Welcome to NJ.com’s monthly feature, “Where to eat now in N.J.,” highlighting the most exciting restaurants of the moment, including places new to the scene and ones that have been here a while but are still firing on all burners. Our selections are based on personal visits, word of mouth, OpenTable availability, crowdsourcing websites and local food blogs. If you’d like to recommend a restaurant to be considered for a spot on a future “Where to eat now in N.J.” column, let us know in the comments section below, or e-mail vhyman@njadvancemedia.com.
Oh My Cod is a proper Irish-style fish and chips shop opened in December by Montclair Bread Company’s Rachel Crampsey, her husband Kevin, raised in Derry, Northern Ireland, and Jessica Woodward. Like Kevin’s favorite Irish shops, you can get your fried cod and whiting ($6-$12.50) with curry sauce and mushy peas, and there is malt vinegar on every table, but the batter is made from Brooklyn Brewery lager, which Crampsey says is flavorful but not overpowering. The simple storefront restaurant is BYOB but offers imported British sods and chips. “Is it selfish to say we just wanted to eat it,” Crampsey wonders, “but thought other people might enjoy it too?” Absolutely not.
Where: 103 Forest St., Montclair, 973-744-7263. ohmycodmontclair.com
The new Mathews in Jersey City features dishes inspired by Charleston. Georgi Richardson | maggiemarguerite.com
Genteel isn’t necessarily a word associated with Jersey City, but restaurateur Mat Kopec is trying to change that, one cocktail at a time. The man behind the casual White Star and White Star Warren has opened Mathews, a Charleston-inspired eatery oozing charm, from its throwback wallpaper and tile and plank floors to the staff’s sensibilities: “It’s being friendly, taking care of guests,” Kopec says. “It’s just a gracious Southern feel.” The menu is Southern-accented rather than full Dixie, with pimento cheese anchoring the shrimp and corn fritters ($9), the falafel made with black-eyed peas ($10), and pickled vegetables in abundance.
Where: 351 Grove St., Jersey City, 201-333-2158. matthewsfoodanddrink.com
Asbury Park’s near-miraculous comeback is best appreciated at night, when Cookman and Bangs avenues are packed with foodies and bar-hoppers. But one of its newest treasures can be savored mainly in daylight — Cardinal Provisions, an easygoing breakfast-all-day place with a few tricks up its sleeve. From Grace Crossman and Laura Brahn, veterans of the Asbury Park scene (Porta among others), the bright, unpretentious cafe serves elevated (and sometimes veganized) classics on china raided from Grandma’s cupboards. The everything bagel is slathered with piquant (and bright pink) beet-horseradish cream cheese and topped with gravlax, capers, onions and dill ($12). The scrambled eggs are Roman-style, with cracked pepper, pecorino and Parmigiano ($12). And who could resist the spiced banana bread waffle, with caramelized bananas and gianduja ($14). Not me.
Where: 513 Bangs Ave., Asbury Park. crdnl.com
Tapastre owner Mike Postre has turned the unused space above his Somerville tapas and craft beer destination into a gastropub with a unique angle: Every month, he’ll turn over all the taps to a different brewery and a portion of the menu to dishes that complement or is cooked with the chosen craft brew. “If the beer is good to drink, it’s all good to cook with,” he says. In this inaugural month, it’s Michigan’s Founders Brewing Company, and you can find a vegetable pot pie flavored with Founders’ Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale ($16), and a yellow curry monkfish stew ($21) that pairs with the brewery’s two IPAs. The bar snacks menu, including potted chicken liver with toasted pistachios ($9) and duck fat fries ($7), will remain the same.
Where: 41 N. Bridge St., Somerville, 908-393-5211. projectpubnj.com
The creme brulee maple cheesecake with bourbon maple soaked cranberries at Charlie’s of Bay Head. Courtesy Charlie’s of Bay Head
Charlie’s of Bay Head has been highly anticipated, and not because it is now the only restaurant with a liquor license in this small Ocean County beach town. Well, not only because. The Shingle-style 9,000-square-foot restaurant with two decks looking over Twilight Lake is on the site of the demolished Shopper’s Wharf and helps cap the town’s recovery from Hurricane Sandy. And yes, there’s booze: 20 craft beers on tap, including Ocean’s Kane Brewing and Atlantic Highlands’ Carton Brewing, along with cocktails, wine and Shore-inspired contemporary American cuisine — jumbo crab deviled eggs ($12), Jersey drunken clams ($16), pan-seared scallops with braised pork belly ($33), plus burgers, steaks, pastas and flatbreads.
Where: 72 Bridge Avenue, Bay Head. 732-295-1110. charliesofbayhead.com
The lines are out the door every weekend at Patisserie Florentine in Englewood, with ladies-who-brunch angling for one of the tiny wooden tables, but chef and co-owner Tomer Zilkha wouldn’t dream of expanding the petite, white-washed space. “There’s not much room to move,” he admits, “but it’s part of the experience in a way.” (He did recently open a storefront in the East Village and is considering another location in Bergen County.) The European-style bistro’s savory offerings and exquisite pastries (the almond croissants and creamy scones are favorites), all made in-house by Zilkha, ensure all those sharp elbows. Try this upgrade on the ubiquitous avocado toast: the croissant oeufs fromage, with avocado spread, melted mozzarella and house-cured gravlax beneath two sunny-side-up eggs ($11.25).
Where: 10 S. Dean St., Englewood. 201-408-4890. patisserieflorentine.com
Now that you can get a decent chicken tikka masala almost anywhere in New Jersey, Indian restauranteurs have set their sights a little higher. Upping the stakes in Freehold, home to a growing Indian population, is Aarzu, an elegant spot with platinum-upholstered banquettes and teal velvet drapes and a menu with influences from across India and beyond. (Aarzu is the sister restaurant to Edison’s excellent Urban Spice and more casual Mithaas.) You’ll find roast duck with a ginger mustard glaze ($22); potato and pea dumplings with avocado chutney ($8); butter chicken with smoked tomato and fenugreek ($18); and one version of chaat, the savory street food, features wafer-thin and perfectly-fried slices of Japanese eggplant with candied ginger, pomegranate and dates ($8).
Where: 30 E. Main St., Freehold, 732-333-0933. aarzu.com
The fast casual chain Honeygrow’s sesame garlic stir-fry features Creekstone Farms beef and fresh whole-wheat noodles. Jason Varney
The fast-casual boom shows no sign of slowing down, and one of the hottest concepts is Honeygrow, the Philly-born chain of customizable stir-fries, salads and honey-drizzled fruit bowls, all in the $6-$10 range. The newest location on College Avenue in New Brunswick has that rustic-industrial vibe, with touch-screen ordering stations fronting the kitchen and a blackboard listing local farms and dairies (local meaning as far as New Hampshire and Virginia, but points for the effort.) With all due respect to the exotic-sounding stir-fries (roast pork with sour cherry BBQ; togarashi-spiced turkey), the perfectly ripe fruit bowl with yogurt, granola and a choice of honey (I went for wildflower) was the perfect afternoon snack. Another location is set to open in Marlton later this year.
Where: 36 College Ave., New Brunswick, 732-214-9182; 1588 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, 856-520-8122; 120 Washington St., Hoboken, 201-533-8089. honeygrow.com
After two years of planning (and sadly, one fire during the design phase), TOWN bar + kitchen opened last month in the old two-level Sebastian’s the Steakhouse space, now transformed into an industrial chic destination for date nights and happy hours with a raw bar and an extensive wine list courtesy of nearby Cambridge Wines, whose owners are partners in TOWN. The menu favors American classics done with style and forethought, such as the Frenched chicken wings with buffalo sauce ($12) and the TOWN burger, made with a blend of chuck, brisket and short rib with cheddar, bacon and caramelized onions ($15), but also includes Italian specialities, including a decadent gnocchi alla Romana with braised short rib and burrata ($14 half, $22 full).
Where: 80 Elm St, Morristown, 973-889-8696. townbarandkitchen.com
Suddenly shuttered by Hazlet-born celeb chef David Burke in 2015, Fromagerie is now in its third incarnation, with car mogul Paul Sansone and wife Enilda giving the 42-year-old restaurant a makeover and returning the menu to its old-school roots after Burke’s more whimsical creations. But one thing hasn’t changed — this is a luxe dining experience, from the tableside Caesar and steak tartare to the Colorado rack of lamb with mint jelly and duck breast in a cherry grappa sauce. The day boat scallops are served with smoked bone marrow risotto, a lobster beurre blanc and is topped with caviar and shaved truffle. Because why not? For those with less generous expense accounts (or none at all), try the prix fixe menu Sundays through Fridays until 7 p.m., with three courses for $35.
Where: 26 Ridge Road, Rumson, 732-852-2650. fromagerienj.com
Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out Remote Possibilities, the TV podcast from Vicki Hyman and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or Spreaker, or listen below or here.
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