By Julie Gilgoff
Enjoy a cozy dining experience in Central New Jersey.
Central Jersey has an abundance of cozy restaurants to choose from. Some are better suited for families with children, while others offer a
romantic night out. Either way, you are guaranteed to leave any of these restaurants with a smile on your face, thanks to the comfortable ambiance and friendly staff each one has to offer.
Award-Winning Italian
Solo Trattoria is located in downtown Freehold. The owner of the restaurant, Piergiorgio Ceciarelli, is from Rome. Citi Link awarded him the title of "best restaurant owner" in 2001 for his warm smile and for the comfortable atmosphere that he has created. When visiting the restaurant you can often find him interacting with customers or cooking in the kitchen. There is an expansive menu for both lunch and dinner, so everyone in the family will find something to suit their tastes.
Solo Trattoria
7 South Street
Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 780-2337
solotrattoria.com
Fun-Loving Seafood
Joe's Crab Shack is one of the most unpretentious and comfortable restaurants you could choose. Where else can you walk in dressed however you want, order comfort (fried) food and be guaranteed a laugh by the entertaining wait staff? That's right -- every 45 minutes they sing a song and start to dance! Best of all, you know that your money is going to a good place, since Joe's sponsors a variety of community programs from local sports teams to food pantries.
Joe's Crab Shack
3191 US Highway 1
Trenton, NJ 08648
(609) 896-0360
joescrabshack.com
Romantic French
The Frenchtown Inn prides itself on Old-World charm and its award-winning chef. A beautiful restaurant located on the banks of the Delaware River, the Frenchtown is upscale and romantic -- the perfect place to bring your sweetheart to on Valentine's Day. Make sure you dress to impress, as the Frenchtown has a no-jeans policy. One highly-recommended specialty is the roast sliced pork tenderloin over applewood-smoked bacon risotto.
The Frenchtown Inn
7 Bridge Street
Frenchtown, NJ 08825
(908) 996-3300
frenchtowninn.com
About the Author:
Juile Gilgoff began writing freelance for publications including "New York Newsday" in the year 2005. She was a foreign correspondent in Buenos Aires for "The Jerusalem Post." Writing samples, including reviews of her first book, can be found on her website. Gilgoff graduated from Barnard College, Phi Beta Kappa, with a Bachelor of Arts in history and a Master of Arts in education.
Photo Credits:
holiday preparations image by Alexey Stiop from
Fotolia.com
