This NJ Restaurant Is Among Top US Restaurants In New Ranking

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Freehold eatery is among the top 100 “drool-worthy” restaurants in the country, according to the review and ratings site Yelp.

Yelp said its Top 100 US Restaurants 2026 ranking showcases the highest-reviewed restaurants by its users. Chefs across the country “are plating up memorable, can’t-miss meals at fine-dining rooms, food halls, counter-order favorites, cozy cafés, and wallet-friendly gems that deliver big flavor without the big bill,” Yelp said.

Coming in at number 95 on Yelp's latest list is 618, Freehold's upscale dining destination that offers "a variety of comfort foods, cocktails, and happy-hour specials in a cozy setting."

Not-so-coincidentally located at 618 Park Avenue, the restaurant has been operating since 2016. Owner Matthew Boroski and Chef Christopher Dutka will have been selling Italian-inspired cuisine in the restaurant's rustic vibe for ten years come November.

The menu offers a wide variety of surf, turf, pasta, and more. Small plates include buttermilk fried Maine lobster tail, crab cakes, lamb sliders, and more.

Main dishes include grilled butterflied branzino, an 8 oz. filet mignon, and short rib ravioli, to name a few.

Diners can also enjoy a wide variety of cocktails and wine, along with a mouth-watering dessert menu. Additionally, there are vegan menu options available.

"I've come here numerous times as it has become my favorite restaurant," one Yelp reviewer wrote. "Just an incredible experience from when you're seated until you leave. I've never had a menu item I didn't like. Truly a wonderful and enjoyable dining experience."

618 also hosts weddings and special events in its large banquet room, fit with a built-in full-service bar, a dedicated bridal suite, private bathrooms, and more.

Click here to learn more about what 618 has to offer.

Yelp said trends for 2026 include:

• “Grandma-core”: “Nonna-stalgia” brings simple, slow-cooked family recipes, often with mismatched dinnerware.
• Sandwiches for dinner: Elevated comfort food sandwiches are popular after dark, with nine spots on the list.
• All-day breakfast: Cafés and brunch spots claim nine slots.
• Japanese flavors dominate: Japanese cuisine, including sushi and Nikkei fusion, takes 10 spots.
• Worth the splurge: Special-occasion dining is also favored, including at restaurants specializing in upscale steak and seafood.

According to Yelp reviewers, the top 20 restaurants nationally are:

1. Ci Siamo, New York City
2. Taste of Texas, Houston, Texas
3. NAM Kitchen, Gardena, California
4. Waffle and Berry, Honolulu, Hawaii
5. Comfort Cafe – San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
6. Adela’s Country Eatery, Kaneohe, Honolulu, Hawaii
7. Broken Mouth, Los Angeles, California
8. GW Fins, New Orleans, Louisiana
9. Slackwater — Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, Utah
10. Pepp & Dolores, Cincinnati, Ohio
11. Butcher’s Union, Grand Rapids, Michigan
12. Porzana, Minneapolis, Minnesota
13. Leven Deli, Denver, Colorado
14. RJ Skillets, Portland, Oregon
15. Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Kansas City, Kansas
16. Greek Bistro, Glendale, California
17. Tsukiyo Sushi, Los Angeles, California
18. Papi’s Ohana, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
19. Fat Of The Land, Santa Ana, California
20. COTE Miami, Miami, Florida