Simple Only at First Glance
A quintet of dishes that seems to be composed of mild-mannered members – an omelet, a whole fish, a cake, a lasagne and a stir-fry – is distinguished either by expert cooking or thoughtful partnering accents. Or both.
Garlic Confit
An easy-to-make preserve is turned by a skilled and imaginative culinary pro into a hearty snack that can be the star of the playoffs-to-Super-Bowl season. Bet on it scoring big with your fellow game-watchers.
Bonney’s
A couple with irreproachable technical skills and a love of jolly good food took fundamentals of Filipino fare and Jamaican dishes and mixed till matches were deemed sound. They call it fusion, and it’s a delicious new way of eating island-inspired foods.
Evergreen Dairy Bar
Hard on the east-west byway of Route 70 in South Jersey, a few miles east of downtown Medford, sits a drive-in that was born in 1949 and still serves ice cream and also classic breakfast and lunch fare all year long. It’s much more than throwback vintage.
Karley’s Brussels Sprouts
Jeff’s Organic Produce, a farm in Upper Freehold Township, offers a fresh-harvest winter crop of lovely little cruciferous-vegetable globes that can work magic in dozens of dishes – including one that riffs off a cousin from the Far East and makes a fitting showcase for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.
Shanghai Bun
Explore the authentic Chinese menus at this dressed-up storefront near the train station at Princeton Junction and find a wealth of house specialties you’ll be hard-pressed not to order on repeat visits. The solution? Order your favorites and also order new dishes destined to become new favorites.
Chez Alice Patisserie
Tea time! The tiered trays of designed sweets and savories are a mix of fun and frustration at this upscale bakeshop offering a range of tea services in a space behind the pastry-snatching crowds coming in off the streets. Unevenness in preparation is the problem. But there’s a talented team behind the scenes who should be able to fix flaws.
A Flair for Upgrading the Ordinary
Taking a chance on a switcheroo or doing something new to something old benefits the eats that are the favorites in this latest round of standouts. Time not just to say ahh, but ah-ha.
Asianese Sauce
How a star supper dish was born – or, the story of the vegetable-strong sauce that bests beloved Bolognese. It’s your ticket to supper for a crowd that includes lots of kids.
Blue Point Grill
Longevity becomes a seafood-centric restaurant in an Ivy downtown, an any-night gathering place that locals count on for simple dishes that may not require ornamentation but depend on constant, mindful watch by the crew in the kitchen.
Resolutions for 2026
We share thoughts on liquor license reform, what needs to be 86’d on menus and what needs to be added, what’s wrong with entrees today, why restaurant kitchens need to be high on fiber, and what solo diners really want. And more.
Dehydrated Citrus
Fragrant and endlessly useful, dried rings of orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit are the darlings of mixologists who use them as much more than garnishes. They also can inspire spirited drinks that are alcohol-free.