Highly regarded, well-know restaurants get tons of attention and praise, and deservedly so. They are popular on Instagram, rack up good reviews on Yelp and fill up the reservation books.
But so many more fly below the radar, quietly putting out excellent food and great service — sometimes in unexpected locations. They are hidden gems, either because they are off the beaten track, deserve for more people to know about them, or both.
Our expert food writers from the USA TODAY Network are out in the field every day discovering these secret spots. Now we’re sharing them with you.
Here are our favorite hidden gem restaurants to visit in the Northeast.
Kimchi-Hana | South Plainfield, New Jersey
Details: 6101 Hadley Road, South Plainfield; 908-755-0777, kimchi-hana.com.
See our picks for the best hidden gems in New Jersey!
Don’t let Kimchi-Hana’s half-lit “SUSHI” sign on the corner of the Burlington Coat Factory strip mall fool you. This Korean barbecue eatery in South Plainfield is usually filled with mostly Korean customers eating marinated meats cooked over an open char broiler on the individual tables. Although there are plenty options for Korean entrees at Kimchi-Hana, such as seafood hot pots full of cod and vegetables, rice bowls and noodle dishes, the go-to dish is the Korean barbecue, which can go bite-for-bite against any revered New York City Korean barbecue spot.
For two people, go family style and choose among the favorites — the wang kal bi (marinated beef short rib) and beef tongue. These are accompanied by lettuce wraps and your choice of 10-plus traditional side dishes including kimchi, or fermented and seasoned vegetables. — Jeanna Intersimone, MyCentralJersey.com
Haute Feast, Barnegat
Details: 483 East Bay Ave., Barnegat; hautefeast.com
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You will have to wait until spring to enjoy a meal from Haute Feast, but the dishes are worth the wait. Located on the waterfront property of Barnegat Oyster Collective, a nursery-to-harvest oyster operation, the seasonal, farm-to-table BYOB restaurant showcase local oysters by serving them raw, cooking them over fire on an outdoor grill and dotting them with butter, or turning them into chowder. Local vegetables are put to use in dishes like “Fancy Toast,” made with grilled Benchmark Breads sourdough topped with mint pea hummus, pickled turnips, green garlic and chive blossoms, and a teres major filet with beet horseradish cream and potato cheddar foam. Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
Brothers Fish & Chips | Ossining, New York
Details: 72 N. Highland Ave., Ossining, 914-488-5141, brothersfishandchips.com
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There’s a certain magic that unfolds nightly at Brothers Fish & Chips. It begins with the surprise: a nondescript strip-mall storefront tucked beside a fish market. At first glance, you think Brothers fish store is the destination — until you step into the restaurant, where subdued lighting and a colorful mural set the mood. Then the food arrives, plated with a level of sophistication more commonly associated with fine dining — often with a touch of theatrical smoke.
Chef-owner Elmer Oliveros, who grew up on a farm in Guatemala, brings a deep respect for seasonal ingredients and local sourcing, transforming familiar seafood into artful, unexpected expressions complete with fresh edible flowers and herbs. There’s also a five to seven-course chef’s tasting menu, a format Oliveros is particularly passionate about. For him, food is personal—an opportunity to share the stories behind each dish, explain his techniques, and engage directly with diners about what resonates with them. — Jeanne Muchnick, lohud and The Journal News
Cafe on the DL, Laurel Springs
Details: 415 N. White Horse Pike, 856-656-9282; visit their Fa
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You’ll want to dig in to the 16-hour short rib — fall-off-the-bone tender— garlic-parm tots and the chicken Itlaliano sandwich at Café on the DL in Marlton which has seating for 40 people, is open Thursday through Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and from 4 :30-7:30 p.m. for lunch and dinner. — Celeste E. Whittaker, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
La Vita Italian Specialties, Sparta
Details: 83 Woodport Road, Sparta; 973-826-4624, lavitasparta.com.
See our picks for the best secret hidden gems in North Jersey.
Hidden in a bowling alley strip mall is La Vita Italian Specialties; a European provisions shop that’s turning out some of the most delicious lunches in Sussex County. Run by husband and wife-duo Wade Moises and Alexandra Hast — who are both alumni of Del Posto, Rosemary’s and other powerhouse New York City restaurants — the tiny “deli” serves Michelin Bib Gourmand-caliber food in markedly unsuspecting digs.
Offered on a daily basis are fresh pastas, artisan sandwiches, house-made sausages, vegetable antipasti and more. The seafood specials, when served, come in varieties from tomato-glazed Calamari Glassato (with capers, raisins, garlic and chili) to Slow-Poached Octopus, and the light-and-fluffy focaccia may be the best in the state. Opt for a sandwich, and you’ll end up with a top-notch showstopper featuring spice-rubbed lamb shoulder, chicken cutlets brined in mozzarella whey or even porchetta (with caramelized fennel). And, for dessert? Expect decadent sweets like Ricotta Bomboloni and Chocolate Espresso Tiramisu. — Kara VanDooijeweert, northjersey.com.
The Blind Pig
Details: 1 E. Church St., Fairport. Both bar entrances face East Church Street. delandonmain.com.
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It’s become trendy to open bars with a speakeasy vibe – some even have a hidden entrance – but few can claim to have a history that dates back to the Prohibition era. The Blind Pig, dating back to 1925, when it was a speakeasy called Green Lantern Inn, is an exception. Today it serves spins on classic cocktails and a menu of different light shareable plates each week. A highlight of the experience is giving a password when you arrive, and then entering the space through an old hidden staircase. The Blind Pig is open only on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings; a reservation is required and it’s tough to get one. — Tracy Schuhmacher, The Democrat & Chronicle
Wilson’s Store, Georgetown
Details: 24739 Springfield Road, Georgetown. facebook.com/Wilsonsgenerstore
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If you were born in ye olde 1900s, you might remember when Wilson’s sold guns and ammunition, in addition to mouth-watering breakfast sandwiches. Nowadays, it’s just the sandwiches, which are as good as ever. Scrapple, egg and cheese is the go-to but don’t sleep on their chicken salad at lunch time. There’s very little seating, so plan on takeout. — Shannon Marvel McNaught, Delaware News Journal
Pineapple Eddie | Erie, Pennsylvania
Details: 1402 W 10th St.; 814-454-0700, pineappleeddie.com.
See our picks for the best hidden gems in Erie, Pennsyvania.
Pineapple Eddie defines the term “hidden gem.” The Southern-style fusion bistro serves food you’d never from a modest spot in a neighborhood corner. It has atmosphere to spare and you’ll never have a bad meal there. The service is outstanding and the only problem is, once you’re seated, fed and lulled into its slow Southern vibe, you won’t want to leave. — Jennie Gesler, Erie Times-News
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Best hidden gem restaurants in the Northeast? 8 spots worth a road trip
Reporting by Liz Johnson, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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