28th Annual Readers’ and Critics’ Choice Poll

Our annual Readers' and Critics' Choice Restaurant Poll takes you all over the state to some of our favorite restaurants.

The results of our 28th Annual Readers’ Choice Restaurant Poll were tabulated by PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Florham Park. The winning restaurant in each region received the most votes in its category—in some cases there were ties; in some categories we also list a chain winner. We have also added our critics’ picks. All readers who submitted a ballot became eligible to win dinner for two in our random drawing. This year’s winner is Bill Hutchinson of Chester. He will receive a gift certificate to Blu in Montclair, the Best of the Best poll winner in the north region.

Key: North  South  Central  Chain /downloads/8029/download/chain.jpg Critics’ Choice

 

Best of the Best:
Blu, Montclair
Nicholas, Red Bank
410 Bank Street, Cape May
Union Park, Cape May
See Top 25 Restaurants

New Restaurant:
  Toscania Trattoria, Little Falls
   Dauphin Grille, Asbury Park
  Shipwreck Point, Point Pleasant
  Satis, Jersey City
Costanera, Montclair

American:
Blu, Montclair
Nicholas, Red Bank
Union Park, Cape May
Serenade, Chatham
Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
Knife & Fork Inn, Atlantic City Boulevard Five72, Kenilworth

Bakery:
Calandra’s, Caldwell
Flaky Tart, Atlantic Highlands
Elisa’s Pastry Shop, Lakewood
Balthazar, Englewood
Gina’s, Montclair

Bang for the Buck:
Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Trinity & The Pope, Asbury Park
Artisan’s, Toms River
Next Door, Montclair
Weber’s, Pennsauken
Barbara’s Hungarian, Ewing Cavallo’s, Nutley

Bar Scene:
Egan & Sons, Montclair
Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park
C-View Inn, Cape May
Rat’s, Hamilton
The Pour House, Westmont Alice’s, Lake Hopatcong Watermark, Asbury Park

Barbecue:
Texas Smoke, Rockaway
Memphis Pig Out,
Atlantic Highlands
Hickory Hog, Point Pleasant
Christine’s, Shamong
Back Bay, Somers Point
The Wood Pit, Montclair
Hog Wild, Caldwell

Beer Selection:

Trap Rock, Berkeley Heights
Basil T’s, Red Bank
Artisan’s, Toms River
Light Horse Tavern, Jersey City Zeppelin Hall, Jersey City

Breakfast:
Raymond’s, Montclair
Turning Point, Long Branch
George’s Place, Cape May
Meil’s, Stockton
Country Pancake House, Ridgewood

Brewpub:
Trap Rock, Berkeley Heights
Triumph Brewing, Princeton
Artisan’s, Toms River
Ship Inn, Milford
Long Valley Pub, Long Valley

Brunch:
Raymond’s, Montclair
Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank
Mad Batter, Cape May
Mockingbird, Basking Ridge
Market Roost, Flemington
Amanda’s, Hoboken

Burger:

Next Door, Montclair
Stage Left, New Brunswick
Frankie’s, Point Pleasant
/downloads/8029/download/chain.jpg Five Guys
Copeland, Morristown

Caribbean:
La Isla, Hoboken
Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park
410 Bank Street, Cape May
De Island Breeze, Somerset

Chain Restaurant:

Bonefish Grill
Chipotle
Cheesecake Factory
Legal Sea Foods; Grand Lux Cafe; 
Smashburger

Cheesesteak:
Piccolo’s, Hoboken
Hoagie Haven, Princeton
Midway, Seaside Heights
Beyond the Pita, Montclair

Chinese:
Chengdu 46, Clifton
Peking Pavillion, Manalapan
Cape Orient, Cape May
Fortune Cookies, Bridgewater
Chengdu 23, Wayne
YaYa Noodles, Skillman

Coffee/Tea Bar (non-chain):
Café Eclectic, Montclair
Small World, Princeton
Green Planet, Point Pleasant
The Fine Grind, Little Falls

Deli, Italian-style:
Fiore’s, Hoboken
Nino Jr.’s, Oakhurst
Joe Leone’s, Point Pleasant
Lisa’s, Hoboken
Nicolo’s, Montclair
Severino Pasta, Westmont

Deli, Kosher-style:
Millburn Deli, Millburn
Harold’s NY Deli, Edison
Wolfie’s, Toms River
Hobby’s, Newark
Bragman’s, Newark

Diner:
Tick Tock, Clifton
Skylark, Edison
Mastoris, Bordentown
Summit Diner, Summit
Omega, North Brunswick
Ponzio’s, Cherry Hill
Spinning Wheel, Lebanon

French:
Lorena’s, Maplewood
Nicholas, Red Bank
410 Bank Street, Cape May
A Toute Heure, Cranford
Le Rendez-Vous, Kenilworth

Greek:
Varka, Ramsey
Pithari Taverna, Highland Park
George’s Place, Cape May
/downloads/8029/download/chain.jpg It’s Greek to Me
Stamna, Bloomfield
Nisi, Englewood

Hot Dog:

Rutt’s Hut, Clifton
Max’s, Long Branch
Hot Dog Tommy’s, Cape May
/downloads/8029/download/chain.jpg WindMill
Hot Dog Johnny’s, Buttzville

Ice Cream:

Applegate Farms, Montclair
Bent Spoon, Princeton
Hoffman’s, Point Pleasant
Holsten’s, Bloomfield
Halo Pub, Princeton
Springer’s, Stone Harbor

Indian:
Mantra, Paramus
Moghul, Edison
IndeBlue, Collingswood
Mehndi, Morristown
Cross Culture, Princeton, Haddonfield

Italian:
Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Catherine Lombardi,
New Brunswick
Frescos Seafood Trattoria,
Cape May
Girasole, Atlantic City
Sapori, Collingswood
Il Capriccio, Whippany
Osteria Giotto, Montclair

Japanese:
Taka Sushi, Summit
Shumi, Somerville
Tokyo, Rio Grande
Sagami, Collingswood
Izakaya, Atlantic City

Latin American/ Mexican:
Cuban Pete’s, Montclair
El Meson, Freehold
Juanito’s, Red Bank
Gecko’s, Cape May
Zafra, Hoboken
Lola Latin Bistro, Metuchen

Lunch:
Next Door, Montclair
Frank’s, Asbury Park
Artisan’s, Toms River
3West, Basking Ridge
Bernard’s Inn, Bernardsville

Middle Eastern:
Beyond Pita, Montclair
Ibby’s Falafel, Freehold
Norma’s, Cherry Hill
Samdan, Cresskill

Pizza:
Star Tavern, Orange
Pete and Elda’s, Neptune
Mack and Manco’s, Ocean City
Santillo’s, Elizabeth
Ralph’s, Nutley

Romantic:
Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
Nicholas, Red Bank
Union Park, Cape May
Whispers, Spring Lake
Chakra, Paramus

Seafood:
Blu, Montclair
Doris & Ed’s, Highlands
Lobster House, Cape May
Seabra’s Marisqueira, Newark
Fish, Asbury Park
Uncle Vinnie’s Clam Bar, Raritan

Soup/Salad/Sandwiches:
Raymond’s, Montclair
Brennan’s, Rumson
Carriage Trade, Medford
/downloads/8029/download/chain.jpg Panera Bread
Peasant Grill, Hopewell

Southeast Asian/ Thai:
Summit Thai Cuisine, Summit
Origin Thai, Somerville
Cape Orient, Cape May
Topaz Thai, Belleville

Spanish/Portuguese/Tapas:

Don Pepe, Newark
Vivas, Belmar
Europa South, Point Pleasant
Fornos of Spain, Newark

Steak:

Roots Steak House, Summit
Colt’s Neck Inn, Colt’s Neck
Shipwreck Point, Point Pleasant
Edward’s, Jersey City Steakhouse 85, New Brunswick
El Sitio Grill & Cafe, Collingswood
Bobby Flay Steak, Atlantic City

Vegetarian:

Park & Orchard, East Rutherford
Nicholas, Red Bank
Louisa’s Cafe, Cape May
/downloads/8029/download/chain.jpg Veggie Heaven
The Green House, Collingswood

Wine List:

Park & Orchard, East Rutherford
Nicholas, Red Bank
Shipwreck Point, Point Pleasant
Restaurant Latour, Hardyston
Bernard’s Inn, Bernardsville

 

 

 

 

 

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