READERS' CHOICE 2012: Best Bars, Nightlife, Entertainment
You voted for the best of Morris and Essex Counties
BEST AFTER-HOURS
1 Orange Squirrel 412 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, 973.337.6421, theorangesquirrel.com
2 Thatcher McGhee’s 53 Broadway, Denville, 973.586.3377, thatch ermcghees.com
3 Sol-Mar 267 Ferry St., Newark, 973.344.3041, solmar-restaurant.com
BEST BEER SELECTION
1 Egan & Sons 18 Walnut St., Montclair 973.744.1413, egann sons.com; 104 Harrison Ave., West Orange, 973.736.3355, eganswestorange.com
2 The Exchange 160 E. Main St., Rockaway, 973.627.8488 exchangefood.com
BEST COSMOS
1 MARTINI BISTRO & BAR 40 Main St., Millburn, 973.376.4444, martinibistro.com
The cosmopolitan has come a long way from its vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and fresh lime beginnings, thanks partly to Carrie Bradshaw and partly to how much we love to hold a martini glass. No place understands that more than Martini Bistro & Bar, with its many lip-licking-good cosmo varieties. Try the house version: Grey Goose citron vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, fresh lime and orange zest.
2 Blue Morel 2 Whippany Rd., Morristown, 973.451.2619, bluemorel.com
3 Shanghai Jazz 24 Main St., Madison, 973.822.2899, shanghaijazz.com
3 Thatcher McGhee's 53 Broadway, Denville, 973.586.3377, thatch ermcghees.com
BEST BOWLING
1 Rockaway Lanes 365 Route 46, Rockaway, 973.627.5800, rockaway-lanes.com
2 Boonton Lanes 720 Myrtle Ave., Boonton, 973.335.0123, nation widebowling.com
3 Eagle Rock Lanes 424 Eagle Rock Ave., West Orange, 973.731.6363
BEST COOKING CLASSES
1 Kings 778 Morris Tpk., Short Hills, 973.258.4009, kings foodmarkets.com
2 Ninety Acres at Natirar 2 Main St., Peapack & Gladstone, 908.901.9500, natirar.com
3 Adult School of Montclair 100 Chestnut St., Montclair, 973.746.6636, adultschool.org
BEST DINNER & DANCING
1 Sushi Lounge 12 Schuyler Pl., Morristown, 973.539.1135, sushilounge.com
2 The Manor 111 Prospect Ave., West Orange, 973.731.2360, themanorrestaurant. com
3 Black River Barn 1178 Route 10 West, Randolph, 973.598.9988, black riverbarn.com
BEST GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT
1 Upstairs 608 Valley Rd., Upper Montclair, 973.744.4144, upstairs montclair.com
2 Pig & Prince 1 Lackawanna Plz., Montclair, pigandprince.com 2 Sogo 248 Route 46 West, Denville, 973.784.4981, sogo.cc
3 Morris Tap & Grill 500 Route 10 West, Randolph, 973.891.1776, morristapandgrill.com
BEST GOLF COURSE
1 Flanders Valley 81 Pleasant Hill Rd., Flanders, 973.584.5382, morrisparks. phantomgolf.com
2 Pinchbrook 234 Ridgedale Ave., Florham Park, 973.377.2039
3 Byrne Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange 973.736.2306, essexcountynj.org
BEST HAPPY HOUR
1 Thatcher McGhee’s 53 Broadway, Denville, 973.586.3377, thatcher mcghees.com
2 Morris Tap & Grill 500 Route 10 West, Randolph, 973.891.1776, morristapandgrill. com
3 Sushi Lounge 12 Schuyler Pl., Morristown, 973.539.1135, sushilounge.com
BEST HIKING
1 Tourne 89 Old Boonton Rd., Denville 973.326.7631, morrisparks.net
2 Patriots Path (starts at Essex County Environmental Center), 621 Eagle Rock Ave., Roseland 973.228.8776, essex countynj.org
3 Lewis Morris Park, 270 Mendham Rd., Morristown, 973.829.8257, morrisparks.net
3 Pyramid Mountain Boonton Ave. & Mars Ct., Montville, 973.326.7600, morrisparks.net
BEST DANCE LESSONS
1 SWINGING WITH SIMONE
82 Union St., Montclair, 973.746.6631, swingingwithsimone.com
Got a little DWTS fever? Swingin’ Simone Coonrod, a veteran dance instructor, has got the cure. She’ll teach you technique, all right (she knows swing, salsa, tango, ballroom and creative dance), but it’s the groove of her move that is infectious. She offers private and group lessons, and if you’re not up for that yet, swing on over to her monthly dance parties at the Montclair Women’s Club. FUN. Sometimes there is a live band. And you can come with or without a partner. “Dance is like life: beautiful and joyous,” she says.
2 Dance Connection 295 Route 46 West, Rockaway, 973.625.2224, danceconn.com
3 Fred Astaire 604 Valley Rd., Upper Montclair, 973.783.8999, danceastaire.com
BEST IRISH PUB
1 Thatcher McGhee’s 53 Broadway, Denville, 973.586.3377, thatcher mcghees.com
2 Dublin Pub 4 Pine St., Morristown, 973.538.1999, dublin pubmorristown.com
3 Egan & Sons 118 Walnut St., Montclair, 973.744.1413, egannsons.com; 104 Harrison Ave., West Orange, 973.736.3355, eganswestorange.com
3 Tierney’s 136-138 Valley Rd., Montclair, 973.744.9785, tierneystavern.com
BEST KIDS’ PARTIES
1 Planet Kidz 7B Spielman Rd., Fairfield, 973.808.2200, planetkidznj.com
2 Brushes & Bisque 45 Broadway, Denville, 973.627.6292, brushesandbisque.net
3 Gems Cheer Stars 5 Aspen Dr., Suite 2, Randolph, 973.252.7827, genscheerstars.com
BEST LIVE THEATER
1 Paper Mill Playhouse 22 Brookside Dr., Millburn, 973.376.4343, papermill.org
2 NJ PAC One Center St., Newark, 973.642.8989, njpac.org
3 MAYO Center 100 South St., Morristown, 973.539.8008, mayoarts.org
BEST MARGARITAS
1 Hot Rod’s BBQ 19 N. Main St., Wharton, 973.361.5050, hotrodsbbq.com
2 Rattlesnake Ranch 559 E. Main St., Denville, 973.586.3800, rattlesnakeranchcafe. com
3 Margarita’s 372 W. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, 973.992.0001, margs.com
BEST MARTINIS
1 Sushi Lounge 12 Schuyler Pl., Morristown, 973.539.1135, sushilounge.com
2 Sogo 248 Route 46 West, Denville, 973.784.4981, sogo.cc
3 Tabor Road Tavern 510 Tabor Rd., Morris Plains, 973.267.7004 taborroadtavern.com
BEST MUSEUM
1 Morris Museum 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, 973.971.3700, morrismuseum.org
2 Montclair Art Museum 3 S. Mountain Ave., Montclair, 973.746.5555, mont clairartmuseum.org
3 Boonton Historical Museum 210 Main St., Boonton, 973.402.8840, boonton.org
NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
1 Egan & Sons 118 Walnut St., Montclair, 973.744.1413, egannsons.com; 104 Harrison Ave., West Orange, 973.736.3355, eganswestorange.com
2 The Second Half on Main 5 E. Main Street, Denville, 973.748.4040, secondhalfonmain.com
3 Tavern Off the Green 127 Morris St., Morristown, 973.455.9350, tavern offthegreen.com
BEST SPORTS BAR
1 EGAN & SONS
118 Walnut St., Montclair, 973.744.1413, egannsons.com; 104 Harrison Ave., West Orange, 973.736.3355, eganswestorange.com
Can’t decide whether you want to watch the game in the comfort of an air-conditioned classic pub or enjoy a beer and some music in the fresh air of an outdoor beer garden? At Egan & Sons, you have both delightful options. Get together with friends or meet new ones in a classy atmosphere with quality food you just won’t fi nd at your run-of-the-mill sports bar. Try the fish and chips or the crispy maple-glazed wings—fan favorites.
2 Adams Beer Garden 123 Hibernia Ave., Rockaway, 973.627.9617, adamsbeergarden.com
3 Morris Tap & Grill 500 Route 10 West, Randolph, 973.891.1776, morristapandgrill.com
BEST SINGLES SCENE
1 Sushi Lounge 12 Schuyler Pl., Morristown, 973.539.1135, sushilounge.com
2 Egan & Sons 118 Walnut St., Montclair 973.744.1413, egann sons.com; 104 Harrison Ave., West Orange, 973.736.3355, eganswestorange.com
3 Dark Horse Lounge 4 Dehart St., Morristown, 973.455.0200
BEST WINE LIST
1 Morris Tap & Grill 500 Route 10 West, Randolph, 973.891.1776, morris tapandgrill.com
2 Tabor Road Tavern 510 Tabor Rd., Morris Plains, 973.267.7004, taborroadtavern.com 3 The Manor 111 Prospect Ave., West Orange, 973.731.2360, themanorrestaurant. com
3 Morris Tap & Grill 500 Route 10 West, Randolph, 973.891.1776, morris tapandgrill.com
BEST LIVE MUSIC
1 Wellmont Theatre 5 Seymour St., Montclair, 973.783.9500, wellmonttheatre.com
Renovated in 2008, this early-20th-century theatre is a great alternative to similarly sized music venues in New York City. Large enough to attract big names, but small enough to convey a sense of intimacy, it boasts a wide variety of live acts, offering something for everyone.
2 Shanghai Jazz 24 Main St., Madison, 973.822.2899, shanghaijazz.com
3 Sushi Lounge 12 Schuyler Pl., Morristown, 973.539.1135, sushilounge.com
