Restaurant Near Secaucus Named Best In New Jersey

SECAUCUS, NJ — One of the best restaurants in New Jersey is only a five-minute ride from Secaucus.

Head west over the Rt. 3 bridge to Café Matisse in Rutherford, which was just named this March as one of the 2018 Garden State Culinary Arts Awards nominees. That is — if you can get a table. Cafe Matisse, a 5-star BYOB in "dry" Rutherford (no liquor licenses are given out in town), is a notoriously difficult place to land a reservation. The new American restaurant offers things like Parmesan panko fried artichoke hearts with a creamy goat cheese mousse, and entrees such as a loin of venison with scallop. For dessert? A whole wheat brown butter cake.

The nominees were announced this week by the Garden State Culinary Arts Foundation. An independent voting body that includes 150 food writers and critics will cast votes this week to determine the best restaurant in the state. The winner will be announced Sunday, April 29 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at a gala at BellWorks in Holmdel.

Nominees for Best Restaurant
Criteria: A restaurant in operation in New Jersey for at least five years that displays overall excellence and consistency of quality in food, atmosphere and service, and has set high standards in the industry.

• Café Matisse, Rutherford: Peter Loria, chef-owner
• Chakra, Paramus: Thomas Ciszak, chef-partner
• elements, Princeton: Stephen Distler, partner; Scott Anderson, chef-partner
• Hamilton's Grill Room, Lambertville: Mark Miller, chef
• IndeBlue, Collingswood: Rakesh Ramola, owner
• Manolo's Restaurant, Elizabeth: Manuel Mendez, owner
• Pluckemin Inn, Bedminster: Gloria LaGrassa, owner
• The Red Store, Cape May Point: Lucas Manteca, chef-owner
• Restaurant Serenade, Chatham: Nancy Laird, owner; James Laird, chef-owner
• Zeppoli, Collingswood: Joey Baldino, chef-owner

Other local nominees near Secaucus include:

• Carlos and Celia Fernandez, Argentina Bakery; Union City (best pastry chef)
• La Isla, Hoboken: Omar Giner, chef-owner (best neighborhood food establishment)
• Hobby's, Newark: Marc and Michael Brummer, owners (best neighborhood food establishment)
• Oh! Calamares, Kearny: Placencia family, owners (best neighborhood food establishment)

Read the entire list of all restaurants, bars, breweries and diners here! These Just May Be The Best Places To Eat – And Drink Beer – In NJ