The results of our 38th Annual Jersey Choice Restaurant Poll are in, showcasing readers’ picks for their favorite dining spots in New Jersey across 45 categories.
Balloting for the poll, which was presented by Buy Rite Wine & Liquor, took place online throughout the month of February, when restaurants, after the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, were into their sixth month of normal operation at full capacity indoors as well as outdoors.
The winning restaurant in each region (North, Central and South Jersey) received the most votes in its category. Ballots from duplicate e-mail or IP addresses were disqualified. Editorial discretion was used when votes were cast for restaurants that, in our judgment, belonged in another category.
We usually add our critics’ picks based on visits made in the spring and summer, but we had to forgo such travel amid the ongoing pandemic and we have eschewed critics’ picks this year.
All qualified ballots sent in by readers were eligible to win our random drawing. The winner will be announced in the December 2021 issue of New Jersey Monthly.
[RELATED: The 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey of 2021]
Best of the Best
Lorena’s · Maplewood (North Jersey)
Stage Left Steak · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
410 Bank Street · Cape May (South Jersey)
Best New Restaurant
Chutzpah Kitchen · Maplewood (North Jersey)
The Waterfront · Forked River (Central Jersey)
Kuo Social · Robbinsville (South Jersey)
American | New American
Ariane Kitchen & Bar (now closed) · Verona (North Jersey)
B2 Bistro · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
The Ark Pub & Eatery · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Asian Fusion
Ani Ramen · Montclair (North Jersey)
Taka · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Xina · Toms River (South Jersey)
Bagels
Hot Bagels Abroad · Bloomfield, Clifton, Montclair, South Orange (North Jersey)
The Bagel Nook · Freehold (Central Jersey)
Baron’s Bagels · Point Pleasant (South Jersey)
Bakery
Calandra’s Bakery · Caldwell, Fairfield, Newark (North Jersey)
Del Ponte’s Bakery · Bradley Beach (Central Jersey)
Mueller’s Bakery · Bay Head (South Jersey)
Bang for the Buck
Anthony’s Cheesecake · Bloomfield (North Jersey)
Old Man Rafferty’s · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
Surf Taco · Multiple locations (South Jersey)
Bar Scene
Ariane Kitchen & Bar (now closed) · Verona (North Jersey)
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Martell’s Tiki Bar · Point Pleasant (South Jersey)
Barbecue
Mighty Quinn’s · Clifton (North Jersey)
Local Smoke BBQ · Cookstown, Highlands, Neptune City, Red Bank, Seaside Heights (Central Jersey)
Hickory Hog · Point Pleasant (South Jersey)
Beer Selection
Cloverleaf Tavern · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Crab’s Claw Inn · Lavallette (South Jersey)
Breakfast
Turning Point · Multiple locations (North Jersey)
PJ’s Pancake House · Princeton (Central Jersey)
Chicken or the Egg · Beach Haven (South Jersey)
Brew Pub
Trap Rock · Berkeley Heights (North Jersey)
Triumph · Princeton (Central Jersey)
Artisan’s · Toms River (South Jersey)
Brunch
Turning Point · Multiple locations (North Jersey)
Molly Pitcher Inn · Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Mad Batter · Cape May (South Jersey)
Burger
Arthur’s Tavern · Morris Plains (North Jersey)
Stage Left Steak · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
The Ark Pub · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Caterer
Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Joe Leone’s · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
Washington Inn · Cape May (South Jersey)
Chain Restaurant
Cheesecake Factory
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Shake Shack
Cheese Steak
Clover Leaf Tavern · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Hoagie Haven · Princeton (Central Jersey)
White House Subs · Atlantic City (South Jersey)
Chinese
Hunan Taste · Denville (North Jersey)
Kuo Social · Robbinsville (Central Jersey)
Xina · Toms River (South Jersey)
Coffee | Tea Bar
Bluestone Coffee · Montclair (North Jersey)
Rook Coffee Roasters · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
Lava Java · Lavallette (South Jersey)
Deli (Italian-Style)
Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Dolce & Clemente’s · Robbinsville (Central Jersey)
White House Sub Shop · Atlantic City (South Jersey)
Deli (Kosher-Style)
Eppes Essen Deli · Livingston (North Jersey)
Harold’s · Edison (Central Jersey)
Irv & Karen’s Hot Pastrami · Brick (South Jersey)
Desserts
Calandra’s Bakery · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Catherine Lombardi · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
La Scala Italian Pastry Shop · Toms River (South Jersey)
Diner
Prestige Diner · New Providence (North Jersey)
Rainbow Diner Restaurant · Brick (Central Jersey)
Mastoris Diner · Bordentown (South Jersey)
French
Faubourg · Montclair (North Jersey)
Pascal & Sabine · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
410 Bank Street · Cape May (South Jersey)
German | Austro-Hungarian
Black Forest Inn Stanhope (North Jersey)
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Mickey & Minnie’s Inn Egg Harbor City (South Jersey)
Greek
Stamna Taverna · Bloomfield, Little Falls (North Jersey)
Pithari Taverna · Highland Park (Central Jersey)
George’s Place · Cape May (South Jersey)
Hot Dog
Rutt’s Hut · Clifton (North Jersey)
Windmill · Belmar, Long Branch, Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Dawgtown Dogs · Rio Grande (South Jersey)
Ice Cream
Applegate Farm · Montclair (North Jersey)
Hoffman’s · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
Nicholas Creamery · Atlantic Highlands (South Jersey)
Indian
Brick Lane Curry House · Montclair (North Jersey)
Aarzu · Freehold (Central Jersey)
Aamantran · Toms River (South Jersey)
Italian
Gourmet Cafe · Parsippany (North Jersey)
Catherine Lombardi · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
Spano’s · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Japanese
Ani Ramen · Multiple locations (North Jersey)
Taka · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Ikko · Brick (South Jersey)
Latin American | Caribbean
Cuban Pete’s · Montclair (North Jersey)
Barrio Costero · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
410 Bank Street · Cape May (South Jersey)
Lunch
Calandra’s il Vecchio Cafe · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Turning Point · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
Blue Pig Tavern · Cape May (South Jersey)
Mexican
Casa Maya · Gillette (North Jersey)
El Meson · Freehold (Central Jersey)
Cinco De Mayo · Toms River (South Jersey)
Middle Eastern | Turkish
Chutzpah Kitchen · Maplewood (North Jersey)
Reyla · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Falafel Brothers · Brick (South Jersey)
Pizza
Star Tavern · Orange (North Jersey)
Federici’s · Freehold (Central Jersey)
Denino’s Pizza Place · Aberdeen, Manahawkin, Brick (South Jersey)
Romantic
Faubourg · Montclair (North Jersey)
Catherine Lombardi · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
Charlie’s of Bay Head · Bay Head (South Jersey)
Seafood
H2Ocean · Cedar Knolls (North Jersey)
Blue Point Grill · Princeton (Central Jersey)
Lobster House · Cape May (South Jersey)
Soup | Salad | Sandwich
Millburn Deli · Millburn, Montclair, Morristown (North Jersey)
Toast · Asbury Park, Montclair, Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Barry’s Do Me a Flavor · Beach Haven (South Jersey)
Southeast Asian | Thai
A Taste of Asia · Chatham (North Jersey)
Bamboo Leaf · Bradley Beach (Central Jersey)
A Little Thai Kitchen · Cherry Hill (South Jersey)
Southern | Soul Food
Sandi’s Soul Food · Morristown (North Jersey)
Rajin Cajun · Belmar (Central Jersey)
Corinne’s Place · Camden (South Jersey)
Spanish | Portuguese
Don Pepe’s · Newark (North Jersey)
Malaga · Hamilton Township (Central Jersey)
Europa South (now closed) · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Steak
Roots Steakhouse · Morristown, Princeton, Ridgewood, Summit (North Jersey)
Stage Left Steak · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
Prime 13 · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Vegetarian
Veggie Heaven · Denville, Montclair, Teaneck (North Jersey)
Good Karma Vegan Café · Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Green Cuisine · Stone Harbor (South Jersey)
Wine List
Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen · Morristown (North Jersey)
Nicholas · Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Washington Inn · Cape May (South Jersey)
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