Red’s Leaf Café
A two-month-old vegan-when-you-want-vegan eatery in a restaurant boomtown shows no shortage of ingenuity in dishes that explore the possibilities of plant-based fare.
Oxtail Pho and Banh Mi
Evolving demographics are helping to spread the reach of ethnic cuisines ever farther and deeper in the Garden State, giving diners options unimaginable a generation ago. It’s a welcome shift, even if some eateries need a nudge to go all-in authentic.
Marquez
From Jalisco, a state in central Mexico known for diverse ecosystems that range from Pacific coast to plains, comes the homespun foods of chef Marquez Amador.
Safu Sushi
The noise and the hubbub might be on the beach, not downtown, when summer’s at high pitch. But there are mod takes on sushi and its mates at this year-rounder in an always-hopping county seat close to the coast.
Royal Ganesha
A restaurant in a mall that’s not part of a chain? And owned by its working-on-the-premises chef? Yes, and yes. Peanut masala signals its potential.
Stephen’s Restaurant
There’s no sleight of hand, but rather a sure hand with amped-up classics in the well-trod Italian American genre at a newcomer to the South Shore.
Good Karma Cafe and Harper’s Table
A good neighborhood joint is a valuable asset to a community. Does yours have one? We evaluate a couple, for better and for worse.
Jalapeno and Cilantro Grill
Way to go at a modest storefront that serves all-day breakfast? Cherry-pick the chef’s own takes from the Tex-Mex genre and experience sincerity supported by well-honed technical skills.
Café Bubamara
It’s a hub and an oasis within the Botany Village neighborhood, a European-style café with foods of the Balkans at its core. Magically and mystically, it’s also a place where you can connect and disconnect.
Maison Bleue Bistro
Act II from the Jardin folks is a more casually attired petit bijou that weaves pinpointed Garden State ingredients into the often-taut fabric of French classics. Adam assesses the scene.
Yubu-Yubu
High alert: Sophie Lin’s takes on the Korean classic of yubuchobap at the food court inside the Lotte supermarket are intriguing, flat-out fun and ultimately irresistible.
The Pasta Shop
Rising above the masses and the mundane is Tommy Pollio’s storefront BYOB, where you can watch the star of an extraordinary show being made as you eat.