In New Jersey's 30 Finest Meals Essex County Represents

Lorena's made the list -- naturally -- when the Star-Ledger listed the 30 finest dinest experiences from around the state.  And Essex County can claim a full seven of those memorable meals.

is lauded for its design, "to remind you of a quaint chateau in Provence," and its food. "Campos has a pure and focused food philosophy; use just three or four stellar ingredients in each dish, then startle them a bit with, say, truffle oil or some of the Cayman Island sea salt he fell for on his honeymoon."

Others from around Essex include Montclair's , Costanera, CulinAriane, Fascino, and Restaurant Passione and Bloomfield's Orange Squirrel.

The publication called CulinAriane "the toughest-to-get reservations" in the state.

When it comes to Blu, on Bloomfield Avenue, it described a menu that can change hourly "and it's all at the whim of a kitchen wizard who believes that culinary schol is nonsense, a place that brainwashes its students."

The article called the ceviche at Costanera "a fireworks of lime, three different chilies and cilantro" and the ricotta gnocchi with sweet sausage Bolognese and pecorino romano at Fascino "unlike gnocchi as you know it."

There was also high praise for the duck at Restaurant Passione. "This duck, made with seven spices, a sweet soy glaze, red onion gastrique, is delicate, quiet. It will silence you," the article said.

Hungry yet?

The full list is here.