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.

Large, busy restaurant with an open kitchen and rustic Italian cuisine.

Thai cuisine with twists from other Southeast Asian nations served in an intimate, simple dining room.

The Saddle River Inn has undergone a gentle metamorphosis. New owners balance rustic tradition with modern sensibilities.

A retro-chic steakhouse conjures 1930s France.

A cozy, casual restaurant that offers traditional Italian fare.

Perched above the Metedeconk River, River Watch offers a surprising escape from the bustling traffic on Route 70 and a mostly maritime menu.

Charming sidewalk café is ideal for families. Serves breakfast and lunch, and also has a soda fountain.

Modern Korean chain eatery that serves soy garlic and hot sauce chicken, along with a variety of sides.

One of the formative talents of modern fine dining in New Jersey, chef Dennis Foy opened his latest restaurant, D'Floret in Lambertville, last year. At the end of the evening, he and his wife, Estelle ("She is the owner, I am the cook"), often relax over drinks and small plates in the dining room. Jill P. Capuzzo reviews what comes before that.

When he set out to open his first restaurant in 2011, Kevin Portcher wanted to cook New American, yet honor his German roots. Suzanne Zimmer Lowery samples the results.

This casual beach café (open all year) serves breakfast all day and lives up to its name with a friendly surfer vibe.

Whether you say Agri-cola (wrong) or A-greek-o-la (correct; it’s Latin for farmer), Princeton’s new Agricola raises farm-to-table a nifty notch.