North Jersey
Cuban Pete’s
428 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair; 973-746-1100
cubanpetesrestaurant.com
This hopping spot is a local favorite for good reason: its outdoor dining area in the center of the restaurant makes you feel like you’ve stepped out of the suburbs and into a tropical paradise. It’s BYOB, but you’ll want to pair the restaurant’s amazing Sangria mixes with your favorite wine. There’s usually a wait on a nice night so plan to get there early.
2. Roots (Multiple locations)
3. Huntley Taverne (Summit)
4. Blu Alehouse (Riverdale)
5. The Long Valley Pub and Brewery (Long Valley)
Central Jersey
Moonstruck
517 Lake Ave., Asbury Park; 732-988-0123
moonstrucknj.com
The name of this downtown Asbury Park staple says it all. With beautiful views, outdoor porch dining, a menu filled with fresh, local seafood, juicy steaks and an incredible pasta selection, this spot is a must. Sip a killer cocktail from the huge drink menu before you head upstairs for dinner. FYI: They don’t take reservations for two, but there’s waitress service and the option to order appetizers, so you won’t even remember you’re waiting for a table.
2. Triumph Brewing Company (Princeton)
3. Tenderhill Restaurant (Whitehouse Station)
4. TIE: Catherine Lombardi’s (New Brunswick)
TIE: The Frog and the Peach (New Brunswick)
South Jersey
1. Stone Fire Grille (Beachwood)
2. Capital Grille (Multiple locations)
3. Riverwinds Restaurant (West Deptford)
4. Zinc Cafe (Medford)
EDITOR’S NOTE: In our reader survey, we defined the sections of New Jersey as follows: North (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Union, Sussex, Warren); Central (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset); South (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem).
