Restaurant Reviews

Shrimp with grits.
At Vonda’s Kitchen in Newark, owner Vonda McPherson serves what she calls “healthy comfort food.”
Named for early-1700s pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, the Bonney Read, the Asbury Park seafood house that opened in 2015, is pretty shipshape.

Viaggio

January 12, 2017

At age 26, chef Robbie Felice is on what promises to be a journey worth following. His restaurant's name, Viaggio, means “journey” in Italian.
The Gigantic beef rib at Hamilton Pork

Hamilton Pork

January 5, 2017

Two Greek-Italian brothers and a Mexican chef bring a smokin' taste of Texas to Jersey City's Hamilton Pork.

Sax

December 22, 2016

Visiting the Sax restaurant at The Reeds at Shelter Haven hotel in Stone Harbor, there is promise but also some problems, which seem quite solvable.

Latham House

December 15, 2016

Taking over and barely changing a handsome Jersey City restaurant space that did not make it, chef Daniel Latham and his baker wife Kris Yettra reinvented it as Latham House.
Creamy polenta with tureen of truffled mushroom fricassee.

Fromagerie

December 8, 2016

Famous but ill fated, the former hot spot in one of Jersey's toniest towns is revived in a style both neo and retro.
chicken parm sub with Parmesan, mozzarella and house-made marinara.

Chatterbox

Quick Bite

December 1, 2016

The big portions and wide variety of American favorites at the venerable Ocean City eatery provide solid value.
The broccoli rabe with hot peppers and sausage
For about three decades, the people who love chef Julio Rodriguez’s cooking have been following him from one West Orange location of his restaurant, Julio’s, to the next.

Spain Inn 2

Quick Bite

November 23, 2016

Brothers Pepe and Luis Rodriguez grew up on Northwest Spain’s Atlantic coast. Their food at Spain 2 brings to life that area’s cuisine.
The company that helped spur Asbury Park’s restaurant revival sees Burlington, on the Delaware, as ripe for a revival of its own.

Blu Grotto

November 10, 2016

In color scheme, Blu Grotto in Oceanport lives up to its name. Delving into the food and drink, there are things to praise and others to feel blue about.
The expertly charred garlic-and-herb-rubbed bone-in sirloin, sliced, with a pan of wild mushroms on the side.

American Cut Bar & Grill

November 3, 2016

After a midcourse correction, Marc Forgione's post-Revel return to Jersey fine-tunes steak-house sizzle for the suburbs.
The Mediterranean omelet, with beef or chicken gyro, tomatoes, onions and feta.
The Kettle & Grill in Marlton looks and feels like a sparkling new diner but bills itself as a “casual American kitchen.”
A grain bowl including puréed sweet potato, infused beets, pickled cauliflower, grilled red onion, quinoa, rye berries and all three available proteins.
Fresh Kitchen is built on two principles: 1) fresh, healthy meat, veggies and grains and 2) the option to combine ingredients in a bowl of your own design.
The Pleasantdale burger comes with avocado, Swiss and sprouts.

Bonds Tavern

Quick Bite

October 19, 2016

Bonds Tavern in West Orange has won fans for its variety of satisfying burgers and its eclectic, even over-the-top toppings for fries.

Yard House

October 13, 2016

Yard House, a national chain with a long menu and an even longer list of craft beers on tap, has opened its first Jersey branch, in Moorestown.
After the Garcia family left Mexico in the ‘90s, they settled in South Jersey, worked in restaurants, and opened Oasis Mexican Grill in Collingswood.
B2 Bistro’s unique polenta—the toppings vary daily, this one featuring pork ragù, micro-basil and shavings of pecorino.

B2 Bistro & Bar

October 6, 2016

An adept, adaptable pub enlivens a quiet section of a high-profile town.
The 8th Ave bowl has sliced bananas, honey and more granola.

Playa Bowls

Quick Bite

September 29, 2016

Two Belmar surfers opened the first Playa Bowls in Belmar after one of them fell in love with acai fruit in her travels. Now Playa Bowls has four locations.