February 2020: 30 Best New Restaurants
Space, it turns out, is the final frontier for the New Jersey restaurant scene. So says New Jersey Monthly deputy editor/dining editor Eric Levin, who proclaims, “When looking at the past year’s new openings, it’s not the spices, it’s the spaces.”
What’s gotten into Levin? Read the “30 Best New Restaurants” feature he’s compiled with the NJM team of professional eaters, and you’ll understand. In assessing the top openings of 2019, they found not just great food, but big, new, glamorous spaces.
Luckily, you don’t have to wait to learn all about New Jersey’s best new dining spots. Just click here to start reading. And remember, it’s all about space—in this case, finding space in your calendar to start sampling our top picks among Jersey’s newcomers.
Garden Variety
Inside a Guitar Craftsman’s West Orange Workshop
Jay Rosenblatt builds a handful of high-end acoustic guitars each year.
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Meet the Actor Appearing in Two New Versions of ‘West Side Story’
Carlos E. Gonzalez, a Cuban-born performer from Elizabeth, is enjoying several high-profile successes this year.
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A Fresh Look at Baseball’s Negro Leagues
An interactive exhibit at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center sheds a more comprehensive light on the sport’s history.
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Conquering Cancer, One Endurance Trek at a Time
Mike Mankowich of Nutley, a multiple myeloma patient, recently embarked on a 60-mile journey through Patagonia to raise money for cancer research.
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Jersey Authors Recast the Hitler Story
A fictionalized account in the new novel “Wolf” sheds a different light on the dictator’s rise to power.
Read moreSteve Adubato: Only in NJ
Meet the NJ Tech Council’s New CEO
Tech entrepreneur Aaron Price hopes networking opportunities can launch local innovation into orbit.
Read moreGiving Back
Newark Nonprofit Reveals Transformative Power of Glassmaking
GlassRoots provides a safe space for learning the unique art—and so much more.
Read moreStylephile
He Made a Maplewood Mainstay His Own
Shortly after moving to the East Coast, Brian Dittmar took over Maker + Muse (formerly Tenth Muse) on somewhat of a whim.
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5 Foolproof Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her
Treat someone special (perhaps yourself?) to a heartfelt trinket or treasure.
Read moreFeatures
How John Farmer Helps Combat Global Terrorism
New Jersey’s former attorney general now works to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities around the world.
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Best New Restaurants in NJ of 2019
These rookie standouts bring variety and vivacity to a statewide scene that hits for power and average.
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How Autism Health Care in Jersey Falls Short
For patients on the autism spectrum, finding qualified practitioners—and insurance coverage—for even the most basic health needs can be a challenge.
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An Immersive Play Space for People with Special Needs
LifeTown in Livingston—which may be the largest play space of its kind—invites visitors to explore and learn in a sensory-rich world.
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The Poignant Stories Behind 3 Local Animal Sanctuaries
Large-animal rescues around the Garden State provide refuge for abused and abandoned creatures.
Read moreHome & Garden
Elegant Edgewater Townhouse Blends Two Distinct Tastes
In designing her family’s dream home, Vanessa Deleon united her Parisian aesthetic with her husband’s more modern style.
Read moreEat & Drink
Bloom Reviewed: A ‘Radiant’ Brasserie in Verona
For two Korean immigrants, a friendship forged studying French cooking leads to a dream fulfilled in Jersey.
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Bistro d’Azur Reviewed: A Taste of Southern France in South Orange
Chef Richard Krug, who teamed up with husband-and-wife owners Tom and Mary Conway, “seeks to transport you, and mostly succeeds.”
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Casual, Contemporary Korean Fare at Seoul Food
Parsippany resident Jack Hong opened the family-owned eatery in the spring of 2017.
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High Voltage Cafe: A Coffee-Focused Shop Expands in Asbury Park
In 2017, the owners of the original High Voltage on the boardwalk added this year-round location.
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Que Ricas: A ‘Soulful Tribute’ to South American Cuisine
Sahar Soleymani’s casual eatery in Haddon Township honors her mother’s Venezuelan roots.
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Meet the Teen Twins Who Wrote Their Own Cookbook
Lawrenceville natives Emily and Lyla Allen are the dynamic duo behind “The Teen Kitchen.”
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Pho Thai-Lao Kitchen Reviewed: Familiar or Exotic, Depending on Your Order
The Maywood restaurant was opened in 2008 by Samlaen Sysounthone and her husband, Soubanh, of 50 years. They do all the cooking.
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Exit Ramp
A Snowblower’s Lament: Bidding Farewell to an Era Bygone
The days when the neighborhood dug out together are no more.
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