August 2022: Best Restaurants

An activity we wholeheartedly endorse? Visiting New Jersey’s restaurants and, in the process, supporting the talented chefs and hardworking staff who make them what they are. This month’s cover story features our annual list of New Jersey’s 30 Best Restaurants. Many are old favorites, while a well-curated selection of others—including chef David Burke’s 1776, shown on the cover—are deserving new additions. The message here: Don’t abandon the familiar, but build on it, drawing from all the traditions that make America not a melting pot, but an infinite canvas.  

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GARDEN VARIETY

Ben Gravy Shares the Story of His Sobriety and Unique Surf Mission

“I started considering how I could take that poor trajectory of my life and turn it into something more,” says the Longport native, now the subject of the documentary “For the Dream.”

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Manalapan Father Cimbs Mt. Everest on Behalf of His Son

Jim Raffone founded JAR of Hope to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease from which his 13-year-old son, James, suffers.

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At Height of Fame, Sharpshooter Annie Oakley Moved to Nutley

The Essex County community was an idyllic respite for Oakley after years spent living in tents, hotels and rooming houses on tour.

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‘Retail Gangster’ Recounts Crazy Eddie’s Stunning Fall from Grace

Investigative journalist Gary Weiss’s new book tells of massive fraud at a popular NJ electronics store.

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These Sisters Launched a Virtual Tie-Dye Store From Their Cherry Hill Home

Lauren and Brooke Greenberg’s Tie Dye LAB was born in their laundry-room utility sink during the pandemic.

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Earthy Home Accents We’re Loving

Embrace a laid-back summertime vibe via natural textures and pretty details.

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Cooking for a Cause: These Restaurants Keep New Jerseyans Full—and Fulfilled

After releasing our annual 30 Best Restaurants list, we take a look at some local eateries that are serving up charitable initiatives.

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Trenton-Based TerraCycle Turns Trash to Treasure

The global company collects and recycles millions of pounds of hard-to-recycle garbage, like dirty diapers.

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FEATURES

Is Atlantic City Finally On a Roll?

Developers in this iconic Shore town are hoping, once more, to hit the jackpot.

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The 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey of 2022

The best restaurants in New Jersey span the state with all types of cuisine, from modern American at 1776 by David Burke in Morristown to French at Faubourg in Montclair.

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Poll Results: Readers Choose Their Favorite NJ Restaurants of 2022

The winners of New Jersey Monthly’s 39th annual Jersey Choice Restaurant Poll, presented by New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.

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David Burke, NJ’s Rockstar Chef, Serves Flavor, Fun and Surprise

With 8 Jersey eateries among his 15 worldwide, the Hazlet native makes room for whimsy (Think: whisks dipped in cake batter and pizzas topped with actual crickets!).

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Meet the Professionals Moonlighting as Jersey Shore Lifeguards

For these lawyers, nurses, firefighters and office workers, lifeguarding gigs offer an escape from the daily grind.

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HOME & GARDEN

How a Couple Meticulously Designed a Multigenerational Home in Spring Lake

A longtime builder and a nurse with a knack for design collaborated on their year-round family gathering spot.

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EAT & DRINK

Restaurant Review: The Lookout in North Cape May Turns a Ferry Terminal Into a Destination

The octagonal eatery on the ferry’s second floor boasts one of the best dining views anywhere on the Jersey Shore.

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Middle Schoolers Dig Learning at North Brunswick Garden

On a visit to Rows for the Hungry, eighth-graders rolled up their sleeves and tended to crops for community kitchens.

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El Ranchero Taqueria Offers Flavorful Fare with Homemade Feel

This Jersey City gem serves up delicious Mexican dishes at modest prices.

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Firkin Tavern Boasts Generous Bar, Game Room

This Ewing gastropub whips up American staples—plus a few curveballs.

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The Local Market & Kitchen: A One-Stop Shop in Ship Bottom

Seconds from LBI’s entrance, this super-convenient market is stocked to satisfy virtually any craving.

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Local Brewers Turn to Beloved Jersey Tomato

These summer ales honor the Garden State’s star crop.

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EXIT RAMP

Exploring Other Jersey Shores

They’re not all sea and sand (or Snooki). Discover the land along the Delaware River—plus a puzzlingly named town in Pennsylvania.

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