Cemitas at Senor Pepper’s
An extroverted chipotle adobo sauce is the voice of a chicken sandwich at this colorful eatery near the train station in Red Bank. Let the voice of its chef-owner steer you to its exact-right accent.
Inhouse Restaurant and Bar
Given a little help from what’s grown on neighboring farms, this roadhouse with an eclectic menu suited to its affable scene could up its game. Right now, baked goods and a solid ribeye cheesesteak are best bets.
The Great Dips-for-Dumplings Experiment
Kimchi dumplings found at Woori Mart in West Windsor inspire a competition fit for supper – or one very easy-to-execute party.
12 Farms
A mainstay in a historic downtown belies its mere nine years of existence with hands-on knowledge – and use – of Garden State produce and products. Its casual attitude adds to its come-as-you-are charm.
LaZeez by Dhaba
With momos, chaat bowls, kathi rolls and sultry legumes in very fine form, there's no need to go for mishmashes of fusion at this casual-food entry into a restaurant group's expanding collection in North Jersey.
Hands-down Winners
Most of these favorites can be eaten cutlery-free, which some authorities believe helps to stimulate the senses. No matter; these five are musts to mark on your dine card.
Cool Blues
The twosome that got away for way, way too long: Let’s play a love song for the blueberry and the cucumber.
Ice Cream: It’s What’s for Dinner
Because, why not? It’s summer, you’ve got your favorite place and you ought to do more than merely pop in post-supper for a bob of the stuff.
Georgian Chef
Plant-based dishes are big stars at a new storefront spot that showcases the cuisine of a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia. It’s where familiar ingredients are shown in their ages-old, yet remarkably refreshing element.
What Aleks Cooked Up
If pork roll on an everything bagel is your breakfast of choice, has 3BR Distillery in Keyport got a spirited beverage for you.
Bradley Rodriguez, Spring Lake Seafood
The newest inductee into TPW’s chef-picks-chef society of top toques takes deep dives into the world of fishes and translates each into dishes that reflect their source, their freshness and their distinctive and inherent flavor.
Turtle Gut
Its name inspired by an inlet long gone, the chef-owners of a café with a water-view perch choose not to count on advantageous location to draw diners. No, the lure here are intriguing sandwiches, breakfast fare and pastries.