Have a decadent cheat meal at Jersey's five newest restaurants
Last month, we saw the launch of 12 hearty summer hotspots (including artisan salad companies, Mediterranean bowl shops and more) — but, this month? It's all about the junk food.
Thick cookies, French cookies, cheeseburgers and wings; if you like calories, this is the time to be alive in the Taylor Ham zone.
From Paterson to Short Hills, then, here are those new drool-worthy eateries.
The Mac House, Paterson
The Mac House, the first official brick and mortar from The Mac Truck, opened in Paterson. The menu revolves — of course — around mac and cheese, and features items like crispy chicken mac, burgers with mac and various flavors of wings (with which you should order a side of mac). Go: 19 W Broadway, Paterson; 862-264-8520, instagram.com/themactrucknj.
Crumbl Cookies, Wayne
Popular cookie chain (which I don't think is overhyped, so let's not go there) Crumbl opened its latest Jersey location in Wayne. The menu of flavors rotates weekly, and can be monitored on the company's Instagram page: @crumblcookies. Past offerings have include funfetti, peanut butter crisp and strawberry cheesecake, amongst others. Go: 1271 Hamburg Tpke, Wayne; 973-587-5065, crumblcookies.com.
CAVA, Secaucus
CAVA, a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain, opened a new location in Secaucus. Must-try dishes include the Spicy Greens Bowl with falafel and feta, the Harissa Avocado bowl with honey chicken, and the spicy lamb meatball pita wrap. Go: 700 Plaza Dr., Secaucus; 551-837-2996, cava.com.
Stack Burger, Paterson
Stack Burger, a fast-casual burger spot, opened in Paterson. Menu highlights include traditional cheeseburgers, falafel burgers and gourmet "special burgers" topped with onion rings, mozzarella sticks, beef sausage and more. Go: 995 Main St., Paterson; 973-341-3967, instagram.com/stackburgernj.
Ladurée, Short Hills Mall
"Reimagined coffee shop concept" Ladurée will open its first New Jersey location in the Short Hills Mall on July 26. The international French pastry chain — known for its delicious lattes and melt-in-your-mouth macarons — strives to bring "a taste of Paris" to Essex County. Go: 1200 Morris Tpke., Short Hills.
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: New restaurants in NJ: Have a cheat meal at these spots
