With more than 20,000 restaurants, cafes, and eateries, New Jersey is one of the most diverse dining destinations in the country. Each year new establishments open around the Garden State, and our contributors can’t wait to try them. Here are some of our team’s favorite new spots, all having opened no earlier than 2025. —Julia Mullaney, editor
✅ BROADWAY HOT & HONEY CHICKEN, FREEHOLD
“Broadway Hot & Honey Chicken transports you to the heart of Nashville with its delicious, crisp chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and chicken and waffle platter. Don’t pass up the banana pudding!”—Lucille Barilla, writer
2101 Devon Dr., Freehold | 609.223.0000 | broadwaychicken.com
✅ FAIR MOUNTAIN COFFEE, GLADSTONE
“Fair Mountain Coffee is a quaint little coffee shop in Gladstone with the best organic, fair-trade coffee! They take pride in their coffee and even the dairy products they use, resulting in the perfect cup every time, no matter if you’re getting a simple cup of coffee, a latte, or a flat white. The biscotti is to die for, and the staff are so friendly!”—Lauren Theis, illustrator
258 Main St., Gladstone | 908.634.0334 | fairmountaincoffee.com
✅ LULA, RIDGEWOOD
“Lula is a New American restaurant in the foodie town of Ridgewood emphasizing fine dining executed simply using local and seasonal ingredients. I like to start with the house-made focaccia with whipped herb butter, move on to the rose apple and kohlrabi salad, followed by the roast chicken procured from the local poultry farm, and finish with its amazing lemon meringue tart.”—Monica Cardoza, writer
28 Oak St., Ridgewood | 201.301.0301 | lulanj.com
✅ THIRD PROOF, MONTVILLE
“I might lose my Jersey girl card for this, but my favorite kind of pizza is New Haven style, so I had to visit the buzzy new Third Proof pizzeria in Montville recently. I was blown away by the crispy-chewy, naturally leavened crust, top-notch ingredients, and obvious care that goes into each wood-fired pizza. Don’t miss the crispy, juicy chicken cutlets, either!” —Kate Munning, writer
263 Changebridge Rd., Montville | instagram.com/thirdproof
✅ THE CORNER SLICE, MAPLEWOOD
“Since opening in February 2025, The Corner Slice has quickly become a town favorite in an area already rich with great pizza. All of their pies are ‘New York Square Pizzas’ and stand out for their perfect crust, always crisp and crunchy with a buttery flavor. Their ‘Garlic Not’—covered in caramelized pecorino and garlic butter—is also worth a visit (aptly called not because it’s much more than a traditional garlic knot).”—Elizabeth Moglia Jackson, writer
419 Boyden Ave., Maplewood | cornerslice.pizza
✅ TIDELINE, MARGATE
“Tideline is the perfect blend of upscale yet laid back. It sits right on the bayfront and offers a variety of dishes, from a raw bar and seafood towers to more casual options like a smash burger and short rib grilled cheese. Plus, it has the most incredible sunset views all summer.”—Julia Mullaney, editor
9317 Amherst Ave., Margate | 609.350.6717 | tidelinemargate.com
