Temperatures are dropping: Warm up in these 7 warm and cozy Jersey restaurants
Four, 11, negative eight — there doesn't seem to be a cap on how cold it can get in Jersey.
At this time of year, the weather outside can make ShopRite's freezer section feel like a relief. It sucks the breath from your lungs, dries the skin on your hands and makes the small talk conversation on the way back to the car with your friends after events nearly unbearable (on your own, at least you'd be able to book it to your Chevy with your head inside your shirt).
But, such is the life in the Garden State.
And, though we can't change the cold, we can make it a bit more bearable by helping you find indoor spaces to combat the frigid chill.
If you're looking for a place to defrost, then, read on. Here are seven cozy North Jersey restaurants to warm up in this winter.
Laboratorio Kitchen, Montclair
Montclair's seasonally-inspired Italian restaurant Laboratorio Kitchen is about as cozy as eateries get. Serving hearty, homestyle fare in intimate digs, the spot is cherished by locals — many of which make it their go-to Sunday supper (or date night) spot. Dishes are hand-crafted, like your "nonna made," with generous portions to warm your soul.
Step into the European-inspired oasis and be comforted by dim lighting, soft chairs and flowing tablecloths. Enjoy one of chef James De Sisto's homemade meatballs, and feel the heat of its thick, savory red sauce melt the ice from your body. Everything about the place, from its homey decor to its crowds of happy diners, will help boost your winter mood.
Go: 615 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973-746-6100, thelaboratoriokitchen.com.
F1rst, Hawthorne
Imagine a river of melted chocolate dripping from a lava cake, modern fireplaces blazing with blue and orange lights, and upholstered two-seater benches where you can snuggle up next to your loved ones.
Think were talking about the Polar Express? Think again. That snug, welcoming visual belongs to F1rst, a contemporary American restaurant in Hawthorne.
A passion project by chef Adam Weiss, the new culinary hotspot serves everything from buttery phyllo dough-wrapped Mushroom Wellington to tender braised short rib over garlic mashed potatoes. The desserts are as decadent and delicious as the mains, and the service team presenting them is exceptionally friendly.
Visit with your family (and dig into Weiss's Spiced Apple Cider Cake) and you'll feel like you've escaped Passaic County into a heartwarming Christmas song.
Go: 112 Lincoln Ave., Hawthorne; 973-830-2119, firstrestaurantnj.com.
Chili Willie's, Boonton
Chili Willie's dining room may be small, but it is — in its staffs' words — "unforgettable." Packed from wall to wall with cozy tables, vibrant tapestries and nostalgic newspaper articles from the team's early years, the restaurant is a hole-in-the-wall local favorite; known most for its comforting atmosphere and wonderful owners.
Located on Main Street Boonton for over 25 years, the humble little Mexican joint has been run by husband-and-wife duo Jackie and José Martinez since it opened its doors. To their regulars (which, honestly, might be the entire town), the power couple feels like family; having served them, and their relatives, for decades.
When it's cold outside, "Papa José's" burritos can warm you to the core, and Jackie's conviviality only serves to top them.
And, if that's still not enough heat? Grab a seat by the walls. There are old radiators located along the perimeter of the room — and their hot winds get trapped beneath the tablecloths.
Go: 702 Main St., Boonton; 973-299-8775, chiliwilliesrestaurant.com.
Franco's Metro, Fort Lee
At Christmas time, we consider Franco's Metro one of the most festive restaurants in North Jersey.
But, just because Santa season is over doesn't mean the spot stops being a snug comfort central. In fact, the longer the winter goes on? The warmer the family-owned Italian kitchen feels.
Upon entering Franco's, guests immediately defrost under the restaurant's strong central heaters. Toasty winds circulate throughout the space, carrying scents of home-cooked chicken parmesan with them. Order a some spicy long hots — or a steaming bowl of bolognese — and the sharp Jersey icicles will fall from your mid-February chin.
Between the space's tasteful decor and delicious, handmade fare, it's impossible to be chilly at 1475 Bergen Boulevard.
Go: 1475 Bergen Blvd., Fort Lee, 201-461-6651, francosmetro.com.
Saddle River Inn, Saddle River
Housed in a rustic, red barn with a log cabin-reminiscent interior, many consider Jamie Knott's Saddle River Inn to be one of the coziest restaurants in New Jersey. Gold-rimmed mirrors, hanging candle lights and wooden panels fill the dining room, and help to make it a perfect (and highly sought after) date destination.
Snag a table, and diners can expect a meal from a fairytale. The food offered is intelligently crafted and beautifully plated, and the design of the space promises an evening nothing short of — in the team's words — "magic."
Some of the spot's most comforting dishes? Colorado lamb chops with cauliflower and caramelized onion gratin, and chocolate walnut cake with apple cider caramel.
Go: 2 Barnstable Ct., Saddle River; 201-825-4016, saddleriverinn.com.
Caldwell Diner, Caldwell
Granite tabletops, sticky syrup bottles and counters with a line of stools attached to them; there's no place quite as cozy as a New Jersey diner.
And the Caldwell Diner — with its warm blueberry pancakes and always smiling staff — might be the coziest of them all.
Go: 332 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell; 973-228-2855, thecaldwelldiner.com.
The Station at Mountain Lakes, Mountain Lakes
An old converted train station with cobblestone walls and a 1919 ticket window (still attached), The Station at Mountain Lakes is probably the most charming restaurant in the state. For over 20 years, the spot has been one of Morris County's best kept secrets; offering upscale Italian fare in a one-of-a-kind, historic atmosphere.
Every weekend, locals visit the spot for family dinners, romantic date nights or celebratory occasions. Under the towering wooden beams of the building's architecture, and on top of its maroon upholstered booths, dedicated crowds of diners — from children to seniors — turn to the restaurant for their most important events.
Or, like us, for a nice filet mignon.
Go: 99 Midvale Rd., Mountain Lakes; 973-335-5330, thestationatmountainlakes.com.
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Warm and cozy NJ restaurants to beat the winter cold