The Crab General, Carteret
Enjoy fresh seafood and soak up family fun at this December opening in Middlesex County. Owner Angel Chen offers seafood fried rice, clam chowder, shrimp avocado salad, po’ boy sandwiches and more. The signature dish—the pick-your-own, Get Your Hands Dirty clambake-esque feast—includes options such as clams, crawfish, snow crab legs, lobster tail and other seafood favorites. The restaurant’s décor features statues, paintings and decorations highlighting creatures of the sea. Open daily at noon; closed Mondays.
795 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret; 732-352-0130
Venchi Fine Italian Chocolates, Short Hills
This Italian brand recently opened its first New Jersey store in the Short Hills Mall. Venchi offers 90 gelato flavors, hot chocolate, crepes, European-style coffee and, of course, over 50 specialty chocolates. Open daily at 10 am (9am on Saturdays).
1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills; 973-315-5229
Holy Mochimoly, Millburn
This soon-to-open dessert focuses on one main ingredient for all of its treats: mochi. Mochi ice cream and mochi hot dogs (rolled in mochi batter and deep-fried) will be available, as well as donut flavors like tres leches, coffee, cola and orange cream. The owners expect to open between mid-January and early February.
315 Millburn Avenue, Millburn
Serendipity3 (Ocean Casino Resort), Atlantic City
New York’s famous sweet spot is coming to Atlantic City. Set to open in the spring at Ocean Casino, this will be Serendipity3’s third location outside Manhattan. The menu will include their signature frozen hot chocolate, burgers, loaded French fries, outrageous ice cream sundaes and an assortment of treats and frozen drinks.
500 Boardwalk (Ocean Casino & Resort), Atlantic City; 609-783-8039