1. Bask In Basque Food Heaven At Casa Vasca
Casa Vasca
141 Elm St.
Newark, NJ 07105
973-465-1350
Yelp: 4 stars, 81 reviews
You might not be familiar with a cuisine called Basque, but here's all you need to know: it incorporates both French and Spanish cuisines harmoniously, in a way that can only be described as Portuguese Heaven. Sounds pretty amazing, doesn't it?
At Casa Vasca that couldn’t be more true. Freshness is an understatement here, with the daily soups and other renowned dishes like the Veal Basque style or Cod Fish Pil-Pil. You really haven't tried seafood until you've tried it Spanish-style with a touch of French..
2. Breakfast in a Way You've Never Seen Before at Tops Diner
Tops Diner
500 Passaic Ave.
Newark, NJ 07029
973-481-0490
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 438 reviews
There's a reason why breakfast is the most important meal of the day: Tops Diner. At least, that’s the reason in Newark. Breakfast is served all day here, and when you get a load of the huge omelette menu, you’ll see why.
You might just freak out a little when you see the Monte Cristo French Toast, and nothing can beat the grandeur of the French Toast Napoleon. The menu goes on and on with enough choices to make your world spin—but that just means you'll have to come back for more. Ever heard of "crab hash"? Think corned beef hash, only with crabmeat. Drooling yet?
3. Be Transported Back To Your Mother’s Kitchen At Calandra's Bakery
Calandra's Italian & French Bakery
204 1st Ave. W
Newark, NJ 07107
973-484-5598
Yelp: 4 stars, 57 reviews
Who doesn't love dessert, right? Anyone crazy enough to raise their hand at that quesiton will be proven wrong pretty quick at Calandra's. This bakery takes the best of Italian and French baking and puts it in the oven for some good ol' fashioned cookies, cakes, and even fresh, warm bread.
You definitely don't know what a cheesecake is until you try one from Calandra's—they take the traditional awesomeness of cheesecake and amp it up to an enormous flavorful phenomenon.
4. Hobby's Delicatessen Does Sandwiches The Way They Were Meant To Be
Hobby's Delicatessen & Restaurant
32 Branford Pl.
Newark, NJ 07102
973-623-0410
Yelp: 4 Stars, 87 reviews
Just about everyone in the world has their own opinion on what makes a good sandwich. So it takes a place to really know what they’re doing to be as popular as Hobby’s. They’ve got the sandwich expertise down to a science.
Hobby’s serves up the best pastrami and corned beef sandwiches you'll ever sink your teeth into, not to mention the crazy-good brisket. Hobby’s is that kind of diamond in the rough dive no one would ever know about unless they stumbled onto it. Plus it’s basically the best place to stop before a Devils' game.
5. Agave Will Ruin All Fast-Food Burritos Forever
Agave Mexican Restaurant
118 Pacific St.
Newark, NJ 07105
973-732-4168
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 70 reviews
If the Mexican food you’re used to is typical tacos or bland burritos, be warned. Agave is the real deal. So real that the menu's in Spanish, so you’d better know what you want to order.
If you’re not sure, though, here are some excellent ideas: Nachos con queso, frijoles y jalapenos, and amazing Mexican soups. Don’t miss out on the crown jewels of the cuisine, like the tacos de lengua, Mexican steaks, pork with green sauce, quesadillas, and picaditas.
6. Get Blown Away By Brasilia Grill's Barbecue
Brasilia Grill
99 Monroe St.
Newark, NJ 07105
973-589-8682
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 135 reviews
How do you take good old-fashioned barbecue and make it better? Add the flavor of Brazil. Brasilia Grill brings the soul of the gaucho, pioneering preparations of rodizio, Brazilian Caipirinha with cachaca, lime and sugar, as well as a great selection of wines and beers to complement the robust flavors of the rainforest and Rio.
Best part? They do it with the hardcore charcoal. No gas burners here. This is done old school and served up right. Can't go wrong with that.
7. No One Knows Southern Soul Food Like Vonda's Kitchen
Vonda's Kitchen
183 W. Kinney St.
Newark, NJ 07103
973-732-4532
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 69 reviews
A diner with an actual face to the name makes everything better. It's like eating a home-cooked food again, and that’s just what eating at Vonda's Kitchen feels like. It’s run by Vonda herself, and everyone is family there.
This place delivers with all the sliders you can eat, mac and cheese, fried chicken sandwiches, collard greens, candied yams, black-eyed peas and other comfort food deliciousness to fire up your taste buds. Sit down, relax and enjoy!
8. Adega Grill Is Portuguese Food At Its Best
Adega Grill
130 Ferry St.
Newark, NJ 07105
973-589-0550
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 77 reviews
You'll feel like a VIP from the minute you walk through the door at Adega: Yellow rock tones, stone fireplaces, wrought-iron cellar gates and sconces. It’ll ruin all chain restaurants forever. But enough about the ambience… on to the food.
Everything's fresh here: The seafood, meats, you name it. It’s the pinnacle of what a true Portuguese-Spanish cuisine grill should be, with perfectly grilled steak and lick-your-lips barbecue sauce—complete with a list of wine long enough to make any winery green with envy.
9. Take A Trip To Japan At Sushi House 21
Sushi House 21
243 Elm St.
Newark, NJ 07105
973-991-0067
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 35 reviews
Stop looking—the best sushi in Newark is right here, and they have everything you could want for a mini trip to Japan in Jersey.
Try the miso eggplant along with some grilled squid and beef negimaki for some spice. Or maybe you want to steer away from the hotness and go with something cool to your tongue—that's where the great shrimp ceviche comes in. King of Kimchee will be the king of your culinary heart. Basically you'll have a hard time finding anything lacking on this menu.
10. Everything Comes Up Amore At The Monk Room
The Monk Room
20 Green St.
Newark, NJ 07102
973-368-2771
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 25 reviews
The Monk Room takes classy Italian cuisine and adds a welcoming, more laid-back atmosphere that everyone can enjoy. When you walk in you just might assume you're in a great pizza dive, until you see the cuisine and realize you're dealing with a heavy hitter.
The hits include all the caprese salad you can shove down your throat, and when it's time for some pizza, know that this beats out any delivery. The Italian Stallion, the Betty Pie, even the arugula pizza—it’s all fantastic. The rest of the menu never fails to impress either, with pasta pomodoro, eggplant dishes, clams and ravioli. The word "gourmet" doesn't even come close to the level of expertise here.
11. 27 Mix Is A Fusion Of Awesome
27 Mix
27 Halsey St.
Newark, NJ 07102
973-648-0643
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 79 reviews
27 Mix is one of those restaurants that blow you away by serving up a multitude of cuisines with style, panache, flair and exquisite delicacy—so much that you just know the chef must have scoured every corner of the Earth to learn all of the finer details of cultural eats.
Fusing American Southwestern cuisine with Asian and Italian, 27 Mix is a mix of the very best food from everywhere. The menu offers everything from vegetarian quesadillas to crispy Cajun calamari to linguini and fresh clams. It's New Age, hip, trendy, and styled to perfection.
12. Hamburgao Burgers Are The Work Of Culinary Genius
Hamburgao
288 Lafayette St.
Newark, NJ 07105
973-465-1776
Yelp: 4 stars, 82 reviews
Who knew that Brazil did burgers so well? Hamburgao sure does. You’ll be amazed at everything from the cheese tudo burgers to the cachorrao sandwiches.
And don't worry if you don’t actually know what the sandwich is by the name of it (like "tudo" or "cachorrao"), because that just means you get to be pleasantly surprised by an eye-opening hamburger experience. You’ll never be happy with regular ketchup or mustard for the rest of your life after trying just one of these burgers.
Feature Image Source: BRASILIA GRILL Facebook
What’s your go-to for grub in Newark? Tell us in the comments below!
