5 New Restaurants To Try That Opened In North Jersey In August 2023

NORTH JERSEY, NJ — It's almost time to peep the foliage around North Jersey and take a drive to the farm for a hayride. If you're working up an appetite while tooling around the state, here are five Central and North Jersey restaurants that either opened in the last six weeks or announced they will open very soon.

Maddy Rose, Jersey City

Maddy Rose recently opened on the Jersey City waterfront, not far from Liberty State Park. The eatery provides a range of Mediterranean-inspire "coastal cuisine and craft beverages," with cabanas overlooking the Hudson River. The owners suggest, "End the day by roaming the Maddy Rose gardens and enjoying a nightcap on the lower patio by the firepits as the sun sets (pro tip: try the Mistral – mezcal, cocchi rosa, strawberry, apricot, lime, clarified milk punch!)." A seafood boil is scheduled for Sept. 14. Find out more about Maddy Rose here.

Mule Barn Tavern, Sandy Hook Beach, Highlands

Dan Ferrise of Monmouth Beach leased former animal shed from the National Park Service and spent years turning it into a beachside restaurant. According to a story last month in Patch, "This is the building that used to be a barn for mules and horses back when Sandy Hook was the U.S. Army's Fort Hancock base." As of Aug. 18, you could enjoy a meal and cocktail at Mule Barn Tavern, with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. Sandy Hook is one of the most northern beaches in the state, so if you miss the shore, head over and try it. It's located at 36 Kearney Rd, Highlands. Find out more about Mule Barn Tavern here.

Forte Pizzeria & Restaurant, Hackensack

Is your family hungry? Soon, you'll be able to enjoy pasta dishes, pizzas, chicken, seafood, and salads at Forte's third location in Hackensack. The new eatery aims to open later this month, following in the footsteps of locations in Caldwell and Randolph. The eatery is located at 160 Prospect Ave. They posted a video tour of their location last week and said they'll open soon. Check out the video here and see their menu here. (Thanks to our great reader Lisa for sending us this tip!)

Purple Rice, Hoboken

Purple Rice is among several new Asian restaurants that opened in August on the main drag of the mile-square city, Washington Street. Since the city is one square mile, they're all walkable from the train station. Purple Rice offers an extensive menu including dim sum from $10.99-$14.99, Chef Fan's Specials such as curry shrimp at $23.99, milk tea, and smoothies. Purple Rice is located at 832 Washington St., open everyday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for now. Head to purplericenj.com for more information.

Artichoke Basille's Pizza, Rutgers Campus, New Brunswick

Like pizza? If you're taking your kids back to school at Rutgers, there's a new meal option as of Aug. 30. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza opened its third New Jersey location near the heart of campus. They're known for large pies with a variety of toppings, cooked in their tiled pizza oven. The artichoke pie with cream sauce is a fave, as well as the crab pie. They're located at 104 Easton Avenue.

Restaurant Weeks In Nutley And Hillsborough

Ever eaten in Nutley or Hillsborough? If the answer is no, then their upcoming restaurant weeks will be new to you. At least 13 restaurants have already signed on for Nutley Restaurant Week later this month. See the lineup here. And what about Hillsborough? After a hiatus, their restaurant week returns the last week of September. Find out more here.

Just A Little Dessert Update

The Mexican Ice Cream Shop Morelia Paletas, based in Florida and North Carolina, will open its newest location on Hoboken's Washington Street this month, serving their unique ice cream pops on a stick in flavors from s'mores to passion fruit. Find out more about them here.

Got A Tip?

Know of a restaurant opening or closing in North Jersey? Let Patch know so we can tell our readers!