If you're headed to the Jersey Shore, make sure you check out these new waterfront winners, including Marina Grille in Belmar and Parker's Garage in Beach Haven
1. Beach Plum Farm, West Cape May
The 62-acre farm that supplies the Ebbitt Room, the Blue Pig Tavern and other celebrated Cape May hot spots has been a picturesque and delicious go-to for farm-fresh breakfast and lunch ($6 to $12 range) in its Amish-built barn, and now chef Todd Phillips offering casual dinners Thursdays to Sundays, with formal dinners beginning in August. The menu is always changing depending on what's in season -- right now, they're harvesting summer squash, bok choy, leeks, candy-striped Chiogga beets, heirloom radishes and cucumbers. Don't miss the weekend walking tours of the farm at 11 a.m.
Beach Plum Farm, 140 Stevens St., West Cape May, (609) 602-0128. beachplumfarmcapemay.com
2. Slamwich Scratch Kitchen, Madison; Slamburgerz, Whippany
The two-year-old artisan deli with a cult following for its duck confit Sloppy Joes and smoked brisket has exported its juicy Slam Burger to the Anchor Golf Center with Slamburgerz. It's the same commitment to quality and homemade ingredients, but a more tightly-edited menu -- four types of burgers (beef, turkey, salmon and veggie, starting at $9.50), fries, loaded sweet potatoes and other sides, plus a kids' menu. Back at Slamwich, the incredibly inventive menu changes with the season -- right now there's a wild boar with mole and a crispy coconut plantain fritter ($13.50) -- but among those that will never budge: the barbecue brisket ($11), the house-cured pastrami with Swiss ($11), and duck confit Sloppy Joe ($14.50).
Slamwich, 143 Main St., Madison, (973) 520-8957; Slamburgerz, Anchor Golf Center, 21 Route 10, Whippany, (973) 887-0898. slamwichscratchkitchen.com
3. Parker's Garage and Oyster Saloon, Beach Haven
Named for an early 20th century restaurateur and mechanic who built his business on the bay, the BYO Parker's Garage, from the team behind Ship Bottom Shellfish and the Black Whale Bar & Fish House, is a seafood lover's dream, but the menu goes beyond straightforward interpretations of shore classics: The Jersey Devils app combine sriracha deviled eggs with fried oysters ($12), the lobster corn dog comes with a smoked tomato mayo ($18), and the grilled or blackened fish filets ($25-$28) can be sauced with a green romesco or chimichurri if desired. If you're out on the bay, no worries -- the restaurant has its own boat slips.
Parker's Garage, 116 Northwest Ave., Beach Haven, (609) 492-1066. parkersgaragelbi.com
4. FM, Jersey City
Swedish meatballs and fondue, Harvey Wallbangers and Colt 45 tall boys -- can you dig it? This groovy '70s-themed bar and restaurant, in the old Union Republic space, celebrates the classic comfort foods of the Me Decade, but with a twist: fried deviled eggs ($8), short rib stroganoff ($20), a chicken parm with the cheese and tomato tucked inside ($18), and even TV dinners du jour -- perhaps Salisbury steak with potatoes and veggies, and yes, a little brownie square as well. "It's really tough with comfort food, it's the food of their grandparents and their families," says Carlos Jewett, who co-owns FM with Alan Rudolph. "By using high-end ingredients and with a chef with a good understanding about how to create flavor, that makes it different and unique."
FM, 340 Third St., Jersey City, (201) 222-2870. fmjerseycity.com
5. Taco Bao's, Lake Hiawatha
This new storefront uses Asian fusion as a mere starting point, with Chinese steamed buns and crispy scallion pancakes sitting in for taco shells, and the fillings taking off from Japan, Korea, Peru and Mexico. Make your own creation (rice bowls, salads and lettuce wraps are also an option), or order one of the house specialties -- the beef bulgogi with kimchi, bacon and Peruvian queso sauce ($8) perhaps. Sides include baked loaded plantains with cheese, bacon, spicy mayo and wasabi sour cream ($7), and if you've still got room, there's fried ice cream topped with breakfast cereal and drizzled with syrups ($7) for dessert.
Taco Bao's, 122 N. Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha, (973) 794-3833. tacobaos.com
6. Oink and Moo BBQ, Voorhees
Consistently named one of the nation's best food trucks by the Daily Meal, Oink and Moo has now opened its second non-wheels location in Voorhees, offering up its award-winning chicken chipotle and pickled poblano tacos ($6.95 for three), hickory-smoked brisket sliders ($8.95 for two), chili made with brisket and pulled pork ($4.50-$6.50), and half-racks of mouthwatering baby back ribs ($14.95).
Oink and Moo BBQ, 910 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Suite 3, Voorhees, (856) 282-7630. oinkandmoobbq.com
7. Marina Grille, Belmar
Follow the crowds to Manutti Marina, where this enormous 500-seat restaurant and bar on the scenic Shark River has been packing them in since opening in May. (And be prepared for a wait.) The menu goes a bit beyond standard the-view-makes-up-for-the-food: pizza speckled with soppressata and drizzled with warm honey, $15; a burger from a custom blend of sirloin, short rib and chuck, $14; and, if you've worked up an appetite, the Reef and Beef, an eight-ounce filet mignon topped with a crab cake with bearnaise, whipped potatoes and crispy onions, $40. There is also live music every weekend.
Marina Grille, 905 Route 35 South, Belmar, (732) 894-3211. marinagrillenj.com
8. Eons Greek, Paramus
George Georgiades was the executive chef of Ramsey's high-end and Greek-inspired seafood house Varka, but his wife happened to be a fan of Chipotle, which led, a couple of years ago, to a Eureka moment "Oh my God, we could make this Mediterranean and make it work with healthy ingredients." This assembly-line eatery doesn't skimp on quality or technique: the proteins, including steak, lamb and octopus, are grilled in front of customers ("I call it full disclosure," he says), and sides are bursting with flavor (the roasted beets in citrus olive oil is a must). The bowls, with white or brown rice or salad, include a protein, two sides and a topping, and range from $8.25 for falafel to $14.70 for the octopus. This is the second location after he opened the original in Murray Hill; he's scouting for more. Chipotle, watch your back.
Eons Greek, 501 Route 17 South, Paramus, (201) 523-9500. eonsgreek.com
9. The Farmhouse, Cherry Hill
Five years after the beloved French BYO La Campagne shut its doors, the 150-year-old farmhouse that housed it is once again in business, and, fittingly enough, as The Farmhouse, a farm-to-table bistro with an unkitschy Southern flavor and easygoing charm: crispy chicken skins with a spicy butter sauce, $9; griddled johnny cakes with pulled pork, $12; bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with cheddar grits, braised purple cabbage and a whole-grain mustard and apple cider vinaigrette, $25.
The Farmhouse, 312 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, (856) 528-2249. farmhousecherryhill.com
10. The Crosby, Montclair
This new indoor-outdoor gastropub from the folks behind Fin and Salute has been hopping since its (garage) doors opened in April, thanks to an extensive selection of beer and imaginative cocktails (the Pork Chops & Apple Sauce features housemade bacon bourbon and apple schnapps), fun pub grub, including a slider bar, "grown-up Spaghettios" and beer can Cornish hen with pineapple-habanero sauce, and an open, industrial chic vibe that makes mingling easy. If that wasn't enough to convince you, here are two magical words: frozen rose.
The Crosby, 193 Glen Ridge Ave., (973) 509-2337. thecrosbymontclair.com
Our selections are based on personal visits, word of mouth, OpenTable availability, crowdsourcing websites and local food blogs. If you'd like to recommend a restaurant to be considered for a spot on a future "Where to eat now in N.J." column, let us know in the comments section below, or e-mail vhyman@njadvancemedia.com.
Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook.