Results of the 2021 Jersey Choice Restaurant Poll – New Jersey Monthly
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The results of our 38th Annual Jersey Choice Restaurant Poll are in, showcasing readers’ picks for their favorite dining spots in New Jersey across 45 categories.
Balloting took place online throughout the month of February, when restaurants, after the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, were into their sixth month of normal operation at full capacity indoors as well as outdoors.
The winning restaurant in each region (North, Central and South Jersey) received the most votes in its category. Ballots from duplicate e-mail or IP addresses were disqualified. Editorial discretion was used when votes were cast for restaurants that, in our judgment, belonged in another category.
We usually add our critics’ picks based on visits made in the spring and summer, but we had to forgo such travel amid the ongoing pandemic and we have eschewed critics’ picks this year.
All qualified ballots sent in by readers were eligible to win our random drawing. The winner will be announced in the December 2021 issue of New Jersey Monthly.
[RELATED: The 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey of 2021]
Lorena’s · Maplewood (North Jersey)
Stage Left Steak · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
410 Bank Street · Cape May (South Jersey)
Chutzpah Kitchen · Maplewood (North Jersey)
The Waterfront · Forked River (Central Jersey)
Kuo Social · Robbinsville (South Jersey)
Ariane Kitchen & Bar (now closed) · Verona (North Jersey)
B2 Bistro · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
The Ark Pub & Eatery · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Ani Ramen · Montclair (North Jersey)
Taka · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Xina · Toms River (South Jersey)
Hot Bagels Abroad · Bloomfield, Clifton, Montclair, South Orange (North Jersey)
The Bagel Nook · Freehold (Central Jersey)
Baron’s Bagels · Point Pleasant (South Jersey)
Calandra’s · Caldwell, Fairfield, Newark (North Jersey)
Del Ponte’s Bakery · Bradley Beach (Central Jersey)
Mueller’s Bakery · Bay Head (South Jersey)
Anthony’s Cheesecake · Bloomfield (North Jersey)
Old Man Rafferty’s · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
Surf Taco · Multiple locations (South Jersey)
Ariane Kitchen & Bar (now closed) · Verona (North Jersey)
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Martell’s Tiki Bar · Point Pleasant (South Jersey)
Mighty Quinn’s · Clifton (North Jersey)
Local Smoke BBQ · Cookstown, Highlands, Neptune City, Red Bank, Seaside Heights (Central Jersey)
Hickory Hog · Point Pleasant (South Jersey)
Cloverleaf Tavern · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Crab’s Claw Inn · Lavallette (South Jersey)
Turning Point · Multiple locations (North Jersey)
PJ’s Pancake House · Princeton (Central Jersey)
Chicken or the Egg · Beach Haven (South Jersey)
Trap Rock · Berkeley Heights (North Jersey)
Triumph · Princeton (Central Jersey)
Artisan’s · Toms River (South Jersey)
Turning Point · Multiple locations (North Jersey)
Molly Pitcher Inn · Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Mad Batter · Cape May (South Jersey)
Arthur’s Tavern · Morris Plains (North Jersey)
Stage Left Steak · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
The Ark Pub · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Calandra’s · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Joe Leone’s · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
Washington Inn · Cape May (South Jersey)
Cheesecake Factory
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Shake Shack
Cloverhill Tavern · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Hoagie Haven · Princeton (Central Jersey)
White House Subs · Atlantic City (South Jersey)
Hunan Taste · Denville (North Jersey)
Kuo Social · Robbinsville (Central Jersey)
Xina · Toms River (South Jersey)
Bluestone Coffee · Montclair (North Jersey)
Rook Coffee Roasters · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
Lava Java · Lavallette (South Jersey)
Calandra’s · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Dolce & Clemente’s · Robbinsville (Central Jersey)
White House Sub Shop · Atlantic City (South Jersey)
Eppes Essen Deli · Livingston (North Jersey)
Harold’s · Edison (Central Jersey)
Irv & Karen’s Hot Pastrami · Brick (South Jersey)
Calandra’s · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Catherine Lombardi · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
La Scala Italian Pastry Shop · Toms River (South Jersey)
Prestige Diner · New Providence (North Jersey)
Rainbow Diner Restaurant · Brick (Central Jersey)
Mastoris Diner · Bordentown (South Jersey)
Faubourg · Montclair (North Jersey)
Pascal & Sabine · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
410 Bank Street · Cape May (South Jersey)
Black Forest Inn Stanhope (North Jersey)
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Mickey & Minnie’s Inn Egg Harbor City (South Jersey)
Stamna Taverna · Bloomfield, Little Falls (North Jersey)
Pithari Taverna · Highland Park (Central Jersey)
George’s Place · Cape May (South Jersey)
Rutt’s Hut · Clifton (North Jersey)
Windmill · Belmar, Long Branch, Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Dawgtown Dogs · Rio Grande (South Jersey)
Applegate Farm · Montclair (North Jersey)
Hoffman’s · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
Nicholas Creamery · Atlantic Highlands (South Jersey)
Brick Lane Curry House · Montclair (North Jersey)
Aarzu · Freehold (Central Jersey)
Aamantran · Toms River (South Jersey)
Gourmet Cafe · Parsippany (North Jersey)
Catherine Lombardi · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
Spano’s · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Ani Ramen · Multiple locations (North Jersey)
Taka · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Ikko · Brick (South Jersey)
Cuban Pete’s · Montclair (North Jersey)
Barrio Costero · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
410 Bank Street · Cape May (South Jersey)
Calandra’s Il Vecchio Cafe · Caldwell (North Jersey)
Turning Point · Multiple locations (Central Jersey)
Blue Pig Tavern · Cape May (South Jersey)
Casa Maya · Gillette (North Jersey)
El Meson · Freehold (Central Jersey)
Cinco De Mayo · Toms River (South Jersey)
Chutzpah Kitchen · Maplewood (North Jersey)
Reyla · Asbury Park (Central Jersey)
Falafel Brothers · Brick (South Jersey)
Star Tavern · Orange (North Jersey)
Federici’s · Freehold (Central Jersey)
Denino’s Pizza Place · Aberdeen, Manahawkin, Brick (South Jersey)
Faubourg · Montclair (North Jersey)
Catherine Lombardi · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
Charlie’s of Bay Head · Bay Head (South Jersey)
H2Ocean · Cedar Knolls (North Jersey)
Blue Point Grill · Princeton (Central Jersey)
Lobster House · Cape May (South Jersey)
Millburn Deli · Millburn, Montclair, Morristown (North Jersey)
Toast · Asbury Park, Montclair, Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Barry’s Do Me a Flavor · Beach Haven (South Jersey)
A Taste of Asia · Chatham (North Jersey)
Bamboo Leaf · Bradley Beach (Central Jersey)
A Little Thai Kitchen · Cherry Hill (South Jersey)
Sandi’s Soul Food · Morristown (North Jersey)
Rajin Cajun · Belmar (Central Jersey)
Corinne’s Place · Camden (South Jersey)
Don Pepe’s · Newark (North Jersey)
Malaga · Hamilton Township (Central Jersey)
Europa South (now closed) · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Roots Steakhouse · Morristown, Princeton, Ridgewood, Summit (North Jersey)
Stage Left Steak · New Brunswick (Central Jersey)
Prime 13 · Point Pleasant Beach (South Jersey)
Veggie Heaven · Denville, Montclair, Teaneck (North Jersey)
Good Karma Vegan Café · Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Green Cuisine · Stone Harbor (South Jersey)
Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen · Morristown (North Jersey)
Nicholas · Red Bank (Central Jersey)
Washington Inn · Cape May (South Jersey)
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