The Besties – The Best of the Best in Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Bedminster in Northern Somerset County

2024 Suggestions – Post your favs in Comments

We dare to compare!

Bedminster, Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, Far Hills, Peapack/Gladstone also known as The Somerset Hills. It’s time for a real discussion on where to get the best things based on what the LOCALS say! Don’t agree? Post what you think is is best. And if we couldn’t find local, we gave best option. Also check out the Facebook Group – Jersey’s Epic Comfort Food group discussion.

Best Food

• Best Bread: Trattoria Biagios‘  (Stirling)
• Best Meat/Butcher: Green Village Packing Company (Green Village)

• Best Bagels: Tie: O’Bagel and Bagels 4 – U (Fat Bagels) (Bernardsville) Gabe’s bagel in Martinsville, another.
• Best Pizza:  Pizza da Napoli (Lyons Mall), Dominicks (Liberty Corner/Gladstone/Morris), Chianti (Bernardsville), Lenny’s (Bernardsville), Natale’s (Gillette), Ridge Pizza is solid. What about this Grandma pie? Hearing Cafe Figaro & Pizza (Dewey Meadow). El Presidente picked Raritan’s DeLucia’s Brick Oven Pizza, the best in Jersey. Oh, Gluten Free – Nicoletta (Bville). Then, for those at the lower portion of Basking Ridge, Cafe Rustica rates up there! Also check out Manville Pizza.

• Best Pizza: (Gluten Free) – Nicoletta (Bernardsville)
• Best Burger: Claremont Tavern (Bville), Black Horse Pub (Mendham), Turf & Surf (Warren)
  In the State (Krugs Newark and Steve’s in Garfield). Stirling Hotel (Stirling) is decent.

• The Best Smash Burger/Shake Combo: Sonic, Route 22 Green Brook (Value), and Shake Shack (Bridgewater). Both shakes are fantastic.

• Best Fries: Copper Kettle (Basking Ridge). Burger Shack fries are great straight-cut thicker fries (Basking Ridge), but they all keep changing!

• Best Hot Dog: Texas Wiener I (Plainfield), Red Tower 2 (Rt. 22 North Plainfield). Dirty Water Dog Hot Dog Cart – Sophies On The Green (Motown), and the best in the state? Rutt’s Hutt (Clifton) cause they sell beer with their glizzies and their spicy relish is fantastic!

• Best Sub: Sorry. Gotta Travel: Pastosa Ravioli (Florham Park), Sorrentos (E. Hanover), Colonial Pantry (Mendham), Angies (Gillette), Joe’s Meat Market (Bound Brook), Hershey’s (Westfield), and Sub Pub in Chester.

• Best Local Deli Sandwich: Bernards Cafe (Bernardsville), Perotti’s (Basking Ridge) (See also Subs), and Priscilla’s Pantry (Basking Ridge) all rank well.
• Best Thanksgiving Sandwich: The Gobbler – Millburn Deli (Morristown or Millburn)
• Best Sloppy Joe Sandwich: Tie: Bernardsville Cafe (I prefer the half turkey and half Roast Beef), Copper Kettle (Basking Ridge).

• Best Take Out Window – Priscilla’s Pantry (Basking Ridge)
• Best Chinese Takeout: Asian Delight (Bernardsville)
• Best Lobster Roll: Both of these are gone. Mystic Lobster Roll Company (Dewey Meadow- Basking Ridge- Now one in Bridgewater). Lobster Alley in Raritan WAS THE BEST. They had both kinds- hot w/butter or mayo, but it’s all gone! Help find a new source. You can catch the “Cousins Food Truck” when in the area,

• Best Japanese Restaurant: Tsuru (Dewey Meadow -Basking Ridge)
• Best Sushi Restaurant:  Tsuki (Bernardsville)
• Best Thai: Thai Thai – Stirling
• Best Warm Pastrami Sandwich: Goodman’s Deli – Berkeley Heights, Pastrami House (New Providence)

• Best Hot Top Japanese Restaurant: Kiku  (Bedminster)
• Best Italian Restaurant: Trattoria Mediterranea (BYO) (Bedminster), Cafe Rosa (BYO) (Pluckemin)
• Best Mexican Restaurant: Casa Maya (BYO) (Meyersville)
• Best BBQ: Minuteman Smokehouse (Morristown – Just north of Basking Ridge)

• Best Prime Rib:  Sorry, Folks! For the money, gotta travel to Charlie Browns in Scotch Plains. 14 oz. Charlie cut, baked potato, unlimited salad bar – $24.99. And every Tuesday, unlimited shrimp is purchased with each Prime Rib! Black Horse Tavern in Mendham is a close 2nd. Strangely, Texas Roadhouse in North Plainfield RANKS!

• Best Steak: Char (Raritan), Wolfgang Pucks (Somerville)—Honorable Mention: Roots in Morristown. Best value steakhouse: Arthur’s Tavern, Morris Plains. Best cheapest: Texas Roadhouse 20-oz ribeye $29.99 in North Plainfield.

• Best Diner: Stirling Diner (Stirling), Spinning Wheel (Lebanon)
• Best Salad Bar (Self Serve): Kings (Bedminster), Shop Rite (Stirling)
• Best Local Farm Stand: Crane Farm Stand (Basking Ridge) and English Farm (Liberty Corner)
• Best Bakery:  Sorry! Gotta travel. Sorrentos (E. Hanover), Randazzos (Raritan), Liking Swiss Chalet (Morristown)

• Best Bakery (Gluten Free): Gluten Free Gloriously (Stirling)
• Best Crumb Cake: Bernardsville Train Station Farmers Market (Seasonal) (Bernardsville)
• Best Sheet Cake: Costco (Bridgewater), runner up – Shop Rite (Bernardsville)
• Best Ice Cream: Polar Cub (Whitehouse Station), Penguin (Bernardsville)
• Best Prepared Take Out Meals:  Perotti’s  (Basking Ridge and Far Hills)
• Best Empanadas:  Mino’s Cafe (Bernardsville)

• Best Chili: Peroitti’s Take out Chicken Chili (Basking Ridge)
• Best Wings: Cluck U (Pizza Brothers/Far Hills)

• Best Taylor Ham Egg & Cheese (SPK) –   Will the new owners make it? Brush’s Deli (Try the Monster – 6 slices of Taylor Ham, 2 eggs, 4 slices of cheese). The price went up. Now $8.75. 2nd – Bagel Bomb at Bagels 4 You (Bernardsville). Best in State (Slaters Deli in Leonardo)

Best Going Out (Adults)

• Best Social Scene: XXVI (the Old Outpost at Basking Ridge Country Club)
• Best Outdoor Patio: Stirling Hotel (Stirling)
• Best Outdoor Dining: Stirling Hotel (Stirling) and the XXVI (26, the Old Outpost at Basking Ridge Country Club)
• Best Beer Tap Selection: Capitol Craft (Green Brook)

• Best High End: Ninety Acres (Peapack)

• Best Classic Old Time Dive Bar: Top o’ the Hill (Pluckemin)
• Best Fire Pit Drinking: Ninety Acres (Peapack)
• Best Rooftop Bar: The Bradford @AC Hotel (Bridgewater)
• Best Lively Atmosphere Dining: Bistro 73 (BYO) (Bernardsville)
• Best Divorce Hang Out/Pick Up:  3 West (Basking Ridge)
• Best Activity: Bowling/Beverages  Bowlmor (Green Brook), Runner Up – Stumpy’s Hatchet Throwing (BYO for real) – Green Brook

Best Services

• Best Fruit Stand: Greenbriar Farmstand (Peapack), Cranes Farm (BR), English Farm (Liberty Corner)
• Best Liquor Store: Price: Stirling Fine Wines (Stirling), Adelphia (Bernardsville), Food and booze: Garys (Bernardsville)

• Best Historic Organizations: Mr. Local History Project, Bernardsville History Room, hands down!
• Best Non-Profit to Donate to: Love Heartworks, Diva for a Day, and yes, we love our Mr. Local History Project
• Best Supermarket: Shop Rite (Bernardsville),  Wegman’s  (Raritan)
• Best Veterinarian: Bernardsville Hospital (Stirling)
• Best ER Veterinarian: AniMerge (Raritan) But it’s expensive!
• Best Barber: (Old School) Liberty Corner Barbershop (Liberty Corner),  Barber Shop at Far Hills
• Best Gas Station for Local Gas: Avoid the Deltas – For price – actually down
• Best Auto Body: Millington Auto Body (Millington)
• Best Nail Salon: Prestigious Nails (Warren)
• Best Pedicure: Kim’s Nails (Summit)
• Best Local Cabinet Maker: Jeff Melick Carpentry
• Best Local Business Networking Group: BRBA by far! (Basking Ridge)
• Best Local Tree Service: Keiling Tree (Basking Ridge)
• Best Christmas Tree Place: Great Swamp
• Best Coffee: Barrister Coffee House (Basking Ridge), Goldfinch (Bville)
• Best Car Wash: Gus & Bucky’s (Bedminster & Rt 22 Bridgewater)

Still Looking For a Few – Tell Us!

• Best Sangria (white and red)
• Best Medical Emergency Walk In : Someone please tell us!
• Best Moving Company: Tell Us
• Best Dog Groomer: Tell Us
• Best Hair Salon: TALC (Far Hills) Looking for a double confirmation 🙂
• Best Vegetarian Joint: Tell Us

Have a “Best Of” To Share?

If you disagree, that’s fine. Post your category, place, town, and why.

Also, check out the Facebook Group – Jersey’s Epic Comfort Food group discussion.

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Initial Post: September 12, 2017
Last Updated: September 20, 2024

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