Restaurant Reviews

Steve & Cookie’s

December 9, 2015

Since opening in 1998, Steve & Cookie's By the Bay, in Margate, has become a beloved local institution that pulses 365 days a year.
Potato agnolotti with littleneck clams.
David Viana, after stints under several top chefs, now leads his own crew. His Kitchen at Grove Station is worth a stop.

The Counter

Quick Bite

November 24, 2015

The Counter Burger, an industrial-chic California chain, dizzies with its six types of burger and long list of options (16 cheeses, for instance).
Bukhara Tandoori Grill in Burlington has just 22 seats, but its Indian curries and chicken dishes cooked in the tandoor oven are big in flavor and value.
Liberty Hall Pizza boasts a lengthy list of Neapolitan-style pizzas that come from Liberty's wood-burning oven. And let's not forget the root beer floats.

VB3

November 5, 2015

At VB3 in Jersey City, chef Mike Colletti presents Italian classics, also a burger that won him the 2009 Rachael Ray Burger Bash.
The owners of Oceanos import ingredients from their farm in Greece. The seafood-centered menu blends traditional Greek with modernity, and is delicious.
Sashimi with peach purée and wild rice.

Elements

October 28, 2015

Finally reopened in its new downtown home, Princeton's Elements brings depth, daring and delight to high-end prix-fixe.
If you love thin crusts, the pizzas at Bunny's Sports Bar in South Orange are for you.
The Bum Rogers Crabhouse was renovated post-Sandy and draws a crowd for its steamed hardshell crabs, complete with ear of corn, potatoes and wooden mallet.

Shanghai 46

October 8, 2015

Though owner Kevin Lin pads his menu with crowd-pleasers from other provinces, the Shanghai classics are worth getting to know.
South + Pine is about seriously fun food, well-conceived and well-executed, at reasonable prices.
The Scotch egg, encased in ground pork and panko bread crumbs.
With two Hell’s Kitchen winners at the stoves, brash Gordon Ramsay creates a fantasy pub with surprisingly refined grub.
A lively sports bar with a deep roster of specials, combos and dishes.

The Cheese Cave

Quick Bite

September 23, 2015

The staff of the Cheese Cave will help you pick out a cheese platter, and there are creative, cheese-enhanced sandwiches as well.
Salugo Bistro is part pizza parlor, part Tuscan-inspired BYO bistro in a Best Buy strip mall in East Hanover.

Raval

September 10, 2015

Inspired by the famous Raval neighborhood of Barcelona, Jersey City's Michael Garcia and chef Michael Fiorianti (of Sátis fame) opened Raval in J.C.
Summer's over, but Upstream Grille is worth the drive to northernmost Morris County for chef Ken Salmon's delicious, imaginative and affordable food.
Spreads and Breads, a platter of smoky hummus, romesco sauce, chickpea fries, pickles and puffed pita.
Two Philly chefs (each married, with kids, and living in Jersey) create an eatery with an urban vibe yet plenty of free parking.
Seagrass Restaurant is an upscale yet casual café just three blocks from the beach in Ocean Grove.