Most Approachable Exotics
Nothing as-per-usual in TPW’s latest round of favorite eats. No, this time it’s all about the less-familiar done enticingly right.
Cucumbers to the Rescue
A minted cukes salad is destined to serve as a side show to anything grilled. Toss when its primary ingredient starts to flood our fields and markets – i.e., now – and give yourself a reprieve from heat.
Toasting the Indies, 2026
A year ago, in honor of Independence Day, we toasted some of our favorite independently owned and operates restaurants in the Garden State, culling some 32 to tout and also shout out for staying alive during particularly tenuous times. Today, as we mark the 250th anniversary of our nation declaring its own independence, we continue that tradition by noting 16 indies reviewed since the start of this year.
A Metuchen Morning
Strolling the farmers’ market, checking in at old favorites and checking out less-frequented stalls, then meandering over to a locally loved café for a late breakfast are all in a morning’s prowl when visiting this food-centric borough in Middlesex County.
Hadaka
An omakase specialist in the largest of the Garden State’s Hunterdon County River Towns comes in the form of a cloistered sanctuary in a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is presided over, appropriately, by a sushi virtuoso with the chops to respect tradition and deliver masterful performances in the art and craft of eating from the ocean.
Corn Salad, Southeast Asian-style
All is flavorful, all is bright: It’s a salad ready to welcome one of summer’s favorite vegetables.
Chicken Palace Nikky’s (and Other Peruvian Favorites)
A homey local in northern Ocean County stocked with classics from Peru reminds Garden Staters of the increasing popularity – and availability – of ceviches, chifa standards, creamy potatoes and beefy yet light favorites from the South American country.
Lavender Mascarpone & Raspberry Lemonade
There are many reasons to toast the official start of summer and there are many ways to toast it as well. For some, it’s by having ice cream flavors of the moment – perhaps at the bent spoon in Princeton.
Sunda Kitchen
Novel in New Jersey is this Indonesian restaurant that’s not only focused on authentic renditions of the archipelago’s classics, but in conveying an appreciation of the country’s culture.
Meat, Wine and Three Fish Dishes
Once again, our small state offers a wide range of compelling, complex and scrupulously crafted foods that underscore the importance of high-level technique. Read, eat, then revel.
The Sub Salad
Start with lettuces that are flush in the markets this month, add the meats and cheeses vital to your favorite Italian sub, and finish with the key element of this peppy salad: a fresh, relish-like pickled peppers mince.
The Italian Table
Confusion reigns at a new restaurant that doesn’t seem to be interested in scaling the heights of either authentic regional Italian cuisine or carefully crafted Italian-American cuisine. Indeed, what’s being served is a mishmash of incoherence accentuated by poor kitchen skills.