American Melts
Think it’s easy, don’t you? That you can make a terrific toasty sandwich of cheeses and bread, something creamy, crusty and utterly satisfying, huh? Well, sample what Rick Brams turns out at his beyond-modest shack and think again.
Delaware Avenue Oyster House
The marquee bivalve gets the respect it’s due at this year-rounder on LBI. But so do other fishes – raw and preserved in tins, seared, fried, blackened and jumbled with accents equally feisty and fresh.
Seabra’s Marisqueira
What’s signature is special here at this seafood-strong anchor in the Ironbound rooted in authenticity.
Coniglio’s Old-Fashioned
There’s a new pizza king in town and his crowning achievements are not only to be found in his lineup of pies. P.S. He’s got a cohort in the kitchen who’s a major talent – and maybe more.
B2J Fish
Maybe “Chinese Sauerkraut Fish” doesn’t sound like a dish you’d put on your must-try list. But you should. Soon. And then eat it for the rest of your life. There’s now a place in New Jersey where it’s the specialty. We are the lucky ones, once again.
Kyma Greek Cuisine
One of the anchors of a diverse downtown restaurant scene is this true-to-its-school BYOB where straightforward classics merge with house spins.
Maximus Polish Cuisine Empire
The normally heartily seasoned, bold and warming classic dishes of Poland do not get their due at a restaurant-cum-banquet facility with a Latin name that translates as “greatness and power.” Orchids that garnish plates can’t hide across-the-board lackluster preparations and routine technical lapses.
Zoe’s Emilio’s Kitchen
An exemplary Mexican restaurant without gimmicks and with a focus on purity, freshness and respect for ingredients settles in to a Bayshore borough that reflects its style and soul. Family, first, second, third and always.
Soul Bowls
Fruits and their friends unite, vivid colors giving way to buoyant flavors that are a sure step up from the chains that may serve more, but do not serve better.
A Baker’s Dozen
Herewith, the 13 dishes of 2022 that cannot be forgotten. Nor should they.
New Year’s Eve: Dining Out
If you’re ringing in the New Year somewhere out there in the wide world of Garden State restaurants, we offer a Fine 15 for your consideration. Looking for in-depth reports? Each has just that in our RR columns of 2022.
Sunday Gravy
“Mozzarella spiedini” is one of a number of dishes on the menu at this South Shore newcomer where Italian-American classics get a sure-handed lift. Why not? The genre’s bloodlines run through all parts of the Garden State.