Happy new year, Bergen foodies! While the pandemic made 2020 a tough year to swallow for many restaurants, the future still looks bright for Bergen’s down-but-not-out dining scene, with numerous new openings on the horizon. From seafood and surf-and-turf to artisan pizzas to perfect-anytime sandwiches and salads to decadent donuts and desserts and beyond, we’ve got a roundup of newly opened or soon-to-open restaurants that just might become your new go-to spots in 2021.
Raw Seafood Bar, Sushi & Grille
Chef Domani, the culinary genius behind Cork & Crust, which last year debuted its Mediterranean-inspired menu to the delight of Harrington Park diners, is about to pop off another fine dining endeavor right up the block. This sister site—which, like C&C, will be kid-friendly and BYOB—will offer up daily seafood, sushi, surf & turf, and grill specials in a chic and trendy, nautical-themed environment. But the real heroes in a half shell here just might be the oysters (six varieties!) in the fully-stocked raw bar. It’ll be dinner service only to start, but we’re told brunch is definitely on the way. Look for a soft launch sometime around Valentine’s Day.
112 LaRoche Ave., Harrington Park
B&S Kitchen
Man shall not live on bread alone, so this soon-to-open farm-to-table eatery serves up a wide variety of deluxe sandwiches, gourmet salads, classic burgers, and farro hot bowls, all made with all-natural, organic, cage-free, grass-fed, and chemical-free ingredients. Wash your meal down with a refreshingly fruity mocktail and finish with a scoop of house-made ice cream or Italian gelato.
48 Westwood Ave., Westwood, (201) 497-6739
We’re all still screaming for ice cream in 2021, probably now more than ever. So it’s no surprise (ok, maybe a little bit of a surprise) that this new entry on the ice cream scene will be taking over in the old Cold Stone Creamery spot in Closter. No word yet on whether there’ll be serenading servers, but here’s hoping we’ll be singing the praises of their ice-cold scoops.
234 Closter Dock Road, Closter
Patisserie FlorentineNow open inside the Riverside Square Mall (Level 1, across from Sephora) this artisan bakery and petit bistro has coffee and croissant lovers screaming “oui!” If Covid put the kibosh on last year’s dream Paris trip, you can at least get your hands on authentic, fresh-baked pastries (pain au chocolat anyone?), briochette French toast, sweet crepes, light and airy omelettes, soups, salads, and, of course, plenty of eye-opening espresso drinks. Open daily for breakfast and lunch.
The Shops at Riverside, 390 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack
We’re not sure if you can reinvent the wheel, but this pizza parlor is out to reinvent this Italian favorite by serving it square. The buzz on their authentic, Roman-style pizzas made with fresh, non-GMO ingredients and long-rising dough is big. Stop in for a slice or a half- or full-pan, or try one of their inventive pizza sandwiches. Contactless curbside pickup and catering are also available.
380 Route 17 South, Mahawah, (201) 642-4114
Mochinut If you haven’t yet tasted a Mochinut (a hybrid of a traditional American donut and Japanese mochi), you probably don’t know that it’s exactly what you’ve been missing in your life. Thankfully, a sister site to this donut shop’s wildly popular Fort Lee location is now open in Norwood. Available in a variety of flavors (including blueberry, pistachio, matcha, ube, and more), Mochinut’s fried rounds are adorably shaped in a series of connected balls called a pon de ring, making them perfect for sharing (not that you’ll want to). Also on the menu are ChungChun’s delicious Korean-style corn dogs, which are dipped in a rice-based batter before being fried to perfection and served alongside your choice of dipping sauce.
450 Livingston Street, Norwood, (201) 266-4800
LefkesOkay, so these spots aren’t exactly new (we’ve raved about them both previously on this site), but since the pandemic hit, you’ve never seen them quite like this. With indoor dining still on a lot of people’s ‘not-so-sure’ list, both of these Englewood establishments have totally revamped their outdoor seating, creating safe, socially-distanced spaces that are truly breathtaking (and will have you sighing in relief). Lefkes’ new fully-heated and ventilated outdoor patio will have you feeling like you’re eating in the northern mountain regions of Greece, all the better to enjoy the authentic Greek dishes you’ll find on the menu. Meanwhile, Italian steakhouse Sofia is bringing a nightlife vibe to its outdoor space, located just off its popular cigar lounge, with a custom-designed covered structure imported direct from Italy that safely seats up to 60 and features ventilation panels that can be controlled with the click of a remote. To help ensure a Covid-free experience, the fully heated space also showcases cutting-edge, clean-air technology to deliver a constant flow of fresh air throughout the room. We can’t think of a warmer welcome.
Lefkes: 495 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs; (201) 408-4444
Sofia: 36 Engle Street, Engelwood; (201) 541-8530
If dining out isn't quite on the menu for you yet, bring the culinary (and perhaps more importantly, wine) experience to you. Chef Anthony Lo Pinto and Sommelier Kurt Fauerbach teamed up to serve a wine/dinner event to up to six people in the comfort of your home. Go on a food adventure around the world with a 5-course meal paired with wines from Europe, California and more. Contact [email protected] for more information.
