If you want to travel to a small town but have big city options, that’s exactly what you’ll get when you head to New Jersey’s historic and inviting city of New Brunswick. With an impressive amount of award-winning restaurants located in such a small vicinity, this community has made its mark as a foodie hotspot, which is a feat considering its close proximity to foodie-centric big cities like New York and Philadelphia.
New Brunswick, NJ restaurants have an astonishing amount of Zagat ratings, and half of the AAA Four-Diamond Award restaurants in New Jersey reside here. That’s quite impressive for a town with a population of only 57,000. We wanted to highlight some of our favorite restaurants that will leave your taste buds tingling long after the meal has ended.
A Taste of Classic
You can’t get more classic Brooklyn than Italian food, and at Catherine Lombardi the meals are inspired by dishes that the owner’s Italian grandmother used to make, so you know it’s legit. Their house-made macaroni, premier selection of artisanal meats and cheeses, and decadent tiramisu will make anyone go Mamma Mia! Also, every Thursdays you can partake in The Spirits Project where they open a bottle of luxury spirits and serve small portions for a fraction of the cost.
A Taste of the Exotic
In addition to the Mediterranean and Latin options in the area, one regional restaurant stands out among the crowd. Ramen Nagomi is the go-to for a delicious bowl of umami that warms your belly. What makes this place stand out is that they slow cook small batches of broth with quality ingredients, ensuring that each bowl is infused with deep flavors. Along with traditional-style ramen like shoyu and tonkatsu they also offer more exotic flavors like truffle butter ramen and soft-shell miso crab ramen.
A Taste of Luxury
Nothing says treating yourself quite like a sumptuous seafood dining experience. Salt offers a hip ambiance and modern dishes that highlight only the freshest local marine fare. Dive into their raw bar with an order of Middleneck Clams and Rock Stone Crab Claws or try a bit of everything with a decadent Seafood Tower. Their menu is stacked with appealing dishes like whole lobster, charred octopus, and ahi tuna, so you may find it hard to choose!
Your Foodie Getaway
When planning your foodie escape, there’s only one place that offers over 30 unique restaurants within walking distance – The Heldrich. Located in the heart of New Brunswick’s cultural center, The Heldrich is not only a great spot to have access to all the best restaurants in the area, but also a prime location to take advantage of the area’s best art, theatre, and music.
