The results of our 43rd annual Readers’ Choice Restaurant Poll are in. They showcase New Jersey Monthly readers’ picks for their favorite places to eat, by category, in New Jersey.
The winning restaurants in each category received the most votes in their region—North (Ⓝ), Central (Ⓒ) or South (Ⓢ) Jersey. Ballots from duplicate email or IP addresses were disqualified. Editorial discretion was used when votes were cast for restaurants that, in our judgment, belonged in another category.
We have also added our critics’ picks (★) for the top restaurants in the various poll categories, which were chosen by New Jersey Monthly‘s editors and restaurant critics.
Qualified entrants were eligible to win our random drawing for a dinner for two at a winning restaurant in their region. Congrats to our winner, Edward Coleman!
Best of the Best
Ⓝ Summit House, Summit
Ⓒ Stage Left Steak, Woodbridge
Ⓢ The Ebbitt Room, Cape May
Best New Restaurant
Ⓝ The Morris Proper, Morristown
Ⓒ Xina, Bradley Beach
Ⓢ Revell Hall, Burlington
★ Clementia, Montclair
★ Warique, Belleville
★ Aubrey’s Corner, Summit
American | New American
Ⓝ 1776 Morristown, Morristown
Ⓒ Uproot, Warren
Ⓢ Boatyard 401, Point Pleasant Beach
★ Agricola, Morristown, Princeton
★ The Frog & The Peach, New Brunswick
★ Orchard Park by David Burke, North Brunswick
★ Bistro by Chef Bass, Point Pleasant Beach
Asian Fusion
Ⓝ Aikou, Morristown, Flemington, Warren
Ⓒ Teak, Red Bank
ⒸⓈ Xina, Bradley Beach, Toms River
★ Cellar 335, Jersey City
★ Roosterspin, Westfield, New Brunswick
Bagels
Ⓝ Hot Bagels Abroad, Bloomfield
ⓃⒸ O’Bagel, multiple locations
Ⓢ Baron’s Bagels, Brick, Point Pleasant
★ Bagels By Jarrett, West Orange
★ Sunrise Bagels, Montclair
★ The Bagel Shop, North Cape May
Bakery
Ⓝ Calandra’s Bakery, Caldwell, Fairfield, Newark
Ⓒ Hey Peach Bakery, Bradley Beach
Ⓢ Mueller’s Bakery, Bay Head
★ Gencarelli’s Bakery, Bloomfield
★ NinaLou Patisserie, Chester
★ Kapodokya Turkish Bakery, New Brunswick
Bang for the Buck
ⓃⒸ The Committed Pig, Morristown, Summit, Manasquan
Ⓒ Old Man Rafferty’s, Hillsborough Township, New Brunswick
Ⓢ Surf Taco, multiple locations
★ Saigon Subs & Café, Morristown
★ The Chat & Nibble, Asbury Park
Bar Scene
Ⓝ Calandra’s Italian Village, Caldwell
Ⓒ Uproot, Warren
Ⓢ The Brown Room, Cape May
★ 1776 Morristown, Morristown
★ Madison Modern Social, Old Bridge
★ Byrdcage, Atlantic City
Barbecue
Ⓝ Brothers Smokehouse BBQ & Soul, Ramsey
Ⓒ Mutiny BBQ Company, Asbury Park
ⒸⓈ Local Smoke BBQ, multiple locations
★ Smokin Mo’s Southern BBQ, Sandyston
★ J.Bone’s Barbecue, Westfield
Beer Selection
Ⓝ Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell
Ⓒ Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
Ⓢ The Ark Pub & Eatery, Lavallette
★ Tommy’s Tavern + Tap, multiple locations
★ The Stirling Hotel, Stirling
★ HOB Tavern, Bordentown
Breakfast
ⓃⒸ Toast City Diner, multiple locations
Ⓒ The Buttered Biscuit, Bradley Beach
ⓃⒸⓈ Turning Point, multiple locations
★ Perch Home Café, Maplewood
★ Edie’s Luncheonette, Little Silver
★ Café Lift, Haddonfield
Brew Pub
Ⓝ Trap Rock Restaurant & Brewery, Berkeley Heights
Ⓒ Triumph Brewing Company, Princeton, Red Bank
Ⓢ MudHen Brewing Co., Wildwood
★ Descendants Brewing Company at the Old Ship Inn, Milford
★ Beach Haus Brewery, Belmar
★ Double Nickel Brewing Company, Pennsauken
Brunch
ⓃⒸⓈ Turning Point, multiple locations
Ⓒ Cross + Orange, Asbury Park
Ⓢ The Mad Batter, Cape May
★ Farm & Flour, Franklin Lakes
★ Butter & Jam, Madison
★ Blue Café, Basking Ridge
Burger
Ⓝ Arthur’s Tavern, Morris Plains
Ⓒ Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
Ⓢ The Ark Pub & Eatery, Point Pleasant Beach
★ Steve’s Burgers, Garfield
★ Bovine Burgers, Jamesburg
★ Little Andy’s Burgers, Asbury Park
Caterer
Ⓝ Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli, Caldwell
Ⓒ Brennan’s Delicatessen, Rumson, Oakhurst, Middletown
ⒸⓈ Joe Leone’s, Manasquan, Point Pleasant Beach
★ Tia’s Food of Love, Verona
★ John’s Deli and Italian Bistro, Bloomfield
★ Porta Rossa Pasta & Provisions, Maplewood
Chain Restaurant
ⓃⒸⓈ The Capital Grille, multiple locations
ⓃⒸⓈ Cheesecake Factory, multiple locations
ⓃⒸⓈ Jersey Mike’s Subs, multiple locations
Cheese Steak
Ⓝ Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell
Ⓒ Hoagie Haven, Princeton
Ⓢ White House Subs, Atlantic City
★ Cheessteaks, multiple locations
★ Palmer’s Quality Meats, Neptune City
★ CheeseSteak Louie’s, Seaside Heights
Chinese
Ⓝ Hunan Taste, Denville, Montclair
Ⓒ Peking Pavilion, Manalapan
Ⓢ Chen’s Garden, North Cape May
★ Chengdu 23, Wayne
★ New Bill & Harry, West Orange
Coffee | Tea Bar (non-chain)
Ⓝ Paper Plane Coffee Co., Montclair
Ⓒ Booskerdoo, multiple locations
ⒸⓈ Rook, multiple locations
★ Pour City Roasters, Franklin Lakes
★ Kyber Coffee & Tea House, New Brunswick
★ Steady Hand Cafe, Bradley Beach
Deli (Italian-Style)
Ⓝ Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli, Caldwell
Ⓒ Taliercio’s Ultimate Gourmet, Red Bank
ⒸⓈ Joe Leone’s, Mansquan, Point Pleasant Beach
★ Anthony & Sons, Denville, Succasunna
★ Belgiovine’s Italian Deli, Montclair
★ A & S Fine Foods, Nutley
Deli (Kosher-Style)
Ⓝ Eppes Essen Deli & Restaurant, Livingston
Ⓒ Harold’s New York Deli, Edison
Ⓢ The Kibitz Room, Cherry Hill
★ Hobby’s Deli, Newark
★ Nana’s Deli, Jersey City, Livingston
Desserts
Ⓝ Anthony’s Cheesecake, Bloomfield
Ⓒ Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
Ⓢ Washington Inn, Cape May
★ Kirshenbaum Baking Company, Westwood, Morristown
★ Labebe Prime, North Brunswick
★ Holiday Snack Bar, Beach Haven
Diner
Ⓝ Prestige Diner, New Providence
Ⓒ Blue Swan Diner, Oakhurst
Ⓢ Rainbow Diner, Brick
★ Summit Diner, Summit
★ High Point Diner, East Brunswick
★ Vincetown Diner, Burlington
French
ⓃFaubourg, Montclair, Weehawken
ⒸPascal & Sabine, Asbury Park
Ⓢ 410 Bank Street, Cape May
★ Sophie’s Bistro, Somerset
★ Chez Frites, Atlantic City
★ Maison Bleue, Cape May
German | Austro-Hungarian
Ⓝ Black Forest Inn, Stanhope
Ⓒ Blue Danube, Trenton
Ⓢ Sebastian’s Schnitzelhaus, Wrightstown
Greek
Ⓝ Stamna Greek Taverna, Bloomfield
Ⓒ The Greek Spot, Red Bank
Ⓢ George’s Place, Cape May
★ Mykos, North Vale
★ Naxos Estiatorio, Woodland Park
Hot Dog
Ⓝ Rutt’s Hut, Clifton
Ⓒ Destination Dogs, New Brunswick
Ⓢ The Original Hot Dog Factory, Vorhees
★ Jimmy Buff’s, West Orange, Kenilworth
★ Max’s Bar & Grill, Long Branch
★ Maui’s Dog House, Wildwood
Ice Cream
Ⓝ Applegate Farm, Montclair
Ⓒ Bent Spoon, Princeton
ⒸⓈ Hoffman’s Ice Cream & Yogurt, Spring Lake, Point Pleasant Beach
★ Curly’s Ice Cream, Riverdale
★ Cookman Creamery, Asbury Park
★ Melba’s Creamery, Lawrenceville
Indian
Ⓝ Basil Indian & Thai Grill, Montclair
Ⓒ Aarzu, Freehold
Ⓢ Aamantran Indian Cuisine, Toms River
★ Dhamaal, Montclair
★ Moghul Restaurant, Edison
★ Chatpati Delhi, Franklin Park
Italian
Ⓝ Luigino’s Parmigiana, Fairfield
Ⓒ Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
Ⓢ Spano’s Ristorante Italiano, Point Pleasant Beach
★ Bar Mutz, Ridgewood
★ Il Capriccio, Whippany
★ Cafe 2825, Atlantic City
Japanese
Ⓝ Shumi, Leonia, Ridgewood
Ⓒ Taka, Asbury Park
Ⓢ Ikko, Brick
★ Kenko Sushi, Lincoln Park
★ Kim’s Sushi, West Orange
★ Mr. Pi’s, Highland Park
Latin American | Caribbean
Ⓝ Cuban Pete’s, Montclair
Ⓒ Barrio Costero, Asbury Park
Ⓢ 410 Bank Street, Cape May
★ Parriyas, West New York
★ La Churreria, Union City
★ O Cook Shop, East Orange
Lunch
Ⓝ Raymond’s, Ridgewood, Montclair
ⓃⒸ Toast City Diner, multiple locations
Ⓢ Blue Pig Tavern, Cape May
★ Kumar Soni, Iselin
★ La Esperanza, Lindenwold
★ Aunt Chubby’s Luncheonette, Hopewell
Mexican
Ⓝ Orale, Jersey City
ⓃⒸ Meximodo, Jersey City, Metuchen
Ⓢ El Pueblo Taqueria, North Cape May
★ Bitol, Clifton
★ Agave, Flemington
★ Emilio’s Kitchen, Atlantic Highlands, Belmar
Middle Eastern | Turkish
Ⓝ Zeugma Mediterranean Grill, Montclair
Ⓒ Reyla, Asbury Park
Ⓢ Li Beirut, Collingswood
★ Dayi’nin Yeri, Cliffside Park
★ Al Basha, Paterson
★ Evelyn’s, New Brunswick
Pizza
Ⓝ Star Tavern, Orange
Ⓒ Vic’s, Bradley Beach
ⒸⓈ Denino’s Pizzeria & Tavern, Brick, Aberdeen
★ Kinchley’s, Ramsey
★ The Corner Slice, Maplewood
★ Manco & Manco, Ocean City
Romantic
Ⓝ Matisse 167, Rutherford
Ⓒ Uproot, Warren
Ⓢ Charlie’s of Bay Head, Bay Head
★ Serenade, Chatham
★ Rat’s, Hamilton
★ Primal, Cape May
Seafood
Ⓝ Halcyon, Montclair
Ⓒ Bahrs Landing, Highlands
Ⓢ The Lobster House, Cape May
★ Dockside Market & Grill, Flemington
★ Harvey Cedars Shellfish Co., Harvey Cedars
★ Oyster Creek Restaurant and Boat Bar, Leeds Point
Soup | Salad | Sandwich
ⓃⒸ Millburn Deli, multiple locations
Ⓒ Frank’s Deli & Restaurant, Asbury Park
Ⓢ The Break Board Plus, Haddonfield
★ Red Eye Café, Montclair
★ Olivia’s, Maplewood
★ Farm Barn Café, Hillsborough
Southeast Asian | Thai
Ⓝ A Taste of Asia, Chatham
ⒸBamboo Leaf Thai Eatery, Bradley Beach
Ⓢ A Little Thai Kitchen, Cherry Hill
★ Wyckoff Thai, Wyckoff
★ Ricky’s Thai, Bernardsville, Skillman, Hillsborough
★ Filipino Foodmart, Colonia
Southern | Soul Food
Ⓝ Sweet T’s, Montclair
Ⓒ Ragin Cajun, Belmar
Ⓢ Kelsey’s, Atlantic City
★ Red White & Que Smokehouse, Green Brook
★ 1911 Smoke House Barbeque, Trenton
Spanish | Portuguese
Ⓝ Fornos of Spain, Newark
Ⓒ Lita, Aberdeen
Ⓢ Spanish Potato Grill, Brick
★ Mompou Tapas Bar, Newark
Steak
ⓃⒸ Roots Steakhouse, multiple locations
Ⓒ Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
Ⓢ Old Homestead, Atlantic City
★ Capon’s Chophouse, Hackensack
★ River Palm Terrace, Edgewater
★ Steakhouse 85, New Brunswick
Vegetarian | Vegan
Ⓝ The Café Metro, Denville
Ⓒ Good Karma Café, Red Bank
Ⓢ Naked Lunch, Cherry Hill
★ Gaia & Loki, Jersey City
Wine List
Ⓝ Lu Nello, Cedar Grove
Ⓒ Ninety Acres, Peapack
Ⓢ Washington Inn, Cape May
★Restaurant Latour, Hamburg
★The Chophouse, Gibbsboro
