Why fine dine? The reasons are many — from the freshest of ingredients and skill in execution to the inviting atmosphere and attentive service. Upscale restaurants deliver more than a nice meal to fill your stomach, they're a feast for the senses, with attention to detail, perfect execution, and exceptional service. And with that comes a price that food connoisseurs are willing to pay time and time again because it’s worth every penny – all tens of thousands of them.
Now the question is, where to go and what to eat?
Follow the guide
The Michelin Guide is one of the sources to reference when you go out of town. It’s a guidebook published by the French tire company Michelin since 1900. Select restaurants can be awarded up to three Michelin stars for excellence, which can make or break them. To give you a taste of what chefs go through to receive a star or two, watch Burnt, starring Bradley Cooper.
Although there are no Michelin-star restaurants in New Jersey, and nothing has changed since Jeremy Schneider shined the light on the issue in a February 2023 article in NJ.com ("N.J. has ZERO Michelin-starred restaurants. These 11 amazing spots deserve the award"), he did draw attention to the restaurants that should be on your reservation list. Heirloom at the St. Laurent in Asbury Park is one of them. He also recently reported two New Jersey chefs who were named semifinalists for the 2024 James Beard Award, and one Garden State restaurant that has been nominated for a national award.
Again, more restaurants to visit.
No need for Michelin stars in NJ, food writer Jeremy Schneider is our guide!
Our favorites
Some of our favorite restaurants include Pascal & Sabine in Asbury Park. It’s like stepping into a Parisian bistro. Sit at the bar for a garlic soup and crudité platter. Yum! The servers at Shipwreck in Brielle have taken a page out of the fine dining manual and will give guests a lovely experience, with good food to match.
You won’t find any plastic in one of these restaurants, thankfully. We recently went to an upscale restaurant that had beautifully piped butter served in a disposable container. This is a no-no.
A nice tea selection is also a good sign of a restaurant that pays attention to details. Supermarket brands are another no-no.
Make a reservation
Fortunately, you only need a few day’s notice in the off-season to reserve a table at one of the aforementioned restaurants during the week; the weekends might require more notice.
Bon appétit!
Until next time, peace.