Lorena’s
In new and expanded quarters, with a bar to boot, chef Humberto Campos still pledges his troth to beloved French classics. But he’s got a knack for finding the shake of nuance that can ratchet up familiar to fabulous.
Sushi by Kazu
Ply the menu at this outlier where elegance in the artistry of Japanese cuisine long has been celebrated to find dishes that showcase the chef’s considerable skills. Avoid intrusions of mod oddities.
Mustache Bill’s
The summer love that lasts forever: That’s chef-owner Bill Smith best-of-all-time diner, where the fish and produce are local, everything’s made from scratch, and a culture of civility reigns.
The Borscht Belt
Cue the hype! Enter the schtick, stage left! Is this new deli a showstopper or a comedy of too many errors?
Baguette Delite
Banh mi as good at the granddaddy’s in New Orleans East? Yes, and reliably so for a decade now.
Local Greek
Just off the main drag, but inked on the dine cards of locals, is this hit restaurant where soul-satisfying foods conspire with a convivial scene to make for anytime eating.
The Smithville Inn
A pretty setting, a gracious staff and a nod to history cannot make up for food that shuns in-season ingredients, plates that are marred by carelessness in the kitchen, and concepts that fail to show respect for the Garden State’s cherished foodways.
TST BBQ
Follow the smoke signals almost to Sandy Hook – but stop five miles short, right here, for brisket, burgers and ribs. And, maybe, a game of miniature golf.
Thai Tida by Mike and Natta
Across from the Delaware in a tourist-destination small city sits a classic-fare Thai that’s a locals’ love – and an away-from-the-crowds find for day-trippers.
Big Wave Burritos
Cowabunga! Ride a party wave to this chill eatery located at the intersection of beachy-keen and decidedly delish.
Bistro d’Azur
Smart, skillful cooking leaves behind any suggestion of a laissez-faire attitude this beachy-hued Mediterranean storefront might convey. No flip-flops here – of any sort.
What’s Dinner?
Change is good. We need it. We may fear it, but it’s healthy. So what’s the deal these days with what we eat? Are you falling back on your same-olds? Or have these times fostered new loves?