Best Food of Morris and Essex: Readers' Choice Awards 2012
The best restaurants and food shops in Morris and Essex Counties
BEST BAGELS
1 Mountain Lakes Bagels
350 Route 46 East, Mountain Lakes,
973.627.4999
2 Hot Bagels Abroad
1129 Broad St., Bloomfield,
973.338.9616;
240 Route 206, Flanders,
973.927.1100,
hotbagelsabroad.net
3 Bagels on the Hill
175 Lakeside Blvd., Landing,
973.770.4800
bagelsonthehill.com
BEST BAR FOOD
1 Thatcher McGhee’s
53 Broadway, Denville,
973.586.3377,
thatchermcghees.com
2 The Second Half on Main
5 E. Main St., Denville,
973.748.4040,
secondhalfonmain.com
3 Egan & Sons
118 Walnut St., Montclair,
973.744.1413,
egannsons.com;
104 Harrison Ave.,
West Orange,
973.736.3355,
eganswestorange.com
BEST BARBECUE
1 Hot Rod’s BBQ
19 N. Main St., Wharton,
973.361.5050,
hotrodsbbq.com
2 Hog Wild BBQ
405 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell,
862.210.8262,
hogwildnj.com
3 Ruthie’s 64½
Chestnut St., Montclair,
973.509.1134,
ruthiesbbq.com
BEST BREAKFAST
1 Summit & Main
1 W. Main St., Suite 2,
Denville, 973.625.1066
2 Bonjour
254 Park St., Montclair,
973.655.1300,
bonjourmontclair.com
2 Doc’s Kitchen
38 First Ave., Denville,
862.209.1464,
docskitchen.com
3 Toast
700 Bloomfield
Ave., Montclair,
973.509.8099,
toastmontclair.com
BEST BURGERS
1 Hot Rod’s BBQ
19 N. Main St., Wharton,
973.361.5050,
hotrodsbbq.com
2 Morris Tap & Grill
500 Route 10 West, Randolph,
973.891.1776,
morristapandgrill.com
3 Heritage Grill
18 Broadway, Denville,
973.983.9600,
heritagegrill.com
BEST BUTCHER
1 Sussex Meat
219 N. Main St., Wharton,
973.361.2600,
sussexmeat.com
2 Chester Meat Market
27 W. Main St., Chester,
908.879.7523,
chestermeatmarket.com
3 Villa Meats
5 Park Ave., Caldwell,
973.226.3900
BEST BYO RESTAURANT
1 Cuban Pete’s
428 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair,
973.746.1100, cubanpetesrestaurant.com
2 La Cucina
278 Diamond Spring Rd., Denville,
973.627.6200,
lacucina-denville.com
3 Cara Mia
194 Essex St., Millburn,
973.379.8989,
caramiamillburn.com
BEST CANDY
1 Sweet Expressions
32 Broadway, Denville,
973.625.0025,
sweetexpressionsbygeri.com
2 Nagel’s Candy Barn
358 Route 10
West, Randolph,
973.361.1688
3 Holsten’s
1063 Broad St., Bloomfield,
973.338.7091,
holstens.com
BEST CHEAP EATS
1 Ralph’s Pizzeria
564 Franklin Ave.,
Nutley, 973.235.1130,
ralphspizzeria.com
2 Summit & Main
1 W. Main St., Suite 2,
Denville, 973.625.1066
3 Tinga Taqueria
321 Millburn Ave., Millburn,
973.218.9500;
215 Bellevue Ave., 973.509.8226,
Upper Montclair, tingausa.com
BEST CHEESE STEAKS
1 Summit & Main
1 W. Main St., Suite 2,
Denville, 973.625.1066
2 Cielo
168 Passaic Ave., Fairfield,
973.808.1414,
cielonj.com
3 J&K Steakhouse
34 W. Blackwell St.,
Dover, 862.244.4536;
56 South St., Morristown,
973.998.8061,
jandksteakhouse.com
BEST CHINESE
1 Hunan Taste
67 Bloomfield Ave., Denville,
973.625.2782,
hunantaste.com
2 T.S. Ma
199 Bellevue Ave., Montclair,
973.509.8878, tsma
chinesecuisine.com
3 Shanghai Jazz
24 Main St., Madison,
973.822.2899,
shanghaijazz.com
BEST CHOCOLATE
1 Holsten’s
1063 Broad St., Bloomfield,
973.338.7091,
holstens.com
2 J. Emanuel Chocolatier
461B Main St., Chester, 908.955.7592
jemanuel.com
3 Sweet Expressions
32 Broadway, Denville, 973.625.0025,
sweetexpressionsbygeri.com
BEST COFFEE SHOP
1 Mara’s Bakery & Cafe
25 E. Main St., Denville,
973.625.0901,
marascafe.com
2 Smartworld Coffee
2 Broadway, Denville,
973.627.1600;
74 South St., Morristown,
973.359.9800,
smartworldcoffee.com
3 Hobcaw Café
20 Grove Ave.,
Verona, 973.239.2329,
hobcawcafe.com
3 Rockn’ Joe Coffeehouse
339 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell,
973.226.1116;
63 Main St., Millburn,
973.376.6111,
rocknjoe.net
BEST COMFORT FOOD
1 Thatcher McGhee’s
53 Broadway, Denville,
973.586.3377,
thatchermcghees.com
2 Raymond’s
28 Church St., Montclair,
973.744.9263,
raymondsnj.com
3 Morris Tap & Grill
500 Route 10 West, Randolph,
973.891.1776,
morristapandgrill.com
BEST DINER
1 West Side Diner
324 Route 46, Denville,
973.983.1818
2 The Ritz Diner
72 E. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston,
973.533.1213
3 The Randolph Diner
517 Route 10, Randolph,
973.328.2400,
therandolphdiner.com
BEST BAKERY
1 MARA’S BAKERY & CAFE
25 E. Main St., Denville, 973.625.0901, marascafe.com
Mara’s reputation was first built on cheesecake. Well, the old standby is still there, in 25 different varieties, including the wildly popular caramel apple streusel version—but it’s the cakes that everyone comes for.
The chocolate mousse cake, the white chocolate raspberry mousse cake, the peanut butter chocolate silk cake and the carrot cake top the list. “Everything is made from scratch,” says Ian Magley, part owner
and one of founder Mara Magley’s sons. “We have been using the same ingredients for 30 years—all fresh, no imitations.” Yummm.
2 Nicolo’s Italian Bakery
6 Baldwin St., Montclair, nicolosbakery.com
3 Gina’s Bakery
110 Walnut St., Montclair, 973.233.1010, ginasbakery.com
3 The Little Daisy Bake Shop
626 Valley Rd., Upper Montclair, 973.707.2157, littledaisybakeshop.com
BEST MARKET
1 Denville Farmers’ Market
21 Bloomfield Ave., Denville,
denvillefarmersmarket.com
2 Walnut Street
Market Walnut St. & Depot Sq., Montclair,
973.228.2466
3 Route 10 Farmers’ Market
577 W. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston,
973.994.2224
BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT
1 Mes Reves
407 Broad St., Bloomfield,
973.429.4888,
mesrevesnj.com
2 Restaurant Lorena’s
168 Maplewood Ave., Maplewood,
973.763.4460,
restaurantlorena.com
3 Epernay
6 Park St., Montclair,
973.783.0447,
epernaynj.com
BEST GELATO
1 Mara’s Bakery & Cafe
25 E. Main St., Denville,
973.625.0901,
marascafe.com
2 Morris Tap & Grill
500 Route 10 West, Randolph,
973.891.1776,
morristapandgrill.com
3 The Publick House
111 Main St., Chester,
908.879.6878,
chesterpublickhouse.com
BEST GOURMET
1 Whole Foods
222 Main St., Madison,
973.822.8444;
701 Bloomfield Ave.,
Montclair,
973.746.5110;
235 Prospect Ave.,
West Orange,
973.669.3196,
wholefoodsmarket.com
2 Dash of Thyme Gourmet
49 Broadway, Denville,
973.453.6200,
dashofthymegourmet.com
3 Sergio & Co.
28 Broadway, Denville,
973.627.1043,
sergioandco.com
BEST GREEK/TURKISH
1 Stamna
1045 Broad St., Bloomfield,
973.338.5151,
stamnataverna.com
2 Greek Taverna
292 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair,
973.746.2280,
greektavernausa.com
3 Thavma
6230 Town Center Way, Livingston,
973.992.8999,
thavmagrill.com
ICE CREAM
1 Denville Dairy
34A Broadway,
Denville, 973.627.4214,
denvilledairy.com
2 Cliffs Ice Cream
1475 Route 46, Ledgewood,
973.584.9721,
cliffsicecream.com
3 Applegate Farm
134 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover,
973.884.0222; 397
Centre St., Nutley,
973.661.1166;
616 Grove St., Upper Montclair,
973.744.5900,
applegatefarm.com
BEST INDIAN
1 Cinnamon
2920 Route 10 West,
Morris Plains,
973.734.0040,
cinnamonindianrestaurant.com
2 The Clay Oven
1140 Route 46, Ledgewood,
973.252.7270,
theclayoven.com
3 Mehndi
88 Headquarters Plaza, Morristown,
973.871.2323,
mehndimorristown.com
BEST INTERIOR DECOR
1 Ninety Acres at Natirar
2 Main St.,
Peapack & Gladstone,
908.901.9500,
natirar.com
2 Tabor Road Tavern
510 Tabor Rd., Morris Plains, 973.267.7004,
taborroadtavern.com
3 Grato
2230 Route 10 West, Morris Plains
973.267.4006,
gratorestaurant.com
BEST ITALIAN DELI
1 Sergio’s
28 Broadway, Denville
973.627.1043, sergioandco.com
1 Tutto Fresco
36 W. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston,
973.422.1299
2 Anthony & Sons
20 Luger Rd., Denville,
973.625.2323,
anthonyandsonsbakery.com
3 Summit & Main
1 W. Main St.,
Suite 2, Denville,
973.625.1066
BEST BRUNCH
1 MORRIS TAP & GRILL
500 Route 10 West, Randolph, 973.891.1776, morristapandgrill.com
If it’s Sunday, it’s brunch day, and this menu is sure to surprise and delight every time. “It’s whimsical and fun,” says chef Eric Levine, “and never the same.” He goes with what’s in season. “No asparagus in winter here,” he says. Come for the eclectic offerings: French, Asian, American and South American food (to name only a few regions), the beautiful cold salad display and the homemade, melt-in-your-mouth
pastries.
2 Raymond’s
28 Church St., Montclair, 973.744.9263,raymondsnj.com
3 Doc’s Kitchen
38 First Ave., Denville, 862.209.1464,docskitchen.com
3 The Manor
111 Prospect Ave., West Orange, 973.731.2360, themanorrestaurant.com
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT
1 Scalini Fedeli
63 Main St., Chatham, 973.701.9200, scalinifedeli.com
2 Casa Bella
300 Route 46 & Lakewood Dr., Denville, 973.627.2003, casabella46.com
3 Bar Cara
1099 Broad St., Bloomfield, 973.893.3681, bar-cara.com
3 Grato
2230 Route 10 West, Morris Plains, 973.267.4006, gratorestaurant.com
BEST JAPANESE
1 Sogo 248 Route 46 West, Denville, 973.784.4981, sogo.cc
2 Nori Sushi 561 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973.655.8806, nori-sushi.com
3 Dai Kichi 608 Valley Rd., Upper Montclair, 973.744.2954
3 Midori 3130 Route 10 West, Denville, 973.537.8588, midorirestaurant.com
MOST KID-FRIENDLY
1 Cucina Calandra 216-234 Route 46 East, Fairfield, 973.575.7720, cucinacalandra.com
2 Hot Rod’s BBQ 19 N. Main St., Wharton, 973.361.5050, hotrodsbbq.com 2 Toast 700 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973.509.8099, toastmontclair.com
3 Morris Tap & Grill 500 Route 10 West, Randolph, 973.891.1776, morristapandgrill.com
BEST CATERER
1 LAURENCE CRAIG
1799 Springfield Ave., Maplewood, 973.761.0190, laurencecraigcatering.com
Elegant, artistic, professional, outside-the-box: Laurence Craig is a visionary in the catering world. His list of clients speaks for itself—it includes Armani, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. His staff can handle
intimate parties of 10 to affairs of 2,000. And the company can adapt its exquisite cuisine to your décor or party theme. Hire them, let go and be dazzled.
2 Summit & Main 1 W. Main St., Suite 2, Denville, 973.625.1066
3 Hot Rod’s BBQ 19 N. Main St., Wharton, 973.361.5050,hotrodsbbq.com
BEST ORGANIC HEALTH FOOD
1 Grass Roots 20 First Ave., Denville, 973.627.5440, grassrootsnatural market.com
2 G Metro 60 Diamond Spring Rd., Denville, 973.625.1055, thecafemetro.com
3 The Health Shoppe 207 Route 206, Chester, 908.879.7555; 66 Morris St., Morristown, 973.538.9131, thehealthshoppes.com
BEST OUTDOOR DINING
1 Highlawn Pavilion Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, 973.731.3463, highlawn.com
2 Fitzgerald’s 1928 13 Herman St., Glen Ridge, 973.748.4702, fitzgeralds1928.com
3 The Station 99 Midvale Rd., Mountain Lakes, 973.335.5330, thestationatmtlakes. com
BEST PIZZA
1 Star Tavern 400 High St., Orange, 973.675.3336, startavern.net
2 Napoli Pizza 275 Chestnut St., Newark, 973.522.1950
2 Tabor Pizzeria 976 Tabor Rd., Morris Plains, 973.540.0898, taborpizza.com
3 Denville Pizzeria 20 Diamond Spring Rd., Denville, 973.625.4321, denvillepizza.com
MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT
1 Highlawn Pavilion Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, 973.731.3463, highlawn.com
2 CulinAriane 33 Walnut St., Montclair, 973.744.0533, culinariane.com
3 The Grand Café 42 Washington St., Morristown, 973.540.9444 thegrandcafe.com
BEST SALAD
1 Jackie’s Grillette 614 Valley Rd., Upper Montclair, 973.744.0090
2 Summit & Main 1 W. Main St., Suite 2, Denville, 973.625.1066
3 Toast 700 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973.509.8099, toastmontclair.com
BEST SCENIC VIEW
1 Highlawn Pavilion Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, 973.731.3463, highlawn.com
2 Alice’s 24 Nolans Point Park Rd., Lake Hopatcong, 973.663.9600, alicesrestaurantnj.com
3 McLoone’s Boathouse 9 Cherry Ln., West Orange, 862.252.7108, mcloonesboathouse. com
BEST SOUP
1 Millburn Deli 328 Millburn Ave., Millburn, 973.379.5800, millburndeli.com
2 Summit & Main 1 W. Main St., Suite 2, Denville, 973.625.1066
BEST CLAMS
1 HALCYON SEAFOOD BRASSERIE AND RAW BAR
114 Walnut St., Montclair, 973.744.4450, halcyonseafood.com
There is a cool secret to why the clams at Halcyon are so good: ice. “We submerge them way underneath the ice so they’re freezing cold and fresh, and we shuck them right in front of you,” says part-owner Sharon Egan. Also to enjoy are the oyster shooters, and if you have a king-sized appetite, try the King Fisher Ice Tower—clams, oysters, crab, shrimp and lots of ice.
2 Denville Seafood, 61 Broadway, Denville, 973.627.2987, denvilleseafood.com
3 Fin Raw Bar and Kitchen, 183 Glenridge Ave., Montclair, 973.744.0068, finrawbarandkitchen.com
3 Heritage Grill 18 Broadway, Denville, 973.983.9600, heritagegrill.com
BEST STEAK HOUSE
1 Roots Steakhouse 40 W. Park Pl., Morristown, 973.326.1800 rootssteakhouse.com
2 Arthur’s Tavern 700 Speedwell Ave., Morris Plains, 973.455.9705, arthurstavern.com
3 J&K Steakhouse 34 W. Blackwell St., Dover, 862.244.4536;
56 South St., Morristown, 973.998.8061, jandksteakhouse.com
BEST SUSHI
1 Sogo 248 Route 46 West, Denville, 973.784.4981, sogo.cc
1 Sushi Lounge 12 Schuyler Pl., Morristown, 973.539.1135, sushilounge.com
2 Yama 5 E. Main St., Denville, 973.627.7712, yamasushi.us
3 Minado 2888 Route 10 West, Morris Plains, 973.734.4900, minado.com
BEST TACOS
1 Tinga Taqueria 321 Millburn Ave., Millburn, 973.218.9500;
215 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair, 973.509.8226, tingausa.com
2 Rattlesnake Ranch 559 E. Main St., Denville, 973.586.3800, rattlesnakeranchcafe. com
3 Tortilla Sunrise 18 Grove Ave., Verona, 973.239.1399, tortillasunrise.com
BEST SEAFOOD
1 FIN
183 Glenridge Ave., Montclair, 973.744.0068, finrawbarandkitchen.com
Who knew there was seaside dining in Montclair? Well, seaside-looking, at least. Come in, step onto the dock and choose your catch from the stunning shaved-ice display if you wish. Every day there are two or three different types of fi sh to see, depending on what’s in season. This menu is seasonal, fresh and, according to executive chef Michael Juliano, “at a good price point for this time in the economy.” Marinated, wood-grilled whole fi sh are a favorite. The raw bar features at least six different types of oysters every day.
2 Nicole’s 10 246 Route 10 West, Randolph, 973.442.9311, nicolesten.com
2 The Orange Squirrel 412 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, 973.337.6421, theorangesquirrel.com
3 Denville Seafood 61 Broadway, Denville, 973.627.2987,denvilleseafood.com
BEST TAPAS
1 Cinders Wood Fire Grill 319 Route 46, Mine Hill, 973.928.7000, cinderswoodfiregrill.com
2 Mompou 77 Ferry St., Newark, 973.578.8114, mompoutapas.com
3 Cuban Pete’s 428 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973.746.1100, cuban petesrestaurant.com
BEST TEA SHOP
1 Sally Lunn’s 15 Perry St., Chester, 908.879.7731, sallylunns.com
2 Nature’s EnerQi 21 Bloomfield Ave., Denville, 973.784.0123, naturesenerqi.com
3 InsaniTea 570 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973.509.1202, insaniteallc.com
BEST THAI
1 Spice 26 Belleville Ave., Bloomfield, 973.748.0056, spicethainj.com
2 Origin II 10 South St., Morristown, 973.971.9933, originthai.com
3 Thai Nam Phet 296 Route 46, Rockaway, 973.627.8400, thainamphet.com
BEST VEGETARIAN
1 Veggie Heaven 631 Valley Rd., Upper Montclair, 973.783.1088, veggie heavenmontclair.com
2 Café Metro 60 Diamond Spring Rd., Denville, 973.625.4781, thecafemetro.com
3 HLS Grill 1859 Springfield Ave., Maplewood, 973.763.1127;
387 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973.337.8925, hlsrestaurant.com
BEST WINE & SPIRITS
1 Egan & Sons 118 Walnut St., Montclair, 973.744.1413, egannsons.com;
104 Harrison Ave., West Orange, 973.736.3355, eganswestorange.com
2 Thatcher McGhee’s 53 Broadway, Denville, 973.586.3377, thatchermcghees.com
3 Blue Morel 2 Whippany Rd., Morristown, 973.451.2619, bluemorel.com
BEST WINGS
1 Hot Rod’s BBQ 19 N. Main St., Wharton, 973.361.5050, hotrodsbbq.com
2 Morris Tap & Grill 500 Rt. 10 West, Randolph, 973.891.1776, morristapandgrill.com
3 The Second Half on Main 5 E. Main Street, Denville, 973.748.4040, secondhalfonmain. com
BEST CUPCAKES
1 SUGAR MOMMY CUPCAKES
31 Broadway, Denville, 973.400.9866, sugarmommycupcakes.com
“The White Chocolate Raspberry: white chocolate batter, chocolate raspberry frosting with white chocolate and raspberry drizzled on top. The Chocolate Éclair: chocolate batter with an éclair-cream center, chocolate fudge frosting with a mini eclair on top.” The descriptions leave your mouth watering, and all the ingredients are fresh and preservative-free. Owner, cupcake creator and professional artist Lori Levenson competed on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. Need we say more?
2 Mara’s Bakery & Cafe 25 E. Main St., Denville, 973.625.0901, marascafe.com
3 Stuffed Cupcakes 231 Franklin Ave., Nutley, 973.667.7778, stuffedcupcakes.com
