3 NJ Eateries Named As ‘Restaurants Of The Year’

NEW JERSEY — Three New Jersey restaurants were tabbed by food and dining writers from across the USA Today network as some of the best in the country to try out in 2025.

To create USA Today’s 2025 Restaurants of the Year, food writers were tasked with choosing establishments that stood out as surprising and delightful and ones they’d return to and recommend to out-of-town visitors.

It's the second year for the list; USA Today debuted the list in 2024.

The publication said the final selections aren’t just an inventory of local hot spots with months-long waits in major metropolitan areas but rather “a celebration of local flavors and stories, curated by reporters from across the country who know that a meal of Italian cuisine in Mamaroneck (New York) can be just as rewarding as one in Manhattan.”

The 45 restaurants on the list are found in 27 states. Those in New Jersey — and why food critics liked them — are:

Aarzu Modern Indian Bistro

Located in the heart of Historic Downtown Freehold, Aarzu Modern Indian Bistro aims to focus on taste, texture, and presentation when it comes to their unique dishes.

The restaurant describes itself as presenting “an upscale dining experience” with a goal to “create new dishes and recreate time-tested old recipes into dishes that delight our guests who are always hungry for something new and exciting.”

Menu options range from Pani Puri and Truffle Malai Jheenga to vegan options like Avocado Mango Bhel and Achari Bhindi. The restaurant also offers a mocktail menu and expansive dessert options.

Steve's Burgers

For those who enjoy a more casual dining experience, Steve’s Burgers describes itself as embracing “a casual, divey atmosphere where delicious comfort food takes center stage.”

The Garfield location specializes in hot dogs, cheesesteaks, and burgers and hosts outdoor seating for guests to enjoy the warm weather.

Menu options range from chicken fingers and specialty hot dogs to shakes, burgers, sliders and more.

Canal House Station

Located in Milford, Canal House Station has been described as a hidden gem tucked away into a restored 1870s train station on the banks of the Delaware River.

Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton founded the restaurant and offer “idiosyncratic, modern American cuisine” inspired by local ingredients that are ripe and in season in Hunterdon County, NJ, and Bucks County, PA.

Dining experiences include a seasonal 5-course Sunday Dinner, Spaghetti Night, and more.

If you’re planning to travel, here’s the full list (read more about each on USA Today):

Alabama

• Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot, Selma

Arizona

• Ta’Carbon, Glendale
• Course, Scottsdale

California

• Rooster and the Pig, Palm Springs

Colorado

• The Taco Stop, Fort Collins

Delaware

• Bardea Food & Drink, Wilmington

Florida

• Bicyclette Cookshop, Naples
• Pearl & Horn, Pensacola
• Swordfish Grill, Cortez

Georgia

• Wexford, Savannah

Iowa

• Oak Park, Des Moines

Indiana

• Bodhi, Indianapolis
• Roots Eatery and Pub, Wolcott

Kentucky

• Decade, Louisville

Louisiana

• Quebedeaux's Cajun Cafe, Pineville

Massachusetts

• The Rooftop at Pelham House Resort, Dennis Port
• Wusong Tiki Bar, Cambridge
• Bocado Tapas Wine Bar, Worcester

Michigan

• Mabel Gray, Hazel Park
• Tomato Brothers Howell

Nevada

• Middlegate Station, Fallon

New Jersey

• Aarzu Modern Indian Bistro, Freehold Borough
• Steve’s Burgers, Garfield
• Canal House Station, Milford

New York

• Augustine’s Salumeria, Mamaroneck
• Rocky’s Restaurant, Rochester

North Carolina

• Olivera, Wilmington
• Restaurants of Western North Carolina

Oklahoma

• The Crown, Oklahoma City

Ohio

• The Aperture, Cincinnati
• Agni, Columbus
• Social at the Stone House, Massillon

Oregon

• Hayward, McMinnville
• Akadi, Portland

Pennsylvania

• Poison Heart, Philadelphia
• Dharma Bums, Point Pleasant

Rhode Island

• Matunuck Oyster Bar, South Kingstown

South Carolina

• Comal 864, Greenville

South Dakota

• Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean, Sioux Falls

Tennessee

• A Dopo, Knoxville
• Bad Idea, Nashville

Texas

• Dai Due, Austin
• Jimenez y Friends Barbecue y Taqueria, Lubbock

Wisconsin

• Three Brothers, Milwaukee
• BroKogi Korean Fusion Restaurant, Stevens Point