It was early December when I last sat in Montclair's paint-your-own pottery studio, Doin' Dishes. Eager to personalize my Christmas gifts — but not to the point where my handcrafted touch was obvious — I slowly dragged a thin, acrylic-topped brush over a cat food bowl (I presumed would be) perfect for my sister.
Glancing up to twirl that dirty brush in a communal red solo cup of water, a dimly lit "coming soon" sign caught my eye across Church Street. "Milk n' Cookies," the banner read, with a social media handle below it.
"Coming soon," in food writer language, though, always means coming next year — especially in December — and waiting sucks. But, it's not like I had a choice.
Fast forward to today, and that cat bowl I made came out semi-decent. That cookie shop, however, came out great.
It — and these others — are amongst my favorite restaurants and bakeries to open so far this year.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Here are the rest.
PS: Yes, I know BYRD just opened, and I'm getting there soon. Tasca is also on the agenda.
Jimmy's Family Kitchen, Verona
Jimmy's Family Kitchen might be the coziest thing to have opened in Verona since a bunch of Disney adults launched the Princess Café last February. Owned and operated by father-son-duo Jimmy and Brian Hill, the family-run spot specializes in hearty Italian dishes cooked from recipes passed down.
Indulge in bite-sized shrimp poppers and over-sized chicken parm for a one-way ticket to Grandma's table — or, as diners say, a "modern version of Belmont Tavern."
What to order: Meatballs, Eggplant Lasagna, "Speakeasy Sandwiches" (ask your server).
Go: 125 Bloomfield Ave., Verona; 973-239-3363, jimmysfamilykitchen.com.
87 Sussex, Jersey City
If the golden age of French fine dining is over, 87 Sussex hasn't gotten the message — because the fledgling Jersey City spot is crushing all things refined.
When I visited, eager servers wore pristinely-pressed jackets, and the tables donned sleek white tablecloths. The food was as luxurious as the aesthetic, as I was presented with dishes from escargot wontons to Barolo-braised short ribs; each improving on the one before it.
What to order: Escargot Wontons, "Ox & Egg" (quail egg ravioli with pulled oxtail), Carabinero Prawn and Diver Scallops, Chocolate Turtle Cake.
Go: 87 Sussex St., Jersey City; 551-256-7864, 87sussex.com.
Burger and Butcher, Sparta
Wagyu smashburgers and beef tallow-cooked french fries are the name of the game at Sparta's classy new burger joint. Boasting prime, grassfed meats, the hole-in-the-wall spot is all about reinventing fast food classics through a lavish, high-quality lens.
Love the McChicken? Go for the Bell and Evans crispy chicken breast on a Balthazar brioche. Craving a shake? Try one made from free-range milk.
And, when it comes to the burgers? The triple wagyu smash destroys the Whopper.
What to order: Triple Wagyu Butcher's Burger, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Tallow Fries.
Go: 37 Woodport Rd., Sparta; 973-315-8407, burgerandbutcher.com.
Spring House, Tenafly
Sometimes, when it comes to a night out, a restaurant's vibes are as important as its food. The Spring House — "a world-class bar and restaurant" — in Tenafly, however, nails both.
A modern Italian restaurant housed in one of Bergen County's oldest residences, the trendy spot lies at the intersection of historic charm and contemporary flair. Dishes like béchamel lasagna (made by chef Paco Frola) line the tables, while a rustic bar boasts gorgeous fruity cocktails.
What to order: Béchamel Lasagna, Artichokes alla Giudia, Piedmontese Ribeye for Two.
Go: 91 West Clinton Ave., Tenafly; 201-353-0080, springhousetenafly.com.
Black Magic Bakehouse, Ridgewood
Bakeries can compete with full-service restaurants for my affection — when they're as good as Black Magic Bakehouse.
An artisan kitchen in Ridgewood, Deanne Veliky's upscale take on a pastry shop is famous for turning out sweet (and savory) sourdough doughnuts in creative flavors. Personally, however, I'm partial to her Key Lime Custard bar and house-made garlic focaccia.
What to order: Sourdough doughnuts, house-made focaccia sandwiches, any variety of custard bar.
Go: 19 W Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood; blackmagicbakehouse.com.
ORA Freestyle Italian, Oradell
A stunning downstairs dining room, a speakeasy upstairs bar, and a mouthwatering menu of reimagined Italian specialties; ORA, Oradell's current talk-of-the-town, is about as perfect as new restaurants come. From the carefully renovated space, to the chic interior design, it's got an aesthetic worth posing for an Instagram photo in — and food to rival its looks.
When I visited, I savored stuffed squash blossoms and squid ink lumache, but the team's caviar cannoli (filled with chive whipped mascarpone) is what diners come back for.
What to order: Caviar Cannoli, Squid Ink Lumache, Funghi Pizza, Fior di Latte Gelato.
Go: 304 Kinderkamack Rd., Oradell; 201-267-4304, orainthedell.com.
Graze Brunch Kitchen, Ho-Ho-Kus
Can breakfast for dinner please be normalized? Because I'd love to eat at Graze Brunch Kitchen after 3 p.m.
A homey eatery on a busy Ho-Ho-Kus corner, this morning culinary destination looks like a designer version of the Café Tropical on Schitt's Creek. The tables are wood and polished, the staff jovial and personable, and the brick exterior warm and inviting.
The restaurant divulges from that of the iconic TV series, however, at the quality of the food — because Graze serves booze-infused pancakes and melt-in-your-mouth french toast (rather than "surprise-me-smoothies" and "greens-free salads").
What to order: Grand Marnier Pancakes, Salted Caramel French Toast, Brioche Eggs Benedict.
Go: 611 N Maple Ave., Ho-Ho-Kus; 201-543-0144, grazehhk.com.
Casano's Pizza Parlor, Rutherford
Ok, so I haven't been to Casano's yet, but I just know it's going to be good.
Stay tuned to @northjerseyeats, because I'm visiting next week.
What to order: I'll let you know.
Go: 8 Highland Cross, Rutherford; instagram.com/casanospizzaparlor.
101 Chicken, Fort Lee
Instagram became a hotbed for AI-in-the-workplace debates when I posted a video reel of Bergen County's first "robot-fried chicken restaurant" this past June.
With arguments ranging from "THEY TOOK OUR JOBS" to "At least I know no one is breathing, coughing or sneezing on my food," local residents had all sorts of sentiments as to whether or not a robot arm should be allowed to dip a drumstick in hot oil.
Personally? I don't give a damn. My followers will argue over the age of a dog on a Montclair sidewalk if I let them.
The sweet soy honey wings slapped — and that's all that matters.
What to order: Supreme Drumsticks, Soy Honey Wings, Rose Ddukbokki (Korean rice cakes in creamy gochujang sauce).
Go: 2151 Lemoine Ave., Fort Lee; 201-402-0001, 101chicken.com.
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.
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