Readers’ and Critics’ Choice – Restaurant Poll Winners 2008

Our critics do a lot of eating, and every August we look back and share the best of the best with you. And you do the same by voting in our Annual Readers' Choice Restaurant Poll. Discover which restaurants we honored and which are your favorites.

By Daniel Loughmiller | | July 10, 2008

 

Here are the results of our 25th Annual Readers’ Choice Restaurant Poll, which were tabulated by PricewaterhouseCoopers in Florham Park. The winning restaurant in each of three regions (North, Central, and South), received the majority vote in its category; 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 Salvatore Manente of Secaucus. He will receive a gift certificate to Scalini Fedeli in Chatham, the restaurant chosen as the Best of the Best in the North.

key:  north    central      south    critics’ picks

BEST OF THE BEST
Scalini Fedeli, Chatham
Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick
410 Bank Street, Cape May
See Top 25 Critics’ Picks

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
north Rare, Little Falls
central Daryl Wine Bar & Restaurant, New Brunswick
central Lucky Bones, Cape May
critics choice Ox, Jersey City;
Daryl, New Brunswick; Hotoke, New Brunswick; Blackbird, Collingswood

BEST UPSCALE DINING
north Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
central Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick
central 410 Bank Street, Cape May
critics choice Lorena’s, Maplewood;
Nicholas, Middletown; Blackbird, Collingswood

BEST WINE LIST
north Park & Orchard, Rutherford
central Stage Left, New Brunswick
central Washington Inn, Cape May
critics choice Restaurant Latour at Crystal Springs, Hamburg; Pluckemin Inn, Bedminster; Bobby Flay Steak, Atlantic City

 

MOST ROMANTIC
north Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
central Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick
central Washington Inn, Cape May
critics choice Arthur’sLanding, Weehawken; Frog andthe Peach, New Brunswick; Chef Vola,Atlantic City

 

BEST FAMILY DINING
north Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse, Chatham
central Bertucci’s, North Brunswick
central Lucky Bones, Cape May
critics choice Cavallo’s, Nutley; Blue Pig Tavern, Cape May


BEST BAR SCENE
north Martini, Millburn
centralRed, Red Bank
central Tomatoes, Margate
44 Light Horse Tavern, Jersey City; Egan & Sons, Montclair; Red, Red Bank; Atlantic City Bar and Grill, Atlantic City


BEST RAW BAR
north Copeland, Morristown
central Ashes, Red Bank
central Lobster, Cape May
critics choice Copeland, Morristown;
Blue Point Grill, Princeton; Dock’s Oyster House, Atlantic City


BEST BRUNCH
north The Terrace, Short Hills
central Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank
central Mad Batter, Cape May
critics choice Verjus, Maplewood;
The Terrace, Short Hills;
Mad Batter, Cape May

 

BEST LUNCH
north Raymond’s, Montclair;
central Sea Shack, Hackensack
central Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick
critics choice Lucky Bones, Cape May
Raymond’s, Montclair;
Next Door, Montclair


BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK
north Park & Orchard, Rutherford
central Drewby’s Grill Pub, Manville
central Louisa’s, Cape May
critics choice Arturo’s, Maplewood;
Next Door, Montclair;
Champa Laos, Cherry Hill


BEST SOUP SALAD/SANDWHICHES
north Atlanta Bread Co., Clifton
central Panera Bread, North Brunswick
central Depot Market, Cape May
critics choice C’est Cheese, Morristown; Olives, Princeton


BEST DELI, KOSHER STYLE
north Millburn Deli, Millburn
central Harold’s New York Deli, Edison
central Kibitz Room, Cherry Hill
critics choice Millburn Deli, Millburn; Harold’s New York Deli, Edison


BEST DELI, ITALIAN STYLE
north DiCosmo’s, Clark
central Zappia’s Gourmet Deli, Summit
central Mulberry Street, Brick
critics choice Lisa’s,Hoboken; Severino Pasta Mfg. Co.,Collingswood

BEST DINER
north Tick Tock, Clifton
central Summit Diner, Summit
central Rio Grande Diner,Rio Grande;
critics choice State Street Grill, Bloomfield
Summit Diner, Summit;
Seville Diner, East Brunswick; Mastoris, Bordentown


BEST BURGER
north White, Hackensack
central Stage Left New Brunswick
central Lucky, Cape May
critics choice Next Door, Montclair;
Five Guys, Voorhees; Frankie’s Bar and Grill,
Point Pleasant Beach


BEST BARBECUE
north Indigo Smoke, Montclair
central The Original Big Ed’s BBQ, Old Bridge
central Famous Dave’s, Brick
critics choice Indigo Smoke, Montclair and Maplewood; Bourbon Barbecue, Wyckoff


BEST HOT DOG
north Rutt’s Hut, Clifton
central Max’s Hot Dogs, Long Branch
central Hot Dog Tommy’s, Cape May
critics choice Amazing Hot Dog, Bound Brook; Junior’s Donuts and Dogs, Margate


BEST CHEESESTEAK
north Manny’s, Moonachie
central Italian Village, Plainfield
central White House Sub Shop, Atlantic City
critics choice Beyond Pita, Montclair


BEST COFFE/TEA BAR
north Rockn’ Joe, Cranford
centralNo e, Red Bank
central MagicBrain CyberCafe, Wildwood
critics choice Small World Coffee, Princeton; Zena’s Patisserie, Riverton.


BEST BAKERY
north Carlo’s Bake Shop, Hoboken
central Mendoker’s Bakery, Jamesburg
central McMillan’s, Westmont
critics choice Balthazar, Englewood; Gina’s Panificio, Montclair; Witherspoon Bread Co.,Princeton; Formica Bros, Atlantic City


BEST ICECREAM
north Applegate Farm, Montclair
central Polar Cub, Whitehouse Station
central Hoffman’s, Point Pleasant
critics choice Holsten’s, Bloomfield;
Bent Spoon, Princeton


BEST AMERICAN
north Stage House Restaurant & Wine Bar, Scotch Plains
central Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick
central Union Park Restaurant, Cape May
critics choice Village Green, Ridgewood; Huntley Taverne, Summit; Brandl, Belmar; David’s on Main, Moorestown


BEST CARIBBEAN
north La Isla Restaurant, Hoboken
central Sister Sue’s Restaurant, Asbury Park
central 410 Bank Street, Cape May
critics choice Drew’s Bayshore Bistro, Keyport; Casona, Collingswood


BEST CHINESE
north Chengdu 46, Clifton
central Seafood Empire, North Brunswick
central Cape Orient, Cape May
critics choice Chef 81, Lake Hiawatha; Hunan Cottage, Fairfield;
Ya Ya Noodles, Skillman


BEST FRENCH
north Chez Catherine, Westfield
central David Burke Fromagerie, Rumson
central 410 Bank Street, Cape May
critics choice Verjus, Maplewood;
Lorena’s, Maplewood


BEST INDIAN
north Raagini, Mountainside
central Neelam, Middletown
central Gagan Bistro, Marlton
critics choice Mantra, Paramus; Coriander, Voorhees; Mehndi, Morristown


BEST ITALIAN
north Scalini Fedeli, Chatham
central Catherine Lombardi Restaurant, New Brunswick
central Frescos, Cape May
critics choice Osteria Giotto, Montclair; Ristorante da Benito, Union; Angelo’s Fairmount Tavern, Atlantic City


BEST JAPANESE
north Sushi House of Hoboken, Hoboken
central Arirang Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, Sayreville
central Tokyo Japanese Restaurant, Rio Grande
critics choice Tomo’s Cuisine, Little Falls; Shumi, Somerville;
Fuji, Haddonfield


BEST PIZZA
north Reservoir Tavern, Parsippany
central Pete & Elda’s, Neptune
central Louie’sPizza, Cape May
critics choice StarTavern, Orange; Pete & Elda’s, Neptune;La Casa Bianca, Whitehouse;Mack and Manco’s, OceanCity; Tacconelli’s, Maple Shade


BEST SEAFOOD
north Sea Shack, Hackensack
central Doris & Ed’s, Highlands
central 410 Bank Street, Cape May
critics choiceVarka, Ramsey; Stamna, Bloomfield; Dune, Margate


BEST MIDDLE EASTERN
north Sultan, Clifton
central 7 Hills Of Istanbul, Highland Park
central Oasis Grill, Cherry Hill
critics choice Teaneck Kebab House, Teaneck


BEST SOUTHEAST ASIAN/THAI
north Splash of Thai, Westfield
central Origin, Somerville
central Siri’s Thai French Cuisine & Patisserie, Cherry Hill
critics choice Viet Ai, Florham Park; Penang, Maple Shade
BEST SOUTH AMERICAN/MEXICAN
north Senorita’s Mexican Grill, Bloomfield
central Casa Comida, Long Branch
central Gecko’s, Cape May
critics choice Cucharamama, Hoboken; Tortuga’s Mexican Village, Princeton; Mexico, AtlanticCity; Tortilla Press, Collingswood; TortillaPress Cantina, Pennsauken


BEST SPANISH/PORTUGUESE/TAPAS
north Fornos of Spain, Newark
central Bistro Olé, Asbury Park
central Europa South, Point Pleasant
critics choice Bistro Olé, Asbury Park


BEST STEAK
north Rod’s Steak & Seafood Grille, Morristown
central Stage Left, New Brunswick
central 410 Bank Street, Cape May
critics choice Edward’s Steak House, Jersey City; South City Prime, Little Falls; Morton’s, Hackensack; Roots Steak House, Summit


BEST VEGETARIAN
north Park & Orchard, East Rutherford
central Down To Earth, Red Bank
central Bella Vida Garden Café, West Cape May
critics choice Udupi Village, Montclair; Park & Orchard, East Rutherford; Piquant Bread Bar, New Brunswick

 

Plus, don’t miss our critics’ choices for the 25 overall best restaurants in New Jersey.

 

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