Faubourg Photo by Paul Bartholomew
The results of our 37th Annual Jersey Choice Restaurant Poll are in. Balloting took place online throughout the month of February, at a time when restaurants were still operating normally. 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 usually add our own critics’ picks based on visits made in the spring and summer, but we had to forgo such travel amid the pandemic, as well as acknowledge that many restaurants were closed or offering scaled-down menus. So we have eschewed critics’ picks this year. All qualified ballots were eligible to win our random drawing. The winner will be announced in next month’s issue of New Jersey Monthly.
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Best of the Best
N: Lorena’s, Maplewood
C: Nicholas, Red Bank
S: Lobster House, Cape May
Best New Restaurant
N: Faubourg, Montclair
C: Butcher’s Block, Long Branch
S: Riv’s Toms River Hub, Toms River
American | New American
N: Ariane Kitchen & Bar, Verona
C: Nicholas, Red Bank
S: Chef Mike’s ABG, Seaside Park
Asian Fusion
N: Ani Ramen, Montclair
C: Teak, Red Bank
S: Buddakan, Atlantic City
Bagels
N: Hot Bagels Abroad; Bloomfield, Clifton, Montclair, South Orange
C: The Bagel Nook, Freehold
S: Baron’s Bagels, Point Pleasant
Bakery
N: Calandra’s; Caldwell, Fairfield, Newark
C: Flaky Tart, Atlantic Highlands
S: Mueller’s Bakery, Bay Head
Bang for the Buck
N: Anthony’s Cheesecake, Bloomfield
C: Old Man Rafferty’s, New Brunswick
C, S: Surf Taco, Multiple locations
Bar Scene
N: Ariane Kitchen & Bar, Verona
C: Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Asbury Park
S: Martell’s Tiki Bar, Point Pleasant
Barbecue
N: Mighty Quinn’s, Clifton
C, S: Local Smoke BBQ; Cookstown, Highlands, Neptune City, Red Bank, Seaside Heights
S: Hickory Hog, Point Pleasant
Beer Selection
N: Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell
C: Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Asbury Park
S: Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette
Breakfast
N, C, S: Turning Point, Multiple locations
C: Buttered Biscuit, Bradley Beach
S: Lava Java House, Lavallette
Brew Pub
N: Trap Rock, Berkeley Heights
C: Triumph, Princeton
S: Artisan’s, Toms River
Brunch
N: Anthony’s Cheesecake, Bloomfield
C: Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank
S: Mad Batter, Cape May
Burger
N: Arthur’s Tavern, Morris Plains
C: Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
S: Frankie’s, Point Pleasant Beach
Caterer
N: Brownstone House, Paterson
C: Brennan’s Delicatessen, Rumson
S: Washington Inn, Cape May
Chain Restaurant
Cheesecake Factory
Bonefish Grill
Applebee’s
Cheese Steak
N: Galloping Hill Inn, Union
C: Hoagie Haven, Princeton
S: White House Subs, Atlantic City
Chinese
N: Hunan Taste, Denville
C: Peking Pavilion, Manalapan
S: Xina, Toms River
Coffee | Tea Bar
N: Mulberry House, Westfield
C: Rook Coffee Roasters, Multiple locations
S: Lava Java, Lavallette
Deli (Italian-Style)
N: Calandra’s, Caldwell
C: Joe Leone’s, Point Pleasant Beach, Sea Girt
S: White House Sub Shop, Atlantic City
Deli (Kosher Style)
N: Deli King, Clark
C: Harold’s, Edison
S: Wolfie’s, Toms River
Desserts
N: Calandra’s, Caldwell
C: The Bent Spoon, Princeton
S: La Scala Italian Pastry Shop, Toms River
Diner
N: Prestige Diner, New Providence
C: Skylark Diner & Lounge, Edison
S: Mastoris Diner, Bordentown
French
N: Chez Catherine, Westfield
C: Pascal & Sabine, Asbury Park
S: 410 Bank Street, Cape May
German | Austro-Hungarian
N: Black Forest Inn, Stanhope
C: Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Asbury Park
S: Mickey & Minnie’s Inn, Egg Harbor City
Greek
N: Stamna Taverna; Bloomfield, Little Falls
C: Kyma Greek Cuisine, Highland Park
S: George’s Place, Cape May
Hot Dog
N: Rutt’s Hut, Clifton
C: Windmill; Belmar, Long Branch, Red Bank
C, S: Hot Dog Tommy’s, Cape May
Ice Cream
N: Applegate Farm, Montclair
C: Bent Spoon, Princeton
S: Kohr’s Frozen Custard, Seaside Heights
Indian
N: Brick Lane Curry House, Montclair
C: Aarzu, Freehold
S: Aamantran, Toms River
Italian
N: Cucina Calandra, Fairfield
C: Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
S: Spano’s, Point Pleasant Beach
Japanese
N: Ani Ramen House, Multiple Locations
C: Taka, Asbury Park
S: Xina, Toms River
Latin American | Caribbean
N: Cuban Pete’s, Montclair
C: Barrio Costero, Asbury Park
S: 410 Bank Street, Cape May
Lunch
N: Calandra’s Il Vecchio Cafe, Caldwell
N, C, S: Turning Point, Multiple locations
S: Blue Pig Tavern, Cape May
Mexican
N: Red Cadillac, Union
C: Juanito’s, Red Bank
S: Cinco De Mayo, Toms River
Middle Eastern | Turkish
N: Jackie & Son, South Orange
C: Reyla, Asbury Park
S: Falafel Brothers, Brick
Pizza
N: Star Tavern, Orange
C: Pete & Elda’s/Carmen’s, Neptune
S: Manco & Manco, Ocean City
Romantic
N: Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
C: Nicholas, Red Bank
S: Chef Mike’s ABG, Seaside Park
Seafood
N: H2Ocean, Cedar Knolls
C: Blue Point Grill, Princeton
S: Lobster House, Cape May
Soup | Salad | Sandwich
N: Millburn Deli, Millburn
C: Frank’s Deli & Restaurant, Asbury Park
S: Barry’s Do Me a Flavor, Beach Haven
Southeast Asian | Thai
N: A Taste of Asia, Chatham
C: Origin French Thai, Somerville
S: Buddakan, Atlantic City
Southern | Soul Food
N: Sandi’s Soul Food, Morristown
C: Drew’s Bayshore Bistro, Keyport
S: Corinne’s Place, Camden
Spanish | Portuguese
N: Fornos of Spain, Newark
C: Tapastre, Somerville
S: Europa South, Point Pleasant Beach
Steak
N, C: Roots Steakhouse; Morristown, Princeton, Ridgewood, Summit
C: Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
S: Prime 13, Point Pleasant Beach
Vegetarian
N: Veggie Heaven; Denville, Montclair, Teaneck
C: Good Karma Vegan Café, Red Bank
S: Green Cuisine, Stone Harbor
Wine List
N: Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas, Clifton
C: Nicholas, Red Bank
S: Artisan’s Italian Restaurant and Brewery, Toms River