Three New Jersey restaurants were just named to USA Today’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list.
USA Today set out to name 39 of the best restaurants in the country, tapping journalists across its network of local publications. Here are the New Jersey spots that made the cut.
USA Today’s Best Restaurants in the Nation
The Pasta Shop – Denville
The Pasta Shop is a neighborhood restaurant in downtown Denville, New Jersey. The popular spot focuses on handmade pasta and Italian staples served in a cool, casual atmosphere. The menu blends longtime favorites with seasonal additions, offering something for nearly every diner—as long as Italian is your thing. Expect dishes like spaghetti carbonara, handmade mozzarella sticks, rigatoni alla vodka, porchetta-style roast pork, and one of the best chicken parms in New Jersey.
No reservations. BYOB.
Ram & Rooster – Metuchen
Metuchen’s Ram & Rooster has been regarded as one of New Jersey’s best restaurants since opening in the summer of 2024. Chef Sean Yan’s intimate tasting-menu restaurant centers on Chinese fine dining, with a menu that changes seasonally. Guests can opt for front-row seats at the chef’s counter and enjoy dishes like mackerel crudo, smoked duck, tomato bing fen, and more. If you think you know Chinese food, think again.
Ram & Rooster offers an eight-course tasting menu. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, a four-course prix fixe is available. We named Ram & Rooster one of New Jersey’s 30 best restaurants in 2025.
Anjelica’s – Sea Bright
White tablecloths, quirky plateware, and Italian food just steps from the beach—Anjelica’s is a must-visit at the Jersey Shore. Since 1996, the BYOB has served top-notch Italian cuisine in a setting that falls somewhere between coastal dining and The Sopranos. The menu draws from family roots in both Southern and Northern Italy, with standout dishes like seared octopus, baked oysters, stuffed olives, hand-rolled pici with ragù, double-cut pork chops with mouth-puckering cherry peppers, and crispy chicken Milanese.
Anjelica’s is recognized for its excellent service, food, and consistency.
Read the full USA Today best restaurants list here.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
