
The results of our 26th Annual Readers’ Choice Restaurant Poll were tabulated by PricewaterhouseCoopers in Florham Park. The winning restaurant in each region received the majority vote in its category; in some cases there were ties. 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 John Kaplow of Asbury Park. He will receive a gift certificate to Nicholas in Red Bank, the Best of the Best poll winner in Kaplow’s region,
Key: Nortrh
Central
South
Critics’ Picks
BEST OF THE BEST
Chez Catherine, Westfield
Nicholas, Red Bank
Cabanas Beach Bar and Grill, Cape May
See Top 25
NEW RESTAURANT
Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park
Chelsea Prime, Atlantic City
elements, Princeton; Izakaya, Atlantic City
MOST ROMANTIC
Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
Nicholas, Red Bank
The Washington Inn, Cape May
Lorena’s, Maplewood; Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
WINE LIST
Park & Orchard, East Rutherford
Nicholas, Red Bank
The Washington Inn, Cape May
Restaurant Latour, Hardyston
BEER SELECTION
Egan & Sons, Montclair
Basil T’s, Red Bank; Harvest Moon Brewery, New Brunswick
Triumph Brewery, Princeton
Tun Tavern, Atlantic City
Pour House, Westmont
BREAKFAST
Raymond’s, Montclair
Turning Point, Holmdel and Long Branch
The Pop Shop, Collingswood
Raymond’s and Toast, Montclair; Mariner’s Cove, Brielle; George’s Place, CapeMay
LUNCH
Next Door, Montclair
The Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick
Lucky Bones Backwater Grille, Cape May
NextDoor, Montclair
STEAK
Rod’s Steak & Seafood Grille, Morristown
Brennen’s Steakhouse, Neptune
Morton’s, Atlantic City; Bobby Flay Steak, A.C.
Morton’s, Hackensack and
Atlantic City; Roots, Summit;
Edward’s, Jersey City
SEAFOOD
Blu, Montclair
Doris & Ed’s, Highlands
Lobster House, Cape May
Dune, Margate
VEGETARIAN
Veggie Heaven, Montclair
Twisted Tree, Asbury Park
Green Cuisine, Stone Harbor
Su, Edgewater; Nicholas, Red Bank
BANG FOR THE BUCK
Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Brickwall, Asbury Park
Carmine’s, Atlantic City
Blu; Next Door, Montclair
CHAIN (Top three in NJ)
1. Applebee’s
2. Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s
3. Bonefish Grill
Chipotle; Bobby’s
Burger Palace;
McCormick & Schmick’s
SOUP/SALAD/SANDWICHES
Park West Diner, Little Falls
Panera Bread, Edison
Depot Market, Cape May
Garden Cafe, New Milford; C’estCheese, Morristown
DELI – KOSHER STYLE
Millburn Deli, Millburn
Harold’s, Edison
Fitzpatrick’s Jewish Deli, Somers Point
Eppes Essen, Livingston
DELI – ITALIAN STYLE
A&S Pork Store, West Paterson
Delfini’s, Red Bank
Joe Leone’s, Point Pleasant Beach
Lisa’s, Hoboken; Nicolo’s, Montclair; SeverinoPasta, Collingswood
DINER
Park West, Little Falls
Skylark, Edison
Mastoris, Bordentown
Mastoris, Bordentown
BAR SCENE
Egan & Sons, Montclair
Clydz, New Brunswick
Cabanas, Cape May
Egan & Sons, Montclair; Red, Red Bank; TimMcLoone’s Supper Club, AsburyPark
BREW PUB
Trap Rock, Berkeley Heights
Harvest Moon, New Brunswick
Tun Tavern, Atlantic City
Trap Rock, Berkeley Heights
BURGER
Next Door, Montclair
Bobby’s Burger Palace, Eatontown
Frankie’s Bar & Grill, Point Pleasant Beach
Next Door, Montclair; Copeland, Morristown; Boathouse, Belmar
HOT DOG
Rutt’s Hut, Clifton
The Windmill, Belmar
Hot Dog Tommy’s, Cape May
Galloping Hill Grill, Union; Hiram’s, Fort Lee
PIZZA
Star Tavern, Orange
Pete & Elda’s, Neptune
Tony’s Baltimore Grill, Atlantic City
Pizza Brothers, Bedminster
BARBEQUE
Indigo Smoke, Montclair
Big Ed’s BBQ, Old Bridge
Famous Dave’s, Brick
Pop’s, Madison; Corinne’s Place, Camden
CHEESESTEAK
Piccolo’s, Hoboken
Main St., Belmar; Willy’s, Red Bank
White House Sub Shop, Atlantic City
Beyond Pita, Montclair; Tony Luke’s, Atlantic City
AMERICAN
Blu, Montclair
Stage Left, New Brunswick
Union Park Dining Room, Cape May
Blu, Montclair; Drew’s, (Gulf Coast) Keyport
CARIBBEAN
La Isla, Hoboken
Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park
410 Bank Street, Cape May
Casona, Collingswood
CHINESE
Chengdu 46, Clifton
Peking Pavilion, Manalapan
P.F. Chang’s, Atlantic City
Big Wing Wah, Hillsborough; Ya Ya Noodles, Skillman
FRENCH
Chez Catherine, Westfield
Nicholas, Red Bank
410 Bank Street, Cape May; Claude’s, North Wildwood
Chez Catherine, Westfield;Verjus, MaplewoodLatour, Ridgewood
GREEK
Varka, Ramsey
It’s Greek to Me, Holmdel
George’s Place, Cape May
Varka, Ramsey; Nisi, Englewood; Stamna, Bloomfield
INDIAN
Mantra, Paramus
Moghul, Edison
Coriander, Voorhees
Mehndi, Morristown
ITALIAN
Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Due Terre, Bernardsville
Carmine’s, Atlantic City
Girasole, Atlantic City
JAPANESE
Sushi Lounge, Morristown
Taka, Asbury Park
Tokyo, Rio Grande
Shumi, Somerville; Fuji, Haddonfield; Sagami, Collingswood; Tomo, Little Falls
LATIN AMERICAN/MEXICAN
Mexicali Rose, Montclair
Jose Tejas, Iselin
Gecko’s, Cape May
Cucharamama, Hoboken;
Senorita’s, Bloomfield
MIDDLE EASTERN
Toros, Clifton
Evelyn’s, New Brunswick
Norma’s, Cherry Hill
Samdan, Cresskill
SOUTHEAST ASIA/THAI
Origin, Morristown
Siam Garden, Red Bank
Cape Orient, Cape May
Topaz Thai, Belleville; Thai House, Warren
SPANISH/PORTUGUESE
Spanish Tavern, Mountainside
Bistro Olé, Asbury Park
Europa South, Point Pleasant
Casa Vasca, Newark
BAKERY
Calandra’s, Caldwell
Del Ponte’s, Bradley Beach
Minos, Atlantic City
Balthazar, Englewood; Gina’s, Montclair
ICE CREAM
Applegate Farms, Montclair
Hoffman’s, Spring Lake Heights
The Pop Shop, Collingswood
Holsten’s, Bloomfield;
Bent Spoon, Princeton;
Springer’s, Stone Harbor
COFFEE/TEA BAR
Fine Grind, Little Falls
America’s Cup, Asbury Park
Magic Brain, Cape May
Cha Ma Gu Dao (tea), Montclair; SmallWorld, Princeton
Click here to read our Critics’ picks of the 25 Best Restaurants in the state.