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 Melanie Naef of Flanders. She will receive a gift certificate to Lorena’s in Maplewood, the Best of the Best poll winner in Naef’s region, North.
Key: North
Central
South
Chain
Critics’ Picks
BEST OF THE BEST
Lorena’s, Maplewood
Nicholas, Red Bank
Union Park, Cape May
See 25 Best Restaurants
NEW RESTAURANT
Zylo, Hoboken
Uproot, Warren
Daniel’s Bistro, Pt. Pleasant Beach
Hat City Kitchen, Orange;
Bar Cara, Bloomfield;
Peacock Inn, Princeton
AMERICAN
Blu, Montclair
Nicholas, Red Bank
Union Park, Cape May
Serenade, Chatham;
Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
BAKERY
Calandra’s, Caldwell
Flaky Tart, Atlantic Highlands
Mueller’s, Bay Head
Balthazar, Englewood;
Gina’s, Montclair;
Little Chef, Princeton
BANG FOR THE BUCK
Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Nicholas, Red Bank
Crest Tavern, Wildwood Crest
Blu, Next Door, Montclair
BAR SCENE
Egan & Sons, Montclair
Downtown, Red Bank
Martell’s Tiki Bar, Pt. Pleasant Beach
Ninety Acres, Peapack-Gladstone;
Watermark, Asbury Park;
Avenue, Long Branch
BARBECUE
Hot Rods, Wharton
Big Ed’s, Matawan
Hickory Hog, Pt. Pleasant
Grub Hut, Manville;
Indigo Kitchen and Bar, Maplewood;
The Wood Pit, Montclair;
Christine’s House of Kingfish, Shamong
BEER SELECTION
Egan & Sons, Montclair
Basil T’s, Red Bank
Crest Tavern, Wildwood Crest
Light Horse Tavern; Zeppelin Hall, Jersey City
BREAKFAST
Raymond’s, Montclair
Turning Point, Holmdel
George’s Place, Cape May
Toast, Montclair;
Country Pancake House, Ridgewood
BREWPUB
Trap Rock, Berkeley Heights
Basil T’s, Red Bank
Tun Tavern, Atlantic City
Long Valley Pub, Long Valley; Triumph, Princeton
BRUNCH
Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank
Mad Batter, Cape May
Avenue, Long Branch;
Terrace, Short Hills
BURGER
Next Door, Montclair
Bobby’s Burger Palace, Eatontown
Frankie’s, Pt. Pleasant Beach
Five Guys
Pals Cabin, West Orange;
Copeland, Morristown;
Iron Hill Brewery, Maple Shade
CARIBBEAN
Cuban Pete’s, Montclair
Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park
410 Bank Street, Cape May
Casona, Collingswood;
De Island Breeze, Somerset
CHAIN RESTAURANT
Bone Fish Grill
Applebee’s
Cheesecake Factory
Chipotle; Morton’s
CHEESESTEAK
Piccolo’s, Hoboken
Jimi’s Main Street, Belmar; Uncle Philly’s, Matawan
Midway, Seaside Heights
Beyond The Pita, Montclair;
Hoagie Haven, Princeton
CHINESE
Cheng Du 46, Clifton
Little Szechuan, Little Silver
Cape Orient, Cape May
P.F. Chang’s
Petite Soo Chow, Cliffside Park
COFFEE/TEA BAR (NON-CHAIN)
The Fine Grind, Little Falls
Small World, Princeton
Magic Brain, Cape May
Cha Ma Gu Dao (tea), Montclair
DELI, ITALIAN-STYLE
Fiore’s, Hoboken
Aleo Italian Specialties, Lincroft
Joe Leone’s, Pt. Pleasant
Lisa’s, Hoboken;
Nicolo’s, Montclair;
Severino Pasta, Collingswood
DELI, KOSHER-STYLE
Millburn Deli, Millburn
Harold’s, Edison
Pickles, Atlantic City
Hobby’s, Bragman’s, Newark
DINER
Tick-Tock, Clifton
Skylark, Edison
Four Seasons, Toms River
State Street Grill, Bloomfield;
Summit Diner, Summit
FRENCH
Chez Catherine, Westfield
Nicholas, Middletown
410 Bank Street, Cape May
Verjus, Maplewood;
Latour, Ridgewood
GREEK
Varka, Ramsey
Pithari Taverna, Highland Park
George’s Place, Cape May
It’s Greek To Me
Nisi, Englewood;
Stamna, Bloomfield
HOT DOG
Rutt’s Hut, Clifton
Max’s, Long Branch
Hot Dog Tommy’s, Cape May
The WindMill
Dickie Dee’s, Newark;
Texas Wieners, Collingswood
ICE CREAM
Applegate Farm, Montclair
Hoffman’s, Spring Lake Heights
Springer’s, Stone Harbor
Holsten’s, Bloomfield;
Bent Spoon, Halo Pub, Princeton
INDIAN
Mantra, Paramus
Moghul, Edison
Aamantran, Toms River
Mehndi, Morristown
ITALIAN
Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Catherine Lombardi,
New Brunswick
Fresco’s, Cape May
Grissini, Englewood Cliffs;
Da Benito, Union;
Osteria Giotto, Montclair
JAPANESE
Taka Sushi, Summit
Shumi, Somerville
Tokyo, Rio Grande
Fuji, Haddonfield;
Sagami, Collingswood
LATIN AMERICAN/MEXICAN
Cucharamama, Hoboken
El Meson, Freehold
Gecko’s, Cape May
Zafra, Hoboken
LUNCH
Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Turning Point, Holmdel
Pilot House, Cape May
Next Door, Montclair;
Dream Cuisine, Cherry Hill
MIDDLE EASTERN
Toros, Clifton
Sahara Cafe, New Brunswick
Macedonian Grill, Brigantine;
Norma’s, Marlton;
Oasis Grill, Cherry Hill
Samdan, Cresskill
PIZZA
Star Tavern, Orange
Pete & Elda’s, Neptune
Mack & Manco’s, Ocean City
Santillo’s, Elizabeth;
Ralph’s, Nutley
ROMANTIC
HighlawnPavilion,
West Orange
Nicholas,Red Bank
UnionPark, Cape May
Lorena’s, Maplewood;
Anton’s at the Swan, Lambertville
SEAFOOD
Blu,Montclair
Dorisand Ed’s, Highlands
LobsterHouse, Cape May
Blu,Montclair
STEAK
Rod’s, Morristown;
Roots, Summit
What’s Your Beef, Rumson
BobbyFlay Steak, Atlantic City; Old Homestead, Atlantic City
Edward’s, Jersey City;
Morton’s, Hackensack, Atlantic City
SOUP/SALAD/SANDWICHES
AllendaleEats, Allendale
TurningPoint, Holmdel
FourSeasons Diner, Toms River
PaneraBread
C’Est Cheese, Morristown; Wicker Basket, Mendham
SPANISH/PORTUGUESE/TAPAS
SpanishTavern, Mountainside
Malaga,Trenton; Portuguese Manor, Perth Amboy
EuropaSouth, Pt. Pleasant
Seabra’s Marisquiera, Newark
SOUTHEAST ASIAN/THAI
SummitThai, Summit
SiamGarden, Red Bank
CapeOrient, Cape May
TopazThai, Belleville
VEGETARIAN
VeggieHeaven, Denville
Nicholas,Red Bank
GreenCuisine, Stone Harbor
Nicholas,Red Bank
WINE LIST
DaBenito, Union
Nicholas,Red Bank
WashingtonInn, Cape May
RestaurantLatour, Hardyston
Click here to read our critic’s picks for the 25 Best Restaurants.