The Most Destination-Worthy Steakhouses in New Jersey
When it comes to steakhouses in the Northeast, New Jersey tends to get lost in the shadows of its adjoining major cities, New York and Philadelphia. But the Garden State should not get overlooked as a dining destination in its own right. there’s lots going on in New Jersey steakhouses, well worth the drive no matter which direction you’re coming from. Here are some of the best.
Char Steakhouse: Located in Raritan, Char lives up to its name with custom-designed fireplaces and a menu of burly beef dishes cooked over searingly hot open flames. While there are now several locations, the original here in Raritan is still a hot spot in more ways than one. Try the filet mignon, Kansas City strip, bone-in rib-eye or blackened rib-eye, all charred at a blistering 1800-degrees, which ensures a succulent, tender interior flanked by a crispy, smoky crust.
The River Palm Terrace: With outposts in Mahwah, Edgewater and Fair Lawn, The River Palm Terrace is heralded as the cream of the crop when it comes to homegrown New Jersey steakhouses. And rightfully so, considering its enduring consistency, unparalleled hospitality, classic steakhouse appeal and of course, it’s high-quality beef. Each restaurant hand-selects and dry-ages its own USDA Prime beef for 28 days, at which point they’re butchered in-house and hand-cut on a daily basis for service. Along with appetizers like oysters Rockefeller and clams casino, steaks include prime sliced filet mignon, porterhouse steak for two, New York shell steak and chopped sirloin steak topped with sauteed onions.
Steakhouse 85: Everything about this New Brunswick (not Canada) steakhouse oozes romance. It’s the kind of well-appointed restaurant—awash in rich red hues, vintage photography, soft lamps and cozy tables and booths—that speaks to date nights and love-swept couples. Then there’s the food itself, which is certainly something to fall in love with. Honey Crisp apple salads, free-range pork chops, caramel apple tarts, oysters, seafood towers, snow crab and lots more. And when it comes to meat, it’s hard to beat the meltingly tender center-cut filet mignon, the 35-day dry-aged delmonico or the tomahawk chop crusted with garlic blue cheese and Cabernet bordelaise.
Shipwreck Point: Considering its proximity to the ocean and its miles upon miles of shoreline, it makes sense that New Jersey would not only have top-notch seafood, but a nautical-themed steakhouse as well. Indeed, Shipwreck Point in Point Pleasant Beach pays apt homage to the state’s coastal geography with a motif that’s transportive, lively and fresh. In addition to an abundance of fish and seafood (naturally), Shipwreck Point features an array of steaks, including popular picks like a dry-aged cowboy rib-eye and a 16-oz. prime NY strip. Toppings for steaks include creamy blue cheese, sauteed sherry onions, roasted garlic and even a crab cake.
Old Homestead Steakhouse: One of the most iconic steakhouses not only in New Jersey, but in the U.S. at large, Old Homestead has been packing in the hungry crowds since 1868. The Atlantic City institution features an alluring combination of dark wood and leather booths for its decor, a timeless motif that matches nicely with its timeworn cuisine. This includes hulking portions of sirloins, porterhouses and filet mignons, along with crab-stuffed shrimp, Colorado rack of lamb and lots more. The creme de la creme is the Gotham rib steak, which is a 34-oz. behemoth served with optional enhancements like truffle mac & cheese and bacon creamed spinach.
