Grounded for Life Cafe
Thoughtfully created and crafted plant-based dishes take a spirited route at this petite indoor-outdoor spot slightly off the main drag of a downtown that’s home to two riverside museums and a host of independent shops. It’s an eatery that well suits its setting.
Pigeon Peas
West African and Caribbean classics share space with vegan fare at this busy storefront that lets folks with disparate dietary preferences eat at one big table.
How Delish
Much that’s fancied and trendy at chains is home-cooked and plant-based at this corner storefront owned and operated by one of the busiest chefs around. It’s all come to pass because she’s a mom.
Tipping Points
In the matter of “to tip or not to tip” and, most often, how much is just, more information is needed for decisions to be made. It’s time to ask questions – and to get answers.
Seed to Sprout
Modern-day plant-based fare that’s not afraid to go bold is the order of the day at this congenial eatery in one of the Shore’s quieter boroughs, a place possessing a quiet charm that’s quite the complement to the jazzy, look-lively savories prepared by conscientious co-chefs.
Grazie Bistro
A seasoned chef looking to tilt Italian in the direction of modern has taken over the former Fedora Café space in the village of Lawrenceville, a charmer of a commercial center whose Main Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fancy Fish
"Fry" is the method done right at this storefront deep in the heart of Havana on the Hudson that’s all and only about fishes. Long may it reign, absolutely unchanged. P.S. It’s one in a family of five siblings.
Deccan Spice
The traditions of thali fail to receive the respect they deserve at a high-style space where the premise is much about majesty, but the practice of reheating leftovers and an indifference to freshness prevail. It’s a disgrace to a ritual built on pride of place, process and ingredients.
Ficus Bon Vivant
Far too much tastes far too bad at a downtown café-cum-restaurant that prides itself on its worldly menu and top-flight ingredients. From dish concept to execution to disconnected service, the flaws appall and need to be addressed.
Andrea Trattoria Italiana
Sincerity is a tangible at the latest incarnation of a rustic, yet dressy restaurant from chef Andrea Covino. Here, it’s in the food, the setting, the service and in all the ways heart and soul are expressed.
HoopHouse
A global swarm of styles is in sync with the happy-jumble decor at this casual eatery in an emerging hub in Burlington County. With mission being tied to farm-sourcing, however, the folks here must be resolute in name-checking those sources on menus.
Saltwater Social
Someone needs to be watching how plates are put together in the kitchen of this snappy-looking meet-up spot in a rejuvenated, culinary-centric downtown. The setting’s divine and classy, but the executions too often stand in contrast with what’s printed on the menu.