2009 Readers’ and Critics’ Restaurant Poll

The results of our 26th Annual Readers’ Choice Restaurant Poll.

By New Jersey Monthly | | July 15, 2009

The results of our 26th Annual Readers’ Choice Restaurant Poll were tabulated by PricewaterhouseCoopers in Florham Park. The winning restaurant in each region received the majority vote in its category; in some cases there were ties. We have also added our critics’ picks. All readers who submitted a ballot became eligible to win dinner for two in our random drawing. This year’s winner is John Kaplow of Asbury Park. He will receive a gift certificate to Nicholas in Red Bank, the Best of the Best poll winner in Kaplow’s region,

Key: northern Nortrh central nj Central southern nj South critic picks Critics’ Picks

BEST OF THE BEST
northern Chez Catherine, Westfield
central nj Nicholas, Red Bank
southern nj Cabanas Beach Bar and Grill, Cape May
See Top 25

NEW RESTAURANT
northern Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
central nj Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park
southern nj Chelsea Prime, Atlantic City
elements, Princeton; Izakaya, Atlantic City

MOST ROMANTIC
northern Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange
central nj Nicholas, Red Bank
southern nj The Washington Inn, Cape May
critics pick Lorena’s, Maplewood; Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange

WINE LIST
northern Park & Orchard, East Rutherford
central nj Nicholas, Red Bank
southern nj The Washington Inn, Cape May
critics pick Restaurant Latour, Hardyston

BEER SELECTION
northern Egan & Sons, Montclair
central nj Basil T’s, Red Bank; Harvest Moon Brewery, New Brunswick
Triumph Brewery, Princeton
southern nj Tun Tavern, Atlantic City
critics pick Pour House, Westmont

BREAKFAST
northern Raymond’s, Montclair
central nj Turning Point, Holmdel and Long Branch
southern nj The Pop Shop, Collingswood
critics pick Raymond’s and Toast, Montclair; Mariner’s Cove, Brielle; George’s Place, CapeMay

LUNCH
northern Next Door, Montclair
central nj The Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick
southern nj Lucky Bones Backwater Grille, Cape May
critics pick NextDoor, Montclair

STEAK
northern Rod’s Steak & Seafood Grille, Morristown
central nj Brennen’s Steakhouse, Neptune
southern nj Morton’s, Atlantic City; Bobby Flay Steak, A.C.
critics pick Morton’s, Hackensack and
Atlantic City; Roots, Summit;
Edward’s, Jersey City

SEAFOOD
northern Blu, Montclair
central nj Doris & Ed’s, Highlands
southern nj Lobster House, Cape May
critics pick Dune, Margate

VEGETARIAN
northern Veggie Heaven, Montclair
central nj Twisted Tree, Asbury Park
southern nj Green Cuisine, Stone Harbor
critics pick Su, Edgewater; Nicholas, Red Bank

BANG FOR THE BUCK
northern Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
central nj Brickwall, Asbury Park
southern nj Carmine’s, Atlantic City
critics pick Blu; Next Door, Montclair

CHAIN (Top three in NJ)
1. Applebee’s
2. Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s
3. Bonefish Grill
critics pick Chipotle; Bobby’s
Burger Palace;
McCormick & Schmick’s

SOUP/SALAD/SANDWICHES
northern Park West Diner, Little Falls
central nj Panera Bread, Edison
southern nj Depot Market, Cape May
critics pick Garden Cafe, New Milford; C’estCheese, Morristown

DELI – KOSHER STYLE
northern Millburn Deli, Millburn
central nj Harold’s, Edison
southern nj Fitzpatrick’s Jewish Deli, Somers Point
critics pick Eppes Essen, Livingston

DELI – ITALIAN STYLE
northern A&S Pork Store, West Paterson
central nj Delfini’s, Red Bank
southern nj Joe Leone’s, Point Pleasant Beach
critics pick Lisa’s, Hoboken; Nicolo’s, Montclair; SeverinoPasta, Collingswood

DINER
northern Park West, Little Falls
central nj Skylark, Edison
southern nj Mastoris, Bordentown
critics pick Mastoris, Bordentown

BAR SCENE
northern Egan & Sons, Montclair
central nj Clydz, New Brunswick
southern nj Cabanas, Cape May
critics pick Egan & Sons, Montclair; Red, Red Bank; TimMcLoone’s Supper Club, AsburyPark

BREW PUB
northern Trap Rock, Berkeley Heights
central nj Harvest Moon, New Brunswick
southern nj Tun Tavern, Atlantic City
critics pick Trap Rock, Berkeley Heights

BURGER
northern Next Door, Montclair
central nj Bobby’s Burger Palace, Eatontown
southern nj Frankie’s Bar & Grill, Point Pleasant Beach
critics pick Next Door, Montclair; Copeland, Morristown; Boathouse, Belmar

HOT DOG
northern Rutt’s Hut, Clifton
central nj The Windmill, Belmar
southern nj Hot Dog Tommy’s, Cape May
critics pick Galloping Hill Grill, Union; Hiram’s, Fort Lee

PIZZA
northern Star Tavern, Orange
central nj Pete & Elda’s, Neptune
southern nj Tony’s Baltimore Grill, Atlantic City
critics pick Pizza Brothers, Bedminster

BARBEQUE
northern Indigo Smoke, Montclair
central nj Big Ed’s BBQ, Old Bridge
southern nj Famous Dave’s, Brick
critics pick Pop’s, Madison; Corinne’s Place, Camden

CHEESESTEAK
northern Piccolo’s, Hoboken
central nj Main St., Belmar; Willy’s, Red Bank
southern nj White House Sub Shop, Atlantic City
critics pick Beyond Pita, Montclair; Tony Luke’s, Atlantic City

AMERICAN
northern Blu, Montclair
central nj Stage Left, New Brunswick
southern nj Union Park Dining Room, Cape May
critics pick Blu, Montclair; Drew’s, (Gulf Coast) Keyport

CARIBBEAN
northern La Isla, Hoboken
central nj Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park
southern nj 410 Bank Street, Cape May
critics pick Casona, Collingswood

CHINESE
northern Chengdu 46, Clifton
central nj Peking Pavilion, Manalapan
southern nj P.F. Chang’s, Atlantic City
critics pick Big Wing Wah, Hillsborough; Ya Ya Noodles, Skillman

FRENCH
northern Chez Catherine, Westfield
central nj Nicholas, Red Bank
southern nj 410 Bank Street, Cape May; Claude’s, North Wildwood
critics pick Chez Catherine, Westfield;Verjus, MaplewoodLatour, Ridgewood

GREEK
northern Varka, Ramsey
central nj It’s Greek to Me, Holmdel
southern nj George’s Place, Cape May
critics pick Varka, Ramsey; Nisi, Englewood; Stamna, Bloomfield

INDIAN
northern Mantra, Paramus
central nj Moghul, Edison
southern nj Coriander, Voorhees
critics pick Mehndi, Morristown

ITALIAN
northern Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
central nj Due Terre, Bernardsville
southern nj Carmine’s, Atlantic City
critics pick Girasole, Atlantic City

JAPANESE
northern Sushi Lounge, Morristown
central nj Taka, Asbury Park
southern nj Tokyo, Rio Grande
critics pick Shumi, Somerville; Fuji, Haddonfield; Sagami, Collingswood; Tomo, Little Falls

LATIN AMERICAN/MEXICAN
northern Mexicali Rose, Montclair
central nj Jose Tejas, Iselin
southern nj Gecko’s, Cape May
critics pick Cucharamama, Hoboken;
Senorita’s, Bloomfield

MIDDLE EASTERN
northern Toros, Clifton
central nj Evelyn’s, New Brunswick
southern nj Norma’s, Cherry Hill
critics pick Samdan, Cresskill

SOUTHEAST ASIA/THAI
northern Origin, Morristown
central nj Siam Garden, Red Bank
southern nj Cape Orient, Cape May
critics pick Topaz Thai, Belleville; Thai House, Warren

SPANISH/PORTUGUESE
northern Spanish Tavern, Mountainside
central nj Bistro Olé, Asbury Park
southern nj Europa South, Point Pleasant
critics pick Casa Vasca, Newark

BAKERY
northern Calandra’s, Caldwell
central nj Del Ponte’s, Bradley Beach
southern nj Minos, Atlantic City
critics pick Balthazar, Englewood; Gina’s, Montclair

ICE CREAM
northern Applegate Farms, Montclair
central nj Hoffman’s, Spring Lake Heights
southern nj The Pop Shop, Collingswood
critics pick Holsten’s, Bloomfield;
Bent Spoon, Princeton;
Springer’s, Stone Harbor

COFFEE/TEA BAR
northern Fine Grind, Little Falls
central nj America’s Cup, Asbury Park
southern nj Magic Brain, Cape May
critics pick Cha Ma Gu Dao (tea), Montclair; SmallWorld, Princeton

Click here to read our Critics’ picks of the 25 Best Restaurants in the state.

Read more Eat & Drink articles.

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