New Jersey doesn't get the same fine dining spotlight as New York City sitting right next door, but the state has a genuine collection of high-end restaurants worth the drive and the bill. Here's a look at ten of the priciest, most celebrated spots across the state, from mountain-view tasting menus to seafood priced by the pound.
Prices below are approximate and change with season and menu updates. Always check directly with the restaurant before booking.
Quick Comparison
| Restaurant | Location | Cuisine | Price Per Person | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant Latour | Hamburg | French/American | $195 (7-course) | Wine Spectator Grand Award, mountain views |
| Varka Estiatorio | Ramsey | Mediterranean/Seafood | Priced by weight, often $150+ | Fish sold by the pound, whole Dover sole |
| Ninety Acres | Peapack-Gladstone | Farm-to-Table | $125 to $175 | On-site farm, Natirar Estate setting |
| Scalini Fedeli | Chatham/Montville | Italian | $125 to $175 | Historic farmhouse, four-course prix fixe |
| Nicholas | Red Bank | Contemporary American | High, à la carte | Extensive wine list, refined technique |
| The Bernards Inn | Bernardsville | American/Continental | Moderate to high | Historic inn, formal dining room |
| Café Matisse | Rutherford | Contemporary/Eclectic | Moderate to high | Converted firehouse, garden dining |
| The Ryland Inn | Whitehouse Station | American | Moderate to high | Historic estate property |
| Saddle River Inn | Saddle River | French | $80 to $100 (tasting) | Rustic-romantic setting since 1981 |
| Café Panache | Ramsey | Eclectic/New American | Moderate to high | 30+ years as a North Jersey staple |
Restaurant Latour (Hamburg)
Set inside the Crystal Springs Resort in Sussex County, Restaurant Latour has been called New Jersey's most expensive restaurant by multiple food publications, and it backs that up with a seven-course tasting menu running around $195 per person before wine. The restaurant has won Wine Spectator's Grand Award every year since 2006, a distinction held by very few restaurants worldwide, and its wine cellar is a centerpiece of the experience. Standout dishes include Kurobuta pork Wellington and cuttlefish risotto, served with panoramic mountain views from the dining room.
Varka Estiatorio (Ramsey)
Varka takes a different approach to expensive dining: rather than a fixed tasting menu price, much of the seafood is priced by weight. Dover sole runs around $55 per pound, and with fish typically weighing in around three pounds, a single order can run close to $170 before sides, drinks, or dessert. It's a Mediterranean fish house built around high-quality, simply prepared seafood, where the final bill depends heavily on what you order and how much it weighs.
Ninety Acres (Peapack-Gladstone)
Ninety Acres sits on the Natirar Estate, a property with a history that includes serving as a private residence and even a vacation home for a Moroccan king. The restaurant leans fully into farm-to-table dining, with a menu that shifts by season and a four-course prix fixe running $125 to $175 with wine pairings. The estate setting is as much a part of the draw as the food itself.
Scalini Fedeli (Chatham/Montville)
Chef Michael Cetrulo's Scalini Fedeli occupies a meticulously restored 260-year-old farmhouse, blending rustic charm with white tablecloths and candlelight. The four-course prix fixe menu runs $125 to $175 with wine pairings, showcasing Italian technique refined through Cetrulo's time cooking in Italy and France. Cetrulo also runs several other well-regarded New Jersey restaurants, but Scalini Fedeli remains one of his signature properties.
Nicholas (Red Bank)
Nicholas Barrel & Roost has built a reputation as one of the most consistently excellent fine dining destinations in the state, known for an extensive wine list and meticulous attention to detail. Dining here runs on the higher end for New Jersey, reflecting both the quality of execution and the depth of the wine program.
The Bernards Inn (Bernardsville)
A historic inn turned formal dining destination, The Bernards Inn pairs an elegant, traditional dining room with a menu that draws on classic American and Continental technique. It's consistently ranked among the state's top fine dining rooms, with pricing to match its reputation.
Café Matisse (Rutherford)
Café Matisse stands out for its setting and creativity as much as its menu, occupying a decommissioned firehouse with a garden dining area that adds a distinct charm not found at most fine dining restaurants. The kitchen leans into inventive, contemporary dishes that shift with the seasons.
The Ryland Inn (Whitehouse Station)
Set on a historic estate property, The Ryland Inn has long been a destination for special-occasion dining in Central Jersey, combining a storied property with a refined American menu.
Saddle River Inn (Saddle River)
Operating since 1981, Saddle River Inn built its reputation on rustic-romantic French dining well before "farm-to-table" became a common phrase. Its tasting menu structure runs on the more accessible end for this list, at $80 for four courses up to $100 for six, though the experience and setting punch well above that price point.
Café Panache (Ramsey)
A North Jersey staple for more than three decades, Café Panache built its name on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and an eclectic menu that draws diners with genuinely different tastes to the same table. Its longevity in a notoriously difficult industry speaks to consistent execution over a long stretch of time.
What Drives the Price at New Jersey's Top Restaurants
A few threads run through most of these restaurants:
- Historic and estate properties. Several of these restaurants (Ninety Acres, Scalini Fedeli, The Ryland Inn, The Bernards Inn) occupy converted farmhouses, estates, or historic inns, and that setting is part of what guests are paying for alongside the food itself.
- Tasting and prix fixe formats. Many of these restaurants price by the full menu experience rather than à la carte, similar to high-end restaurants nationally, which simplifies pricing but requires committing to the full multi-course experience.
- Serious wine programs. Restaurant Latour's Wine Spectator Grand Award and Nicholas's extensive list both reflect how much of the final bill and overall experience at this level ties back to wine, not just food.
- Seafood and specialty ingredients priced by weight or market rate. Varka Estiatorio's by-the-pound seafood pricing is a good example of how ingredient cost, not a fixed menu price, can drive the final bill up significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most expensive restaurant in New Jersey?
Restaurant Latour in Hamburg is frequently cited as New Jersey's most expensive restaurant, with a seven-course tasting menu running around $195 per person before wine, tax, or tip.
Are these restaurants more affordable than similar restaurants in New York City?
Generally, yes. Most of New Jersey's top fine dining restaurants price noticeably below comparable tasting-menu restaurants in Manhattan, even while offering a similar caliber of food, service, and wine program.
Do I need a reservation at these restaurants?
Yes, reservations are strongly recommended and often necessary well in advance, particularly for weekend dinner service or special occasions like anniversaries and milestone birthdays.
Why is seafood at Varka Estiatorio priced by weight?
Pricing seafood by weight (per pound) rather than a fixed menu price is common at high-end seafood restaurants, since it reflects the actual market cost and size of the fish being served rather than a flat rate regardless of portion size.
Prices and menu formats change frequently at this level of dining. Confirm current pricing directly with each restaurant before booking.
