This article was last updated on March 23, 2023. It was originally published on January 14, 2019.
In recent years, Morristown has turned its long downtown thoroughfare (South Street, extending past the Morristown Green to Washington Street), from a scattering of small shops and minor eateries into one of the most vibrant Restaurant Rows in northern New Jersey. Its craft beer scene is a strong point. Add the rest of downtown, and your choice of cuisines, price points and atmospheres are multiplied.
Here are our top picks for the best restaurants in Morristown—one of our favorite restaurant towns in New Jersey—in alphabetical order.
1776 by David Burke
Burke, the Hazlet-raised commander of six New Jersey restaurants, in November planted his flag on the historic Morristown Green. (The restaurant made our Best New Restaurants list in February 2022.) The dramatic, high-ceilinged space often thumps with deejayed music. (The Topgolf suites down the hall are inaudible.) The menu matches the ambiance: assertive pastas, pizzas and seafood; Burke’s patented salt-aged beef; his chili-strafed Hipster Fries and marshmallow-filled cookie sliders that may slide into your dreams. —K.T. Harrison
67 East Park Place, 973-829-1776
Blue Morel
Indulge in the sea bass at Blue Morel. Courtesy of Blue Morel
Located in the Westin Governor Morris Hotel, the upscale Blue Morel is about a mile from the Morristown Green, the park that represents the center of town, but has plenty of parking and a veteran kitchen team led by chefs Dennis Matthews and Thomas Ciszak. The dinner menu is largely New American, with a sushi section and raw bar.
2 Whippany Road; 973-451-2619
Committed Pig
A pork roll sandwich is one of the many sammies on the menu at the Committed Pig. Courtesy of the Committed Pig
Burgers rule at the Committed Pig—there are a dozen to choose from. Also popular are the grilled cheese sandwiches, egg dishes, pancakes, pork roll sandwiches and a kids menu. BYO.
28 West Park Place; 862-260-9292
Famished Frog
This craft beer bar, with live music on Fridays and Saturdays, offers burgers, flatbreads, wings, salads, entrées and daily specials. It adjoins with Hops, which offers an even wider selection of craft beers along with a smaller menu.
18 Washington Street; 973-540-9601
Grasshopper off the Green
A classic Irish pub, Grasshopper off the Green has a bar and flatscreens downstairs and a dining room upstairs. Menu highlights include shepherd’s pie, bangers & mash, and fish & chips, plus quesadillas, salads and American dishes.
41-43 Morris Street; 973-285-5150
Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen
Occupying the renovated 1918 Vail Mansion, Jockey Hollow has made New Jersey Monthly’s list of Best Restaurants every year since it opened in 2014. Overall, the menu is New American with a specialty in exceptional pastas. The wine and beer lists offer unusual value and variety, and cocktails are excellent.
110 South Street; 973-644-3180
Inspiration Roll
Fresh ingredients, with many choices of add-ons, characterize this casual spot offering poke bowls (fish over rice or salad) or poke burritos, as well as unusually good ramen bowls brimming with rich broth, high-quality noodles and generous amounts of meat and vegetables. BYO.
40 South Park Place; 973-998-9449
Mehndi
The Mehtani family, award-winning restaurateurs, present a high-quality Indian a la carte menu and a lunch buffet at Mehndi in the Headquarters Plaza Building.
3 Speedwell Avenue; 973-871-2323
[RELATED: The 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey]
The Office Tavern Grill
The Office Tavern Grill offers dishes like maple- and chili-glazed salmon with parsnip puree and apple-and-fennel relish. Courtesy of The Office Tavern Grill
A large craft beer selection is one of the draws at the handsomely redesigned restaurant (formerly the Office Beer Bar & Grill). There are excellent salads and a solid menu of American favorites, from burgers to flatbreads, wings, entrées and changing regional specialties.
3 South Street; 973-285-0220
Pierogies House
Potato pancakes are on the menu at the delectable Pierogies House. Courtesy of Pierogies House
Chef/owner Evelina Berc brings the hearty and affordable cooking of Poland, her home country, to soul-stirring life at Pierogies House. The plump pierogies, with a variety of filings, are the heart of the small menu. But the kielbasa is unusually good, and the hearty soups are not to be missed. BYO.
45 Morris Street; 973-432-8270
Roots Steakhouse
Like its sister restaurants in Ridgewood and Summit, Morristown’s Roots is an upscale enclave specializing in prime beef, including dry-aged cuts. There’s also seafood entrées and a bevy of classic steakhouse sides.
40 West Park Place; 973-326-1800
SM23
Cocktails at SM23 are top-notch. Courtesy of SM23
Having met an inspirational mixologist on a trip to Australia, Shaun Mehtani opened this sophisticated bar and lounge, with a good small plates menu, on his 23rd birthday. Hence the name SM23. A DJ spins tunes on weekends.
3 Speedwell Avenue; 973-871-2323
South + Pine
A seasonal salmon dish at South + Pine makes for a tasty dinner option. Courtesy of South + Pine
A Bobby Flay protégé, who ran several of his top kitchens, chef Leia Gaccione has proven herself a star in her own right with this casual American eatery where the food is relatable, affordable and always touched with imagination and detail that lifts it into super-deliciousness. BYO.
90 South Street; 862-260-9700
Stirling Tavern
Pan-seared scallops with Thai coconut black rice make for a beautiful dish at Stirling Tavern. Photo courtesy of Stirling Tavern
From the owners of the landmark Stirling Hotel, the Stirling Tavern offers upscale tavern food and excellent burgers in a vibrant, modern space. The bar boasts a creative cocktail menu and a relevant draft list, with local breweries that are often hosted for special beer dinner events.
150 South Street; 973-993-8066
Tashmoo
Opened in 2006 at the beginning of Morristown’s restaurant renaissance, Tashmoo offers a well-stocked bar, a bevy of craft beers, excellent burgers, a menu of American favorites, and a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.
8 Dehart Street; 973-998-6133
TOWN Bar + Kitchen
Slightly off the beaten path opposite the Morristown train station, this sleek, comfortable, two-level restaurant offers contemporary American fare and an extensive wine list. The dinner menu includes a raw bar, charcuterie plates and a range of entrées, including potato gnocchi with pesto, lobster puttanesca and marinated flank steak. Check out the upstairs patio year-round.
80 Elm Street; 973-889-8696