Openings & Closings

Rosie has the latest news on NJ restaurant openings and closings.

2011 OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS WRAP-UP
Many restaurants opened and closed in New Jersey over the past year. Some notable openings include…

Adara, a Montclair restaurant that specializes in molecular gastronomy.

Bibi’z Restaurant and Lounge in Westwood, owned by Ida Martin, the former GM of Napa Valley Grille in Paramus.

Daryl Wine Bar and Restaurant in New Brunswick, with executive chef Zod Arifai from Restaurant Blu and Next Door, both in Montclair, at the helm.

Blue Morel, previously Copeland, in Morristown, with a farm-to-table culinary focus, under the helm of Chef Thomas Ciszak.

Fin Raw Bar & Kitchen in Montclair, opened by Gerry Cerrigone, who is also responsible for the town’s very popular and excellent Salute.

G.K.’s Red Dog Tavern at Rod’s in Morristown, which opened as part of Rod’s Steakhouse, with a casual menu and fabulous burgers.

From the Harvest Restaurant Group, which also owns Ciao and 3 West (Basking Ridge), Grato and Tabor Road Taverne (Morris Plains), Huntley Taverne and Roots Steakhouse (Summit), and Trap Rock Restaurant (Berkeley Heights), we saw the opening of Urban Table and another Roots Steakhouse in Morristown.

Luke Palladino, a seasonally driven, Italian-inspired restaurant at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City.

McLoone’s Boathouse at the South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange offers American cuisine that appeals to families.

MoonShine Modern Supper Club in Millburn offers a contemporary American menu with updated comfort food and new takes on retro-classic dishes.

Beer lovers can flock to Pilsener Haus & Biergarten in Hoboken, which features more than 20 rotating imported and local beers on tap, an exclusive house brew, 30 to 40 bottled beers, and an extensive Austro-Hungarian menu.

In Ridgewood, the Park West Tavern, with co-owners John Halligan and Randy Carson, who also own the Park Steakhouse in Park Ridge, serves moderately priced modern American food.

St. Eve’s in Ho-Ho-Kus offers modern American cuisine by owner/chef Steve Christianson.

Sear Steakhouse, an upscale steak house, opened in Closter.

Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Foundation opened Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, a community restaurant where there are no prices on the menu and customers pay what they can or do volunteer work in exchange for a family’s meal.

Ursino on the Liberty Hall Campus of Kean University in Union has a four-acre farm and honeybees and features farm-to-table cuisine with an emphasis on local products as much as possible.

BURGERS, ANYONE? NJ now has more options with the opening of Smashburger in Paramus and at Terminal C3 at Newark Liberty International Airport, Bucu Burger Bar & Bakery in Paramus, Bobby’s Burger Palace in Cherry Hill, 25 Burgers in Westfield, and Uber Burger in Newark. Five Guys Burgers closed in Upper Montclair.

WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF ITALIAN RESTAURANTS, but among some of the other types of ethnic restaurants that opened in NJ are Brick Lane Curry House in Montclair and Ridgewood; Chutney & Co., a modern Indian restaurant in Madison; the Greek Kuzina Express in the food court of the Moorestown Mall; Nanking, offering Asian fusion cuisine at Bally's, Atlantic City; Patria Lounge & Restaurant, Rahway; Red Orange Asian Cuisine, Long Branch; Samba Montclair, serving Brazilian cuisine; and Son Cubano, Shops at Riverwalk, West New York.

SEEKING SWEETS? We can get our share of sugar at the following new places:
Asalt & Buttery in Little Falls, featuring French macarons, éclairs, cannoli, cupcakes, cookies, tarts, and more; Baked in a Cup, a gourmet cupcake shop in Ramsey; Baker’s Treat in Hillsborough; the Buttered Biscuit in Bradley Beach, offering fresh baked goods, breakfast, brunch, and sandwiches; Cammareri Brooklyn Bakery & Cafe in Hoboken; Crazy Susan’s Cookies, which opened a second location in Voorhees; the Cupcake Café at the Promenade Shops in Clifton, opened by Keith and Maureen Jaret, owners of Stuffed Cupcakes in Nutley, one of my favorites; Cupcake Magician in Red Bank; the Little Daisy Bake Shop, a peanut-free bakery in Upper Montclair that specializes in custom cakes and cookies; Old German Bakery, Hoboken; Panificio Bolea Artisan Bakery & Cafe, Ho-Ho-Kus; Petit Paris, Montclair; Sook Pastry Shop and Cafe, Ridgewood; Sugarush (can’t help loving the name), Red Bank; Sugar & Plumm Purveyors of Yumm, a cafe and retail store at Bergen Town Center, Paramus; and Sweets Suite Bake Shoppe Cafe in Millville.

SAD GOODBYES Some places that we’ll miss are B.T. Bistro Restaurant and Bar in Princeton, Cafe Eclectic in Montclair, Cafe at Rosemont in Rosemont, Dennis Foy’s Lawrenceville Inn in Lawrenceville, Farm 2 Bistro in Rockaway, Mina’s on the Mountain in Woodland Park, Sally Ling’s Restaurant in Fort Lee, Semolina Restaurant in Millburn, Nisi Estiatorio in Englewood, Mama Mexico in Englewood Cliffs, and Radicchio in Ridgewood.