The results of our 35th Annual Jersey Choice Restaurant Poll are in. Balloting took place online throughout the month of February. The winning restaurant in each region—North (N), Central (C) and South (S)—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 have also added our critics’ picks (★).
Best of the Best
N: Fascino, Montclair
C: Nicholas, Red Bank
S: Ohana Grill, Lavallette
★ See our Top 30 Best Restaurants of 2018
Best New Restaurant
N: Summit House, Summit
C: Reyla, Asbury Park
S: Angeline, Atlantic City
★ See our 25 Best New Restaurants of 2018
American | New American
N: Summit House, Summit
C: Nicholas, Red Bank
S: Chef Mike’s ABG, Seaside Park
★ 17 Summer, Lodi
★ A Toute Heure, Cranford
★ Brick Farm Tavern, Hopewell
★ James on Main, Hackettstown
★ Juniper Hill, Clinton
★ The Kitchen Step, Jersey City
★ South and Pine, Morristown
Asian Fusion
N: Ani Ramen, Montclair
C: Teak, Red Bank
S: Buddakan, Atlantic City
★ Wabi Sabi, Bloomfield
Bagels
N: Goldberg’s Famous Deli, Millburn
C: Bagel Masters, Shrewsbury
S: Baron’s Bagels, Point Pleasant
★ Hot Bagels Abroad, Montclair
Bakery
N: Calandra’s, Multiple locations
C: Flaky Tart, Atlantic Highlands
S: Mueller’s Bakery, Bay Head
★ Able Baker, Maplewood
★ Balthazar, Englewood
★ Gina’s, Montclair
★ Hainesville General Store, Hainesville
★ McMillan’s, Westmont
★ Palazzone 1960, Wayne
The classic Surf Taco. Photo by Maryrose Mullen
Bang for the Buck
N: Cucina Calandra, Fairfield
C: Old Man Rafferty’s, New Brunswick, Hillsborough
C/S: Surf Taco, Multiple locations
★ The Duke and Elephant, Martinsville
★ Kitchen 519, Glendora
★ Red Store, Cape May Point
Bar Scene
N: Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell
C: Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Asbury Park
S: Brown Room, Cape May
★ Charlie’s of Bay Head, Bay Head
★ The Crosby, Montclair
★ SM23, Morristown
Barbecue
N: Red White & Que Smokehouse, Kearny
C/S: Local Smoke BBQ, Multiple locations
S: Hickory Hog, Point Pleasant
★ Bluff City BBQ, Montclair
★ Finks BBQ Smokehouse, Dumont
★ Henri’s Hotts, Hammonton
★ Minuteman Smokehouse, Morristown
★ Pulled Fork, Long Valley
★ Surfing Pig, North Wildwood
Beer Selection
N: Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell
C: Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Asbury Park
S: The Arlington, Ship Bottom
★ Amendment 21, Point Pleasant Beach
★ Firewaters (Tropicana), Atlantic City
★ Mohawk House, Sparta
★ Social 37, Toms River
★ Taphouse 15, Jefferson
Breakfast
N/C/S: Turning Point, Multiple locations
N/C: Toast, Asbury Park, Montclair, Red Bank
S: Chicken Or the Egg, Beach Haven
★ The Corner, Montclair
★ George’s Place, Cape May
★ Klotz’s Kitchen, Point Pleasant
★ Lovin’ Oven, Frenchtown
★ Plum on Park, Montclair
★ Sabrina’s Café, Collingswood
★ Sam a.m., Jersey City
★ Zoe’s Vintage Kitchen, Atlantic Highlands
Brew Pub
N: Trap Rock, Berkeley Heights
C: Triumph, Princeton
S: Artisan’s, Toms River
★ Iron Hill, Maple Shade, Voorhees
★ JJ Bitting, Woodbridge
★ Krogh’s, Sparta
★ Long Valley, Long Valley
Brunch
N/C/S: Turning Point, Multiple locations
C: Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank
S: Mad Batter, Cape May
★ Amanda’s, Hoboken
★ Avenue, Long Branch
★ The Corner, Montclair
★ Sabrina’s Café, Collingswood
Burger
N: Committed Pig, Morristown, Summit
C: Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
S: Frankie’s, Point Pleasant Beach
★ The Duke and Elephant, Martinsville
★ Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen, Morristown
★ Pour House, Westmont
★ South and Pine, Morristown
★ Windward Tavern, Brick
Voodoo shrimp at Drew’s Bayshore Bistro in Keyport. Photo by Stuart Goldenberg
Caribbean | Southern
N: Cuban Pete’s, Montclair
C: Drew’s Bayshore Bistro, Keyport
S: 410 Bank Street, Cape May
★ Corinne’s Place, Camden
★ Drew’s Bayshore Bistro, Keyport
★ Mathews, Jersey City
★ Son Cubano, West New York
★ Vital, Montclair
Caterer
N: Calandra’s, Caldwell
C: Brennan’s Delicatessen, Rumson
S: Joe Leone’s, Point Pleasant Beach, Sea Girt
Chain Restaurant
Cheesecake Factory
Bonefish Grill
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Cheese Steak
N: Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell
C: Philly’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Atlantic Highlands
S: White House Subs, Atlantic City
★ Barry’s Do Me a Flavor, Beach Haven
★ Donkey’s Place, Camden
Chinese
N: Hunan Taste, Denville
C: Temple Gourmet Chinese, Red Bank
S: Xina, Toms River
★ Cheng Du 23, Wayne
★ Han Dynasty, Cherry Hill
★ Joyce Chinese, River Edge
Coffee | Tea Bar
N: Fine Grind Coffee Bar, Little Falls
C: Rook Coffee Roasters, Multiple locations
S: Lava Java, Lavallette
★ Booskerdoo, Multiple locations
★ Local, Montclair
★ Modcup, Jersey City
Deli (Italian-Style)
N: Calandra’s, Caldwell
C: Dolce & Clemente’s, Robbinsville
C/S: Joe Leone’s Point Pleasant Beach, Sea Girt
★ Nicolo’s, Montclair
★ Piccolo’s Gastronomia, Ridgefield
★ Severino Pasta, Westmont
★ Vito’s, Hoboken
Deli (Kosher Style)
N: Deli King, Clark
C: Harold’s, Edison
S: Wolfie’s, Toms River
★ Hobby’s, Newark
Desserts
N: Calandra’s Bakery, Caldwell
C: The Bent Spoon, Princeton
S: La Scala Italian Pastry, Toms River
★ Curiosity Doughnuts, Stockton
★ Schnackenberg’s, Hoboken
★ Vanillamore, Montclair
French
N: Chez Catherine, Westfield
C: Pascal & Sabine, Asbury Park
S: 410 Bank Street, Cape May
★ Avenue, Long Branch
★ Cargot Brasserie, Princeton
★ Manon, Lambertville
★ Tablespoon Café, Cranford
Greek
N: It’s Greek To Me, Multiple locations
C: Kyma Greek Cuisine, Somerville
S: George’s Place, Cape May
★ Black Olive, Voorhees
★ Elia, East Rutherford
★ Molos, Weehawken
★ Stamna, Bloomfield, Little Falls, Lincroft
A meal from Maui’s Dog House. Photo by Maryrose Mullen
Hot Dog
N: Rutt’s Hut, Clifton
C: WindMill, Multiple locations
S: Maui’s Dog House, North Wildwood
★ Destination Dogs, New Brunswick
★ Würstbar, Jersey City
Ice Cream
N: Applegate Farm, Montclair
C/S: Hoffman’s, Multiple locations
S: Kohr’s Frozen Custard, Seaside Heights
★ Bent Spoon, Princeton
★ Bucket & Bay, Jersey City
★ Halo Pub, Princeton
★ Holsten’s, Bloomfield
★ Jefferson Dairy, Lake Hopatcong
★ Springer’s, Stone Harbor
★ Taylor’s, Chester
★ Torico, Jersey City
Indian
N: Brick Lane, Montclair
C: Neelam Exotic, Middletown
S: Aamantran, Toms River
★ Indeblue, Collingswood
★ Kinara, Edgewater
★ Mehndi, Morristown
Italian
N: Calandra’s Mediterranean, Fairfield
C: Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
S: Spano’s, Point Pleasant
★ Il Capriccio, Whippany
★ Girasole, Atlantic City
★ Guerriero’s, Morristown
★ Martorano’s, Atlantic City
★ Osteria Morini, Bernardsville
★ Park Place, Merchantville
★ Ristorante Giorgia, Rumson
★ Undici, Rumson
Japanese
N: Ani Ramen House, Montclair
C: Taka, Asbury Park
S: Xina, Toms River
★ Fuji, Haddonfield
★ Hontei, Palisades Park
★ Sagami, Collingswood
★ Shumi, Somerville, Ridgewood
★ Umeya, Cresskill
Latin American
N: Cuban Pete’s, Montclair
C: Cubacan, Asbury Park
S: Cuba Libre, Atlantic City
★ Costanera, Montclair
★ Samba Montclair, Montclair
★ Two Sevens, Princeton
★ Zafra, Hoboken
Lunch
N: Committed Pig, Morristown, Summit
C: Old Man Rafferty’s, New Brunswick
S: Blue Pig Tavern, Cape May
★ Café Giotto, Montclair
★ Pierogies House, Morristown
★ Raymond’s, Montclair, Ridgewood
★ Slamwich Scratch Kitchen, Madison
★ South and Pine, Morristown
Ocean Trout Chilaquiles from Barrio Costero. Photo by James J. Connolly
Mexican
N: Taqueria Downtown, Jersey City
C: Barrio Costero, Asbury Park
S: Azteca Mexican, Toms River
★ Abril Cocina, Maplewood
★ El Guacamole, Millville
★ Folklore Artisanal Taco, West Orange
★ Mi Pueblito, Kearny
★ Pancho’s Grill, South Bound Brook
★ Pancho’s Taqueria, Atlantic City
★ Taco Shop, Rio Grande
★ Villalobos, Montclair
Middle Eastern | Turkish
N: Ali Baba, Hoboken
C: Lemon, Freehold
S: Royal Grill 37, Toms River
★ Mishmish, Montclair
★ Zeugma, Montclair
Romantic
N: Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
C: Restaurant Nicholas, Red Bank
S: Ebbitt Room, Cape May
★ Anton’s at the Swan, Lambertville
★ Café Matisse, Rutherford
★ Peter Shields Inn, Cape May
★ Rat’s, Hamilton
★ Red Store, Cape May Point
Seafood
N: 100 Steps Supper Club, Cranford
C: Blue Point Grill, Princeton
S: Lobster House, Cape May
★ The Bonney Read, Asbury Park
★ H2Ocean, Cedar Knolls
★ Hooked-Up Seafood, Wildwood
★ Parker’s Garage, Beach Haven
★ Quahog’s Seafood Shack, Stone Harbor
Soup | Salad | Sandwich
N: II Vecchio Café, Caldwell
C: The Speakeatery, Asbury Park
S: Barry’s Do Me a Flavor, Beach Haven
★ Marcel, Montclair
★ Squirrel & the Bee, Short Hills
Southeast Asian | Thai
N: Avenue East, Cranford
C: Siam Garden, Red Bank
S: Buddakan, Atlantic City
★ Binh Duong, Bloomfield
★ Gayeon, Fort Lee
★ Pandan Room, Hackettstown
★ Ricky’s Thai, Skillman
★ SLA Thai, Montclair
Spanish | Portuguese
N: Don Pepe, Newark
C: Tapastre, Somerville
S: Europa South, Point Pleasant Beach
★ Malaga, Hamilton
★ Seabra’s Marisqueira, Newark
★ Spain Rincon, Wharton
★ Xunta, Caldwell
Steak
N: Arthur’s Tavern, Morris Plains
C: Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
S: Prime 13, Point Pleasant Beach
★ ChopHouse, Gibbsboro
★ Edward’s, Jersey City
Vegetarian
N: Veggie Heaven, Multiple Locations
C: Good Karma Vegan Café, Red Bank
S: Green Cuisine, Stone Harbor
★ Greens & Grains, Multiple locations
★ Veganized, New Brunswick
Wine List
N: Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas, Clifton
C: Restaurant Nicholas, Red Bank
S: Washington Inn, Cape May
★ Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen, Morristown
★ Restaurant Latour, Hamburg
★ The Manor, West Orange
★ Pluckemin Inn, Bedminster