EATS

20 for The 20Th

WHERE THE BC TEAM HAS BEEN EATING FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS

For 20 years, the team at BC the Mag has dined at hundreds of restaurants across Bergen County. We’ve gotten the pleasure of meeting some of the best culinary minds in New Jersey, and have been able to enjoy some unbelievable meals.

Some past, some present, these are our favorite places to have eaten at during these past 20 years!

river PAlm TerrAce, edgewATer >>

Bergen County’s best steakhouse also happens to be its best sushi restaurant. Helmed by John Campbell, Edgewater’s River Palm Terrace has always stood out above the rest. Its interior harkens back to the dark, intimate steakhouses of old but with a modern menu, high-quality product and Andy, the best sushi chef this side of the Mississippi, a meal here is never a disappointment. Book your reservation early, though; it is one of Bergen County’s most elusive prime reservations.

SAnzAri ’S new Bridge inn, new milford When construction magnate Joseph M. Sanzari took his first leap into restaurants everyone was a bit skeptical. Fast forward more than 15 years later, and he’s more than proven his restauranteur acumen with the success of New Bridge Inn. The predominantly Italian menu doesn’t change often, but in its place your meal is what many restaurants lack: consistency, not to mention great flavor. Whether you’re looking for a lunch time burger or a prime veal chop, Sanzari’s New Bridge Inn delivers on both.

vArkA, rAmSey >>

If some fine Greek dining mixed with exciting ambience is what you’re after, this Ramsey hotspot will not disappoint. Well-known for their grilled octopus, you can’t go wrong with any of their menu’s seafood items. Looking for something simple? The zucchini and eggplant chips with tzatziki are perfect for lounging by the bar and taking in the scene. Try a blood orange martini to really get the night going.

Aldo’S, wyckoff Chef Aldo Cascio isn’t new to the restaurant game, having both his namesake restaurant and The Brick House feeding hungry hearts and minds in Wyckoff for well over 20 years. Whether it’s Aldo’s or the Brickhouse, you’re likely to run into the chef himself, greeting you with his signature warm smile and English/Italian accent that lets you know the meal you’re about to indulge on is authentically Italian.

chiT chAT diner, hAckenSAck Chit Chat Diner might be an odd choice for this list, but in a state that is defined by their many 24/7 eating establishments, Chit Chat has stood out as welcoming in the new germination of diner. While the one egg, toast, breakfast meat combo might still make the menu, this diner has all sorts of intriguing items sure to catch your eye. They deliver on the tastebuds, too. Not only that! While many diners are no longer 24/7 in these COVID times, Chit Chat continues to never close.

The SAddle river inn, SAddle river

The Saddle River Inn is one of Bergen County’s oldest and most well-known establishments. When Chef Jamie Knott took over, however, the Inn became a state-wide sensation. Blending his sharp culinary talent with locally sourced, quality ingredients, Jamie is annually in the conversation for “Best Chef” in Bergen County. Get a coveted reservation at Saddle River Inn, and you’ll see exactly why.

BoTTAgrA, hAwThorne >>

The winning chef/owner combo of Robert Vicari and Carlo Carbonaro have made Bottagra a Bergen hotspot without technically even being within the confines of county. Perfectly prepared Italian dishes round out most of the menu, with steaks, chops and seafood cooked perfectly. A beautiful crowd eating late into the night, Bottagra is the place to be, and don’t even get me started on their Thursday night “supper parties.”

With the Vitti family firmly at the helm, Cenzino has once again become an Italian powerhouse in Northwest Bergen County. With an extensive menu complete with old world traditional favorites and some innovative dishes, you’re sure to find something new you’ll love visit after visit. Regina Vitti, owner of Cenzino’s, has kept Oakland and the surrounding areas well-fed during the pandemic, helping out her patrons and staff along the way as if they

BAcAri grille, wAShingTon TownShiP An extensive Mediterranean menu with specials changing daily, Bacari Grill in Washington Township is no longer one of Bergen County’s best hidden gems. Now, it’s one of its best restaurants. A bar that will be three deep on any given weekend only adds to the allure, and you’re sure to run into old friends while enjoying a classic cocktail and a bar pie. Just don’t discount their sushi rolls.

AndiAmo, hAworTh > >

Walk into Andiamo and be warmly greeted with a big hello by owners Don or Alan Dickstein. Then, sit down and be treated to an incredible meal by Chef/Owner Linda Dickstein with the warm, family friendly atmosphere you’d expect at your neighborhood Italian joint where everyone knows your name. Looking for something a bit different? They host a hilarious comedy night a few times a year as well as karaoke.

chAkrA, PArAmuS (cloSed) Chakra always had the potential to be Bergen County’s hottest restaurant. Sitting inconspicuously on Route 4, this semi-hidden gem captured that sexy, late night NYC ambiance better than any restaurant that came before it or since. Plush couches lines the entire dining room, where you could intimately sit with your group and watch the action unfold at the bar. Everyone has a story to tell from the Chakra days or nights.

The cAPiTAl grille, PArAmuS You’ll never see such a wide range of dining patrons as you will at Capital Grille. Nestled within Garden State Plaza, a typical “Cap Grille” lunch or dinner will have a mix of people who just casually shopped at the mall next to a table of suits having a business meeting. The service is exceptional and the food speaks for itself.

flirT SuShi lounge, AllendAle (cloSed) For many, Flirt Sushi was a welcome introduction to the upscale sushi experience. Larger-than-life owner Marco was always there to make you laugh, if the sexually themed menu item names hadn’t already. Flirt made sushi sexy, and we still miss the Miso-horny soup - and we can’t forget about the Flirt Condoms. Yes, you heard that correctly.

whiTe mAnnA, hAckenSAck

A burger shack on the top 20?! This isn’t just any burger shack, however. This is the world famous White Manna, a Hackensack staple for as long as any of us can remember. These sliders are not just Eli Manning approved, just about everyone in Bergen County has something to say about them. If there reputation isn’t enough to sway you, stop by and pick up a couple burgers. You’ll understand exactly what we mean.

AmericA, TenAfly (cloSed) America made its mark on Bergen County in the early 2000s, and brought with it an eclectic, sexy and patriotic vibe not seen since. The menu was as trendy as could be, and once you walked in you’d think you were right in one of New York’s sexiest restaurants. While it didn’t have the tenure many others on this list share, America showed that Bergen County was ready for something new and many restaurants since have taken inspiration from the early days of America. This ubiquitous little building on the border of Hackensack and River Edge has now housed many a restaurant, but one of its longest tenants left a large imprint on our hearts. In the prime days of Dinallo’s, you’d know every person who walked through the doors. A modern day Cheers, you could get a simple, yet delicious Italian meal while hanging out with friends, and that is exactly what people would do: stay there for hours. The location proved to be a central hub in Bergen County and the amount of business that went on in that tiny little restaurant would astound you.

dinAllo’S, hAckenSAck (cloSed)

cAfe PAnAche, rAmSey While the unexpected passing of Chef Kevin Kohler left a hole in our hearts, his legacy and the amazing Cafe Panache live on. One of Bergen County’s first true forays into fine dining, Chef Kohler elevated the tastebuds of many, and opened the door to so many more fine dining establishments that call Bergen home today.

hArveST, cloSTer (cloSed) >> For many years, Harvest was definitely one of Eastern Bergen County’s top restaurants. The ambience and menu, cultivated by the Stern family, was a perfect blend of upscale dining without an Italian flair that is so prominent in North Jersey. The outdoor seating with fireplace was perfect. It’s closing surely stunned many, but you can capture some of the old Harvest magic across the street now at Stern & Bow.

The Bergen counTy food & wine feSTivAl cAffe Anello, weSTwood Chef John Vitale has been cooking up food in Bergen County for quite some time now. When his little fresh-to-table Italian joint expanded into the large Cafe Anello space (complete with a bar coming soon), John and wife Alissa really put their culinary talents on the map. During the pandemic, they’ve donated tens of thousands of meals, fed hundreds of front line workers and delivered meals to those who need it the most.

The Bergen County Food & Wine Festival might only be going on its fifth year, but it’s hard to argue that it isn’t one of the best places to eat…and drink! Many of the restaurants listed above have participated, with dozens more showing up and showing out each year to go the thousands of people who walk through the festival’s doors. Where else can you get such a complete snapshot of the best food Bergen has to offer? Nowhere.

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