Brasserie Memere
This is where you’ll want to be one night this holiday season, with your nearest and dearest – those who value conviviality with a touch of luxe.
Mugsy’s Mercantile
Zero for nine? Not a great batting average at a newcomer in a Shore hub where there is definite demand for the kind of food its experienced chef ought to know how to deliver.
Milford House
A seafood-centric roadhouse at the edge of a river town in Hunterdon County is where locals and daytrippers find comforting foods and hat-tips to a local farm.
Jinli Sichuan Cuisine
Careless prepping, cooking and seasoning sink too many dishes at an expansive spot in an area where there’s ample competition.
Friends & Family
Don’t let modern marketing corrupt the meaning of the term. Gather loved ones, find a table out there in Restaurantland, and eat. We have some ideas for you – 20 of them, in fact.
Hen Vietnamese Eatery
There’s a dish at this well-run storefront that you must eat on the premises and another you’d do well to take on the road. Start with one of each and then proceed with experiencing everything else on chef Andrew Ma’s all-star menu.
Umai Sushi and Steakhouse
A classic Jersey guy redefines omakase and delivers an unmatched experience in a storefront strip mall. He's a purist and an independent cuss who simply wants to share his vision. It's your loss if you don’t take a look.
Las Crazy Pinas
Don’t let the jumbotron-size portions at this authentic Mexican storefront fool you: There’s serious thought and execution going into every single intimidating platter and cauldron of food chef Victor Rampel cooks and front-of-house conductor Fabi Rampel serves.
Mama Hill
A vegan grab-and-go treads onto uncommon ground by spinning conventional Southern and Latin American dishes into plant-based fare. Even so, the menu, courtesy of a couple who long have catered, pays proper respect to the legacy of home-cooking.
Losing Streak
It’s been a run of lousy luck. Or, rather, lousy dishes that do much more than fail to deliver a satisfying meal. So, first we talk about it. Then we move on – in search of better dining times.
Buzby’s Eatery and General Store
Recently reopened and slightly renamed, the institution in the village of Chatsworth is serving breakfast and lunch, with ample sides of stories, as its new owners rev up for much more.
Priscilla’s Pantry
It seems as though everyone is meal-hunting at this convivial gathering spot for feeding in the Somerset Hills where the mission is to take convenience to a better-tasting level.