(201) Best of Bergen 2017 Edition | Page 42

Fine Dining Best Mediterranean Restaurant (Three-Way Tie) MEDITERRANEO 23 N. BROAD ST., RIDGEWOOD, (201) 447-0022 MEDITERRANEORIDGEWOOD.COM MEZZA 20 JEFFERSON AVE., WESTWOOD, (201) 772-8822 MEZZAWESTWOOD.COM VARKA ESTIATORIO 30 N. SPRUCE ST., RAMSEY (201) 995-9333, VARKARESTAURANT.COM Mediterranean is one of the most popular cuisines in Bergen and new restaurants seem to pop up all of the time to stiffen the competition for customers. Mediterraneo, which is a romantic place to dine, offers Spanish tapas, Moroccan Chicken Tagine, Arctic Char fillet and other eclectic dishes to round out its farm-fresh menu. With homemade dishes like Spinach Tagliatelle with artichokes confit, Kalamata olives, tomatoes and mushrooms in a sherry lemon butter sauce, Mezza is sure to please. Start with Baba Ghanoush and perhaps finish with homemade baklava. Varka enjoys a regular crowd who come for the savory dishes and vibrant social scene. With patio dining in seasonal weather, Varka makes you feel as if you’d been carried away to the Mediterranean Sea. Best Thai Restaurant GAO THAI KITCHEN 63 W. MAIN ST., RAMSEY (201) 962-2691 GAOTHAIKITCHEN.COM Go gluten-free if you like at Gao, which specializes in a variety of rice and noodle dishes as well as its yellow curry seafood and Ginger Lover pan roasted salmon. You’ll love the fiery spices and curry dishes galore that burst with flavor. Best Greek Restaurant Best Korean Restaurant 30 N. SPRUCE ST., RAMSEY (201) 995-9333 VARKARESTAURANT.COM 301 CENTER AVE., WESTWOOD (201) 497-6333, KIMCHISMOKE.COM You might think you were in a taverna in Athens once you sit down to dine at Varka. Its menu gives diners a taste of salt air and sunshine with the freshest fish and seafood. You can even build your own seafood tower at the oyster and shellfish bar. What started as a food truck in Bergenfield is now a new restaurant in Westwood, by way of Seoul, Texas of course! Award-winning pitmaster Robert Austin Cho is renowned for his recipes like his Bad As Texas Brisket and Korean Redneck Tacos. Don’t miss his signature Chonut, which is smoked brisket and kimchi served on a glazed donut! VARKA ESTIATORIO RUNNERS-UP: GREEK CITY RAMSEY GREEK VILLAGE NORTHVALE IT’S GREEK TO ME RIDGEWOOD You’ll be shouting Opa! if you dine at any of these popular Greek restaurants. Don’t miss the spanakopita or the mousaka at any of these fine establishments. Best Steak Restaurant RIVER PALM TERRACE 1416 RIVER ROAD, EDGEWATER, (201) 224-2013 RIVERPALM.COM River Palm Terrace has a trio of restaurants in Bergen, but the Edgewater location garnered the most votes this year. Serving premium steaks cut daily by their on-site butcher, River Palm Terrace is known for serving the freshest and highest quality meats and cooking them to perfection. RUNNERS-UP: ALLENDALE STEAKHOUSE ALLENDALE THE PARK STEAKHOUSE PARK RIDGE Allendale and The Park steakhouses maintain their reputations as prime restaurants on the Bergen dining scene and please patrons with every succulent bite of their steaks. RUNNER-UP: PIMAAN EMERSON Satays, soups, noodles and fresh fried rice are among the standouts at Pimaan. Don’t mind the heat of some of these dishes, which are designed to thrill. 40 2017 EDITION | (201) BEST OF BERGEN GUIDE KIMCHI SMOKE BARBECUE RUNNER-UP: DONG BANG GRILL FORT LEE Barbecue, noodles and rice and so much more have made Dong Bang Grill one of readers favorite Korean restaurants in Bergen. Best Italian Restaurant ANDIAMO 23 HARDENBURGH AVE., HAWORTH, (201) 384-1551 ANDIAMORESTAURANT.NET That’s amore! You’ll be sure to fall in love with the delicately prepared Italian dishes offered at Andiamo, a six-time winner. For something different, take your spoon and fork for a twirl through a bowl of the Linguine with Fresh Red Clam Sauce or the Linguine Carbonara. Or, you can indulge in some Fettuccine Bolognese, some lobster ravioli or some Chicken Milanese. RUNNER-UP: SAVINI RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE ALLENDALE For more than 20 years, Savini has been serving authentic Northern Italian fare with Mediterranean American influences. Don’t miss dishes like the Veal Forestiere with portobello, shiitake and champignon mushrooms.