At Sergio's, an Italian BYO in Clifton, the action is not on the menu but in the specials. The waiter will read you the list. Be patient. The list is long, but worth paying attention to.

Reaching beyond the familiar dishes of his native region, a chef strives to bring India’s culinary diversity to the table.

Mexican food served in a setting inspired by owner Joe Montes’s 1968 red Cadillac instead of the usual terra cotta colors of the Southwest.

This place is a breakfast-lovers’ paradise, but lunch is just as tasty. Coastal Chaos serves all the basics, but come for something different.

A modern bistro with global eclectic fare.

A southern-inspired, new American BYO that boasts local Jersey ingredients and a down-home atmosphere.

This 75-year-old Italian restaurant, located half a mile from the Atlantic City Boardwalk, is an American Institution.

Three veterans of Rosa Mexicano set out to channel the lively flavors and casual vibe of Mexico City in a place of their own. So far, so bueno.

A master of Spanish tapas, chef Jose Garces has opened a fourth restaurant at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City. Joining his tapas temple, Amada, his taco stand, Distrito Cantina, and his retro tavern, Village Whiskey, is a dim sum and Asian noodle joint, Yuboka.

The grandson of a chef who cooked for Deng Xiaoping, chef Lin Qing Xiang (who answers to Kevin) started his training in the city of Cheng Du at age 13. At his restaurant named for his home city, Cheng Du 23, on Route 23 in Wayne, you can count on consistently excellent Szechuan cuisine.

Fleeing the summit of fine dining, Matt Ridgway swept floors and made prosciutto. Now he’s back, boldly elevating the basics.

A coffee and sandwich shop that boasts superb service and charmingly mis-matched tables and chairs.

A bright and cozy cafe with a tourist bureau motif, Blue Fig Cafe exists to honor the foods of the Northern and Eastern Mediterranean.

A hipster honky-tonk on a lakefront that serves up Texas-style barbecue.

At Strip House, the wet-aged, prime steaks star, with strong support from side dishes and “naughty” decor.

Can't find parking on or near Hoboken's busy main drag, Washington Street? Head six blocks west to Three A's Olde Bar & Grill. Not only is parking easier but the food is good and the vibe friendly.

"Chopped" winner Matthew Zappoli brings Italian classics alongside odd, but delicious, "risky" dishes.

With five dining areas in a beautifully restored 19th-century brick building, this Union City charmer offers options ranging from upscale, globally influenced, New American fare to a hip bar with a late-night menu to Sunday brunch.

From the owners of Princeton's Elements comes a casual, affordable, global tapas bar named for France's famous wind.