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
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
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
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
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
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
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