenue, West Caldwell (973-228-6222); BYO.
CLOSINGS
Anna’s Ristorante, Summit has closed due to the sale of the building. The owners also operate Ferraro’s in Westfield and The Primavera Regency, a catering company, in Stirling.
Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].