Favorite New Jersey Eateries

I could move to the lovely town of Cranford New Jersey, for two reasons alone.  One is, to be near my best friend Lynn of course. The second reason, would be to eat my way up one street and down the other, never cooking a meal at home again.  The Cranford area boasts some of the most outstanding eateries I’ve ever seen–it’s a plethora of ethnic taste sensations.  Here are some of my favorites:

Marino’s     34 North Avenue East, Cranford NJ 07016

We were only there for appetizers, but saw amazing plates of seafood pasta dishes coming out of the kitchen to other tables.  Their New England Clam Chowder and Stuffed Mushrooms (with Crab) were outstanding!

Emmas Brick Oven     101 Union Ave North Cranford NJ 07016

OH my, this brings “Pizza Place” to a whole new level!  Indescribably good traditional oven baked pizza, as well as a list of traditional Italian dishes to make you want to cry.  We had the Margherita Pizza, and a special you won’t find on their online menu; Italian 5 Cheese Rice Balls, that were without a doubt, mama mia heavenly.

Café Paris     106 Walnut Ave Cranford NJ 07016

This sweet little escape to France is the best place ever for breakfast! They have a full lunch and dinner menu of classic French cuisine favorites as well, but I have to say, their savory buckwheat crepes, called “gallettes” are the all-time best tasting breakfast sensations ever.  And their décor and wall paintings make you feel like you are dining in France.  A romantic and cozy food destination indeed.

Xocolatz Restaurant and Grill 235 Elmer Street Westfield NJ 07090

Sinfully good grub! Lynn had never been here, so we were looking to sample some dishes. Here’s what ordered and give the thumbs up on:

Bananas By the Beach  fried ripe sweet plantains topped with a Chorizo, fresh tomatoes, green onions and Sofrito drizzled with Chipolte mayo and fresh lime.  Outrageously good.

Sweet Potato Pierogi  fresh pasta stuffed with roasted sweet potatoes, onion, sour cream and seasonings, pan seared and served with caramelized onions and sour cream.  Oh the Ukrainian in me salivates.  I’ll be trying these at home!

Calamari Christopher  golden crispy seasoned calamari tossed with lemon garlic basil, shaved parmesan cheese and served with Xocolatz Fra Diablo Sauce.  Yum!

Lime Yucca Fries  all I can say is just forget about french fries for ever more.

Old City Café and Grill 20 North Union Ave  Cranford NJ 07016

This is by far the best Middle Eastern food I’ve ever encountered, and trust me, I’ve encountered a lot of it.  We ordered the Falafel, the Shish Tawook Platter, the Shawarma Platter and Warak Areesh (Grape Leaves).  The all-time best, ever.  Ever.

a/e Avenue East   16 North Union Ave  Cranford NJ 07016

The best Asian dining experience, ever.  This place was downright dangerous for me.  I think we ordered almost every appetizer on the menu, and then dinner.  Our waiter suggested a noodle dish with beef that was a “departure” from the Pad Thai on the menu, and it was the most amazing taste sensation ever.  Wow.  Absolutely wow.